Mowing my Imaginary First Crop

I currently do not own any haying equipment but that does not stop me from cutting the "hay" when everyone else is.  The past weekend while the fields around us were being hayed I was out in the field on Old Smokey having the best time just mowing to my heart's content. 

Old Smokey may not be much to look at and it may take quite a bit of fuel and oil but it will sickle mow hay just as slick as can be!  I am still learning how to properly sickle mow but I am getting better at running it with every pass I make.  On one pass one of the rock guards fell off and in the process broke one of the cutter teeth.  This was a first for me so off I went to the Tractor Supply for parts. 

A short trip later and I had some new cutters and a box of cutter teeth bolts to replace the rivets.  In a few short minutes I was back in business.  I would recommend the bolts to anyone using a sickle mower, they are easier to install and they will save time compared to pounding the old rivets out and the new ones in. 

After replacing the cutter tooth I went back to mowing for another hour before the dew started to settle in and I had to quit.  While out mowing I had my mobile camera crew come out and get a few good videos to show off!
                                                           Sickle Mowing First Crop 2019
I am able to move right along with Old Smokey in first gear full throttle to keep enough power to the cutter and help the grass fall backwards over the bar.  The next day when mowing I ended up breaking a Pittman arm in some deep grass when the cutter clogged up and I didn't get it shut off quick enough.  I am glad it broke though because it is a safety mechanism and is easily replaced. 
So until next time stay tuned and check back often!

SPF Tractor?

I have sold some equipment lately and when I sell things I like to save some of the money and use some on current projects or accessories for my tractors.  Well this time around I decided that I have been staring at them long enough at Tractor Supply and I bought a sun canopy for Old Smokey.

I figure that most of the time spent on Old Smokey is in the hottest sun mowing or spreading manure so I should try to keep cool even if just a little.

The installation was not too bad but I wish that they had a red cover to go on it.  I was able to use one existing bolt hole but did have to drill a hole in the footrest to mount the tube. 

The whole canopy tilts around around the operator station.  The canopy is sturdy made and should last exceptionally well and is easy to use.

   Overall the canopy is fairly easy to remove to keep inside when not in use or for when I need to go into a low area like the shed or the woods. I was also able to fold it up and leave it on the tractor.

If anyone was interested in one for their own tractor you can find them here at Tractor Supply.
                                                             Tractor Sun Canopy
 As always comments are welcome and stay tuned for more fun and excitement!

A Continued tale from Mother's Day

I am not sure how many of you remember my Mother's day weekend post where I admitted to hauling another piece of machinery but I never did showed it off.  Today is the day that I finally show off the awesome gas powered antique tool that I brought home to play with.  Introducing my new Jaeger cement mixer!

The best I can find so far is that it is an early to mid fourties machine.  It has definitely been used in its life and probably mixed many yards of cement but for me it is still in great shape!  The mixer is powered by an international LB model engine.

This is the smaller brother to the engine that I mounted to the cart and hooked up to the water pump.  I brought it home not running and it had been sitting for a good many years.  I started out filing the cylinder with ATF because it had low compression and the ATF is said to help free up stuck piston rings.  I then removed the tank and carburetor because the gas had evaporated and left a nasty film in it. 

The tank I washed out with kerosene and the carburetor I set in my ultrasonic cleaner and then blew it out with compressed air.  After that it all went back together and I proceeded to crank the engine over to no avail.  I came to and from the engine quite a bit trying to get it to run trying different things until my arm was tired and then I would quit for a bit.
                                                           First run of the Jaeger
After a while I did get it to start up with the help of my friend Spenser but it did not stay running long.  I believe the condenser in the magneto is bad and needs to be replaced and I will get there soo but for now I am just glad that it started up.  Stay tuned and check back often.  

Another Year of Weeding

As a second summer at our Webster road farm begins so does our garden.  We recently planted our garden and this year came up with some ways to help us keep it a little more weed free.  In an earlier post I had tilled the garden plot with my fathers tractor and tiller but the rain has since packed it back down - so out came old faithful; the diesel Bolens. 

In the far corner of the garden it did struggle a bit because it is still pretty wet but even for a little tractor it can work hard! Once I tilled it up with the Bolens I raked the soil flat and we prepared to plant.  Now planting this year went a little different.  Allyssia brought out her notebook and marked down every row so that we would know what is growing where.  We started with the pre-started plants on one side and to do that I wanted a pair of gloves - Allyssia came home with these nice pink ones for me. 

They fit fine and they did the job they were intended to so I should not complain.  Once I did get over my complaining we got the tomatoes, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, and peppers planted and then started with the seeder.  We bought our push behind seeder last year and it has been the best gardening investment ever. 

Allyssia came up with the ides to use these landscaping timbers to mark the rows, to hopefully keep the weeds down and make weeding easier.  I was going to list off what the rows were in this picture but I can't remember what is in each one.  Luckily Allyssia has a map of the garden to keep me straightened out. 

So there we have it.  Our garden is all in and starting to grow.  Allyssia is watering it daily and it wont be long before the farm stand is stocked with fresh veggies.  Stay tuned and check back often.