Tractor front axle calamity; crisis averted?

[FTG-05]

I think the $17 you reference may be for UPS shipping.
I always ask Messick's for USPS shipping if it meets USPS parameters.
Usually much cheaper than UPS!

Don't recall a USPS vs UPS option; usually it's normal ground shipping at $18, 2 day at +$35, overnight at $356 or some crap.

 

[fried1765]

Don't recall a USPS vs UPS option; usually it's normal ground shipping at $18, 2 day at +$35, overnight at $356 or some crap.

The USPS "option" is really very simple.
You simply need to say: Would you please ship this item via USPS, or..... cheapest way.
Messick's will honor your request.

 

[deezler]

When I checked out from messicks, USPS was at the top of the shipping options and was much much cheaper than Fedex or UPS. Since I am only a few hundred miles away, it seemed low risk.

Well anyway I am glad to report that the tractor is fully reassembled and back in action. It was down for almost 50 days! No leaks, noises or other indicators of a less than proper repair. Wahoooo!

I put the new front axle bearings right to work, lol. Still had storm damage to clean up from last Weds/Thurs. Fair number of folks in the county still without power, 6 days is a bit much.

 

[deezler]

A 20 ton press is not that big, and it is cheap.
Just put it along a wall, or in a corner, and stack other stuff around it.
It is not an item you will use every day, but when you need it there is nothing else that will do the job.

Yes, I fully agree and this is definitely the plan eventually. My 30x36 pole-barn garage/shop is going on 4 years old now, and I still don't have stairs built going up to the 15x24 attic room. Once I can get my storage up there, a whole half wall of shop space opens up. Soon.

 

[fidowanttobe]

Great job on the repair. DIY is always better these days, having less and less luck with "professionals".
What stairs are you putting in? Spiral, drop-down or normal. Surprising as to how much space they take up in the shop!

 

[deezler]

They will be an L shape, conventional. I have 10' under my truss bottom chords, so I'm gonna take 6 steps up to a 3x3' landing along the wall, then it turns towards the building center (truss/roof peak) to continue upstairs. Not looking forward to the extreme loss of space, but trying to be creative about how to gain some of it back (under stair storage, etc)

 

[fried1765]

Yes, I fully agree and this is definitely the plan eventually. My 30x36 pole-barn garage/shop is going on 4 years old now, and I still don't have stairs built going up to the 15x24 attic room. Once I can get my storage up there, a whole half wall of shop space opens up. Soon.

Soon? I understand!
Had 36 x 48 uninsulated pole barn built 37 years ago, and installed fluorescent lighting before putting anything in the bldg.
Did not do plug receptacles.

Fast forward 37 years: There are still NO receptacles in that bldg. (well.... there is ONE)!
Just today, changed the 20 fluorescent tubes to LED.
What a difference!