What have you done to your Branson today?

[Slowpoke Slim]

Well it wasn't today, it was Saturday. Just haven't had time to post anything much.

Went over to my old neighbor's (and still friends) place on Saturday to mow a couple of pastures for him. He still doesn't have a mower for his old Deere (and didn't need one because I was doing it for him).

Anyway, nothing to big or tough, but a ton of weeds down in the bottoms.

Obligatory pics.

Loaded up and heading over...



First field is done, now it's time to blow out the chaff and pollen. I took off a high spot with the bucket, but forgot to dump it while I was still in the field...



Here's a shot of some of the pollen. Glad I don't have allergies. Nice thing about a cab, none of this was on me...



Second to last field, not bad, just really thick weeds down in the bottom here too...



I had asked him if he wanted me to mow it before we moved back in June, and he said no, it didn't need it. Then last week, he called me and asked me kind of chagrined if I would come and do it because of the weeds.

No problem man, I'll come get 'em.

 

[K5lwq]

That is very nice of you Slim! Glad you were able to help him!

Curious, what you used to blow out the chaff in between fields?

 

[Branson Bob]

Good going Slim. How long did the mowing take?

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

That is very nice of you Slim! Glad you were able to help him!

Curious, what you used to blow out the chaff in between fields?

When I'm not home, I use my small pancake air compressor and either load my small generator in the back of the truck, or if I know I'll have power (like at neighbor's), then I won't. But pancake compressor and an air wand that can reach behind the radiator and coolers.

When I'm home, same wand, but hooked to my big shop compressor. That way I don't have to keep stopping and waiting for the little pancake to catch up again.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Good going Slim. How long did the mowing take?

With or without the stopping and bs'ing sessions (catching up news with neighbor)?



I'd say maybe a leisurely half day, not including the transporting, loading and unloading. Only used half a tank of fuel. Nice to be able to use the 540E again.

It was kind of warm out, so after the first hour I had to put the air conditioner on. A/C blowing, no bugs, no dirt or pollen.

 

[K5lwq]

When I'm not home, I use my small pancake air compressor and either load my small generator in the back of the truck, or if I know I'll have power (like at neighbor's), then I won't. But pancake compressor and an air wand that can reach behind the radiator and coolers.

When I'm home, same wand, but hooked to my big shop compressor. That way I don't have to keep stopping and waiting for the little pancake to catch up again.

Thanks for sharing. I am in the process of setting up a service pallet that I can use remotely when needed. I still have some thinking to do before I start cutting steel. I am going to use a plastic pallet for the platform but I might need a little bigger one to fit everything nicely. I still need a container for grease gun and oils but pretty much have everything else.

I am going to frame behind the compressor with 2" box tubing and mount a retractable hose reel to that. Probably will use 1" for the rest of what I am framing but going trying to keep it light as possible. Here is a picture of what I am thinking so any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Hey that looks pretty cool.

I think the only thing I might consider adding would be some way to start a dead battery, like maybe one of those battery booster pack things? Or just a set of jumper cables if you're going to be hauling this on a second mule?

Look forward to seeing your project.

 

[Cougsfan]

Great idea! What kind of tasks are you expecting to deal with when using this service pallet, K5? That would seemingly help dictate what to do. I assume the big black box is for tools. I probably should know, but am not sure what that big red thing is. I would like an oxy/acetylene set-up, a generator, and an arc welder for the ways I would use it. A vice and an small area that could be pulled out and used as a work table would be nice too. A pancake compressor hooked up to a stand alone air tank might take up less room.

 

[K5lwq]

Great idea! What kind of tasks are you expecting to deal with when using this service pallet, K5? That would seemingly help dictate what to do. I assume the big black box is for tools. I probably should know, but am not sure what that big red thing is. I would like an oxy/acetylene set-up, a generator, and an arc welder for the ways I would use it. A vice and an small area that could be pulled out and used as a work table would be nice too. A pancake compressor hooked up to a stand alone air tank might take up less room.

All great points. The main purpose will be for daily maintenance. The idea came from when we were farming. We had a fuel truck that would come by daily and fuel the tractors. It had air, oil, grease and fuel. We also had a few parts and tools. We could do oil changes in the field or fix a flat tire. The pallet would be similar but much smaller scale.

The red thing is a gravity fed fuel can. The only color they had when I bought it so that is why it is not yellow. I did put a diesel sticker on it to satisfy those that care. It holds 14 or 15 gallons.

I have thought about the table as well as a vice. I just need to remember this is more for if I need extra fuel or need to blow out the radiator. Don't want it to get too heavy. Especially since I need it up in the air to fuel the tractors. Any real repairs I would need to take it to the shop anyway.

I have another pallet I will put together one day that has the welder and generator. But I have been welding a lot at the shop so that project is on the back burner. My shop is 15 miles from the house where most of my tractor work is done.

In the tool box will be air tools and a few other things but not much. So much of this is rather silly as I can get by without it. In a way it just reminds me of farming and that has a special place in my heart. Plus I enjoy projects like this. This is more of a hobby now.

When I am gone my kids will be scratching their heads trying to figure out what half of the stuff is and they will be cussing me the whole time they are trying to figure out what to do with it. :laughing:

 

[ptsg]

Don't forget the fire extinguisher. It always nice to have.