Good morning!!!!

[LS Tractor Owner]

Good morning to all! Low was a nice 56 degrees (comfortable for us) going up to 87. It got real cloudy yesterday afternoon and I thought it would storm at any minute....nope! Greater chances today and tomorrow.

Our son is on his way! Last update they are just crossing into Oklahoma from Arkansas. They left Chattanooga around 9 pm last night and drove all night. They should make it here around 5 or 6 tonight. Ahhh, youth.... I wouldn't attempt driving 22 hours straight anymore. My max now is about 10 hours.

Wifey is planning a nice meal for them, we have a turkey and a chicken in the smoker, along with all the side fixins.

I have a few last things to clear out for them, I better get after it! .....

Everyone have a great day! Prayers sent for BEF, Randy, and everyone needing!

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I know you mentioned you wanted to steer away from Kubota, RNG, but it does seem that they make a pretty darned good tractor. Had I gotten a better reception from our local dealer, that's probably what we would have bought. A bit pricier than LS, but the orange guys for the most part really seem to love their tractors.

It was difficult to come up with a comparable tractor in the LS line, Paul. The hydro trans is primitive by comparison, the loader sluggish unless the hand throttle was jammed up to 2000+ RPM, and the range switch on the gearbox was really stiff, though maybe that would break in with use. That said, one with all the bells and whistles was in the $28K range, and that was the 55HP model. So it was worth looking at, especially if that insurance check wasn't as generous as it was.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

walked out of JD parts dept empty handed, wasn't a bushing I need, it was an axle... Really? for that little plastic wheel?
13 dollars apiece too? No thank you. Nothing more than a simple non hardened steel bushing and to charge 13 bucks for that is
just stupid. I'll figure out another solution.

If you were a neighbor, Drew, we could probably find some pipe in the scrap pile and do a little machine work to make it fit. Maybe you can find a shop near you that would do the same, but probably not for thirteen bux. Or maybe McMaster-Carr will have something?

 

[RedNeckGeek]

RNG the MX5200 is my main tractor. I壇 like a heavier loader. That痴 why I recommend the M5660 over the MX line.
Only thing I致e done to my MX is a front wheel bearing and seal. Think I知 going to need a key switch before long though.

Pretty sure I priced out an M5660, Farmer, but as I recall it was a shuttle shift tractor, not hydrostatic. Would you be comfortable using one of those on a steep hillside? I've never driven one, and might be under the mistaken impression that I'd be jockeying a clutch and brake like in a standard transmission car.

 

[jbrumberg]

Good Morning Everyone!!!!

A mixed sun/cloud 49ºF for today's low; 78ºF presently with decreasing cloudiness which might become today's high temperature. I see more mowing, mulching, and weed/brush whacking for today's planned activities after I pick up the Tundra from the mechanic down the road The brakes were getting mushy and the truck needs its annual inspection next month.

Wifey saw the spider before I relocated it. She made it clear it needed to be moved. . That sucker moved pretty quickly at the time of capture. In theory they do not usually bite w/o provocation. It appeared provoked I took this picture of a female wolf spider a couple of years ago that was hanging out with our cherry tomatoes. She actually went after me during the photoshoot. Their bites hurt, but are not necrotic like their South American cousins. I lost a great picture of one of them in CR that I used as my wedding announcement. Some day I hope to re-find it and share.

RonJH- From its size I think it was a female.

Eric- Awesome video. I do not think that I'll shower with my eyes closed for a while.

Farmer- My continuing + thoughts, wishes, and prayers for you Son.

BEF- My continued + thoughts, wishes, and prayers for a better response to the treatment.

Billy- Thanks for sharing your scenic picture; beautiful country down your way. Thanks for the link. I am happy it is not closer to my location. Good luck with the doctor visit.

Ted- I hope your son and family a safe trip. The planned dinner reads as good eats. 10 hours driving is pushing it for me nowadays.

My + thoughts, wishes, and prayers.

 

[PJSprog]

Ahhh, youth.... I wouldn't attempt driving 22 hours straight anymore. My max now is about 10 hours.

Boy, that's no kidding. We drove to Flagstaff back in 2011, and overnighted in Amarillo. 1400 miles in one day just wasn't going to happen. Did the same on the way home.

We did make the drive to and from Killeen TX (Ft Hood) on several occasions. Depending on weather and traffic, sometimes a 14 hour drive. We loved visiting the oldest (step)son while he was there, but the drive was brutal.

Hope your son's trip is event-free.

 

[Bird]

None of us ever got hurt during our spelunking adventures, but we sure got wet and dirty. Another place we visited, more than once, was Organ Cave. It's a commercial cave in West Virginia, rumored at the time to be the second largest in the country, after Mammoth Cave.

Been to Carlsbad a couple of times and through a small cave in Texas . . . . but . . . . we went to Mammoth Cave one day when it was hotter'n ???? Well, miserably hot, and they told us the tours were all filled for today, that we'd have to make reservations for another date. So I said, "OK, can I made the reservations now?" and they told me that I'd have to go somewhere else and use the phone to make the reservations. We were full time RVers at the time, with no phone of our own, and I decided it just wasn't worth fooling with. So we've never seen Mammoth Cave.

 

[sodamo]

69°F and no rain.

Pretty much same priorities as yesterday I did get the Kioti instrument panel off and the two cables working more freely. Bushhogged a few hours but stopped when I noticed I was missing half a telescoping stabilizer. No idea how or when as that involves losing 2 pins. Looked for it but proverbial needle in haystack thing given size and color in the environment. Never had that happen with either Kioti or Case.

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great day

 

[farmer2009]

Pretty sure I priced out an M5660, Farmer, but as I recall it was a shuttle shift tractor, not hydrostatic. Would you be comfortable using one of those on a steep hillside? I've never driven one, and might be under the mistaken impression that I'd be jockeying a clutch and brake like in a standard transmission car.

Yes you are correct it’s a hydraulic shuttle. I had forgotten you wanted a hydro.

Yes I would be comfortable using it on a steep hillside, but I don’t own a hydro tractor and I’d rather have a shuttle than an 8x2. I find the left hand hydraulic shuttle by the steering wheel very natural to use. For direction changes: pull shuttle to neutral, step on brakes and stop, choose new direction. No clutch needed. Use clutch if in high gear and high rpm to control take off(launch). Some tractors this is adjustable. Not sure if this one is. So the only time you actually need clutch is doing delicate work. Drew’s manlift, hooking equipment, etc.

I use the foot throttle a lot and being right beside brake pedals I find it similar to driving an automatic car. You have to use a hand to change directions on an automatic car. Use hand throttle to set a minimum rpm so you don’t stall it.

The MX line is a Mechanical Shuttle. It requires clutching for every direction change. But it’s also available in a hydro. I just like the loader of the M series better than the 1065 on the MX. Know you are concerned about a heavy enough loader.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Feeling good after 1st PT today.