I swear they must be Multiplying

In my line of work I get to see a lot and I also get to know my customers really well.  Some of my customers send me home with sweets when I work there others send me Christmas cards.  There is also a third option when you talk old equipment with people.  Occasionally they send you home with an old tractor.  Now when someone gives you a tractor that means it is in similar condition to most things that I find, non running and rusty.  Well big surprise this one is no exception. 

The tractor has been sitting for almost 20 years.  This is not your average Oliver crawler it was customized with a model A truck transmission put in between the engine and the origional transmission gearing the tractor down even more.  I had to pull it out of the back yard and around front to get it on the trailer.

After sitting for 20 years it rolled extremely easy...after I took both transmissions out of gear.  I left it set in the front yard for about a week before my father and I went to get it.  I planned on having a nice video of us loading it but either myself or my father bumped the camera and all I got was a video of the ground with my father and I talking back and fourth. 

I chained it down and threw the tires from Allyssia's cars back on the trailer and headed on home with my new prize.  That same day I also took the studded tires off the car and brought them to my parents to use my tire changer.  It looked kinda funny in the yard but I don't have any jack stands so onto the wooden blocks it went.

Everything that I did that day went well from the tires to loading the dozer to all of my other little projects I did it was a great day!

The Oliver Coming to it's Forever Home

Last summer my Father Grampa and I loaded the Oliver on to the big deck over trailer with the attitude "how bad could it be".  Well two tractors, a winch and over an hour later and it was on the trailer.  We had trouble pushing it on the trailer because it would push slightly to one side or the other and start going off the ramps and we would have to roll it back off and start over again. 

We of course got it onto the trailer and got it home.  I worked on it a little bit at the old house but it was parked in the tall grass and did not give me much motivation to work on it.  Now that the lawn has dried I went to the old place to get it and bring it to the new home.  This time loading it, I did like we did with the farm-stand and used the rack truck, a winch and got it up with the help of a snatch block. 

I also used the smaller shorter trailer so the Oliver would not have as far to go up.  It loaded well and we tried pulling it off with the three wheeler because it loaded so easily but it did not work at all.  I ended up using a come-along to pull it towards the tipping point and it rolled right off the trailer and into it's new parking spot.
I really love this tractor and should have gotten it running before now but I am determined to get it running this summer. As usual stay tuned, check back often, and let me know how I am doing. 

Grampa's Old Smokey

I have some very fond memories of watching Grampa haul wood with his 1950's Case tractor with the hand painted "OLD SMOKEY" across the front.  As time went on I was able to drive Old Smokey in the woods on occasion and haul wood with it.

I have had a bit of an obsession with this tractor since I was allowed to haul wood with it and have been slowly working for Grampa to pay for the tractor.  This past summer I scraped and painted Grampa's house as the final payment on the tractor.  Since then I have been waiting to have a place to store it and the time to get it running and moved - I finally have the space and time!

Like most tractors that I like Old Smokey was not running and had to be towed from the spot where it has rested in the pole barn for the last few years.  Luckily Grampa could tow Old Smokey down to the house easily where we could inflate all of the tires and try to get it running.

On the trip down I tried to jump start Old smokey and it did want to start but something is wrong in the Carberator and would not let it start without flooding right out.

Once we were down at the house I removed the carburetor and then once it was off we found the specialty wrench that Grampa had made for it.  I cleaned the carburetor out and put it back on with fresh gas but did not get it running.  By that point the battery was pretty run down and it wouldn't crank the engine over fast enough to start it. 

At that point we were committed to it going home with me so we towed it backwards and then rolled it forward towards the trailer. Now this is a fairly heavy tractor so it is no easy feat to get it on a tall deck over trailer when it is not running. 

We were able to easily push it on to about this point but there are not any good points to push from on the back.  From there we hooked a chain fall on the front of the trailer and Grampa used the tractor bucket to roll the tires forward. 

After scaring Allyssia as I rode it off from the trailer - it is home.  I did convince Allyssia to go sit on Old Smokey and she decided that she really likes the old tractor, so when I get the sickle bar mower I may have to fight for seat time!

As of now I have the carburetor off and soaking in Sea Foam so that anything that is stuck in there will loosen up and we can be running home free. Grampa went ahead and pulled the sickle bar out of the woods and off the stone wall for me.  When he got done with it he removed the cutter bar and kept it under cover and everything on it still moves freely. Be prepared for a video when I have Old Smokey running and you have to stay tuned for my next gold hauling adventure.  As always check back often and let me know how I am doing.

Let There be Light

After about three weeks with no lights in the barn,and with Allyssia and I working evenings on the trench, conduit and pulling wire, Tony our electrician finally was able to bring the light.  He showed up at almost six thirty at night when we both were out of work and started in the barn.  The barn panel had to be brought up to code and then the new wire tied in.  After that we spliced the wire in the barn to the underground wire in the conduit. 

With my hard job of watching, Tony tied the wire from the barn to my 100amp sub panel in the garage.  I ran a 100amp panel in the garage to leave room for expansion and to accommodate my 220v welder and pressure washer. 

The sub panel came out decent looking but I lost a lot of shelf space.  It was a pretty decent trade off though to have better power and lights. 




Lastly we tied into the main panel in the basement.  My main panel is just a small 100amp main so it is a little bit overloaded at the moment. 

Tony killed all power to the house to rearrange the panel and make the large breaker fit better.  Tony is scheduled to come to the house during regular business hours to replace my main service with a 200amp.  It has been a long time without power but we are so thankful to Tony Flag at F.A.T Electric for answering all of my questions and ultimately hooking up our power.  As always check back for updates and let me know what you think!!

The Long Electrical Saga

I have been out late every night this past week working on the electrical between the house and the barn.  Last weekend I showed you all that we got the trench mostly dug and then finished Monday.  Tuesday night Allyssia and I ran down to Home Depot and bought a whole pile of 1 1/2" conduit and fittings and then Wednesday started running the conduit. 

On the garage I was able to just put a nice little hole with a hole saw and run the conduit straight into the panel I have in the garage.  On the house end I had to bore through the concrete with the hilti concrete drill.  On each end of the conduit I have the open back boxes that make pulling the wire easier.  Tony from F.A.T Electric gave me some pulling string to run through the conduit to make pulling the wire easier. 

Thursday night we went to Home Depot again and picked up all kinds of wire.  We had three different types of wire that we needed totaling to over two hundred feet.  I also got some yellow caution tape to bury about ten inches above the conduit so that when I dig in this area next I know where the wire is buried.  

Before I bring Grampa's tractor back tomorrow I just had to fill the trench in.  I was filling the trench to cover the conduit and put the caution tape and decided that I didn't want to shovel it all in by hand.

Now that all the wire is pulled and the 100amp panel is set in the garage I am back to waiting for Tony to come splice and finish the wiring up.  Hopefully we will have power at the barn again soon. I know that these pictures are kind of boring but the week has been less than boring.
Remember everyone to stay tuned and let me know how I am doing.  

A Tractor Realization

Since I've gotten my new Bongo truck there have been some strange little ruts appearing in my lawn that will need to be taken care of.  There is also quite a few divots and chunks of sod pushed up from my plowing and the previous owners.  A lot of the sod I will just get rid of and all the divots will get filled back in with loam.  I am not one that needs my yard looking like a golf course but I do like my lawn to look nice. I also enjoy doing yard work with the exception of raking. Raking is one thing that I really hate but that's why I have a nice lawn sweeper so that I don't have to rake.

I am gong to have to haul quite a bit of sod chunks off and haul a fair bit of loam around the yard to fill the ruts and holes.  I have been thinking about how slow it would be running back and fourth with the skid steer.  It finally dawned on me that the skid steer is a mini tractor and it will work perfect in unison with my mini truck. 

The Bucket makes it over the side and is able to dump perfectly.  I can also drop the sides or the tailgate to scoop out of it.  It sure beats a wheelbarrow!!  The bongo truck also needs a rear bumper and hitch so that I could pull a little trailer for dirt or wood if I didn't want it in the bed.  This weekend I am planning on pulling the front tires off from the skid steer and having tubes put in them and I am bringing a welder home and building the weight bracket for the back of the skid steer. 

                            Another view from the best side of the bongo truck and caterpillar.
Another Semi short term project is going to be getting some ATV tires on my spare rims for the bongo truck.  The stock tires are very narrow and the lawn is super wet so that doesn't help but a set of wider softer tired would tear the lawn up less.
                                                          ATV tires for the mini truck
I will probably get something along these lines that aren't to aggressive but will give decent flotation and grip.  We will be taking the mini truck four wheeling and probably camping to Mt Blue state park so I want some good tires.    That's It for tonight but stay tuned as usual.  We should be moving the farm-stand soon and that will be a catastrophe worthy of its own blog post that you wont want to miss.  Check back often! Until next time remember its not junk its rusty gold!

A Busy Weekend

Per usual the weekend was so busy that at times we almost forgot to eat, let alone blog.  Saturday started like any day with me heading to the dump and then Allyssia brought me to pick the truck up at the mechanic's shop.  Then, I stopped in at Castonguay Meats and picked up dinner for Saturday night - we got a couple of chuck steaks that Donald seasoned and marinated for me.  After that I headed to Grampa's house to help hook the backhoe on his tractor, once we got it attached we headed for home.  Then, we started digging the trench for the electrical wires and conduit.

Grampa of course is a much better backhoe operator than I am and he offered to operate the tractor so off to trenching he went.  We got the trench from the house dug quite easily and never even hit a rock.  We did find an old waterline that made us panic when we pulled it up but we still have water in the barn so we are all set. 

While Grampa was digging I would move the tractor when the need arose but otherwise I was watching and shoveling a little bit.  One thing I did find in abundance was earthworms and night crawlers.  If I had started picking the worms as we dug I could have started selling worms like I had when I was younger. 

Sunday afternoon and evening I got the rest of the trench from the garage to the barn done.  It was a little harder to do because I had to do the digging this time!  Now that it is dug I need to get the electrical conduit and run it in the trench so that we can pull wires and soon have power again!  After only a week we want power back quite badly as it is a pain working in the stalls in the dark.






















I still cant thank Grampa enough for his backhoe and tractor.  Without the backhoe it would have taken me forever to dig a trench this deep and this long.  It was also great having him help because it would have taken me much longer to dig the trench so it gave Allyssia and I time to work on some other projects that evening and do a little bit of grilling.

 This may not seem like much to most people but we finally got a pasture fenced in and with three 100' extension cords have it electrified.  I also got all two hundred and forty seven fence posts pounded in and we have five pastures marked out to be taped and electrified.  The horses cant be set free full time just yet until they are acclimated to the grass, so they are enjoying being out on the pasture for an hour each evening. 

Overall it was a busy weekend but a great weekend.  For being on call I got so much done and would like to thank everyone that helped.  Remember check back often and let me know how I am doing. Until next time be safe and enjoy what you do!

And Now there is One

Today my original Bongo truck sold.  It has been one of those things that I knew that it would happen and that if it was listed that someone would want it but I still was sad that it is gone.  Ive had that truck for almost three years and done an amazing amount of work with it. 

The Bongo truck has nearly done it all.  From firewood to fencing and gardening.  It also carried me countless times up the old driveway to the barn and back with chains and weight in the winter and hay when we stored it at the upper barn. 

It has also served as a wrecker when things don't run.  This is the truck that I stumbled upon and got me addicted to the mini trucks.  I hated to let it go but with the newer four wheel drive one here to take it's place it would just sit.  It is going to a great home where I personally think it will be their starter truck for their farm. 

I hope that they enjoy it as much as Allyssia and I did and they have as much fun figuring all of its quirks out and get to enjoy it for many years.  Maybe someday I will see it again but for now it is off to its new home in Palmyra.  That's all for tonight before I get sentimental.  Remember to check back often and leave a comment when you can. 

The Farm Life.....

Today the saying "A farmers work is never done" rings quite clearly on the farm.  Last Sunday when Allyssia left the house at four thirty AM she texted me saying that there was no power in the barn.  No big deal, I figured something must have tripped the breaker.  So Sunday morning I did chores without lights and went on my merry way not thinking about the power until around six that night.  At six just before Allyssia got home I opened the electric panel in the barn and found all breakers in the on position - no problem it must be tripped in the house.  I checked in the house but still had no power.  At this point Allyssia was home and we did chores by flashlight ate dinner and went to bed.
                                                        F.A.T Electric Facebook page
 Monday Tony Flag from F.A.T Electric came and determined that our wire was broken in the ground. 

After that diagnosis we rented a metal detector in hopes of finding the wire and digging it up with no luck.  The yard looked like a giant gopher came through with multiple holes four to six feet deep. 

At this point after digging for hours we are ready to get a backhoe and run some conduit and a new wire because we have no lights in the barn and can't put horses out to pasture which is my next topic of business. 

In all of my other spare time I have pounded over one hundred t-posts all around the field in twelve foot increments.  I have also put top insulators and middle insulators on all of these t-posts.  Allyssia helped me string the tape around the first pasture and we went through over six hundred feet of tape. Allyssia is supposed to mark the next pasture and with two of us working we can drive t-posts real quick.
Both of tonight's topics are just teasers of what is to come because the new wire to the barn is going to be a pretty big job and the fencing never ends.  So check back often and leave me a comment to let me know how I am doing.