Spring clearing, a little early

[RxRatedZ71]

Ive been clearing some brush out over the past few weeks. Its the last acre or so of my property yet to be cleared. Mainly scrub brush, small saplings, and the occasional eastern red cedar. Typically i use hand tools (ie hatchets, loppers, machete, axe) so as not to disturb too much topsoil. Then i go back with loader and box blade and pile it up to burn. Here are some photos of the area.

 

[Thomas]

Looks like park..nice job.

 

[Western]

Looks like you had a day like me! nice job on your place!

We have some predicted heavy rain storms the next 3 days so I took advantage of the 65* weather:thumbsup:

I moved to the woods to be in the woods, but I have a few areas I maintain. Today I was on the tractor for around 5 hrs, shredding, hauling wood, digging in my pond and building a terrace in my deer food plot..Been a long nice day.

 

[RxRatedZ71]

Thanks for the kind words. Actually, today was a NOT SO GOOD DAY. I noticed on sunday that i bent my right lower draft link of my 3 pt while boxblading backwards (lesson 1). I tried to bend it back with a chain and a tree today and it snapped (lesson 2). Now ive got to replace it, $270

 

[Western]

Tractor has allot of strength in reverse, I bet you will think "$270" next time your using the BB and hit the "R" gear Actually you had a good day! you'll live to tractor again, you know the "glass is half full" thing:thumbsup:

BTW, you may be able to find a used link if you have time to look around.

 

[RxRatedZ71]

Heres a few shots of the damage..

 

[Western]

Might could weld it or have it welded. Looks like cast iron so will need nickle rod or whatever is available these days. Worth a try

 

[RxRatedZ71]

I checked on a hiring a dozer, but they wanted $85/hr with a 6hr minimum (the most I've heard yet) and then he forewarned me that so much topsoil would be disturbed in order to grub out all the roots that some serious erosion might take place with the March rains that typically come to the area. He estimated 10-13 hours in order to pile up the area and then dig out some serious stumps that stupid-me cut off flush to the ground. For that price, I think I will continue to hand clear and brush hog. I can buy some good Crossbow herbicide, rent a stump grinder, and burn all the debris for probably 2/3rds the price. Maybe I'm being cheap, but I didnt really want to potentially lose that much of my topsoil.

 

[Gary Fowler]

That cant be cast iron as it is too weak and brittle for the application. Might be cast steel but I would think it would be just regular mild steel. If you can get it straightened out, then double V bevel both pieces and weld up with 7018 rod and it should hold. It looks like some bad steel was used or bad heat treatment that causes a brittle spot in the metal. $270 seems high for that simple piece of steel, but that JD green paint is very high dollar stuff so I can understand why.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Food for thought on clearing. A friend in your area trimmed the lower branches of a few of the red cedar trees, leaving the upper branches and trunk. He says the tree will use less water, but still grow upwards. Clearing out the lower branches opens up the ground to sunlight for the grass to grow under the trees.

Have you heard of doing this?

 

[RxRatedZ71]

I actually have cleaned up some cedars that are taller and more tree-like v/c i, too, had the same belief. However, for those that have grown in close proximity to another they have acidified the soil almost too much for anything to grow. I try to clear those out. Im thinking of seeding some sort of combination of bermuda & fescue..

 

[RxRatedZ71]

The draft link broke where that u-tab was welded on. You can see the penetration was about 1/4" deep. I was told by the dealer it was a casted steel but not sure of the exact compound/alloy. There are some parts-id # that are printed and raised along one side which i thought also indicated casting...

I went by a machine shop while on my lunch break and he could weld it back, with some gussets by the tab and recommended a plate along the backside for added strength.

The dealer said the arms are strong but a bit weaker than other components (like transmission housing) so they break first.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

There is a machine shop over by the Railroad Tracks at about 4th or 5th street that is (or at least was) pretty good. The repaired a crack in a cast aluminum alloy base for me several years ago. All of the other welders said it couldn't be done.

 

[RxRatedZ71]

I think i may know the place...they had repaired a set of aluminum footboards on an ATV of mine in 2003. Ill have to check them out again. Thanks for the reminder. Its great to get on here and visit with people from all over the world and still get great comments from people in your local area too.