Texas Fall/Winter thread!

[lostcreekranch]

I wonder how the majority of folks do this operation?

I lift JD Z820-A using tractor FEL and a 10 ton rated lift sling. I can get it high enough that I never have to get under the deck. Use an pneumatic impact so blade change is quick and easy. Never have to clean out under deck as with our sandy soil every thing gets "sand blasted" clean. Rick

 

[Bird]

Bird has one, that is similar, but has never reported on how he likes it, to my knowledge.

Yep, I actually got my MoJack MJEZ lift from Amazon.com when they were selling for $199 lots of places, including Amazon. I don't use it really often, but I do use it to take the blade off to sharpen it and put it back with a pneumatic impact wrench, and to thoroughly wash the bottom side of the deck with a Sweeper Nozzle that puts out a pencil sized stream and with my approx. 100 psi water pressure, I can get the bottom of the deck really clean.:laughing:

So, yep, I like it; not sorry I bought it.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Yep, I actually got my MoJack MJEZ lift from Amazon.com when they were selling for $199 lots of places, including Amazon. I don't use it really often, but I do use it to take the blade off to sharpen it and put it back with a pneumatic impact wrench, and to thoroughly wash the bottom side of the deck with a Sweeper Nozzle that puts out a pencil sized stream and with my approx. 100 psi water pressure, I can get the bottom of the deck really clean.:laughing: So, yep, I like it; not sorry I bought it.

The Pro Lift HD like TXDON is $199 at TSC.

Rick

 

[pacerron]

If you are lazy like me the hd TS stands are easy and safe.

That's a good pic:thumbsup: Shows where the front base of the stand is in relation to the mower when jacked up.
Looks like there is still room to negotiate a creeper under there.
I like the safety aspect. I read there were metal lock arms on the unit I looked at on line to keep the thing up even if the bottle jack leaks down a bit, which they all seem to do in time.
I'll have to show this pic to my wife.
You may have caused a run on them at TSC. Ask the CEO for a commission
Jinman did on his tractor seat cover reccomendation and got a new sprinkler out of it:laughing:
Thanks Don

 

[txdon]

The Pro Lift HD like TXDON is $199 at TSC.

Rick

I had the 10% off coupon and got it for $179.
I also saw a demo one (after I bought mine) at TS in Bastrop sitting outside holding up a Z and had light rust on it was selling for $159.00. - best deal.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I had the 10% off coupon and got it for $179. I also saw a demo one (after I bought mine) at TS in Bastrop sitting outside holding up a Z and had light rust on it was selling for $159.00. - best deal.

I always get my coupon in the mail right after buying something big at TSC.

Rick

 

[jinman]

Yep, Jim, we're coming to the end of another season. We went to the Denton Community Market Saturday, which includes the Farmers Market that is there on Tuesdays and Thursdays also and Saturday was the last day for this year.
. . . And I hope we get a big rain tonight and tomorrow with the cold front coming.

Well folks, those of us who got the shower are not that much better off than those who didn't. My gage says 1/10". With the wind, I suspect a lot of it evaporated and moved southeast. They'll probably get a gusher down on the coast.

Bird, since it doesn't make economic sense for me to bring you these peas, I'll just show you a picture. Here is 3-1/2 lb in a collander draining. Notice the full mix of snaps, little green peas, and mature peas. The big green bowl below is my favorite shellin' bowl. It's about 14" in diameter. We have two of them, Rubbermaid I think.



You guys with your Z-mowers and lifts make me jealous until I remember I don't have anyplace to put another mower or equipment. I just got my real estate tax statements for this year and realize it's a "penalty for progress" tax. My total tax bill for this year is $3500, so I guess I don't really have much complaining to do because I'm sure I'm on the lower end of the scale compared to some of you.

 

[Bird]

Rick, I guess the question would be . . . is one any better than the other? And I don't know the answer. The MoJack has a hand crank you can put in one of two positions; i.e. longer or shorter. I use the shorter, 6" radius vs. the 8" radius, because it's plenty easy to crank, at least for my little ZTR. But it also gives you another option, and that is to use your impact wrench or an electric drill with a 3/8" square driver instead of the manual crank. I suspect you could really run it up and down in a hurry that way, but I haven't tried it.

 

[txdon]

Ron here are a few more pics. The weight of my Z is 1600# so I wanted to get at a 500# lift for the front end. If you have a smaller mower you can use the 300# lift.

On some of the pics you will notice I had not yet lowered it a bit to lock the side steel bars. The hydraulic jack takes 24 foot pumps to reach max height and a half twist on the pump release to lower. The handle out front is just to move the entire jack into position. The jack has 4 wheels so as you are jacking up it slides underneath the mower.

The front wheel holders swivel down when the jack is lowered and are beveled so you can easily drive into them.

 

[Bird]

I just got my real estate tax statements for this year and realize it's a "penalty for progress" tax. My total tax bill for this year is $3500, so I guess I don't really have much complaining to do because I'm sure I'm on the lower end of the scale compared to some of you.

Not as low as my end.:laughing: I haven't gotten my tax bill yet, but the appraisal district estimated it'll be about $2150 which is exactly what it was last year. And just out of curiosity, I looked back at some old records and find in total tax bill on 10 acres in Navarro County in 2001 was $976.

 

[Bird]

The jack has 4 wheels so as you are jacking up it slides underneath the mower.

The MoJack only has 2 wheels and they are only for moving it into position, so it won't move as you raise the mower. And since I've only used mine in the grass in the yard instead of on a hard surface, it wouldn't move anyway. And my Toro has an unusual (to me at least) feature that I'm not sure I like. The MoJack manual says the mower has to be in "neutral" as you raise it. Well, the Toro has an electric brake; no problem I reckon, as long as you know about it. I not only pull both handles in, but I also have to turn the key on to release the electric brake.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Ron here are a few more pics. The weight of my Z is 1600# so I wanted to get at a 500# lift for the front end. If you have a smaller mower you can use the 300# lift. On some of the pics you will notice I had not yet lowered it a bit to lock the side steel bar. The hydraulic jack takes 24 foot pumps to reach max height. The handle out front is just to move the entire jack into position. The jack has 4 wheels so as you are jacking up it slides underneath the mower.

TXDON;

Like your work lights. What kind are they? LED or incandescent? Where did you mount your switch?

Thanks

Rick

 

[pacerron]

You guys with your Z-mowers and lifts make me jealous until I remember I don't have anyplace to put another mower or equipment. I just got my real estate tax statements for this year and realize it's a "penalty for progress" tax. My total tax bill for this year is $3500, so I guess I don't really have much complaining to do because I'm sure I'm on the lower end of the scale compared to some of you.

But your paved road had no effect on taxes, yet.
Maybe that's an anticipatory tax.
Our taxes always are for the previous year, so folks often breath a sigh of relief when it is a re-assessment year and the taxes don't go up much. And then the next year they faint:confused2:
It sometimes seems double painful when the market values of property have dropped significantly but the assessed value goes up any way.

 

[txdon]

TXDON;

Like your work lights. What kind are they? LED or incandescent? Where did you mount your switch?

Thanks

Rick

Rick those are skylights. Clear roof panels. All the metal was obtained in LaGrange and built by TBN members with Harvey's pole connectors. There's a thread somewhere here about it.

I was going by TS one day and they had an incredible deal on their rubber horse mats. That's the floor now.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Rick those are skylights. Clear roof panels. All the metal was obtained in LaGrange and built by TBN members with Harvey's pole connectors. There's a thread somewhere here about it.

TXDON;

I'm talking about the front lights on your Z910A.

Rick

 

[txdon]

TXDON;

I'm talking about the front lights on your Z910A.

Rick

OHHHH! The switch is neatly placed between the choke and the throttle. I don't know what kind of lights they are, my Uncle had JD put them on when he bought the Z new. I have not used them yet.

 

[pacerron]

I always get my coupon in the mail right after buying something big at TSC.

Rick

Geez,
I knew I was right for getting after the wife for not opening the junk mail.

Something else for the, TO DO: list.
Remember the coupons and stock up on oils, etc.

Does anyone use the " house brand" hydraulic oil from TSC in their tractors?
I've read some precautionary things on the net about tractors with wet brakes and clutch plates from using non OEM hydraulic oil specs.
If not, what brand of hydraulic oil do you use?
Both my tractors are beyond warranty but the new one will be coming up on a 1200 hour hydraulic oil change next year.
That will take 15 gallon, so a good reason to start stocking up

I just changed the hydraulic filter yesterday at $54 made in Italy.
Engine oil filter at $24, made in China
My old tractor $34 for both filters, made in Mexico.
All from my friendly NH dealer.
Have you ever wondered why they always smile, when you walk up to the parts counter

Is anything made in the USA anymore?

I see where Sam Walmart is starting a "made in America" campaign, which is great, if they can find anything.
When he started out, wasn't the pitch then that, "everything was made in America"

 

[lostcreekranch]

OHHHH! The switch is neatly placed between the choke and the throttle. I don't know what kind of lights they are, my Uncle had JD put them on when he bought the Z new. I have not used them yet.

Thanks. Don't ever mow in the dark but, have been a few times when I mowed late and was a long way from the shop. Lights for trip home would be helpful. Thought about mounting lights on the ROPS but it is mostly folded down due to low tree limbs.

 

[pacerron]

The MoJack only has 2 wheels and they are only for moving it into position, so it won't move as you raise the mower. And since I've only used mine in the grass in the yard instead of on a hard surface, it wouldn't move anyway. And my Toro has an unusual (to me at least) feature that I'm not sure I like. The MoJack manual says the mower has to be in "neutral" as you raise it. Well, the Toro has an electric brake; no problem I reckon, as long as you know about it. I not only pull both handles in, but I also have to turn the key on to release the electric brake.

The mower has to be in neutral so the back wheels can move in toward the Mojack, since it doesn't move.
Somthin has gota give when you make a triangle or your MoJack would get a nasty bend in it, or you wouldn't be able to turn the screw jack so easy.

Remember the old 3 leg tripod type bumper jacks for cars. If you didn't have the car in neutral and the handbrake off, the back two legs of the jack would raise as you cranked the car up.
Boy, I bet the young guys on here never saw a jack like that, let alone a real bumper on a car

 

[Bird]

Remember the old 3 leg tripod type bumper jacks for cars. If you didn't have the car in neutral and the handbrake off, the back two legs of the jack would raise as you cranked the car up.
Boy, I bet the young guys on here never saw a jack like that, let alone a real bumper on a car

It's been a few years since I've seen one, probably about 50 years, but I've used them, and liked them.

 

[jinman]

How many unfortunate people got crushed while working under a car with one of these type bumper jacks and nothing else? It wasn't a matter of "if" as much as "when."

 

[lostcreekranch]

How many unfortunate people got crushed while working under a car with one of these type bumper jacks and nothing else? It wasn't a matter of "if" as much as "when." <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=340053"/>

Jim;

I won't get under anything unless it's on secure jack stands or the like.

Rick

 

[pacerron]

It's been a few years since I've seen one, probably about 50 years, but I've used them, and liked them.

I imagine my old one is in the barn. My wife says I never throw anything away
Guess I'm stocking up for the TV show junk guys to come by

 

[farmgirl19]

I imagine my old one is in the barn. My wife says I never throw anything away
Guess I'm stocking up for the TV show junk guys to come by

Has anyone else noticed, something can sit and gather dust for 10 years, but if you throw it out, you need it the day after the garbage trucks have run?

 

[Lou66]

Has anyone else noticed, something can sit and gather dust for 10 years, but if you throw it out, you need it the day after the garbage trucks have run?

Have you also noticed that when you buy a new one you find the old one.. that you spent two days looking for.:laughing:. Lou

 

[txdon]

Has anyone else noticed, something can sit and gather dust for 10 years, but if you throw it out, you need it the day after the garbage trucks have run?

Yes I have. The day after I thew out an extra grill part on the Prius grill (from the deere hit) a suicidal rabbit went trough the grill. Both the rabbit and the grill were unusable to me. Whipper did enjoy the rabbit along with a couple of buzzards.
After the rabbit was pulled out the new plastic three grill parts cost $115 to replace. I got to get a vehicle with higher clearance or a critter scooper out of the way thingy.

 

[jinman]

Well, if there was a junk tax, there's a lot of us who'd be going broke paying the tax man. I closed down my dad's mobile home park back in the late 90's. Then, I got married and all my wife's collection came as a dowry of sorts. Finally, I sold a house I'd owned in the city for 25 years and moved all my collected junk from there. I'm guilty of movin' stuff in while never movin' stuff out.:ashamed: I'm hoping to reverse that trend soon. My junk is still at a manageable level, but I don't want my heirs to even deal with that. Cleaning up after my father was brutal. He was a child of the depression and didn't throw anything away.

 

[Bird]

I once read that you need to move at least every 7 years because when you get ready to move is when you get rid of all the junk you've accumulated. I think my heirs should be able to sell or give away everything here except the pool table.:laughing: Moving one of those things is so expensive, they might have to just include it with the house.

 

[pacerron]

We spotted the guy on the right digging under a deck enclosure on the house and the dog chased him to barn 1.
He has become quite casual about daytime activities and going to the fruit trees for candy. So we baited the box with apples a few days ago. We saw there was something in it this morning using binoculars. It was an Opossum. We decided to bring in the camera and see what, if any night life has ventured near the last 3-4 nights.
Deer of course, a wild domestic type cat, and this daytime shot, which I think is a classic.
The hog is still on the loose, and runs into the junk storage barn when the dog gets near.
But, I'm still not cleaning out my junk to get him.
Ron

 

[robbyr]

I think my heirs should be able to sell or give away everything here except the pool table.:laughing: Moving one of those things is so expensive, they might have to just include it with the house.

Bird, we moved one about five years ago to Cotulla, about a 4-5 hour trip. Put a king size mattress on a lowboy and set the table on it face down. It worked pretty good. Very heavy, just needed about four or five healthy guys to move it.

 

[Bird]

Bird, we moved one about five years ago to Cotulla, about a 4-5 hour trip. Put a king size mattress on a lowboy and set the table on it face down. It worked pretty good. Very heavy, just needed about four or five healthy guys to move it.

One of my brothers told he helped a bunch of friends move one in Anchorage years ago, and I have a double door so it could be moved out pretty easily if you had enough people to lift it. But the customary thing, and the way it was delivered here, is to disassemble them and that'll cost about $300-$350.

 

[Western]

OK, fell asleep after eating, woke up to rain:thumbsup: So far .28!!

 

[txdon]

The cool front just blew in here - 80˚, brrrr.

 

[farmgirl19]

Blew in here this morning. I was sweating, tending to horses before daylight, in shorts and a tank top. Just as daylight was breaking, the norther blew in, and temps fell into the 50s. I may be wishing for an electric blanket on the bed, tonight. :laughing:

Raining here now. It's been thundering for a couple of hours, but rain began about 10 minutes ago! I'd run naked through it, but I might freeze! :shocked:

 

[jinman]

We have 3/10" total today, but the storm looked like it was building some as it moves southeast.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Bird, we moved one about five years ago to Cotulla, about a 4-5 hour trip. Put a king size mattress on a lowboy and set the table on it face down. It worked pretty good. Very heavy, just needed about four or five healthy guys to move it.

They are not that difficult to take apart? We have moved one 5 times. I take it apart, move it, and hire the pool table guys to put it together and align / level everything.

Rick

 

[jinman]

Raining here now. It's been thundering for a couple of hours, but rain began about 10 minutes ago! I'd run naked through it, but I might freeze! :shocked:

My alternative method worked. I just whistled Singing in The Rain while takin' a shower.

 

[farmgirl19]

0.3" here, and still raining! :dance1:

That's funny, jinman! We'll make sure you do that again soon!

My ryegrass is up, so this shower should get it going!

 

[Western]

So far .36, I think it is over, but then again, I thought that this morning:confused3:

 

[Bird]

Maybe I'm a tiny bit ahead of you. This morning when I got up it was 76 degrees and in the next 4 hours fell to 57 and started raining. We had a pretty heavy downpour, but also brief; only got about .08". Then this evening we had another brief downpour, then a light rain for awhile and I got another .30". So a total of about .38" and it's now 51 degrees. I love it, but I've got a wife and her sister visiting who think it's time to turn on some heat in the house.:confused3::confused3:

 

[robbyr]

Dang bird, my wife can't breathe good if its over 70 degrees. I always joke in the summertime that its cold enough to hang meat in our house.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Just noticed that I am a Silver Member? Seems I went from new member to member, skipping cardboard member, tin member, pot metal member, jumping straight to Silver Member. Whoa!

How many posts to become unobtanium member?

Woo Hoo!

Rick

PS; getting windy in Colorado County. No rain today but, still hoping.

 

[Bird]

Dang bird, my wife can't breathe good if its over 70 degrees. I always joke in the summertime that its cold enough to hang meat in our house.

Our thermostat is set on 78 and we usually have the ceiling fans going. It's still warmer than I'd prefer and my wife says it's cold in the house.:confused3: If she's sitting on the sofa watching TV or reading, she's at least partially covered up with a little blanket. There was a time, long time in fact, when I kept the thermostat on 70-72, but no more.

 

[robbyr]

Many a June, July, and August night I sit in living room watching tv bundled in a blanket.

 

[robbyr]

I know this is a Texas thread but I had to share anyway.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Winds came up at 9:30 PM, temperature dropping, now 72 degrees. Supposed to get down to High 50's tonight. Sitting on back porch with a Jack Daniels and a good cigar watching it happen. Life is good!

Still hoping for more rain.

Rick

 

[sseelhoff]

Rick: We're just west of you. Conditions here are the same. Our temps are dropping and wind has picked up. 72 with gusty winds. Watching the wather now out of San Antonio. Rain is getting close to Kerrville. There is also a line of showers near Beeville.

 

[Western]

Our thermostat is set on 78 and we usually have the ceiling fans going. It's still warmer than I'd prefer and my wife says it's cold in the house.:confused3: If she's sitting on the sofa watching TV or reading, she's at least partially covered up with a little blanket. There was a time, long time in fact, when I kept the thermostat on 70-72, but no more.

Bird, if it's 78* in our house, the AC is broke:laughing:

 

[farmgirl19]

I know this is a Texas thread but I had to share anyway.

robby; Leave off the last 2 words, and it fits perfectly! :laughing:

Thanks for posting that, as it was funny!

 

[Bird]

Bird, if it's 78* in our house, the AC is broke:laughing:

Dennis, I suppose the thermostat setting is a bit misleading. As you know, the temperature can vary in a house, from room to room and from high toward the ceiling in a room vs. low to the floor in the same room. Our thermostat is, of course, on the wall at about eye level. I did not turn the heat on last night, and this morning, the thermostat showed it to be 76 degrees. My infrared thermometer showed 77 degrees. However, here at my desk in this room, it's 72. But 75 at the level of the seating in the living room. So at 75, I want a fan going, while my wife wants a blanket.

Incidentally, outside this morning, it's 47.