Between 705 & 1200 SQ/FT A trip back from the edge.

[xtremek]

Anyway, here are pictures of the area I’ve cleared. I was unable to get 3 of the stumps out, oh well. As far as the bulldozer goes, I’ve ordered the service manual. I had a chat with the neighbor, and I’m going to do the other repair first as it’s a quick one. Then I’m going to bring his dozer back down to the barn and tear into it. I’m going to be a dozer mechanic.

 

[sublime68charger]

Nice thanks for the updates

Always a adventure in what ever you try to due isn't there!

Happens to me a lot also!

 

[xtremek]

Thx for dropping by s68C. Your stuff looks like the adventures work out better for you.

 

[xtremek]

Well, I’ve been chugging along. Last week I made my first rack to hold my storage boxes for nuts, bolts, washers, etc. You can tell which section I started with (the top 4). Lessons learned, definitely crude, but effective. I also pulled the engine out of the ’73 C-10 and let the neighbor drag the truck away. One less piece of trash around the house.

Last night I got back to pulling the stumps down the driveway to the scrub pile. I was proud of the Old Mule when I hooked onto the biggest one I’d pushed out and she started pulling it down the drive. I put the Old Mule in 2nd gear and the front end was dancing lightly on the ground under the strain. I got about a third of the way down the drive when I hear a tiny pop, followed by a constant hiss. As the left wheel rotates I see the stream of air rushing out. One of the stones I’d over turned dragging the other stumps had poked a hole in the tire and pinched the tube. Time to go looking for another used tire. Or maybe patch the tube and the tire.

 

[bazzateer]

On an old beast like that I'd try a repair first.

 

[sublime68charger]

Always something,

try to get one thing done and make 3 other jobs to get done before you get the first thing done,

Good luck with the tire repair, did you get it limped back to the buildings or is the mule stranded beside the drive way?

 

[mwbailey]

Sorry to hear the Old Mule hurt her foot! My grandson pointed out to me that my 8N had what looked like a little dry rot -- the tires have very little use, but some age. I was trying to ignore any signs of age. . . .

You've gotten lots of work done; I wish I could say the same. Good luck!

 

[xtremek]

Always something,

.........did you get it limped back to the buildings or is the mule stranded beside the drive way?

Unfortunately, I parked it about 1/3 of the way down along side the drive. The next to last pic shows her where I parked. She has to sit outside anyways, and the driveway is clear, so it's not a huge deal. But it does mean I'll be working in the weeds pulling the tire. Fortunately, I never got around to loading the tires, so loading will be easy.

............My grandson pointed out to me that my 8N had what looked like a little dry rot -- the tires have very little use, but some age. I was trying to ignore any signs of age. . . .

These tires were really bad, as you can see from the close up picture and I wouldn't have had a problem if I hadn't driven over some fairly large busted cement blocks/concrete. I'm guessing you'll be good for many years.

 

[mwbailey]

xtremek, I have my fingers crossed on the tires. I mean, it's not like we're driving thousands of miles at 70 mph!?!?

I found another use for the 8N, and I was very pleased:

Much easier when you don't have someone watching while you back the trailer/boat!

 

[xtremek]

It was a rough weekend for the wallet. My old Green machine weed whip picked up a vibration when I tried to chew through a 1” thick thistle. The needle and seat seem to have dirt in it as well. I can fix the carb, but the twisted shaft is terminal. After at least 20 years of use, it was time to retire the old beast. I picked up a new Stihl FS 94. That hurt to the tune of about $400. But wait there’s more!!!!
Do you want to see lipstick on a pig? I broke down and bought a new tire for the Old Mule. I took the wheel and tire home, did SOME patch work on the rim and mounted the tire on the rim. I got one side of the rim to seat but I couldn’t get the other side to pop. So I let the air back out trying to let the tire relax on the rim so maybe it would slide on easier. I started airing it up again and I could hear air coming out the stem hole. The portion of the rim I didn’t repair ripped and that ripped a huge hole in the tube. SWMABO told me to quit dinking around and just buy a new rim. Tire and initial tube patch-$280. Rim-$115. Put new tube and tire on the new rim-$110. Bolts to mount center section to the rim-$15. Total cost of the “lipstick”, roughly $520. Ouch!!!! And we’re not done yet.
So, on top of that, my compressor seems to have died during the tire inflating process. It doesn’t build pressure anymore. I have a couple of leads on CL, but I’ll have to wait for the next paycheck in order to be able to afford the $600-800 (I won’t buy anything less than a 2 stage again)

 

[xtremek]

I ran an errand yesterday and when I got home I told the wife I was held up for 5 minutes by a traffic jam. I stopped and sat while the flock sauntered across the driveway. I did my best to get a head count, there were 3 adult hens and about 12 chicks. They passed about 10 feet from my window. People ask why I don’t move, there’s a start on the list of why I don’t.

 

[jon72vega]

It was a rough weekend for the wallet. My old Green machine weed whip picked up a vibration when I tried to chew through a 1” thick thistle. The needle and seat seem to have dirt in it as well. I can fix the carb, but the twisted shaft is terminal. After at least 20 years of use, it was time to retire the old beast. I picked up a new Stihl FS 94. That hurt to the tune of about $400. But wait there’s more!!!!
Do you want to see lipstick on a pig? I broke down and bought a new tire for the Old Mule. I took the wheel and tire home, did SOME patch work on the rim and mounted the tire on the rim. I got one side of the rim to seat but I couldn’t get the other side to pop. So I let the air back out trying to let the tire relax on the rim so maybe it would slide on easier. I started airing it up again and I could hear air coming out the stem hole. The portion of the rim I didn’t repair ripped and that ripped a huge hole in the tube. SWMABO told me to quit dinking around and just buy a new rim. Tire and initial tube patch-$280. Rim-$115. Put new tube and tire on the new rim-$110. Bolts to mount center section to the rim-$15. Total cost of the “lipstick”, roughly $520. Ouch!!!! And we’re not done yet.
So, on top of that, my compressor seems to have died during the tire inflating process. It doesn’t build pressure anymore. I have a couple of leads on CL, but I’ll have to wait for the next paycheck in order to be able to afford the $600-800 (I won’t buy anything less than a 2 stage again)

xtremek,
You've had a lot of expenses lately. I've had times like that...I would be thinking what will need repair or replacement next.
Hang in there it will get better.

 

[jon72vega]

I ran an errand yesterday and when I got home I told the wife I was held up for 5 minutes by a traffic jam. I stopped and sat while the flock sauntered across the driveway. I did my best to get a head count, there were 3 adult hens and about 12 chicks. They passed about 10 feet from my window. People ask why I don’t move, there’s a start on the list of why I don’t.

xtremek,
We have a lot of turkeys in our area also.
I was driving and startled one at the side of the road one day.
It took off flying directly in front of my truck.
It just barely cleared my windshield.
Watching it flying so laboriously reminded me of watching a 747 jet taking off.
You know it actually flies, but watching it take off makes you wonder if it really can get airborne.

 

[sublime68charger]

It was a rough weekend for the wallet. My old Green machine weed whip picked up a vibration when I tried to chew through a 1” thick thistle. The needle and seat seem to have dirt in it as well. I can fix the carb, but the twisted shaft is terminal. After at least 20 years of use, it was time to retire the old beast. I picked up a new Stihl FS 94. That hurt to the tune of about $400. But wait there’s more!!!!
Do you want to see lipstick on a pig? I broke down and bought a new tire for the Old Mule. I took the wheel and tire home, did SOME patch work on the rim and mounted the tire on the rim. I got one side of the rim to seat but I couldn’t get the other side to pop. So I let the air back out trying to let the tire relax on the rim so maybe it would slide on easier. I started airing it up again and I could hear air coming out the stem hole. The portion of the rim I didn’t repair ripped and that ripped a huge hole in the tube. SWMABO told me to quit dinking around and just buy a new rim. Tire and initial tube patch-$280. Rim-$115. Put new tube and tire on the new rim-$110. Bolts to mount center section to the rim-$15. Total cost of the “lipstick”, roughly $520. Ouch!!!! And we’re not done yet.
So, on top of that, my compressor seems to have died during the tire inflating process. It doesn’t build pressure anymore. I have a couple of leads on CL, but I’ll have to wait for the next paycheck in order to be able to afford the $600-800 (I won’t buy anything less than a 2 stage again)

Always something,

try to get one thing done and make 3 other jobs to get done before you get the first thing done,

I think I called this one spot on,

cept I missed the beating your wallet took on in all of this.

Hang In there, at least the Mule has one fine looking Hoof on her now.

you just wait that'll be the tire you put a stick through first.

what is the condition of the other rear tire?

How many years has the mule had to sit out in the sun? the tires sure due take a beating day after day having the sun shine down on them.

thanks for the update and sharing your moment of traffic delay!!!

 

[xtremek]

..........Hang In there, at least the Mule has one fine looking Hoof on her now.

you just wait that'll be the tire you put a stick through first.

what is the condition of the other rear tire?

How many years has the mule had to sit out in the sun? the tires sure due take a beating day after day having the sun shine down on them.

thanks for the update and sharing your moment of traffic delay!!!

Yeah, SB68C, you called it. The old girl has sat outside for roughly the last 30 years, approxiamtely 25 of them never moving. The other tire has some dry rot in it, but not near as bad. I replaced that side last year when the side wall blew out driving it across the smooth cement pad in front of the barn.

I'm hoping once we have some of the more urgent projects finished, we can get around to putting an addition on the barn to put the implements, OLD Mule, and other assorted items in. I've got the Procurment Dept. (my mom and dad) collecting old telephone poles for a pole style build.

I totally agree with your assesment of watching turkeys fly, Jon. You wonder how they can do it. Be thankful you didn't hit the silly thing, they can do a ton of damage. It's really nice of them (and their friends) to loan me the property. It makes the drive worth it.

 

[madoc1]

love the new beauty rim and shiny bolts on the 8n. least you could do is splash some silver paint on the other rim. lol. I remember doing this about 20 years ago on my 9n, except the tire shop was able to patch the wheel. good luck with what ever comes next on the oddessy.

jim

 

[1/2 Cup]

I seem to have days like yours when nothing goes right and all it does is cost.

Some times you just have to bite the bullet so to speak.

Regards

 

[sublime68charger]

I seem to have days like yours when nothing goes right and all it does is cost.

Some times you just have to bite the bullet so to speak.

Regards

I think most guys on gj have days like this,

Heck when I was young I helped my uncle out on his farm a lot and many days there was the saying,
I gotta due something even if it's wrong!

When to cut, how dry is it?
When to rake, is it to tough to bale?

You don't get anything done without trying,

I have had lots of days where I would have been farther ahead to stay in bed, cause that morning everything was working far as I knew and by the end of the day I have 3 weeks of repairs or fixing to get back where I started out when my feet first hit the floor.

 

[xtremek]

love the new beauty rim and shiny bolts on the 8n. least you could do is splash some silver paint on the other rim. lol. I remember doing this about 20 years ago on my 9n, except the tire shop was able to patch the wheel. good luck with what ever comes next on the oddessy.

jim

I had already patched that rim.....twice. Neither tire is loaded yet. I'm thinking that I'll need to patch the other wheel before I load it.

Thanks for your words of encouragement, guys. That week is par for the course at the Princess Palace/Hack Shack. At least it keeps me from being bored.

 

[matt_i]

An old tractor wheel/rim deserves a electrolysis bath (turn it a couple of times for full coverage in a tote-container bath) and then a good paint job inside and out. If there's any rust flakes inside of it, they will gnaw the innertube to death. Some people try to duct tape the inside of the wheel as a stop-gap but its exactly that.

I keep my tractors covered with silver tarps outside, does a decent job, last about 2 years. The tarps help keep water out of the ignition, off the seat, and off the tires, where it can seep down in the rim.

Relative to seating beads, there's some sort of a glycol-based chemical which is a tire assembly lubricant. Smells exactly like the green coolant. I got a remote-clip air chuck so you stand 25' back from the tire as you increase air pressure trying to seat the beads. You have to respect the thing as a bomb when running right at the max seating pressure stamped on the sidewall.

I think I'm up to 8 tire & tube changes now, with a few emergency repairs as well mixed in. Its like fighting an alligator, you need all your strength and a third hand to really control it well....

 

[xtremek]

Here’s a little repair that was required on the Old Mule. This is the limiting chain off of the right side of the lift arm for the 3pt hitch. 15minutes of work and I was back to beating on the Old Mule. There are definitely more powerful tractors out there, but I doubt any out there can take more abuse.

Another note, the new Stihl whip is a beast. It chews through just about anything. The head does seem to get the tall weeds twisted around it when it chews them. I’m in the process swapping out the handle from the old Green Machine to ease the strain on my back. Of all the whips (about 5 different professional brands) I’ve ever used, this handle is the absolute best. But back to the Stihl, it is the most powerful whip I've ever used, and it's not the top of the line Stihl offers.

 

[1/2 Cup]

You can't beat an old tractor to take the punishment that they endure.

A good friend who lives diagonally opposite me in suburbia has an old Grey Massey Fergusson, boy is that handy at times. It has a lifting jib that has been used for every thing from pulling engines, fence posts and loading trailers. Passersby are always a little bemused to see a tractor in town.

Great to hear your new Stihl is working well, they make some good gear.

Regards

 

[MrQuinn]

Thanks for dropping by and giving me a nudge to get moving. Do you have longer days there... ? I don't seem to have enough time in the day here to get all that needs doing done! Maybe you just have more energy? If you tell me where you can buy more time, I'll be happy to keep your secret... Nice to see you have made some real progress but it sounds like the list keeps growing on the things to do.. carry on!

 

[fergus]

Xtremek,

I had never seen your thread til today. Looks like you and I are gonna be fighting the same battles for years to come! You've come a long way...looks like things are under control for now!

 

[xtremek]

Thanks for dropping by ..........Nice to see you have made some real progress but it sounds like the list keeps growing on the things to do.. carry on!

Thanks for dropping by Mr Quinn. I don't have more energy or time, age is finally catching me fast. But I keep hearing my old man's voice in my head, "Shut up and work, that's all you get paid to do." That, and I want to get to a point where I can start doing projects I want to do, not have to do.

Xtremek,

I had never seen your thread til today. Looks like you and I are gonna be fighting the same battles for years to come! You've come a long way...looks like things are under control for now!

Tim, thanks for stopping in, I am truly honored. I agree that you and I are now fighting similar battles (your previous ones were beyond anything I could imagine), although I think I'm a little further up the same road. Sometimes, when the jobs used to get to me, I'd drop by your thread and see what you'd started with, where you were at, and told myself, "If he can do that, then I need to get back to it". Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[MrQuinn]

Thanks for dropping by Mr Quinn. I don't have more energy or time, age is finally catching me fast. But I keep hearing my old man's voice in my head, "Shut up and work, that's all you get paid to do." That, and I want to get to a point where I can start doing projects I want to do, not have to do.
.

I can relate to "age finally catching up to me" and sometimes I wish I had taken better care of this body had I known I would live so long. Time definately has a way of catching up to you and making one aware of it.

I am at the point of being almost done with the "need to do" things in the shop. Started to primer the walls this week and going to go get the paint today! I'll post some pics as I progress. I think it will be nice to be done so I can move on to things I want to do too...

 

[xtremek]

I’m recliner bound for a few days, bronchitis, so I thought I’d bring this old thread up to date. It’s been a normal summer, two steps forward, three steps back. I did a “quick” repair to the neighbor’s trailer. I promised to do this last year, and it’s the least I can do since I broke his dozer. I also did a quick job for a guy at work. This is the cracked manifold off of his V-6 Fiero. I used my MIG for this. I’m guessing the reason the welds look like poop is that I didn’t use stainless for wire for this.
After almost thirty years, my compressor finally died, or maybe I should say I killed it. The tank had a pin hole in the bottom since the petcock stripped out and I never got around to replacing it. So I found this beast on CL for $400. I’m having a fun time trying to get it up in the old closet, it’s only taken 3 weeks to get it this far.
A couple other quick projects I was able work on was shelving for my coffee cans and another Plano rack. The second edition of the Plano rack is a little better. From this, I’ve learned I need a few more magnetic triangles and a flatter surface to weld on.
The old mule and I have been working the garden/yard/duck run area back into shape. The soil is mostly clay, hard as a brick dried out. But I learned something cool. The neighbor hunts our land, (for deer and morels) and I was helping him fix the other neighbor’s stand (he passed away about a year ago) when I learned that when SWMBO had the pond dug, the guys just dumped the dredgings in a pile. Guess what I’m going to put on the wife’s garden? It should grow some wicked veggies.

 

[xtremek]

Hopefully next Saturday my Old Man is going to drop by and help me to pull the roof off of some barns, this is one of them. I have to remember not to let him over do it, he’s 75. My plans are to use this for the ceiling in the barn. This should look good with the reclaimed siding I used for the lower half of the walls and the price is right. One step closer to finishing the barn.
I finally got around to getting the Chevy G30 rear axle and front suspension from my neighbor. I traded him my Uncle’s truck for them. I also got these helper bags from the same van. Anybody have any idea how much weight they can handle? I’m wondering if they’re stout enough to hold up the rear end of a mid-60’s AMC wagon filled with kids and luggage. I saw the Firestone Ride-Rite logo on the bags. Any idea where the size/model numbers are located?

 

[sublime68charger]

Feel better and good luck with all the irons you seem to have in the fire going right now just keep em hot

 

[1/2 Cup]

That iron will look fantastic as a ceiling as will the siding, great to see stuff being repurposed.

Regards

 

[jon72vega]

Looks like you've been busy as of late.
Hope you get to feeling better soon.

 

[Bassfishing54]

Hope you are feeling better!
As far as the air bags, it is hard to tell what they are as there are several other companies that also have them. I had Firestone's Ride Rite installed on a K3500 Dually to carry a 4,000 lb Lance 1181 camper. From what I understood they were like a 2nd set of helpers? Not sure if they could be used as stand alone. Here a couple of link that I remember as manufacturers.
http://riderite.com/
https://www.airliftcompany.com/
Hope that helps a little.
Glenn

 

[MrQuinn]

Bummer... I don't know which is worse with bronchitis, the coughing and sore throat or the sore stomach muscles from coughing. Get well soon...

I have moved from painting the shop to racing to finish the fall yard work and getting everything ready for winter... I don't care to clean gutters or rake out flower beds but tis the season. The fall weather is on the way in a week or two after this indian summer passes so I have to hustle or do the chores in the frosty days ahead. It doesn't look like I will have the gas line run into the shop this year so another winter of propane heat is better than no heat. Progress has been measured by small victories lately...

 

[xtremek]

Feel better and good luck with all the irons you seem to have in the fire going right now just keep em hot

You play the hand that's dealt you. One of the two buildings is already scheduled to be torn down as soon as the excavating company gets caught up

That iron will look fantastic as a ceiling as will the siding, great to see stuff being repurposed.

Regards

I'm not saving the siding. I already salvaged some old cedar siding from a collapsed horse barn and it gave me enough to roughly 4' high on the walls and still have enough to cover most of the walls in the Duck Haus.

Looks like you've been busy as of late.
Hope you get to feeling better soon.

Hope you are feeling better!
As far as the air bags, it is hard to tell what they are as there are several other companies that also have them. I had Firestone's Ride Rite installed on a K3500 Dually to carry a 4,000 lb Lance 1181 camper. From what I understood they were like a 2nd set of helpers? Not sure if they could be used as stand alone. Here a couple of link that I remember as manufacturers.
http://riderite.com/
https://www.airliftcompany.com/
Hope that helps a little.
Glenn

Hey Glenn, thanks for the leads, I'm going to check them out tomorrow.

Bummer... I don't know which is worse with bronchitis, the coughing and sore throat or the sore stomach muscles from coughing. Get well soon...

I have moved from painting the shop to racing to finish the fall yard work and getting everything ready for winter... I don't care to clean gutters or rake out flower beds but tis the season. The fall weather is on the way in a week or two after this indian summer passes so I have to hustle or do the chores in the frosty days ahead. It doesn't look like I will have the gas line run into the shop this year so another winter of propane heat is better than no heat. Progress has been measured by small victories lately...

You're already getting Indian Summer there? I'm so glad we're not there yet. And My furnace isn't hooked up yet, either, so I feel you there

If I stay relaxed and still, I'm pretty good. Talking or moving starts the coughing and and throwing up phlem.

All you guys, thanks for the well wishes, it means a lot to me. The worst part of this is that the weather has been absolutely amazing here this week and I'm stuck here riding the stupid recliner. So much for catching up.

 

[Grumblebum]

Hi xtremek, just got to the end of your thread over a couple of evenings. Another great working thread, stories and all.

Do you have any pics on how you fabbed up the tray holders ? After finally getting my screws/bolts etc sorted, I now get annoyed having to pull all the trays to get to the one I'm after - that always seems to be on the bottom

Anyway I'm subscribed and along for the ride, hope you get back on your feet soon.

Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[xtremek]

Hi xtremek, just got to the end of your thread over a couple of evenings. Another great working thread, stories and all.

Do you have any pics on how you fabbed up the tray holders ? After finally getting my screws/bolts etc sorted, I now get annoyed having to pull all the trays to get to the one I'm after - that always seems to be on the bottom

Anyway I'm subscribed and along for the ride, hope you get back on your feet soon.

Cheers Grumblebum.

Thanks for well wishes and dropping by GB. I'll try to get some pics taken tonight and post them tomorrow. What I found is that it is easiest to make the verticle posts one piece and build the layers to that instead of building the layers and stacking them. And I so hear you on the needed container being at or near the bottom, TOTALLY FRUSTRATING.

 

[xtremek]

Sorry I’m a little late on this GB, I got waylaid by a forgotten volleyball game. Anyways, here are some close up shots of my second attempt at my Plano Box Storage rack. I hope this helps. And let me know if you have any questions.
I brought this home from the widow lady next door. The plan is to cut it in quarters, lay it horizontal, put the drain on the bottom, cap the open end, put hinges on one of the horizontal seams, and then put legs on it. I’ll put a screen over the drain, plumb in a pump, and hey, I have a parts washer. That’s the plan, anyway, we’ll see how it gets executed.

 

[Grumblebum]

Thanks for popping up the pics, they look great. I'll add it to my list of garage projects (which keeps growing with every new thread I read lol ). I've got some small angle iron kicking around will just have to scrounge up some flat bar.

Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[Vieux]

It looks great!

 

[xtremek]

I consider that very high praise coming from you Vieux.