Good morning!!!!

[LS Tractor Owner]

Good morning to all! Low of 46, high of 74 today. Rain chances are gone.

RNG, you definitely had a busy day... does not seem like you even slowed down for 14 hours... no wonder you slept well! Glad you were able to get the tractor parts that were needed. Now you need to find the time to install them:confused2:

Eric, take that opportunity to go fishing! That is one of my favorite things to relax. Unfortunately, it has been 3 years since I have been able to take the time. There is nowhere local to drown some worms, all being a couple hours drive away. That is part of the problem....

RS, I would never been able to finish a quart size malt... that would be enough for 3 times!

Today is start fencing day. I was hoping to get 50ft rolls to be able to manage handling them better...but no... only 100ft ones in stock. That is ok, the local hardware store gave me a price over the phone that was $11 cheaper than Lowes or HD. When I purchased them, they charged me another $8 less for each roll... total of $19 less per roll....
I will deal with the bigger rolls for that price!

Before I get to the fencing, (I am really procrastinating this morning), my good neighbor asked if I could drop 4-5 holes in the ground for him to put in some fence posts too... it might get me motivated to start...

Well, one thing or another, I better get moving, I can feel the rust setting in on my joints...

 

[pennwalk]

Started on the removal of the fence at the side of the barn. It's 1-1/4" solid bar welded together, and it's not going quietly into the night. I figured the reciprocating saw would be better than cutting wheels on the grinder, but it turns out not so much. I'm getting about three cuts with a blade before having to replace it, and the third cut is a chore. After getting a corner assembly removed and cut up, and three horizontal bars removed, I threw in the towel for the day. My hands, forearms, and back are still hurting this morning. Trying to decide if a cutting torch or a chop saw would work better. The DeWalt is just beating me up too much, and taking too long.

Matt Cremona on Youtube has a circular saw that will zip through 1/2 inch plate like cutting a 2X4. The first time I saw that video I was speech-less. Every time I hit steel with my skil saw I have to go find a new blade.

Chris

 

[Looking4new]

I just looked out the window...NO grass cutting today. No snow shoveling, yet.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Does your whole seat tilt forward like my ZD1211? My seat is pretty good but ..always open to improvement. Please keep us posted on how it works for you.

Slide rails still attach to seat plate that tilts up. They supply bolts that were threaded same as previous bolts. I used original bolts at front to bolt on seat, but new bolts on back since head on them.

 

[sodamo]

66°F and .14 inches rain. Day is looking a bit more promising than yesterday at this point. I remain hopeful.

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great day

 

[sodamo]

A long day... I am wore out, mr. knee is complaining, back is complaining... but... I got the area of split rail done, including the gate! WOOHOO!

Actually went faster than expected, the LS and PHD worked flawlessly. Now the next part... installing welded wire fencing on all of it. 200 ft to be precise.

I cannot believe what came out of my mouth today... wifey asked if I was going to hand staple all the fencing... I said...yes. She then asked if they made a staple gun for fencing. I said ....yes. She asked how much? I said too much, about $350. She said I think that would be worth it .... at first I was stunned.... then the statement came out of my mouth that I never thought I would say.... NO.. THAT IS WAY TOO EXPENSIVE TO BUY A TOOL! I still cannot believe I said that...

I have already bought the 5lbs of fence staples for $7.... I just know I will be eating my words for a while....

A few pics of the work today:

Ted, just had to share that with my wife.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Ron, I was considering one of those portable band saws yesterday on the drive home from work. I pass right by the HF in Fairview Heights every day. Been thinking about getting one of those for awhile anyway. Maybe I'll stop tonight.
[SNIP]
That's a seriously long day of driving, RNG. Glad you got what you went for. Out of curiosity, isn't there a decent Kubota dealer closer than Medford OR, or is there a reason you're driving to that specific dealer?

I finally learned that, at least when it comes to saw blades, you get what you pay for. A good bi-metal blade from Lenox will last far longer on harder materials like alloy and stainless steel than their high speed steel cousins. But you'll probably end up paying twice as much for them. Which reminds me, I need to order a new spool of 1/2" bandsaw blade stock, but I've been having trouble finding it in the Lenox brand.

Medford was a fortunate accident, Paul. The used equipment dealer there had a 12" trenching bucket for the new backhoe at a very reasonable price, and it turns out that there's no sales tax in Oregon, further sweetening the deal. The first place I found it was in North Carolina, but they wanted $1200 just for shipping! :shocked: So it was an easy leap to think about purchasing the upgrades for the rest of the tractor at the Medford Kubota dealer, too. I've been working with their salesman, who isn't the best at returning calls, but he did offer a small discount on the upgrades. Only time will tell if the right stuff is in the boxes when I go to do the installation, though.:crossfingers:

My local Kubota dealer is in my doghouse, and has never been very supportive. The latest debacle with the old tractor is the straw that broke the camel's back. It's over a month now since I dropped it off for repairs, they waited three weeks to even take it apart far enough to figure out what was broken, and now they are waiting on parts to complete the repair. Unfortunately, the same outfit owns both the closest Kubota dealerships, so there's not much choice. I tried to buy the M62 there, but the salesman insisted on charging full retail, then dropped the ball entirely after he agreed to deliver one here for a try out. It's pretty telling that in the time they've had that old tractor, I've found a replacement, had it shipped here, completed the 100 hour maintenance on it, bought all the accessories and upgrades I wanted for it, and dug a monster ditch with it that would have stopped the old tractor cold.

But wait, there's more! Historically, it's like pulling teeth to get a straight answer out of the local Kubota dealer when I call with a question about the RTV or tractor, and almost every part I've needed they had to special order. It's much easier and quicker for me to just Google here for diagnostic info, and use the parts fiche at Messick's, which maintains a pretty large inventory of the usual maintenance parts. They ship same day if they have the item in stock, they don't charge sales tax, shipping is at actual cost, and stuff gets here in less than a week. When something isn't in stock, the web order form says so when the order is placed, and my experience is that it accurately predicts any additional delay.

Sorry you asked yet?:laughing:

 

[jbrumberg]

A mostly clear and sunny 34ºF for today’s low temperature. It’s been a mix of sun and clouds all day so far. It is presently 45ºF which may become today’s high temperature. The NWS/B-N has issued a Special Weather Statement for elevated fire risk today and tomorrow and a Freeze Warning for tonight-tomorrow AM. I might even see some snow tonight.

We saw our first Ruby Throated Hummingbird yesterday late afternoon. He apparently survived today’s 34ºF. It will be colder tomorrow AM (~28ºF). With the arrival of the Baltimore Orioles I went down to the “Big City” in search of a Baltimore Oriole nectar feeder. I went to 4 different hardware/feed/garden retailers and no one had any.

I got the bird feeders secured just before the bear showed up and it was not leaving despite Brogen’s indoor theatrics.

I am not looking forward to going to the hospital tomorrow AM for my liver ultrasound.

Eric- Good luck fishing.

David- Thanks for sharing Sophie’s sunrise photo.

Ted- Thanks for sharing your sunset pic. Nice looking fence. Good luck with the fencing staples.

RonJH- I am happy to read that you did not have a fly-a-way.

My + thoughts, wishes, and prayers.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Matt Cremona on Youtube has a circular saw that will zip through 1/2 inch plate like cutting a 2X4. The first time I saw that video I was speech-less. Every time I hit steel with my skil saw I have to go find a new blade.

Chris

My Google is weak today, Chris. Was it one of these?

Maybe a local rental shop would have one Paul could rent?

 

[Thomas]

ronjhall
Thomas, maybe you wood supplier has the same problem with cold weather as I do. Going to be shorts weather by weekend.
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Still a no show todays deliver that young fellow and I goner have chat when the last load drop!!!
Weather station showing snow flakes dancing in the air for tonight 28F,only reach 70F once this year for us.