Between the River Hills & the River Bottom

[cliftonbros89]

I see you have a "cat scan" in progress on the buggy...

That was one of the only moments he wasn’t trying to lay on top of my papers on top of my toolbox.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Picked up a few things at an antique store today. Cutters I can definitely use. Not sure how well the internal pipe wrench will work. But I figured for $5 I’d give it a try. Won’t likely need the Snap On 17mm hex/21mm offset box wrench but I thought it’d be cool to have. Only a whole $22 all together so I figured it wasn’t bad.

Found a decently looking SK 1/2” set in an original metal box. Box was in really good shape. The set was 12 point and a little rough. So I let it go.

Another cool find that I passed on was a 1-1/4” and 1-1/8” double box wrench. But it was all brass. Middle of the wrench was scratched up. I couldn’t make out a name on it. But it did have USA on it. I thought I’d be cool to hang up at least. But I wasn’t sure what I’d use a brass wrench for like that. Especially box ends in that size. Anyone know what it would be for?

 

[NKlamerus]

Brass wrenches don't spark

My grandfather and dad always used it for working on fuel lines

No idea If there's any validity there

 

[cliftonbros89]

Brass wrenches don't spark

My grandfather and dad always used it for working on fuel lines

No idea If there's any validity there

That makes sense. I didn’t think of that. I thought it was a pretty cool wrench.

 

[Toothaker]

Non sparking tools are also made from a beryllium alloy. Don't grind or buff beryllium, it's deadly when inhaled.

Sent from my mobile using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[cvairwerks]

Could be an old bung wrench. I don't remember the old sizes offhand.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Back to the regular schedule today. Fed hay and ground a couple batches of feed. Got the van trailer for the pulling tractors ready to go for inspection. That’ll be the last of the inspections for the semi’s. Another guy stopped in to talk seed. Had to fix an electric wire the big calves had down. Mainly just got the regular chores done and not much else.

Although, I’d found Friday that Deere has given me the wrong socket set with the wrenches I’d ordered. When dad made another trip there Saturday he was able to pick up the correct set for me.

Larger SAE 3/4” drive set. It skips some sizes but goes from 1-11/16” to 2-3/8”. So I had to make some room for them and rearrange my drawer.

So for now it houses all my 3/4” drive sockets, larger 1/2” drive crowfoot wrenches and my 3/8”, 1/2”, and 3/4” drive torque wrenches. I relocated my other 1/2” drive torque wrench to the other box for now as it isn’t used as often. I’d like to get some larger sizes yet in 3/4” impacts. I’d also like to invest in some deepwell too. They have their place as well. Although by that time I may have to relocate the contents of this whole drawer to the other box in order to keep them all together.

So we’ll see what we can finish up tomorrow.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Dad ending up having a levee district meeting so he wasn’t around this morning. I started off the morning going to the retirement farm to check the cattle and give them some corn. I also put some feed in the feeds for the calves.

Since dad was gone I started back on shop work.

I was really wanting to use my cart today. So being I don’t have my fluids cart set up yet I piled all my truck tools on that to get them out of the way.

So my cart was finally free.

After a few small jobs I filled the grain cart gear case with oil so I was sure it wouldn’t leak before I put it back on.


While I let it sit I started putting the PTO back together on the 2520.

I finally got it back together and ready to go.

This afternoon I started back on the grain cart.

It was a little tricky to get the gearbox mounted back up and get the auger lined up with the shaft all with just two hands but I got it done. Got the shaft and new bearings mounted up and shields all back in place.

Got it all looked over and working again. So we pulled it out.

It was kind of nice to have a little more room in the shop again.


Next I started on the SCV couplers on the 2520. I’ve been having some trouble with the one so I decided I’m going to put a new seal kit in the couplers. It was nice to have the cart for this. Especially since that iPad Mount we got from FieldView stuck on my cart great. It was nice to have for reference at least.

We also got the last of the trailers for semis inspected today. So they’re all ready to roll again.

Also, good news! Finally got the call that the truck is finally finished! I’m looking forward to getting it back. Hopefully, we’ll have time to work things out and get it tomorrow.

 

[dchance]

Good news on the truck.

Dwight

 

[NKlamerus]

Did you get to keep the first set of sockets that JD gave you?

Also how do you keep your project parts separated?

Ex; keeping the nuts and bolts for the PTO assembly away from the nuts and bolts for the gearbox?

 

[cliftonbros89]

Did you get to keep the first set of sockets that JD gave you?

Also how do you keep your project parts separated?

Ex; keeping the nuts and bolts for the PTO assembly away from the nuts and bolts for the gearbox?

No the socket set was returned.

I’ve actually been looking for some options for keeping parts organized and separated. Especially, in a situation like the grain cart that may take a week or two til I have all the parts and the time to assemble the parts.

Luckily, the grain cart was easy. Bolts for the gearbox were all the same size hex cap (Allen head) bolts so they were easy to keep separated. The mounting bolts for the gearbox were the same size as the mounting bolts for the bearings on the driveline. All three shields I removed all had the exact same hardware as well. So it was way cuz that only left the bolts for the PTO shaft, Abe mounting bolts for the brace for the auger.

In this particular case magnetic trays were the best. One tray for the front shields, pto shaft, drive line bearings, and auger brace bolts, I stuck it to the front shield. Second tray for the back shield and gearbox mounting bolts. Then a third tray for the parts for the gearbox which I disassembled on the drip tray on top of my toolbox.

For the most part I’ll use the magnetic trays. I have several of them in a few different sizes. I did recently pick up some of those ViewTainers from Menards. They seemed like they’d be handy. Especially for small stuff. I figured I’d use them for more intricate disassemblies of things. Especially if I need to label things to remember what the go to.

The SCV’s I started on the 2520 I’m just putting the parts laid out on my cart. Just to help me remember the order of assembly a little better. Plus I don’t want to scar up any of those parts.

I’m always open to some new options though.

 

[cvairwerks]

We use these at work: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/cata...MIqp200tqs3wIVjrrACh1qLAkAEAQYASABEgKh5_D_BwE , though, we get them from a big supplier and they are dyed orange. You can get them with write on tags too, and various sizes. We don't bother with the tag ones, as it's more possible FOD.

 

[cliftonbros89]

We use these at work: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/cata...MIqp200tqs3wIVjrrACh1qLAkAEAQYASABEgKh5_D_BwE , though, we get them from a big supplier and they are dyed orange. You can get them with write on tags too, and various sizes. We don't bother with the tag ones, as it's more possible FOD.

Those look like they could be handy for things. I may have to look into those a bit.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I tried to get an early start to the day.

I thought dad’s plan was to haul off some corn today. But that changed to hauling off a few loads of beans instead.

So we hauled a couple loads off. We also made a corn and a bean contract for January. Prices have gone up a little bit. It’d be nice if they went up more yet.

Dad loaded up one load of corn to haul off for a landlord tomorrow. We may haul some more for ourselves too.

Good news! I got the truck back!

Everything seems good so far. First thing I did was pull it in the shop. I’m making plans to rearrange things a bit and start putting my tools all back in.


First thing I did was take the shelf out of the bed that’s been in there since I bought it.

Last week I came across an old bed mat that wasn’t in very good shape that was laying around.

I cut some pieces out of it to use in the toolboxes so things don’t slide around as much.

On the bright side of things I found a surprise in one of the toolboxes. I guess it’s been there since before my brother-in-law bought it.

A 3/8” Snap On swivel. Little dirty but I cleaned it up a bit. It looks good.

 

[welder57]

A early Christmas Gift from the truck...

 

[XJSuperman]

If it keeps producing Snap-On tools, maybe itll pay for its engine swap lol.

 

[cliftonbros89]

If it keeps producing Snap-On tools, maybe itll pay for its engine swap lol.

If only that would happen! Maybe I’ll find a bearing splitter or hard handled screwdriver next!

A early Christmas Gift from the truck...

Likely more than I’ll get from either the Snap On guy or the Matco guy.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I woke up to some very dark skies and a constant drizzle this morning.

I put out hay at the retirement farm and checked the cattle. The rain wasn’t bothering them.


Finally! Got the inverter in the truck and hooked up ready to go! I’m excited.

Also, got some e-track in the bed too! Should work good for strapping some things in and keeping things in order a bit.

I also put the bed mat pieces in to help secure things a bit.

I also rearranged tools some again. Trying it out. Hopefully, some of them will be easier to locate now.

 

[cliftonbros89]

So we did do something different today.

Despite the weather dad and I loaded up the 520 and 620 for a ride today. I didn’t know about it until I was almost to the shop.

I didn’t post anything about it but Sunday morning I had received a call from dad. A guy, 48, who farmed right next to the retirement farm and owned so ground right across the road from it. Saturday evening he had a fall and passed away. The fall broke his neck, killing him instantly. He had been in a barn taking care of some calves.

He was 48, farmed 300 aces of ground that belonged to him and his dad, then he also rented another 700 acres. It was just his father and him who farmed it all. But he still managed to find time to help anyone else who needed it. He was also on the extension council with me.

When dad was first diagnosed with cancer and was in very poor health. This guy was one of the first people to show up and ask what he could do for us. He ended up putting on about 200 acres of anhydrous for us that spring, between doing his own and someone else’s. I had frequent calls from him through the year just check in on us.

My brother-in-law’s brother helped him out quite a bit and got quite a bit of help from him too. He always wanted to help someone.

With his father in poor health and no one to really take over the farm for him no one is really sure right now what will happen.

Today was his funeral. He was an active member of the local antique tractor club and some of the guys decided to ****** his casket to the cemetery with tractors. His casket was transported to the cemetery by an old dually 50’s model Chevy flatbed he restored years ago. There were 20 tractors all together that proceeded ahead of the truck. We rode despite the rain.

I wish I’d got a picture but I never managed to get one of them all lined up. Dad and I were the only Deere drivers there. But it was still pretty cool.

 

[Sifan]

What a neat tribute, I'm sure the family was touched by the gesture. I'm sure they won't hold it against you for driving Deere's Sorry for your loss, good, REALLY GOOD neighbors are hard to find and that sound like exactly what he was. 48 RIP

 

[Sifan]

Hope the truck works out for you this time ... loading and unloading it has almost become a second career for you!

 

[NKlamerus]

Sorry to hear the news about the neighbor, quite the tribute though!

Not gonna lie, when I saw the truck all opened up and emptied I thought it was finally time for paint!!

 

[cliftonbros89]

Sorry to hear the news about the neighbor, quite the tribute though!

Not gonna lie, when I saw the truck all opened up and emptied I thought it was finally time for paint!!

I wish. But I can’t say I really feel like dropping anymore cash on it right now. Especially with the roads so nasty this time of year. I’m ready to get it back on the road.

Hope the truck works out for you this time ... loading and unloading it has almost become a second career for you!

I know. It’s kind of annoying really. I eliminated a few things. Getting things set up a little more how I want them now.

Now that we’re not running so much I’m going to try to take the time to really go through and get an idea of things I really do and don’t need on the truck. Especially parts and supplies.

 

[cliftonbros89]

So yesterday wasn’t too eventful.

Fed the cattle. Super sloppy out. The additional .3’s we had on top of the 3.4” from earlier in the week made things rather messy.

Seed salesman who stopped before came by for us to book some seed for spring.

I finally got everything loaded back up in the truck! So it’s finally on the road again. Although not completely loaded down right now as we’re not in the fields.

I got back to work on the 2520.

I took the SCV off and started taking it apart.

That pretty much sums the day up.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Today I had a bit of a later start. Stopped by the retirement farm the check on the cattle.

I got to the shop and put the SCV for the 2520 back together.

I got it back on the tractor.

I put oil back in the 2520 and decided to take it for a little drive just to make sure everything was good. Also, to get things warmed up and moving a bit to make sure the nothing from the repair job on the SCV or PTO seal was leaking.

So shields off I took a little cruise out the road.

I backed back in the shop and decided to check the oil pressure once.

It checked out fine.

The couplers on the SCV seemed to look good and operate fine and it didn’t look like there were any leaks.

I plugged my gauge in just to make sure the valve was working correctly and make sure nothing was out of adjustment from me taking it off the tractor. It all checked out good too. Couplers seemed to work just fine as well.


So all in all I’d say the 2520 is pretty much done. Just need to pop all the shield back on. Do another good wash job and maybe put the annual coat of wax. It’ll be nice to start on something else.

 

[Farmall450]

Sorry to hear about your neighbor - the good really do die young.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Sorry to hear about your neighbor - the good really do die young.

I’ve definitely discovered that to be true.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Today for the most part it was another day.

Fed hay to all the cattle this morning. Due to all the rain fall the 7230 is getting pretty dirty.


After doing the feeding I loaded up both trucks with corn to haul off later in the week.

They’re both ready to roll.

Then I had some time so I ran the grain cart to the bottom shed so was out of the way up at the shed at dads

Now I just need to get some other stuff in the shop.

Stopped early for some Christmas stuff too.

 

[cliftonbros89]

New house doesn’t require just too much yard maintenance. Over summer I just used our big weedeater and leaf blower for the house. But last night I received these.

My sister and her husband bought me the trimmer. Mom and dad bought me the blower. The new cordless Stihl line. I was considering checking them out. But I had decided to just wait til spring to buy anything. Each one comes with a battery and a charger.

My brother-in-law uses a cordless trimmer at a yard that me mows and he said it works really good. He said it’d be great for use at my house. So I’m looking forward to using them.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Well today was a fairly quick day. I went to the retirement farm to check on the cattle.

A little bit later than usual. But everything seemed to be ok.

So after that it was back to back to the house. The rest of the day was spent with food, a few present, drinks...

...and some records, board games, and the guitars that haven’t been touched in years...

A bit of an easy day for once.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Back to it today. Although, not much activity. Dad had a doctors appointment so he was gone majority of the day.

My day consisted of hauling off corn. I hauled the 2 loads off I loaded on Monday. Then I loaded 2 more truck loads and hauled them off. I loaded both trucks up ready for first thing in the morning.

Some slight bad news that I thought may be coming.

Turns out the PTO leak isn’t fixed. I’d noticed the sleeve guide that the shaft goes through was wore a bit from the old seal. I replaced the seal. But it appears the guide was wore enough that even the new seal isn’t tight enough to keep the oil from leaking. So a new $120 guide will be here Friday. I guess I’ll be doing that job all over again. Add that to the already $254.38 (not including the cost of oil) worth of parts that I’ve replaced on it.

After dad’s appointment he stopped by Menard’s.

Apparently, he’s grown tired of the diesel burner and the wood stove in the shop and wants to put this in. Not sure when we’ll try that job.

 

[cliftonbros89]

So in reference to the cost of parts on the 2520, it’s easy to complain about the cost of Deere’s parts. But I was going through receipts recently and had the receipt for the parts from J&M for the grain cart.

I ordered 3 u-joints (or cross bearing as some may call it) for the grain cart. The one on the end of the drive line shaft to the gear box was the same as the two on each end of the PTO/clutch shaft. I got the 2 of the PTO just in case, for later down the road. To get those bearings from J&M (if I remember correctly) they were roughly $40 a piece. Which seemed ridiculous. I managed to cross reference the J&M part number to a Deere number and the same exact part from Deere was only $14 a piece. Not to mention my dealer also had them in stock, which would’ve also saved on the shipping charge for the J&M parts. Definitely learned a lesson on that.

 

[MacTexas]

The corn you hauled brings to mind a question, you have mentioned in the past that you were hauling corn to fulfill a contract. I grew up in Kansas City and would hear the noon farm report every day which piqued my interest in commodities so I have followed the futures market for the past 40 years. My questions are: How far out do you contract your corn? How do you make the decision to do a forward contract versus waiting on the spot price to increase?

I really enjoy your posts and look forward to your daily report of activity at the farm.

 

[cliftonbros89]

The corn you hauled brings to mind a question, you have mentioned in the past that you were hauling corn to fulfill a contract. I grew up in Kansas City and would hear the noon farm report every day which piqued my interest in commodities so I have followed the futures market for the past 40 years. My questions are: How far out do you contract your corn? How do you make the decision to do a forward contract versus waiting on the spot price to increase?



I really enjoy your posts and look forward to your daily report of activity at the farm.

I can’t say we really have any strategy or method to it. But we usually never contract very far in advance. Usually just a few months. This time of year is usually when we try to sell most of the grain since it is when we have the most time to haul it.

I guess as far as deciding when to make a contract or sell on spot, or even contract for a current spot price just depends on how things are going. Which has been a little tough the last year or so. We just try to keep up with it and find a decent price to sell at. If it shows January or February at a decent price we’ll try to contract some. It’s just hard to know what it’s going to do. A few months ago we made a contract for January for $4.05 a bushel on corn. Which was considering the price this morning for January is on $3.76.

I guess we basically just have to watch for the highs. But dad is usually a little more optimistic than I am. When the markets start to go he always wants to hold out hoping they’ll go up more. But I’m not so optimistic cuz that rarely ever actually seems to happen. Then sometimes we just need to sell to pay for some things so you get occasionally have to settle for the spot price.

Lately I’ve been trying to keep up with it all a bit more. Learn a little more about it all. But I don’t care what anyone says. No one ever knows what it’s going to do. It al depends on the value of the dollar, and I’ve also heard the value of the S&P, and whatever all the assholes in suits want to do.

Market depends on who is buying to. With all the trouble with tariffs it’s really set the market back. It sounds bad but for part of it you just have to hope the competition (being South America) has a bad year too. It gets kind of crazy when you really think about it. You can just consider how well your yield or your surrounding neighbors yield is. It’s a global market. There’s some guy in Argentina trying to produce the same exact thing to sell to the same buyer (mainly Asia). Except for that crop in Argentina is being harvested at a different time of year. It’s crazy how many factors for all over the globe effect the ability for an American farmer to make an extra .10 per bushel on a crop.

That drug out to a lot longer response than what I was expecting.

 

[jeepxj]

Some ******* in a suit. two oceans away.

 

[MacTexas]

Thank you for your response. As I mentioned I have followed the market for 40 years and have come to the same conclusion "some ******* in a suit".

 

[cliftonbros89]

Yesterday we hauled off 2 more loads of corn for now.

It had rained early morning hours but had began to rain again on the return trip from hauling corn.

The 8600 truck had developed a whole in the bottom of the muffler and required a new one.

So we ran it to town to have that fixed.

We ran a few errands and ended up going to pick up the part for the 2520 from Deere rather than wait for it to be dropped at the box later today.

I started in on that job.

It was a pretty quick fix. Only took about 25 minutes.

You can see the wear on the old one from the old seal which was likely the main cause of the oil leaking out.

I put it all back together and ran everything and washed it back up. So hopefully all issues will be completely fixed now.

I think it’s finally ready for that wax job now.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I can’t remember if I’ve posted this before or not. But I’ve been looking for ideas to do something with these parts from the previous service truck.

The flywheel. Obvious answer being a clock. But I haven’t fully decided on that yet.

The second would be this piece from the transmission. But, I know it’ll be too long and too hard to drill a whole through to run wire for a lamp.

So I’m gradually looking for ideas but I haven’t fully decided on anything. I’ve been browsing a bit through the repurposing thread on here for ideas.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Did all the feeding today. It was nice and wet and muddy all over again. Anywhere from another .5-1” yesterday. The cattle aren’t liking it either.

After we fed we ended up rounding up a few of the smallest calves with their moms to get them out of the muddiest parts of the lots. We also set up gates to let the other calves get to some dry in a few of the side sheds on the barns.


This afternoon I finally finished up with the 2520.


All washed, waxed, serviced, repaired and back together.

I decided to take it for a little ride after I pulled it out of the shop.

Just to get things warmed up and moving and make sure everything it good.

So into the shed it goes for now.

I had to quit a little early today. But this is next on the schedule.

Although I think it’s going to need a wash job first.

 

[Sifan]

Love how you maintain your equipment, 2520 doesn't look 40 years old