Constantly Working on Equipment

[newbury]

Everytime I turn a wrench and think I'm tired of working on old equipment I remember that a $210 a month for 48 months is what it takes for a $10k loan without interest. It makes turning the wrench and dealing with built up crud more worth it.

Exactly.

When I replace a hose or a tire on one of my tractors I may think "Darn that was expensive" but I also think "Darn, I'm glad to be able to have this versus how much less I would have if I bought new". I just looked up what they are asking at Tractor House for a similar M4700 and it's 5 grand more than what I paid 3 years ago. A new MX4800 would cost about 20 grand more. I can do a lot of fixing for 5 grand and 4 times as much for 20 grand.

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I will say though, that I am much handier in the shop than I was when we lived in town, old farm equipment and You tube have been my teacher.

Without You tube I would be in a world of hurt with a much lighter wallet.

 

[TractorGuy]

A little off topic but came home to a 82* house and AC not running today. That dark cloud had a bright side in that it was just a start capacitor and I happened to have a spare on the shelf.

Thank goodness I have the tools, knowledge, and experience to fix most anything that comes up.

 

[EddieWalker]

Got home tonight and the backhoe was parked next to my shop. My dad runs it during the day, taking out trees to clear the fence line. He will be 80 on the 6th and he's a great worker, but every time he breaks down, I never know what to expect. This time it's a flat rear tire and a busted hyrdrualic hose going to a radiator from the filter. It's a big line requiring a 1 5/8's wrench to get it off. it's also six feet long and buried behind an even larger hose that I didn't have a wrench big enough to get off. I had to use a pipe wrench and hammer to get that one loose. Battery had to come out to get to the other end in front of the water radiator, which is where the hydraulic radiator is located. Took a little over 2 hours to get that hose out!!!!

Of course, tomorrow I'll put it all back together. Fortunately, Dad will take it all to town to get it fixed while I'm at work, so when I get home, it will all be there waiting for me.

This is the second flat tire this month and the third hose to fail. Last month a branch took out the radiator. That took over 3 hours to get out!!!! Plus two other hoses. I think that this is going to be the year all the hoses fail.

 

[LD1]

Got home tonight and the backhoe was parked next to my shop. My dad runs it during the day, taking out trees to clear the fence line. He will be 80 on the 6th and he's a great worker, but every time he breaks down, I never know what to expect. This time it's a flat rear tire and a busted hyrdrualic hose going to a radiator from the filter. It's a big line requiring a 1 5/8's wrench to get it off. it's also six feet long and buried behind an even larger hose that I didn't have a wrench big enough to get off. I had to use a pipe wrench and hammer to get that one loose. Battery had to come out to get to the other end in front of the water radiator, which is where the hydraulic radiator is located. Took a little over 2 hours to get that hose out!!!!

Of course, tomorrow I'll put it all back together. Fortunately, Dad will take it all to town to get it fixed while I'm at work, so when I get home, it will all be there waiting for me.

This is the second flat tire this month and the third hose to fail. Last month a branch took out the radiator. That took over 3 hours to get out!!!! Plus two other hoses. I think that this is going to be the year all the hoses fail.

Sounds like its time for a little 6-7 ton mini excavator....no more flats:thumbsup:

I keep eying them thinking of getting rid of the ford myself. But 90% of what I do is fixing field tile all within a mile of home. Would take FOREVER driving an ex there. And even if I trailered. Sometimes we get in a ~30 acre field that has 4-5 problem areas. Driving betweet each one would take forever as well. Thats the only thing I dont like about the excavators.

 

[forgeblast]

I have a JD 318 that I got earlier this year. I could not get it started, so I replaced a lot on it, fuel lines, fuel pump, checked every electrical component replaced key switches, fixed belly pans and cleaned it up nicely. Putting it back together I didnt like the way the one fuel line was sitting on the motor and when I went to move it I snapped the ear off the new fuel pump then I bought an electric fuel pump worked great for two days went to use it and nothing is lighting up. Took things apart checking for loose wires, replaced fuses and other parts I didnt replace the first time and found out the facet fuel pump is dead. so now waiting on a new fuel pump....my wife is starting to hate that tractor, If I can get it running again It may be going up for sale, but at this point do I trust new equipment as much as I trust that I can fix the old?

 

[EddieWalker]

Sounds like its time for a little 6-7 ton mini excavator....no more flats:thumbsup:

I day dream about getting an excavator, but most of what we do on the land is remove trees and put them in the burn pile, firewood pile or save for a later project pile. The backhoe does it all. Takes them out, either picks them up with the grapple, or drags them with a chain. My primary goal is to clear a 50 foot wide path of every single tree before building my fence. My neighbor spent $40,000 on his 5 strand barbwire fence and the last time I was over there, it had branches and trees laying on it in a dozen different places, making it totally useless and requiring never ending maintenance. An excavator would be better at taking out the trees, but horrible at getting them to the burn pile. I would need another tractor to do that, and another person to run it to be as productive as I am now.

 

[TractorGuy]

I day dream about getting an excavator, but most of what we do on the land is remove trees and put them in the burn pile, firewood pile or save for a later project pile. The backhoe does it all. Takes them out, either picks them up with the grapple, or drags them with a chain. My primary goal is to clear a 50 foot wide path of every single tree before building my fence. My neighbor spent $40,000 on his 5 strand barbwire fence and the last time I was over there, it had branches and trees laying on it in a dozen different places, making it totally useless and requiring never ending maintenance. An excavator would be better at taking out the trees, but horrible at getting them to the burn pile. I would need another tractor to do that, and another person to run it to be as productive as I am now.

View attachment 469920

View attachment 469921

What was involved in adding the grapple? Is it a pin on fit or converted to quick connect? What was added to the hydraulics to operate it? I would LOVE to add one to my 575E!

 

[oldpilgrim]

-Constantly Working on Equipment -

I too found that I was working on my stuff nearly as much as I was using it.

So a few years ago I decided it was time to replace.

I replaced my 40 year old lawn tractor with a new Cub Cadet.
I replaced my air compressor with a new one.
I replaced my 30 year old generator with a new one.
I replaced my 1989 GMC with a new Tundra.
I replaced my 60+ year old Harry Ferguson with a new Mahindra.

All the stuff I replaced was used when I got it !

Years of saving every cent I could for retirement by 'getting by' with old crap, finally paid off.

 

[EddieWalker]

What was involved in adding the grapple? Is it a pin on fit or converted to quick connect? What was added to the hydraulics to operate it? I would LOVE to add one to my 575E!

Here are two threads I started on converting it to a quick attach. It's been almost 8 years since doing this and it's easily the best thing ever!!! I gave up on the different types of hose connection fittings. They where all too much work to get apart and back together again. Now I just unscrew the hoses like any other hose, put a plug in the end, tighten it and I'm off with the bucket or hay spear. Then it just takes a minute to connect the hoses again when I put the grapple back on. I take off the grapple at least twice a month to carry hay out to the horses. Total time for that job is an hour. That's taking off the grapple, putting on the hay spear, turning off the electric fence, going through the gate, closing it, setting the bale, picking up the round ring and putting it around the bale, going back through the gate, turning on the fence, removing the hay spear and installing the grapple again. I've spent close to that long just messing with those stupid detachable hose fittings.



http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ing-my-bucket-ss-quick.html?highlight=grapple

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/128708-rake-grapple-my-555e.html?highlight=grapple

 

[LD1]

I would need another tractor to do that, and another person to run it to be as productive as I am now.

Sounds like a plan to me. Excavator + ~75ish HP utility