Recent content by ericm979

It doesn't take long before they're following Mom most of the time. A week or two?

We resisted getting one for 20 years. When we finally did we realized they're far more useful than we expected. As long as I have rural property I'll likely have one. I wish there were reasonably priced electric UTVs and ATVs. On a property like ours the trips are short. The gas engine rarely...

Measure the distance from the pin the loader arm pivots on (by the operator station) to the pins where the bucket or skid steer quick attach frame mounts on the loader frame. Call that distance A. Then measure from the loader arm pivot to the estimated center of gravity of the load on the forks...

This looks useful: Foxtail control in pastures and hayground

Unfortunately I had to do that for the last few years due to lack of room. It's a big implement when its off the tractor. The rods look ok still. Some of the gray paint is fading. When I do park the tractor inside with the BH mounted I tie the outriggers up otherwise they sag. The travel locks...

I have a Stihl MS460 that I usually run a 24" bar on. I have used a 32" bar for large trees. I have a 36" for it but haven't used it. I think 36" would cut slow. The 460 is a pretty healthy 77cc saw so you're probably looking in the 80cc class, like a 500i. Or a 90cc class saw like a 660. The...

The foxtail's worst where I mowed in June last year right before the fire district shut down mowing for the summer. The grass was still a bit green then. The parts that got mowed in September stayed in timothy and orchard grass. Of course there could be other factors besides mowing but I think...

I've also got foxtail in some of the pastures that I want to get rid of.

You can look at a parts list to see if the blade bolts are all the same part number or some are different. I would expect the blade bolts to all be right handed as there's not really any loosening force on them that depends on the direction of rotation. The nuts are tightened down on to a...

Lately I have been in the full throttle camp, except when I need slower string speed around fences or other obstacles. I find that I get more time on a tank of fuel. I suspect that my carb runs rich at mid throttle openings. Two stroke power equipment like string trimmers, blowers and chain...

That was one factor why I didn't get one, although the failure rate may be overblown. Mostly I just like two strokes. The 4-mix oils the engine by circulating incoming fuel/oil/air mix through the bottom end, past the cam and followers and through the valve cover. It's not a lot of oil but it's...

I see a lot of hay being shipped down I-5. What's it cost to run a semi load to the bay area? Do you contract the truck yourself and have a buyer in CA, or sell to a local broker who handles it all?

I've seen basements in a few old (early 1900s or earlier) California houses. But once they started building subdivisions after WWII they stopped digging basements. I've always thought it was purely for cost reasons. Now I'm seeing them come back in some situations. In town there's a lot of $3...

I used to think we wern't but then I realized that the carbon in ethanol came from the air recently, like this year or last year. The carbon in gasoline had been safely buried for millions of years. Burning it adds to the total carbon in the air; burning ethanol made from plants just recycles...

If it leaks and causes water damage they might get a claim.