Above 1200 Sq/FT Out on Quaker Road

[Farmall450]

Counter looks good. What's with all the exposed wood in the barn? I feel warmth and humidity would caution against that!

 

[jblnut]

Counter looks good. What's with all the exposed wood in the barn? I feel warmth and humidity would caution against that!

Thank you !!

We treat the wood in-between flocks with some anti rot stuff but for the most part it isn't a big deal. There is ALOT of air that moves through this barn all the time and now that I've got the in-between flock ventilation figured out better there should be very little moisture built up. Right now it's 35% humidity in the barn with only one 36" fan running for 100sec every 300sec.

I much would rather have everything be treated lumber and marine grade and all that but I'm not all that sure it's necessary. Friends of ours have one of the first single story barns and it's going to be 30yrs old this year and it's still in pretty darn good shape.

 

[RickP]

It is cut to fit. The REALLY bright outside makes for a cruddy picture. I need to get the backsplash built and it'll be ready to secure !!

That countertop turned out really nice! Amazing what you can put together with a bunch of wood and a lot of glue - and the dark stain really puts the quality over the top.

 

[jblnut]

That countertop turned out really nice! Amazing what you can put together with a bunch of wood and a lot of glue - and the dark stain really puts the quality over the top.

I also really like how the color turned out. It's really dark but light enough that you can still see the grain really well. I almost want to sand the other one down and stain it this color !!

Mama Bear and I were talking about building a giant butcher block kitchen table when we build a new house. Now that would be sweet !!!

 

[drivesitfar]

JBL: Have the CHICKS ARRIVED? OMG you must be busy trying to keep them all alive.

I love the oak butcherblock you made and nice that you are able to make it fit in your old school bus that you turned into a camper. for those kind of cuts I used to use a jigsaw too and a chisel and now my go to tool is a FEIN especially if the cut doesn't have access from any side and is more of a hole.

keep up the great work around the farm and your job and good to hear the kids are getting a little of your time too.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Optical delusion, I guess, that new bearing looks larger.

Glad to see you getting ready to camp. Probably the only way she can get you away from working...

 

[jblnut]

JBL: Have the CHICKS ARRIVED? OMG you must be busy trying to keep them all alive.

I love the oak butcherblock you made and nice that you are able to make it fit in your old school bus that you turned into a camper. for those kind of cuts I used to use a jigsaw too and a chisel and now my go to tool is a FEIN especially if the cut doesn't have access from any side and is more of a hole.

keep up the great work around the farm and your job and good to hear the kids are getting a little of your time too.

The chicks come on Friday at 11:15am if you're available to come help get them in the barn

I used a jig saw because I was easily able to get behind it and make nice clean cuts. That being said, I bet a multi tool would have worked very well there as well !!

Yesterday Miss Lily threw up a bit of boogery stuff and I stayed home with her for a bit. It was clear that she was just fine so when a co-worker called and said he needed some help hooking up a new Rotem computer in a calf barn we went up there. I have a Rotem that controls everything in my chicken barn so that makes me qualified I guess. Lily and I got it programmed and running in about 10 minutes and the customer was quite happy. I dropped her off at school after that and went to work. We try to switch off who stays home with sick kids and it was my turn I guess.

Optical delusion, I guess, that new bearing looks larger.

Glad to see you getting ready to camp. Probably the only way she can get you away from working...

Looking at the picture it does look larger. Huh. Must indeed be caused by an optical occlusion.

We didn't have time to go anywhere last year and the bus wasn't really put together all the way anyway. We don't usually go far when we do go as the animals still need to be taken care of even when we're out lounging. It's still nice to get away, sit by the campfire and watch the kiddos play.

 

[jblnut]

I thought I posted this last night but it didn't post for some reason ........

We're getting chicks Friday at 11:15am so it is time to preheat the barn !!! This means setting the 2,224,000 BTU's of heaters to 94F and waiting for it to heat up.


While it's heating up I usually walk the barn and inspect each heater. Seems the top two bolts on one heater have worked loose. Not sure how that would have happened.


This looks just like the apparatus one Mr. Andy AKA the one and the only "oldironfarmer" uses to melt down pop cans and turn them into other useful things. Like the apparatus that is used to melt down pop cans and turn them into other useful things.


Tight and right and back in place !!!


70 minutes to warm 20,000 sq/ft to 92F isn't that bad. Only half the barn is used when the chicks are little. The other half is kept at a balmy 50F or so until they get big enough to move into the whole thing.

 

[jblnut]

I've been busier than a termite in a sawmill the last week or so trying to get loose ends ******* at work and get the barn ready for chickens. I managed to mostly get it all done. I've been waiting for a few weeks for a roll of fiber to show up to install at our latest robotic dairy. It came in the day before I needed it !! The old dairy office is 400' away from the new office so I couldn't run Cat6 like I wanted. Fiber it is !!!

6' tall orange Rack-a-Tier with a piece of 1" 304 SS milk line should work to roll out the fiber

I hate the little fibers being exposed so I usually use a piece of PVC jacket from some 12/3 or similar to enclose and protect it all. It works great to zip it to the lacing bar behind the patch panel as well !!

I have another switch to add and a few blank plates to clean it up and it's done. I really wish there was a premade decent set of rackmount ears for the US-8-150w. I know it's passively cooled and shouldn't be stacked in a rack but I always have a min of 1U between things so heat won't be an issue. I think I'm going to have to make some.

We finished getting the barn ready last week. Here Dad is spreading the PLT that helps keep the ammonia down for the little chicks.

Over winter we leave feed in the cross auger to prevent it from freezing up. It's different stuff than the little chicks need so we take it out when we're ready to start filling the feeders.

Duane and his Moffet forklift are here with 45,000 little peepers !!

Last pallet of chicks to be unloaded.

We had the privilege of having a high level Lely tech support guy come do a quick training with us on the new Lely A5 milking robot and he brought the biggest doughnuts I've ever seen !!

There were lots extra so I grabbed a few to take home. Dad struggled to finish one !!

I have not seen this much water in the meadow since we got 4" of rain in one day a few years back. I won't be cutting meadow hay anytime soon !!

My work laptop needed a boost so I swapped over to a high end SanDisk SSD and wowser !!! Should have done this a long time ago. It is booted and running before I release the power button. Well almost

Every Friday during Lent we try to go to a different local fish fry. This Friday we went to The Landing in St. Anna. EXCELLENT food !!

Last fall the floor starting getting wet in the Ranger and I finally dug into why.

Seems the cowl drains are plugged up ....

I stuck a garden hose in there and flushed it all out. We'll see what happens but I should be good now !!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Big burners on those furnaces!

By now I guess the little chicks are acclimated and growing. Will you name each on in this group?

I thought you had a miniature Mt. Dew can until you posted the picture of your dad with a rather large doughnut.

 

[Finallygotit]

Those aren't donuts, they're pies.

 

[jblnut]

Big burners on those furnaces!

By now I guess the little chicks are acclimated and growing. Will you name each on in this group?

I thought you had a miniature Mt. Dew can until you posted the picture of your dad with a rather large doughnut.

There are 28 80,000btu radiant heaters in the barn. I have no idea why the bolts worked loose but I thought of Andy as soon as I opened one up

Chicks are 2 days old and seem to like it here. I don't think I'll have time to name everyone in this batch. We're pretty busy getting ready to get ready to be busy with spring fieldwork.

Those aren't donuts, they're pies.

A semi local truck stop has a bakery within and they advertise their doughnuts are the size of your head. They're not kidding !!

 

[jblnut]

Leo spied the box of BIG doughnuts and had to have one. It was a pretty good time watching him try to eat it


We all crammed into the ol' Ford Ranger and headed out to the chicken barn to see the little chicks.


The kiddos had a blast in the barn. Leo kept trying to catch them and would giggle whenever I set a chick in his hands. The girls were hell bound to get them all to eat. It was a good time !!


We HAD to check out the steers and they all had to push corn up. Leo grabbed the biggest tool he could.

 

[Grumblebum]

They are some big *** donuts.

How did ye old 884 go on the last batch swapover ?

GB

 

[jblnut]

They are some big *** donuts.

How did ye old 884 go on the last batch swapover ?

GB

The 884 ran like a champ !! The drivetrain was noticeably better with no clutch slippage whatsoever

 

[BORING HOP YARD]

Great looking family!

 

[jblnut]

Great looking family!

Thank you !!

I love how Leo has that "Guess what I'm gonna do" look on his face

 

[BORING HOP YARD]

I've seen that look on my youngest daughters face, make sure you guys enjoy theses times, they grow up fast and thanks for letting us tag along.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Great looking family!

X5!!

 

[RADcustom]

No denying that kid. He's a spitting image of you.

 

[jblnut]

I've seen that look on my youngest daughters face, make sure you guys enjoy theses times, they grow up fast and thanks for letting us tag along.

It is really hard to balance family/farm/work and still find time for some fun but somehow it seems to happen. I'm still having fun showing what we do out here so tag along as long as you want

X5!!

No denying that kid. He's a spitting image of you.

Looks like me, I'm told he acts like me when I was little, dances like me, LOVES tractors already like me, yeah, I think he's a keeper

 

[jblnut]

It has been a crazy week. I logged 62hrs at work this week

The week started out with a trip to Pella Iowa to go to Lely Astronaut A5 training to learn all about the latest and greatest milking robot. We stopped in at Lely North America Headquarters on our way to the training center. The Lely factory is behind the walls to the right and although we got a tour, they didn't want me taking pictures inside the factory for some reason.

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The new training center is setup with all the robotic stuff Lely sells in the US. There is a pair of Vectors, a pair of calf feeders, one Juno Flex, one Juno 150, one A3 milking robot, one A4 milking robot, one A5 milking robot, one Grazeway, one Cosmix, a couple ID systems and a bunch of small supporting hardware. It is a REALLY nice place !!

Dad and I got all the big steers weighed today with the alley and scale combo. It works really well but we REALLY need to figure a better way to get the steers into it. This was stupid how we set it all up today. We like to find the best way to do things by ruling literally everything else out first

I have been running around whenever I can with a shovel to drain puddles and dry things up the last few weeks. I decided to try something else today.

Gosh that worked well !!!

Until it didn't ....

Seems one of the hoses that goes to the left boom cylinder has a leak.

Now I'm not sure who has all worked on skid loaders that is reading this but they are the most miserable pieces of equipment to work on. There is SO much stuff packed into such a small space that it is just about impossible to do anything without taking 73 other things apart first. The two fittings that need to be taken apart here are about a foot in from the rear door and crammed unto the upright on the left tower. Good grief.

Seems these two hoses have been doing a little dancing with each other and have worn holes into each other.

Just before supper I saw fire trucks and a pair of police cars on our road doing something. Seems a ditch fire started somehow

Not long after that the power went out. Mama Bear was out with friends tonight so of course this is the day when ship hits the fan !! The little people crew helped get the genny running so we could make supper.

I went out to investigate and found this. Seems like this might be the problem ....

The 884 was low on fuel but in order to fill up the tractor I needed power. I had to fill up this stupid blue can 3 times to get it full. I couldn't back the tractor up to the pump because there was no power to run the pump. It wasn't until I typed this and re-read it that I realized there is a 120v outlet on the generator. I could have simply plugged the pump into the generator and filled it up and went over to the power panel. Oh well, maybe next time.

Power went out around 4PM and the eXcel guy was there fixing it around 9:30PM. It came on just before 10PM so the 884 got to have fun for 6ish hours today.

 

[Farmall450]

Those PTO generators sure are handy. Although we never get one out since more times than not the power is back in a few hours and a small gas generator can handle everything in between (furnace fan, fridges, lights).

 

[jblnut]

Those PTO generators sure are handy. Although we never get one out since more times than not the power is back in a few hours and a small gas generator can handle everything in between (furnace fan, fridges, lights).

It seems about once every 6 months is gets used. I planned on using it for something every 6 months to keep the gears oiled in the gearbox and burn out any moisture so this works I guess. It is a PITA hooking it all up and driving it out there. I dread doing it in the dark one night but it'll happen sometime I suppose. I think a little shed to park it in is in order. Than at least I don't have to find the damn thing before I use it. Back the tractor in and hook it up and go !!

I need something with enough snort to keep my cattle water heaters, well pump, pump house heater as well as the furnace in the house going. Simple math puts that stuff at almost 6kw before any lights/fridge/freezer and the like. This 18kw unit works great but is mildly inconvenient.

 

[jblnut]

Great day to pick up trays. The chicks have eaten them clean and they need to get removed from the barn. It's a rather labor intensive job that will wet through a shirt in a hurry being as its's a balmy 85F in the barn.

 

[oldironfarmer]

So you started the ditch fire with your loose wire? We did that one time. fire department showed up, I didn't know we had a fire, a power line had fallen down, I went inside to tell my wife and we had no power.

I know exactly what you are talking about with the hose connections. My 773 busted a hose when I was deep in the woods shearing trees and pumped all the oil out before I knew I had a leak. surrounded on three sides by trees with the shear stuck in one and I could only get the door open halfway. Had to pack everything through the woods to get to it to work on it. I guess I wrote about it on my thread. Trying to get the bad hose loose I needed another hand and asked my neighbor, he said "sure, tomorrow". That pissed me off enough I was able to get it on my own.

Said all that to say - yes, those are tough to get to, after you take the battery, air cleaner, and brackets off, they are tough to get to. I only had one bad hose and never replace what has not failed but I replaced both those hoses when I was in there. I had to do the right side later, and it was a little easier for some reason.

 

[jblnut]

So you started the ditch fire with your loose wire? We did that one time. fire department showed up, I didn't know we had a fire, a power line had fallen down, I went inside to tell my wife and we had no power.

I know exactly what you are talking about with the hose connections. My 773 busted a hose when I was deep in the woods shearing trees and pumped all the oil out before I knew I had a leak. surrounded on three sides by trees with the shear stuck in one and I could only get the door open halfway. Had to pack everything through the woods to get to it to work on it. I guess I wrote about it on my thread. Trying to get the bad hose loose I needed another hand and asked my neighbor, he said "sure, tomorrow". That pissed me off enough I was able to get it on my own.

Said all that to say - yes, those are tough to get to, after you take the battery, air cleaner, and brackets off, they are tough to get to. I only had one bad hose and never replace what has not failed but I replaced both those hoses when I was in there. I had to do the right side later, and it was a little easier for some reason.

The down wire was a good 1/2 mile away from the ditch fire. It really made no sense and seems they were unrelated

I did both right side hoses a while back and remember needing to go to church when I was done. I think I even invented a few new swear words.

I was lucky enough to notice a trail of oil on the ground and hightailed it to the shop before it was empty. Dad's skid loader busted the main hose off the pump a while back and it took about 8 seconds of oil flying out the side of the machine before it was empty. Just long enough to look around and notice something was wrong before it stopped moving

 

[Farmall450]

What to you two run in the bobcats for fluid?

The Case 85XT calls for 10w-30 w/ a pricey additive. (to my credit, I do actually buy it since it's basically the only thing that doesn't get hytran or 303).

 

[oldironfarmer]

What to you two run in the bobcats for fluid?

The Case 85XT calls for 10w-30 w/ a pricey additive. (to my credit, I do actually buy it since it's basically the only thing that doesn't get hytran or 303).

I run 10W30 Walmart motor oil. I've recently read that supposedly new motor oils are not as good for hydraulic use as they used to be. So I may be screwing up. But my Bobcat is old and loose. I'll be really unhappy if I damage the pump. Most of my use is short term, however, it does not get worked for hours on end.

 

[Farmall450]

I run 10W30 Walmart motor oil. I've recently read that supposedly new motor oils are not as good for hydraulic use as they used to be. So I may be screwing up. But my Bobcat is old and loose. I'll be really unhappy if I damage the pump. Most of my use is short term, however, it does not get worked for hours on end.

Yeah, we go w/ the cheap Farm & Fleet (Citgo) stuff. No sense in buying premium oil for hydraulics (also not using heavily -- it would be a different discussion if you had a forestry mulcher or something heavily running the hydraulics all day). No fancy bobcat additive "required?"

I wonder if they mean dino and synthetic? Or maybe the new OS weights? I don't think 10w-30 GPI 3 or 5 (whatever it is) should have changed

 

[oldironfarmer]

Yeah, we go w/ the cheap Farm & Fleet (Citgo) stuff. No sense in buying premium oil for hydraulics (also not using heavily -- it would be a different discussion if you had a forestry mulcher or something heavily running the hydraulics all day). No fancy bobcat additive "required?"

I wonder if they mean dino and synthetic? Or maybe the new OS weights? I don't think 10w-30 GPI 3 or 5 (whatever it is) should have changed

My manual called for 10w30 motor oil. Period.

But over on a heavy equipment forum there was a discussion that Bobcat had changed and someone was claiming that the change applied to old equipment too, because the basic oil had changed due to emissions requirement. I don't have a clue.

But I do know lots of people dream up reasons why something more expensive must be used.

 

[jblnut]

What to you two run in the bobcats for fluid?

The Case 85XT calls for 10w-30 w/ a pricey additive. (to my credit, I do actually buy it since it's basically the only thing that doesn't get hytran or 303).

John Deere HyTrans seems to work well in everything.

I run 10W30 Walmart motor oil. I've recently read that supposedly new motor oils are not as good for hydraulic use as they used to be. So I may be screwing up. But my Bobcat is old and loose. I'll be really unhappy if I damage the pump. Most of my use is short term, however, it does not get worked for hours on end.

I changed all the fluids when I got it a few years back and in went 15W40 motor oil from Cenex and John Deere HyTrans. We use that combo in everything on the farm. Even the ol' John Deere 318 mower. Most things are stored inside or have oil pan heaters for when it's cold.

I think Bob will be fine with motor oil .... In my 763 service manual under fluid type it say: "Bobcat fluid (P/N 6563328); if fluid is not available, use 10w-30/10w-40 Class SE motor oil for temperatures above 0 F(-18 C)
5w-30 motor oil for temperatures below 0 F (-18 C)."

Yeah, we go w/ the cheap Farm & Fleet (Citgo) stuff. No sense in buying premium oil for hydraulics (also not using heavily -- it would be a different discussion if you had a forestry mulcher or something heavily running the hydraulics all day). No fancy bobcat additive "required?"

I wonder if they mean dino and synthetic? Or maybe the new OS weights? I don't think 10w-30 GPI 3 or 5 (whatever it is) should have changed.

I've always been under the assumption that dino oil is dino oil. Don't mix synthetic and T-Rex and you should be fine.

I'll have to look in the service manual for my Lewis Brothers Housekeeper to see what oil they recommend. That machine is 100% hyd drive off a pump that gets put on the pto. The lines get warm but not too hot to touch. There is a GOOD sized tank on the machine for it to cool down in though.

My manual called for 10w30 motor oil. Period.

But over on a heavy equipment forum there was a discussion that Bobcat had changed and someone was claiming that the change applied to old equipment too, because the basic oil had changed due to emissions requirement. I don't have a clue.

But I do know lots of people dream up reasons why something more expensive must be used.

Lots of keyboard thumpers over there too. He probably is an oil sales man or has his fingers in it somehow.

It all come out in a hurry when there is a leak though .....

 

[oldironfarmer]

But you can't buy SE anymore. SM or SN. I remember when SC came out.

They are supposed to be reverse compatible. but I do have a couple of cases of old cans I've been saving. It seems antique motor oil cans sell for as much empty as full so I may just open old cans and use them. Hmm, I forgot to show Don my old oil cans.

 

[Farmall450]

My manual called for 10w30 motor oil. Period.

But over on a heavy equipment forum there was a discussion that Bobcat had changed and someone was claiming that the change applied to old equipment too, because the basic oil had changed due to emissions requirement. I don't have a clue.

But I do know lots of people dream up reasons why something more expensive must be used.

True story there. At the end of the day oil is oil.

Although I did spring for the $65/bucket gear oil for my Farmall C rearend vs the Hytran most would dump in (they didn't have combined hyd/rear end back then!).

 

[drivesitfar]

JBL: i'm sorry I've missed a few work shifts out in the Chicken shed and barns, but I'm sure i'd step on and kill more chicks than I'd help. BTW how do you and your kids keep from stepping on or running over them or do you rarely walk in their areas?

I hope it has warmed up a bit so you can enjoy your spring like we are here in the PNW.

keep up the great work. I guess you'll sleep when you're dead cause no clue how you work a regular job and then do all the chores around your farm and home.

good luck too!!

 

[86turbodsl]

It sure is heartwarming to see you're spending time with the kids and getting them involved in the family business. The time you're investing in them will pay you back handsomely in future i can promise you!

:thumbsup:

 

[rixtrix1]

You say your manual calls for 10w-30 SE motor oil, I believe the latest designation is 10w-30 SN which doesn't have the zinc and phosphorus anti-wear additives present in the old SE blend as they contaminate oxygen sensors in modern cars. Oils with ZDDP additives are now quite expensive by the quart, but are needed for old flat tappet and/or hydraulic lifters and camshafts, ie: old "muscle car' type engines. You can purchase the ZDDP additive separately to add to cheaper modern oils, which could be the additive you mentioned earlier. HTH

 

[Farmall450]

You say your manual calls for 10w-30 SE motor oil, I believe the latest designation is 10w-30m SN which doesn't have the zinc and phosphorus anti-wear additives present in the old SE blend as they contaminate oxygen sensors in modern cars. Oils with ZDDP additives are now quite expensive by the quart, but are needed for old flat tappet and/or hydraulic lifters and camshafts, ie: old "muscle car' type engines. You can purchase the ZDDP additive separately to add to cheaper modern oils, which could be the additive you mentioned earlier. HTH

The Case stuff I referred to is HTO -- w/ C rated oil. I imagine you're right that it's just antiwear additives, that are probably unneeded for hydraulics. I suppose the drive pumps might benefit.

 

[oldironfarmer]

You say your manual calls for 10w-30 SE motor oil, I believe the latest designation is 10w-30m SN which doesn't have the zinc and phosphorus anti-wear additives present in the old SE blend as they contaminate oxygen sensors in modern cars. Oils with ZDDP additives are now quite expensive by the quart, but are needed for old flat tappet and/or hydraulic lifters and camshafts, ie: old "muscle car' type engines. You can purchase the ZDDP additive separately to add to cheaper modern oils, which could be the additive you mentioned earlier. HTH

Yeah, I do use my old oil in the 454 Chevelle, though for 1972 I'm not sure it qualifies as a "muscle car" engine.

 

[jblnut]

JBL: i'm sorry I've missed a few work shifts out in the Chicken shed and barns, but I'm sure i'd step on and kill more chicks than I'd help. BTW how do you and your kids keep from stepping on or running over them or do you rarely walk in their areas?

I hope it has warmed up a bit so you can enjoy your spring like we are here in the PNW.

keep up the great work. I guess you'll sleep when you're dead cause no clue how you work a regular job and then do all the chores around your farm and home.

good luck too!!

The chickens pretty much get out of the way when we're walking through the barn. When they're little you gotta do the penguin shuffle if you want to walk through a bunch of them or you'll squash them !!

It really seems like it wants to warm up but has still been dipping below freezing every night. I am SOOOOOO ready to get in the fields and play with my tractors !!!

It sure is heartwarming to see you're spending time with the kids and getting them involved in the family business. The time you're investing in them will pay you back handsomely in future i can promise you!

:thumbsup:

The kids love it and although it takes 34 times longer to do anything with them, I enjoy it as well