Owning a small tractor is a blessing.

[Runner]

My mower lift has "built-in" safety locks that click in at various heights. Trust them, or use jack stands too?

https://www.harborfreight.com/750-lb-heavy-duty-atvmower-high-lift-jack-63298.html

 

[EddieWalker]

A high school friend and I were working on an old wreck supported on cement blocks.
We went in for lunch and when we came out I leaned on the fender finishing my soda before getting back at it.
That's all it took.
It came down so quick it would have killed us before we could have twitched. It was up, it was down.
When the concrete lets go there is no warning.
Thank you Coke.

You reminded me of a close call that I had with my dozer.

In order to replace one of the hydraulic pump, I had to get the tracks off of the ground. Part of the restart procedure was to run the tracks without any resistance, so they had to be in the air.

I lifted the front end with the blade and built up a bunch of 6x6's in to support it.

In the rear I used a bottle jack to lift it and build up the blocks as I went.

I had the dozer off the ground enough for the last block, and the jack slipped. I was under it when it fell, and it actually touched my head when it landed on the blocks. If I had been positioned just a little different, it would have hit me pretty hard. I couldn't have been any closer to it then I was and not get hurt. If the blocks had failed, who knows what could have happened?

It's a Case 1550 dozer that weighs 40,000 pounds!!!

Since then, I've been super careful and just a little scared of getting under anything that I have up in the air.

 

[careyo63]

Use everything you have and keep you safe. This is no Trac loader and has a 3pt. lift lock. It works but I don't rely on it! 1977 model and the lift slowly drops while sitting lifted not running. IMO. why they added the Hyd, lock. You have to be careful and open it back up. Many times I've heard about the Shear pin on the pumps drive saft itself being sheared off. Round Knob just behind the Gear Shfter. Between you legs.

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[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Glad the dozer didn't get the best of you.

 

[RayIN]

The son of one if my parent's employees was killed when his vehicle fell on him. The cinder blocks he was using to support it failed. Yet I still see people using them. I once brought my neighbor some hemlock blocks but he declined them. "If cement blocks will hold up a mobile home they will hold up a car."

A common mistake is laying blocks on their solid side instead of vertical. The center web has little strength.
That's why a block basement wall will stand for over 50 years supporting the entire house.
With the advent of cast steel support stands I've never used blocks since.
I've seen guys crawl under a vehicle supported only by a bumper jack.
About 10 years ago an RV technician in N. Indiana was suffocated when the air springs on a MH deflated while he was underneath. His co-workers missed him at lunch break and began searching for him, they found him dead under the MH.

 

[not2old]

Of course, if I kept the tractor, then I'd need to have the trailer to haul it with, and a place to store the attachments and..... then I'm right back to looking for another place to live with acreage and a shop.

I have the same problem

 

[Gregster613]

Just having a tractor around is an absolute blessing for me; it's not a need, it's something I'm able to afford that makes life so much easier.

A few days ago I managed to obliterate a mowing blade in a way that was new for me, directing it straight into the ground. This made moving the lawnmower difficult.

I just brought the Kioti over to the Cub Cadet and lifted the mower in the air. I've never had an easier time removing the blades. I did the same a few days later when I put the new blades on. With the new blades on, forgetting about the previous days rain, I immediately sank the Cub in mud.

A small tractor suited this recue effort far more than the F350 would have; a small tractor is a blessing.

I mowed the upper area and then put my toys away, I'll try again this weekend.

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Tactical, where did you get those huge hooks? Those would be very handy for a lot of various tasks. A link or a source please. Thanks Greg

 

[tacticalturnip]

Tactical, where did you get those huge hooks? Those would be very handy for a lot of various tasks. A link or a source please. Thanks Greg

I picked them up off of Amazon; they're not the best quality but they work for my needs.
Rollbacks use them to winch cars up onto them, hooks right up to the lower control arm or around the axle. I never knew about these until I did a stint driving tow trucks; they are extremely useful.

I've got two sets, one with a longer chain that I keep in my truck.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFGHZK1J?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Amazon.com

If I were using them commercially, towing for example, I'd go with a better brand- but for use around the house these work well.

 

[TractorTYMe]

I've always wanted a tractor, the local 'bota dealer ads on TV was haunting my wants. I finally got all ducks in a row in late June of 2020 to buy one, cab or bust. I told the wife I should have bought a tractor in the late 90's if I knew HOW MUCH I needed one.

 

[Jstpssng]

My brother owns 3 acres. He plans to bring my father's L2800 home when we sell the family property. He may not use it much, but it'll be there when he needs it.