So some of you may know that my tractor was in need of repair. It has a four speed transmission with high and low gear ranges for a total of 8 forward and reverse gears. The high and low range shifter was working fine but I could not shift between the left and right sides of the H shift pattern. I suspect that a shifter fork is out of whack or something like that. It wasn't much of an issue while moving snow this winter, 2nd gear was just fine and dandy. However now that we're into spring and bush hogging season, I really could use 3rd and 4th. 2nd is a bit slow and 5th is too high. So about three weeks ago, I called Union Farm Equipment (the local kubota dealer) to get an appointment to bring it in to get the tranny repaired. Since it's spring and they're running a good special, I also wanted the annual service done on it. The front tires are pretty chewed up so I figured I'd get them looked at while it was in there too. As you may also recall, I don't have a trailer for the tractor so I had to rely on them to come and pick it up.
So I place the call and they tell me they'll give me a call just before they come to get it. Good enough. A week and a half goes by and I don't hear anything from them so I give them a call and inquire about picking up my tractor. We'll get to it next Thursday. Well OK at least I have a date. Sure enough they come the following Thursday to pick up the tractor. That Saturday I had to go into the parts department cuz last time I used the tractor before they took it I broke the PTO shaft that connects the tractor to the mower. Much to my dismay, I noticed my tractor was still outside in the parking lot. So a week goes by and I don't hear anything so I give them another call and find out that they've not taken it in yet and in fact there are 5 tractors in front of mine in the rotation, all needing clutch repairs. For those not in the know with tractors, clutch repair is a major undertaking. Basically the clutch sits between the transmission and the motor. You have to take the trasmission away from the motor to get to the clutch - this is referred to as splitting the tractor. At that point most tractors go into two pieces. Long story short - major backlog. So yeah, that's what I was thinking too ... "If you have such a backlog why pick up my tractor so soon????" No good answer but since I can't fix it myself I can't complain. They told me to figure on another week or so before it gets into the shop.
So over a week passes and I don't hear anything from them. By now it's this past Wednesday (and the grass is getting awfully tall). I call (again) and this time find out that they have, in fact, fixed the transmission. This is good. Then he tells me that they figure I need new front tires too. No suprise there. While doing the transmission stuff, the technician found some other things. Ugh - ok give me the list
1. You need new tubes for the back tires - they're leaking.
2. The front left tie rod is loose.
3. The tach does not work.
4. The starter needs a new solenoid.
5. There might be a charging problem.
So we talk about these
1. This is a no-brainer. My tractor tires are filled with calcium chloride to add weight. If the fluid leaks, it can cause rusting of the rims. Gotta fix that.
2. I talked to the shop man about this and he asked me if I drove it down the road in high gear. "Nope." Then we decided it wasn't worth fixing.
3. This wasn't a big issue to me but since it was only gonna be $35 to fix it I decided to do it.
4. Need a price on this one. There is a trick for the starter so I can start it but if it might break in the future better to fix it. Told him to get me a price on this. Turns out you can't get a solenoid
so I'd need a whole new starter. For the $700 decided to pass.
5. I told him that the battery always seems to work but that the past owner had cross jumped the battery so that's likely caused the idiot light to come on.
This is my problem whenever I have a vehicle taken into a factory shop. Remember the last time I took my truck into the shop for an inspection sticker and a cam-sensor recall I ended up with a new oil pan, brake lines, shocks, etc. Bad ju ju
Could have been a lot worse I guess so I figured that I was doing OK. Then about a half hour later I get a call back. "Umm - we were looking a bit closer at the rear rims and I noticed that your tube is actually sticking out of one rim and the other is pretty rusted." Sort of how the call went when the truck was in the shop too but what can you do? Rims are important.
So after giving them the go ahead for rims (I got 10% off of those) they told me the tractor should be ready sometime late next week.
As Stacy put it "see, you're a real farmer"
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
New Equipment Addition to the Farm
I've been wanting a trailer for a while. Spent a bunch of time debating - stock or normal - gooseneck or bumper pull - 2 horse or 4, etc.
The first question was pretty easy, since the BLM requires a stock trailer when dealing with mustangs that seemed like a logical fit - plus at some point in the future I'd like to have some cows so there just seems to be more versitility with a stock trailer. For those who don't know the difference, stock trailers are open inside them with no partitions to seperate the animals, no troughs for feed, etc. If you gut the inside of a horse trailer you've got a stock trailer. Then I found out about stock/combo trailers which are basically stock trailers with a removable center divider so that you can have the best of both worlds. Since both of my girls have been delivered in stock trailers, I didn't anticipate any issues with one.
As for bumper pull versus gooseneck, originally I wanted a gooseneck. From what I've read, they handle better and have more natural backing characteristics. However, the F-250 is a shortbed which can cause issues with some gooseneck trailers. I've also got a toolbox in the bed that I've gotten used to and would hate to have to take it out. Since I'm not planning any cross country trips the bumper-pull wins this category.
Size of the trailer wasn't as much of an issue, I figured anything 16' and under would be fine, I don't anticipate needing to haul any more than 2 horses or a handful of dexter cattle.
So we put the word out to anyone we could that we were looking for a used trailer, read Uncle Henry's religiously every Saturday, scouted the newspapers, etc. Then one day we got a call from Mona (remember her, she's the woman we adopted Grace from) and she knew of someone in Saco selling a 2 horse bumper pull stock/combo trailer - just what we were looking for. I went to see it a few days later and bought it at the end of that week.
Once we had a trailer, I had to get a hitch put on the truck. The trailer GVCW is 7000 lbs so I figured I needed a hitch of that capacity. Seems logical, right? Well let me tell you, I had quite a time talking the hitch installer into selling me a class IV hitch that would tow it. He wanted to sell me a class III which was only rated for 5000 lbs. Now I don't anticpate putting 4500 pounds in the trailer but I figure if the trailer can support it then the hitch should as well. After some hemming and hawing I got a DrawTite Class IV hitch installed on the truck with a reese brake controller.
I finally had a chance to get out to Saco yesterday to pick her up. Let me tell you, after hauling a 31' travel trailer, she tows like a dream. Don't even need extended mirrors to see the back of it. The truck doesn't seem to mind it being back there - its about 2700 pounds empty.
She's a 2002 Valley 2 horse bumper pull stock/combo trailer 6' wide by 14' long. It is the heavy duty steel model, not the lighter aluminum. Its got a front changing room with saddle racks, etc. All the tires are in good shape, floor is in good condition and has mats. Currently the center divider is out - I'll likely keep it that way unless I need it for some reason.
Tomorrow is the anniversary of Ronald Reagan's death so as a tribute I would like to offer the following.
The first question was pretty easy, since the BLM requires a stock trailer when dealing with mustangs that seemed like a logical fit - plus at some point in the future I'd like to have some cows so there just seems to be more versitility with a stock trailer. For those who don't know the difference, stock trailers are open inside them with no partitions to seperate the animals, no troughs for feed, etc. If you gut the inside of a horse trailer you've got a stock trailer. Then I found out about stock/combo trailers which are basically stock trailers with a removable center divider so that you can have the best of both worlds. Since both of my girls have been delivered in stock trailers, I didn't anticipate any issues with one.
As for bumper pull versus gooseneck, originally I wanted a gooseneck. From what I've read, they handle better and have more natural backing characteristics. However, the F-250 is a shortbed which can cause issues with some gooseneck trailers. I've also got a toolbox in the bed that I've gotten used to and would hate to have to take it out. Since I'm not planning any cross country trips the bumper-pull wins this category.
Size of the trailer wasn't as much of an issue, I figured anything 16' and under would be fine, I don't anticipate needing to haul any more than 2 horses or a handful of dexter cattle.
So we put the word out to anyone we could that we were looking for a used trailer, read Uncle Henry's religiously every Saturday, scouted the newspapers, etc. Then one day we got a call from Mona (remember her, she's the woman we adopted Grace from) and she knew of someone in Saco selling a 2 horse bumper pull stock/combo trailer - just what we were looking for. I went to see it a few days later and bought it at the end of that week.
Once we had a trailer, I had to get a hitch put on the truck. The trailer GVCW is 7000 lbs so I figured I needed a hitch of that capacity. Seems logical, right? Well let me tell you, I had quite a time talking the hitch installer into selling me a class IV hitch that would tow it. He wanted to sell me a class III which was only rated for 5000 lbs. Now I don't anticpate putting 4500 pounds in the trailer but I figure if the trailer can support it then the hitch should as well. After some hemming and hawing I got a DrawTite Class IV hitch installed on the truck with a reese brake controller.
I finally had a chance to get out to Saco yesterday to pick her up. Let me tell you, after hauling a 31' travel trailer, she tows like a dream. Don't even need extended mirrors to see the back of it. The truck doesn't seem to mind it being back there - its about 2700 pounds empty.
She's a 2002 Valley 2 horse bumper pull stock/combo trailer 6' wide by 14' long. It is the heavy duty steel model, not the lighter aluminum. Its got a front changing room with saddle racks, etc. All the tires are in good shape, floor is in good condition and has mats. Currently the center divider is out - I'll likely keep it that way unless I need it for some reason.
Tomorrow is the anniversary of Ronald Reagan's death so as a tribute I would like to offer the following.
"I hope we have once again reminded people
that man is not free unless government is limited.
There's a clear cause and effect here that is as
neat and predictable as a law of physics:
as government expands,liberty contracts."
Ronald Reagan
that man is not free unless government is limited.
There's a clear cause and effect here that is as
neat and predictable as a law of physics:
as government expands,liberty contracts."
Ronald Reagan
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