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Are you getting full voltage?

Did you warm it up and thump on the gauge?

Has anyone seen one of these these pumps? I find a lot of centrifugal pumps but no diaphragm type.

Pole building?

Depends on what I am doing and where. Working for a FD, I have seen a number of deaths from equipment rolling over. Most had ROPS and the occupant would have been fine if they had stayed in the seat. Hillsides and loss of control and despite what many say, a tractor that is rolling over will...

Gopher Hawk.

I would think if you had one brake adjusted a little tighter than the others it would tend to run warmer as it would be the first to engage.

TIC's are great tools. I have found some interesting things while investigating different "Smell of hot electrical" FD calls. We had a call when we first started using them for a smell of hot electrical in a house. We walked all thought the house and the odor was there but no definitive cause...

The only thing that touches my driveway is my landscape rake. Pull the gravel back from the edges and tilt it slightly to maintain the crown. Down one side pulling the gravel back from the edges then the same back down the other side.

77 27 or so of fir trees and 40 or so pasture and 10 for homesites, barns etc.

Oil and grease is cheap. I will use lots of it to keep my old tractors running.

Do you own a shop manual? If not, start there in your quest to repair it. It is expensive to create a seal just for one product. You may find it available some other place such as a seal dealer. Most seals have numbers you can find once disassembled.

Was it covered. Was it condensation?

So the top of the bushing is where the wear occurs and I suspect the oil level is half way up the bushing requiring the oil to literally splash into the wear area when the tractor is running. Poor design I would think. Thin lubricant (hydraulic oil being anywhere from 10 to 30 weight) has poor...

I was not implying you had a problem. Rather, that an analysis would find it before it caused damage.

$25 is cheap to find out that an injector is leaking down and the reason you appear to use no oil is because it is contaminated with diesel fuel. What lab do you use?

Every 100 hours on engine oil and filter. 30 minutes max and maybe $25. Over 6300 hours on my L2550DT. Beyond valve adjustment, no covers off my engine and runs strong. Maintenance. Pay me now or pay me later.

Are they both leaking?

I will start off this "idea" thread with this shop addition: I put a solenoid valve at the outlet of my air compressor that is "opened" by turning on my shop lights. No broken hoses at night running my compressor when no one is around. I can also find out that I have an air leak if my piping...

I will just stick with the small blade is hot, the larger blade is neutral and the "round" plug is ground and all my 120 volt tools and testers will be happy.

I also have four chains that I use with my two post to lift my rider mowers. Makes sharpening and cleaning under the deck a breeze. Someone also mentioned lifting a tractor. I lift neither the 30 HP Kubota or the larger IH. It is nice to be able to lift one axle at a time though.

If you plan on using it to work on brakes, wheels and/or tires then a four post would be of little value to you. I have a 9K two post and wish I had gone with a 12K lift. Lifting a 1 ton dual wheel tests the limits of a 9K. If you go two post, be sure to have your cables and hydraulics overhead...

Although it would not address a ruptured relief valve on the compressor, I installed a shutoff solenoid valve in the air line off the compressor. It is "opened" when I turn on the shop lights. It shuts down my air system when I leave the building. I have never been a fan of using a breaker as a...

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Anyone here use a PTO speed increaser?

SSS. Yes. the rule.

We have a number of cougar sightings in our valley every year. One just a week or so ago. A few years ago my wife got a call from the neighbor saying to get the kids in as a cougar was on her deck watching her in the house and it left and headed toward our house. But when you live in an area...

225', if that is the length, wow. I see some long stuff running around SW Washington to the various pole yards but not this long.

Are you over pumping your well? If your well is only capable of delivering say 10 gallons per minute (GPM) and you allow it to pump unrestricted it may try to pump 11+ GPM. When the well cannot keep up, the casing starts to run low and you pick up air along with the water.

I am going to drop this here to see if Hay Dude takes his comment back about particular people being absent from this thread. :)

Are you in Iowa city at -12 or Tampa at 70?

If you go through a number of clutch discs you may want to adjust the clutch pressure. I take one of those point and shoot thermometers and just take the clutch's temperature every now and then. If it gets hot when you really load it down, but runs cool in "normal" load you might be about right...

Do you have a slip clutch on the PTO shaft? If you have a splined PTO shaft at both ends and no clutch, you are asking to break something when the cutter hits an immobile object.

Life has its awesome moments for sure. :)

Measure every point you can. I have a bucket level issue on the little 2550 and I can correct it by shimming under one mount side. What created this is the fact that one rear tire, although the same number size as the other, is considerably taller. This translates into an uneven bucket, low on...

I have used good quality 5/8" garden hoses with adaptors at the end to extend my distance from a compressor to a work site when using a nailer. Ran 200' to a job years ago. Do you own a volt meter? If you do not, it should be your next purchase for situations as you describe.

Three. Kubota, JD and IH

How much tongue weight did you have on this truck?

I was the second guy named Peterson at the fire station I worked at. Hence RePete. A third was hired and he became ThreePete.

Moly B damn, all my joints are covered with a rust preventative layer of protective old grease. :)

I have an L2550DT with a 4520 backhoe. I like the subframe backhoe unit and am curious if anyone knows what other Kubota models this backhoe may fit on.

#1) Think drainage. Keep the water away. I live in Washington state, on the "wet" side, so we all know to give the inevitable water somewhere to go. :) My roadbed is probably 12-18" above shoulder drains. Both sides are mowable so easily maintained. Ditches did not work as they filled with weeds.

What is it you are looking to pull? Pulling a plow at 1 mph is different than wanting to pull the same plow at 10 mph.

I had a rod bent in one of my backhoe cylinders and it cost me about $95 for new rod stock plus $40 for a seal kit. I cut the "pin" end off the old rod and since I had a lathe I was able to thread the rod end and turn a bevel end with centering pin on the other end and put a hole in the "pin"...

Washington State, Propane 2.74/gallon on owned tank. Diesel 5.24/gallon for 350 gallons delivered to owned tank.

You might start with a description of what you are looking to cut. Pics perhaps of what you are up against.

I have the side mount unit and like that the track for the door can rise the door to within inches of the ceiling. It actually goes up maybe four more feet before it begins to turn. The track can also be put at an angle to hug the ceiling if your ceiling vault runs parallel to the door opening.

Appreciate your observation. I am only cutting very light material. I watch the temp gauge and never does it bog down with what I am cutting. I just do not like the loud noise for hours on end. I set the engine RPM at 1200 or so, make good time and relax. I only ask that the engine make enough...

I have never used pea gravel on a driveway as 5/8- is my normal top coat and is easily recovered by using a landscape rake. I have considered some sort of material to lock it place but am afraid I would have a mess later if I tried to push it around.

Does anyone know which kubota's in the 30hp range have two speed PTO's? The reason I am wanting the two speed is I use a bushhog 6' mower to do about 30 acres in five acre portions and it is usually light grass. Running the PTO in the 1000 RPM range means my tractor engine runs considerable...

Beyond the water pump, I have had no issues at the front end of my 2550. Hope others respond. Do you have the shop manual?

Both the bucket roll and the loader arms fall. If you have a friend with a tractor you could rule out the cylinders leaking by the packing by raising the loader and with it supported by tractor #2, remove the hydraulic line to the non cylinder rod side and plug it. Let tractor #2 release the...

I am not TOTALLY confused but I am a LOT confused here. Maybe a couple pictures would help.

Are you looking for a centrifugal pump or a diaphragm pump?

Just when I thought about retiring from the ES world I climb right back on the horse. Took a temporary job as a fire chief after the fire department and chief parted company. The department needed someone to "drive the desk" until a new chief can be found. I continue into my 54th year in the...

Not necessarily a gloat but if it is seen that way there is not much I can do about it. I bought this lift 15 years ago for $1,799.00. I have not had any funds go into it so the cost is $120/year. That come to $10/month at this point or less that two cups of coffee per month. I just have so...

Indeed this is another way. Just got to think out of the box a bit. I like my blades sharp and always cut in a way that causes me to "recut" what I previously cut in the prior round. I mostly use this unit to top cut the pastures. I have an older unit with no tail wheel that I use for cutting...

I cheat and use my two post lift...

My kids only. I usually deliver it and visit with my grandkids. :)

This was my thought on the changing every 100 hours. In the winter it runs for about 20 minutes, just long enough to warm up a bit, then is parked in a covered shed in SW Washington awaiting the next use. Winters in the fog and rain are a perfect way to build moisture in the oil. Being as it is...

Indeed. The use of common sense is your best course of action here. The "Risk benefit analysis". :)

Same number of hours? Since my used motor oil becomes furnace oil it is not really being thrown away.

I look at the posts about electronics and air pollution stuff and a host of other items that may cause a new tractor to go to the shop for repair so for about the same cost as 15 minutes of shop time I can do an oil change to keep this purely mechanical tractor running.

Oil change every 100 hours and regular grease. Two clutches I believe, a lot of $ in the front axle from asking it to lift too much and reinforcing of loader arms. Fortunately, beyond the valve covers being off for valve adjustment I have never had the engine apart including fuel injectors etc...

Wife caught me working on 5 of the 40 acres today with the faithful little L2550DT. Turned 6,330 hours today.

Lets look at all of this. You have a tractor that weighs 5900 pounds. You add a loader for an additional maybe 1000 pounds. To this you add a 2000 pound load in the bucket. You are now looking at a total weight of 8900 pounds. Lets add you in the seat and call it a total weight of 9000 pounds...

My "Go to" plan. I do not take chemicals/degreasers to clean beyond the floor dry. to me, it is a shop floor, not a kitchen floor.

it is just sort of a health check. Cannot undo what has been done but at least you know. Kind of like a physical, cannot fix the issue but at least you know a little go/no go on running a marathon. :)

When I buy a used vehicle the first thing I do is pull it in the shop and pull the pans and covers and inspect and change all fluids and filters. The only exception being in-tank fuel pumps and filters.

Your post on the furnace reminded me that I ran a line from my thermostat to the bay door and installed a limit switch on the bay door. Any time the bay door is open the limit switch cuts off the furnace. Door open no heat. Another thing was a mechanical timer to shut off the furnace after a...

I have a side winder door motor on my 10' by 10' door with a lift in the bay. The side opener allowed me to have the door go up much higher and really hug the ceiling, even matching the vault angle if the vault is perpendicular to the door opening. A 6' interior height cargo trailer is only...

Valid reasons. I had not factored labor as I have a sheetrock jack. Any considerations for electrical grounding as you will likely have metal light fixtures in contact with the ceiling?

So I have to ask, what are the advantages over sheetrock painted gloss white? I know there is a reason....

Beyond the towing weight, what is the tongue weight of the various trailers loaded and what is the tongue weight capacity of the tow vehicle?

After 6,300 hours on my L2500DT I have learned to use 4WD when I need it. Get it out if I do not. I have pulled the front differential to replace the little 3/4" or so splined coupling that connect the two halves of the front driveline. Not a repair I liked. I have replaced the front tires many...

It must be rigid in both directions to stop the backhoe from moving in both directions. Although it is an underslung mount, there is still a connection from the top of the backhoe to the top tractor point. The stock one has only one end adjustable and it is difficult to get the adjustment as it...

Anyone know of a source for extra long CAT 1 three point top link with a collapsed length of roughly 30"?

It is different construction. Seems to be held by the single retaining ring.

Has anyone had difficulty removing the retaining clip or ring from a Koyker hydraulic cylinder? The retainer ring is frozen in the tube groove I assume. THe gland spins freely but the retaining ring is frozen.

Can you post a circuit diagram?

Many years ago my father in law was driving the E350 i yd dump with a 16' flatbed and tractor loaded sbound on I-5 in Washington. He got near his exit and then it started running rough and pulled over. The engine had overheated and seized. When I pulled the engine I took the thermostat housing...

As 5030 said, a temp gauge, in this case of huge fluid loss, only confirms the damage was done already.

If it cranks at "normal" speed but does not fire what does the exhaust look like? Does it put out whitish smoke? Does it smell of unburnt fuel? If it is the normal temperature outside, cranking speed is normal and you have the smell of diesel or whitish smoke then as others have suggested, get a...

Could you describe the term "ditch line" a little better? Are you trying to create a finished ditch or a slope from the road bed say 5' wide that drains water? I have "ditch lines" that are 4' deep that need to be maintained with a backhoe. That becomes a chore every few years due to vegetation...

I have always thought that in order to bend a piece of metal you must stretch the metal as compressing metal is really tough. If I am correct in that logic, then the only way to straighten the axle would be to apply an equal amount of stretch to the other side of the axle. My recommendation is...

This brings back memories of my dad and his sisters when it came to their mother. Grandma was in her 80's with 13 kids and the daughters decided that to extend her life she needed to change her diet. They took her in for allergy tests and discovered she was allergic to a number of things she did...

I have never had an issue with those weights on my E350 dually Ford or my 96 Dodge 2500 4WD. But I only go maybe 15 miles on country roads with the heavier of my trailers.

Mine is a 10' Bush Hog brand. Don't know if it is marketed under another name though.

A little off topic here but I once needed a bearing for my trailer and the local parts store did not have the bearing in stock so I went to the place I bought the trailer from. I put the pitted bearing on the counter and asked if they had another. The counter guy said sure and went in the back...

The killer for me and a ramp trailer was my Kubota would not load with the backhoe on it without digging the backhoe into the dirt due the the approach angle. I had to have the more gentle slope of the tilt trailer. Another factor was I have three sons who come and haul it to their place. I just...

Are you thinking tilt or ramps?

I would really consider a trailer with two 5K axles under it than two 3.5K axles. The weight difference my not be that much but a call to a trailer manufacturer could answer that. I have a 7K and regret not getting a 10K as ten years later I feel a bit limited.

In this illustration on the Messick's site it looks to have a bleed screw (#17) on the swing cylinder. Not certain how this exactly bleeds both halves of the cylinder though... https://www.messicks.com/nh/136825?diagramId=1016740

The reason for my asking is because I have a choice of tractors to use on the 40 acre field. Am I better to pull the the harrow or mow with the 60HP 584 at 1400 RPM or the 2550 at 2300 RPM. What does it cost me in fuel to do different tasks. If it costs me 5 more gallons to use one than the...

Exercise? Nothing while I am waiting for my new hip. Not a bloody thing. Just sitting in a stinking chair for another week. :)

Anyone here had any good experiences regarding accuracy with fuel gallon meters on hand pumps?

Are you specifically looking for non crushed stone? I would not consider using round rock on a driveway.

I use chassis grease on all six of the three point joints. If not, I find they will rust into a position that necessitates them being forced to move on my field tractors that just pull implements.

No, just a rake.

This is how I take care of my 3/4 mile driveway.

J, here is a simple no load test. Drain the tank completely and see if the compressor starts, If it does then wait for it to build pressure until control switch shuts it of at high pressure. If the unloader valve and check valve are functioning correctly you will hear a air hiss for a second or...

It is a small valve located on the pressure control switch. When the compressor runs it pumps air into the tank. Where this air enters the tank (usually a copper line) there is a check valve that does not allow to only go in the direction of the tank. There will also be a small line that runs...

I would check that 1) Your unloader valve is functioning correctly to allow the compressor to start without load on the unit. 2) power is good at startup (put a volt meter on the outlet when it is attempting to start. Not a check without load) 3) Any start/run capacitors are good. Gregg

Where do you live?

Thank you for your time in the service deserteagle1. I am contemplating retirement from the volunteer ranks at the age of 69. I started in 1969 as a volunteer in high school and spent the majority of the years as a volunteer FF/EMT and worked as a professional FF/EMT for 34 years for an urban...

I wrote this some time ago in regard to our Vietnam veterans. It is my observations as a member of the fire service for 53 years and counting: One of the greatest contributions made by the soldiers returning home from Vietnam was that of emergency care of injuries in the pre-hospital setting...

I would think the only difference to having the pivot point in front as opposed to the rear is that you can see when it goes crooked. Either way it is a matter of making it go in the correct direction. I think workinonit has the best advice, practice till you can do it easily. You cannot just...

This dust seal would not cause a leak though. If you had a leak I would dig deeper.

Or loose steering gear box.

Try some industrial supply places like Glands. I have no experience with them but posted only as a route that may be productive. Be prepared to give them exact dimensions of the cylinder components. IE, 2.00" cylinder bore. Gland OD is 1.999", gland grooves are .0265 wide by .25" deep. O ring...

If you are going to have it apart you had may as well get a full rebuild kit. I had a very good experience going through Messick's. I had ordered the wrong kit and they exchanged it super fast.

So sorry for your loss Willy. Did you guys have kids, grands or maybe even great grands?

If you have a piece of steel and a torch you can make a wrench to fit I assume the cylinder gland for removal. Make it so you can use a hammer on the homemade wrench. You might think about torqueing the gland when reassembling.

Interesting thread. Keep it rolling. Thanks!

I run my fronts at max pressure on the sidewall so that they remain as "tall" as possible so when I am in 4wd, with a loaded bucket, the rotational speed of front and rear are as close to engineering as possible. Rears I am not too fussy about as I seldom carry objects that would cause those to...

I do not insure my tractor so I guess just an oil change is about $40.

Or a pull of roughly 10,000 Lb.

Vet bills for your "tractor". Hmmmm

After maybe 1500 hours on my 2550DT I changed them side to side and yes there was a modest difference in "stability" but not overly appreciable. I then began to have front end issues with bearings as someone earlier stated. This included one of the large diameter outside casting cracking ($600)...

The left coast is nuts.

Welcome from SW Washington!

Will you be doing any work yourself?

To answer this question you first need to know how many GPM your well is capable of producing. If you can get 50 GPM out of your well then run a 2" line. If your well is only going to give you 3 GPM then do not waste your money on large pipe. In fact, if you WANT sediment to build up in your...

Cannot fix stupid. Responded to a guy who was cleaning car parts with gasoline on his fireplace hearth. Last thing he ever did.

I have had to replace the coupler in the driveshaft before. The spline there is pretty weak on my 2550 and over time it wore the spline and it would jump.

Coffee, it makes every chore tolerable. Here is one of my granddaughters providing me coffee during the pandemic. My son has some chronic health issues so I promised my DIL I would do everything to not share the evil COVID.

I thoroughly believe everyone should own a tractor just to know what it is like for someone to ask to borrow their tractor. :)

I can see it now. All of these homes with less than 200 amp services will get nailed to bring in more power as they cook with electricity and plug in their multiple cars and the list goes on. In Washington State they need not require you to buy an electric stove, they will simply make it illegal...

I am late to the party here but if your well pump can pump say 25 GPM and your well is only capable of 10 GPM flow, somewhere in that line you have a restrictor so that you cannot receive the full 25 GPM and cavitate your pump. If that flow restrictor is at the pressure tank you have the...

Is there anyone who does not have moles?

I just took two 7x16 R-1 tires off my tractor that are in much better shape than these. If you lived near me I would give them to you.

I make a lot of stuff in my Chinese Enco lathe. I last week turned a new piston for a hydraulic cylinder and turned the end of a chromed rod to accept the piston and nut. The more time I spend machining the more I have come to believe a poor quality machine can produce reasonable stuff in the...

Selecting the compressor that suits your specific needs can be a difficult task. Not only do you need pressure but you need to decide how many CFM you need. If you use a sandblaster you absolutely know CFM at PSI is critical and tank size is rather irrelevant as you will use the tank capacity...

You stated you fill many tires. Are any of them needing more than 100 PSI? If so, you may want to consider a two stage compressor. Frustration is when you have a single stage compressor and need to fill a tire to 120 psi.

In our fire department station generators I would use a mixture of 30% #1 with 70% #2 as we did not get "winter fuel" on the west side of the Cascades because "it never gets that cold here". Unfortunately it does on rare occasions get to 0F on this side and I was not about to go out in those...

Drain the tank and refill with winter fuel. Use one of these to heat the tractor for a while then start it up and run the motor till you get the winter fuel in the entire system...

Not sure how efficiently it would work but have you thought about just plugging the lines to the failed cylinder (do not connect them)and operating with light loads in the bucket until you can tear down the failed cylinder?

After a number of years as a computer operator for Boeing I said enough with working indoors without a window. I tested and became a professional firefighter and never looked back. I worked on my days off building my homes and learning what I could about anything construction related. Now I get...

We still make small bales on the 40 acres we have. We have found the tedder rake PTO driven unit does a good job of creating the wind rows but leaves a lot of stuff on the field. I follow with a 12' wheel rake to really clean the field as I do not like to leave piles to potentially rake the...

12-24-22 7:24:52 PM

Of these weather stations, which ones have good searchable history via a PC? I had a Oregon Scientific years ago that gave me an excellent view of 24 hour history. then had an easily searchable history beyond that. When that one failed after a number of years I bought a new Oregon Scientific...

Who (besides HayDude) performs seasonal maintenance on equipment? What do you maintain?

Rub a piece of bar soap on the belt and see if the squeal goes away. If it does, get a new belt. clean the pulleys and install the new belt and torque it properly. If the squeal continues look further.

My kid did this youtube video a while back on how they work.

I still have my clamp hanging on the barn wall. :) Lift it, clamp it, unscrew it and repeat the process.

But nothing can compare to actually seeing the old lady ride by on her bicycle during the twister.

Most submersible pumps (every one I have put in) have check valves to stop water from flowing back through the pump. If you hold pressures of 30PSI at the gauges when the pump is off, I think you can rule out a leak in the pipe.

Pulled and replaced many a pump over the years. Anyone else remember the 1 1/4" steel pipe in 20' sections?

Of the tornados we see they are of about a five minute duration and not the devastation damage nor duration of other areas of the US. If I lived in the tornado belt for sure I would take greater precautions. Here in my area, we focus on not being on the valley floor for flood protection... :) I...

Something we in Washington do not have. Winds of maybe 100 MPH max here but nothing focused like in a tornado. Just bullet proof glass.

I would want viewing windows from my bunker....

Found a UPS delivery in my gas BBQ....

My lift is asymmetrical so it recognizes it will potentially be an "unbalanced" load. The concrete guys that said they would / could just drive a bolt through if it failed and put a new one in kind of miss the point of the bolt. If the bolt failed to hold the lift, the least of my concerns as...

You will likely be fine Deezler. You protected it during the most critical time with the water. Especially if it was not in the direct sun on a clear 95 degree day. The mixture water content will likely be what dictates the ultimate strength. A super wet 7 sack mix will never be as strong as a 7...

That is why I "Over maintain" my older diesel tractors. I do not want anything that tells me a code.

I have always considered any ethylene glycol that meets any reputable vehicle manufacturer's requirements good enough.

And you could redeck the steel with a new sheet over the old.

Are you worried about corrosion or dents?

With steel you might be looking for a needle in a haystack. Older steel beds that sit full of water or dirt tend to be rusty in the front. I have kind of an ideal situation in that a friend has a five yard dump and I do all the maintenance on it and can use it about any time I wish. He...

So 10-12 yard dumps are sort of becoming obsolete in the haul world then.

I run my tires on the rear of my IH584 at a fairly low pressure and watch them as I drive. I only pull implements with this machine so no need to have max load capability. Pretty much the same as the heaviest weight I lift with the little Kubota 2550 is a rototiller. I figure it does a couple...

This one is everything I need. When it is level the bucket is level to the ground, at ANY elevation. If I have forks fie feet of the ground and this is level, the forks are level. BTW, this is NOT my bucket but an example. I am on my second bucket after 6400 hours on the L2550DT... :)

In Washington we are limited to 600 pounds per inch of tread width on road. I believe as a result of this there are a lot of aluminum boxes out here. Haydude, do you know what a 10-12 yard Stainless steel box weighs as compared to aluminum one? Would you also need to change the hydraulic...

DKMC posted about the names of gravel types in your regions. In the PNW (to the best of my knowledge), we go by an inch dimension. 5/8" minus is any size gravel that will pass through a 5/8" screen. That would include any fines less than 5/8". 1 1/4" minus is the same, anything that would...

#1 item is drainage, get the water away from the road. If I have really soggy areas, and I do, I use road fabric under 1 1/4- followed by 5/8-. I would give anything to live in a green area but alas, I live in a light pink area of the below map. We know water... :)

Good idea for multiple uses jjeff. I use "soft jaws" on my mill and would rather they stay there. Do you think magnets on the wood blocks would work too?

Then why would they only print on the tire sidewall the size of 11.2 x 24 and not the actual tire size? What is the size I run on my L2550DT when the Kubota manual says tire size is 11.2x 24? Seems strange that they can make whatever size they feel like and call it 11.2 x 24 because it fits the...

I was looking more for an industry wide standard for a particular size tire. With my 11.2 24 rears, one or the other is right but which one is 'right"?

It wasn't until I looked at it from behind on the shop floor. I was like WOW as well. I tried to find a site that told me what the "specs" for tire sizes was but could find nothing as a universal specification for each size. It was like they just changed the size on the mold for another size...

It would also be good to understand the strength of concrete has a everything to do with mixture. Some folks like to add water to make it easier to work. Water takes space in concrete, that eventually dries out and leaves voids within the concrete and that causes weakness. I remember two...

Do nothing until you put your tractor on a level slab and study WHY it is crooked. I found out the two 11.2 x 24 tires on the rear of my tractor were different manufacturers and different diameters. One sat 3" higher than the other and that translated to an unlevel bucket.

Any folks from the Seattle area remember Boeing surplus in Kent? Bits by the pound.

I was afraid to put anything on my floor beyond a clear acrylic sealer to enhance the concrete curing process. Dragging pieces of steel across the floor would make it ugly, fast... When I first poured my 30 x 60 slab I built a "dam" at all of the openings so I could flood the slab with water...

Chains and bars... http://www.madsens1.com/muu_barchain.htm

Happy Thanksgiving from the great green chilly PNW.

Agreed. I just keep a stock of the small ones I go through. I have a container full of .201 bits for 1/4" threads. As to trying to recover "destroyed" bits you are correct as well. Never try to burn/melt your way through the work. If it is not cutting, stop and sharper it at that moment before...

Get a good stone for your grinder and practice sharpening by hand. Grab a drill gauge to use for accurate 60 degree angles until you get it down. Sounds like you have lots of bits to practice on...

Well you obviously do not live in Washington State or you would be in jail for doing anything within 75' a creek.....

Small Change, these are the most seldom asked questions but most necessary to understand. Kudos for bringing them forward. At best you can only cover so much and at some point you have to settle for "best I can do". That is why I REALLY stress prevention is the best way to go, do not let fires...

Good for you on the slider door. It is really hard to tear a door apart when someone collapses in the bathroom with an in swinging door, which happens a LOT.

The answer will be dictated by the type of fire you are trying to control. ABC is a good choice for general stuff but if you have electronics you may want to consider CO2. If you have water in the shop, for class "A" fires it may be easy to put in a hose fitting with a 1/4 turn valve and a box...

Agreed. Mount the fire extinguishers near the exit doors. First get out, then look back to see if you can fight the fire. Most importantly, do not have the fire between you and the exit.

Master kill switches on all of my farm stuff. Dump truck, farm pickup, tractors etc. I also believe the best way to protect stuff from fire is a good attitude of fire prevention. My barn and shop wiring is protected as though it were a commercial building that is inspected regularly. Fire...

Like a couple people have suggested, with the engine shut off and in 4WD lift one wheel off the ground and spin the tire and listen carefully for any noise. Might be even better with two people. Listen especially for any noises in the area of the coupling (#3) in this diagram. Look at drawing...

Just hold the shutdown lever till the engine is fully stopped. :)

26F in SW Washington. 5.4" of rain since last week.

Does it have a Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve?

Find any possibilities?

Do you have a link to the kit?

On my 4520B backhoe I am needing to identify if I have an L or E hydraulic cylinder. Any idea where the cylinder would be stamped? I only see a 13 U stamp on the end of it? I bought two seal kits from Messick's but they were not correct and they need to know the "code" but I cannot find it.

Sad news but thank you.

Do you have a clear vent to the case? If the vent is clogged maybe the dipstick tube is below the gearcase fluid level and the pressure as it warms is forcing fluid out.

Sure it is not a meat saw for splitting large animals?

I have a 30x45 shed to keep stuff under. It has a concrete floor and I place the implements on pallets. With a pallet jack I can maneuver them anywhere I wish and when hooking up they are easy to lift and lower and move about to get the 3 point pins in the arms.

Still confused about the lack of traction issue with one wheel in mud and the other dry. I do understand a bit more on the "braking" aspect. The spider essentially locks both axles but it must also allow for different speeds of rotation while cornering but what if one front tire loses...

I do not mean to challenge you. I am trying to understand the differences between the rear and the front differentials. When I am seriously stuck and in 4WD (Kubota) I find one front wheel spins in the mud and one rear wheel spins in the mud. At that point I (carefully of course) engage the...

So you are saying it is impossible to have just one tire skid on an "open" differential? Both tires on the same axle will skid? Doesn't that kind of negate the reason to have separate brake pedals and a link to apply both at the same time to avoid only one wheel from rotating?

I would say this is true only if you have a locking front differential. No lock then only three wheels.

I look at where the majority of working force is applied in the joint. If it is the loader I put the bucket on the ground and then apply a little down pressure. This puts the grease into the "open" area of the joint that has all the wear when in use. Same applies to the backhoe etc. I pump...