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farmerjan
Herd Master
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Tuesday, down to 39 this morning up to 78 today. Very slight breeze earlier so got warmer quicker.... but it was chilly in the barn at 5:30. Done milking at 9, computer work then home to change for PT in the pool.... It feels great to not have the gravity on the joints but it doesn't last like when they guys do the ligament and tendon "torture" when they work them.... like grinding their thumbs into some very tender spots... but the effects last all day and more.
Anyway, left there and came back, called DS and found out the "plan" for the day. I got on the tractor with the big wheel rake and headed to his barn property after eating some lunch. Since they are not done with all the "construction stuff" at the tower, the silt/erosion fencing is in place and it is a royal pain to work around all the corners.... but I got it all raked after about 3+ hours.... orchard grass looks real good.
Then I went up to the subdivision and raked the 3 fields that he had mowed. It was after 6 when I got off the tractor.
Along the way had an interesting happening. There are very large stiff springs that are attached to each of the "wheels" that have the teeth to rake the hay. This rake has 7 wheels on a side.... when you lift up the wheels, like for transport.... they are controlled by a long "pipe" that the hydraulic cylinder causes to move.... to lift or lower...and the spring holds it up also... Anyway, each wheel has a stiff spring that helps to control it when it is rolling along the ground... keeping it somewhat stable and allowing it to "bounce a little" along the contour of the ground also. Anyway, the spring holds it in place when it is up. We are talking REALLY STIFF... like you use a crowbar to get it on the rake and the supporting bar on the pipe... One end of the spring just snapped off... and the wheel immediately dropped... on the road as I was coming up to rake the first place.... I managed to get it picked up (pivots up and down on like an axle that holds it in place like any other wheel) .... and then loop the short chain that also helps to keep it from bouncing all over, around the bar that the spring was attached to.... First I looked for and found an old bolt and a nut to fit (MIRACLE OF ALL MIRACLES) in the little tool box on the tractor... and after getting the wheel up, held it against the frame and got the bolt through the chain, into the other link after looping it around the bar, and thread the rusty nut on the rusty bolt ONE HANDED.... Remember, this happened on the road... no one in sight or calling distance and too far to walk back to the farm where my truck was...Honestly don't know how I managed it... except that using the hip to help brace the wheel up right and all that.... Then got a pair of rusty pliers out and managed to get it to turn the nut to get it on further. The weight of the wheel against the chain and the bolt head helped as I only had the one set of locking pliers....
Figured that if it came off, then at least I could still rake... but it stayed on so that wheel didn't drop when I let the other ones down to rake...
So I did the 10 acres of og... and about 8-10 acres in the 3 lots in the subdivision... but there weren't all the obstacles so it went faster... Since I cannot rake tomorrow with going to the farm to test... DS said he would try to get it fixed. Also, have a wheel that all the teeth attach to, that is breaking.... it is probably one of the original wheels... and it is cracking and splitting at least 1/3 of the way around so the teeth will catch and hang up when it wobbles a little. He said that he can get that replaced. We have replaced 2 so far in this rake; after having it 5-6 years, and doug having it for at least 10 before that, we can't complain. They are 175 a wheel, but they come with all the teeth on them and the teeth cost about that if you buy them separately... well worth it.
There are only 5 more rows that are mowed because something cracked on the discbine, and cannot be used. It is part of the piece that they were supposed to replace all the cutter housings when he tore it up and they didn't replace them all.... so don't know where this is going but it is their fault.... after nearly 8,000 worth of work and parts.... they didn't replace the 3 housings because they " looked okay" DS is mad and he has every right to be mad. He said that he wanted all the housings replaced... and if he had to kick in for the 3 that was fine.... so now they are going to have to make good someway on not doing it in the interest of saving a little time and money....
ALWAYS SOMETHING.....
Nothing done at house today, or tomorrow... maybe Thursday I will be able to get back to painting some more of the baseboard heater panels....
I am really whipped, so am going to get a hot shower, wash my hair as it is dirty/dusty and go to bed. Didn't get the samples packed today since I was on the tractor so long... so they are first thing, and getting bottles ready for the farm tomorrow....Don't like to hold them over, but one day won't hurt and it is plenty cool for them here too... Have a farm scheduled for Saturday afternoon... where I get the "left behind" cornish chicks.... but didn't say anything about the houses going out or anything.
Have to get the easy calving bull caught up and taken to the neighbors, the jersey didn't settle to the AI and they want to try to get their other 2 "lowline angus" heifers bred... this bull throws small calves, we use him on all our first calf heifers... and I said I would be glad tom let them use him for breeding.... needs to be out of the pasture where he is anyway.... those heifers will start calving here in another month, all cked preg....
Gotta quit, I am really "failing fast"....
Anyway, left there and came back, called DS and found out the "plan" for the day. I got on the tractor with the big wheel rake and headed to his barn property after eating some lunch. Since they are not done with all the "construction stuff" at the tower, the silt/erosion fencing is in place and it is a royal pain to work around all the corners.... but I got it all raked after about 3+ hours.... orchard grass looks real good.
Then I went up to the subdivision and raked the 3 fields that he had mowed. It was after 6 when I got off the tractor.
Along the way had an interesting happening. There are very large stiff springs that are attached to each of the "wheels" that have the teeth to rake the hay. This rake has 7 wheels on a side.... when you lift up the wheels, like for transport.... they are controlled by a long "pipe" that the hydraulic cylinder causes to move.... to lift or lower...and the spring holds it up also... Anyway, each wheel has a stiff spring that helps to control it when it is rolling along the ground... keeping it somewhat stable and allowing it to "bounce a little" along the contour of the ground also. Anyway, the spring holds it in place when it is up. We are talking REALLY STIFF... like you use a crowbar to get it on the rake and the supporting bar on the pipe... One end of the spring just snapped off... and the wheel immediately dropped... on the road as I was coming up to rake the first place.... I managed to get it picked up (pivots up and down on like an axle that holds it in place like any other wheel) .... and then loop the short chain that also helps to keep it from bouncing all over, around the bar that the spring was attached to.... First I looked for and found an old bolt and a nut to fit (MIRACLE OF ALL MIRACLES) in the little tool box on the tractor... and after getting the wheel up, held it against the frame and got the bolt through the chain, into the other link after looping it around the bar, and thread the rusty nut on the rusty bolt ONE HANDED.... Remember, this happened on the road... no one in sight or calling distance and too far to walk back to the farm where my truck was...Honestly don't know how I managed it... except that using the hip to help brace the wheel up right and all that.... Then got a pair of rusty pliers out and managed to get it to turn the nut to get it on further. The weight of the wheel against the chain and the bolt head helped as I only had the one set of locking pliers....
Figured that if it came off, then at least I could still rake... but it stayed on so that wheel didn't drop when I let the other ones down to rake...
So I did the 10 acres of og... and about 8-10 acres in the 3 lots in the subdivision... but there weren't all the obstacles so it went faster... Since I cannot rake tomorrow with going to the farm to test... DS said he would try to get it fixed. Also, have a wheel that all the teeth attach to, that is breaking.... it is probably one of the original wheels... and it is cracking and splitting at least 1/3 of the way around so the teeth will catch and hang up when it wobbles a little. He said that he can get that replaced. We have replaced 2 so far in this rake; after having it 5-6 years, and doug having it for at least 10 before that, we can't complain. They are 175 a wheel, but they come with all the teeth on them and the teeth cost about that if you buy them separately... well worth it.
There are only 5 more rows that are mowed because something cracked on the discbine, and cannot be used. It is part of the piece that they were supposed to replace all the cutter housings when he tore it up and they didn't replace them all.... so don't know where this is going but it is their fault.... after nearly 8,000 worth of work and parts.... they didn't replace the 3 housings because they " looked okay" DS is mad and he has every right to be mad. He said that he wanted all the housings replaced... and if he had to kick in for the 3 that was fine.... so now they are going to have to make good someway on not doing it in the interest of saving a little time and money....
ALWAYS SOMETHING.....
Nothing done at house today, or tomorrow... maybe Thursday I will be able to get back to painting some more of the baseboard heater panels....
I am really whipped, so am going to get a hot shower, wash my hair as it is dirty/dusty and go to bed. Didn't get the samples packed today since I was on the tractor so long... so they are first thing, and getting bottles ready for the farm tomorrow....Don't like to hold them over, but one day won't hurt and it is plenty cool for them here too... Have a farm scheduled for Saturday afternoon... where I get the "left behind" cornish chicks.... but didn't say anything about the houses going out or anything.
Have to get the easy calving bull caught up and taken to the neighbors, the jersey didn't settle to the AI and they want to try to get their other 2 "lowline angus" heifers bred... this bull throws small calves, we use him on all our first calf heifers... and I said I would be glad tom let them use him for breeding.... needs to be out of the pasture where he is anyway.... those heifers will start calving here in another month, all cked preg....
Gotta quit, I am really "failing fast"....