Typical Farm Boy Tool Set.

[romeo]

While posting in another thread, I got to thinking about the "Universal" tool set I used to carry around while growing up on the farm. I could fixed 99% of all farm machinery problems with the following tool set:

1.) a set of vise grips
2.) a pair of pliers
3.) an adjustable wrench
4.) a large flat-blade screwdriver
5.) a ball-peen hammer

Optional:
6.) a bigger ball-peen hammer


Anyone else have a tool set like this?

 

[timbitca]

Pretty sure I have all of that in the small toolbox on my farm tractor. Short of dead parts, it will fix anything that might need fixing. Works fine on my old tractor, not sure it would be just quite as handy on the newer ones with all the gadgets and electronics...

 

[Wakefield]

And a big Channel Lock?

 

[TreePointer]

I kept a 3/8" ratchet with one socket and one combination wrench on the tractor for replacing shear pins on the old Brush Hog. Those 3 items have since been retired when we moved to a sliip clutch.

 

[littletoes]

Most farmers I know have a truck dedicated to repair/lube/fuel.

Be a cool thread to see a few of them. I've seen them from old willy's pick-ups, to ford's and chevy's. Usually have a fuel tank, a large tool box with multiple drawers, a welder and even a gas powered compressor.

 

[romeo]

At some point I got the idea I could grind down the handle of the pliers and fasion it into a crude flat-blade screwdriver. This allowed me to leave the large flat-blade screwdriver in the tool shed and bring along a large iron Phillips head screwdriver / pry bar instead. I also always had my pocket knife I could use as a screwdriver for any small screws.

 

[romeo]

And a big Channel Lock?

That belonged in my farmers plumber tool set along with one small pipe wrench, and one big pipe wrench. And as always, bring along a big hammer!

 

[lowbucktruck]

Yep, sure do! But you forgot the baling wire and roll of duct tape.
Used to carry a tool set just like that on the tractor during haying season.

 

[dandan111]

Balling twine and wire is wrapped around everything on the farm. If you need a piece it's always near by.

 

[jmm]

Those days are long gone. I didn't grow up on a farm, I just worked on one several years back. I did more maintenance than actual farming, hence the big tool set. My boss man gave me a big locking utility box with most of this stuff already in it: 20 pc roll of thin standard wrenches, vice grips, HUGE channellocks, crow bar, straight blade, phillips, machete, hammer, 3 lb hammer, leather gloves, grease, ether, wd40, tow straps, chain, manual winch, and files. There were a few things in the bottom that had rusted beyond recognition from god-knows-when. If I couldn't fix it out in the field, I best be able to get it to the shop alone. Miss that time of my life...boss was a hardass but cool as all get out. He liked to drink more than I did.

 

[flht1997]

All the big tractors would have two twelve inch cresent wrenchs, a hammer, a few 3/8 butter bolts for shear bolts, a couple pins, and a lineman's pliers. All the other tools were in the shed and if something big broke we would pull it back.

 

[Big Gus]

I have one of those small three drawer craftsman chests packed to the max with tools. It isn't too often that a tool is needed that isn't in that box.

Usually if another tool is needed, the tractor/implement needs to be towed back to the shop anyway because it's too big of a job to be doing in the field.

 

[Big Gus]

Also, all tractors have the following in the mounted toolbox.

Hammer
Slip Joint Pliers
Phillips and Flat Blade Screwdriver
Crescent wrench
Channel Locks
Vise Grip
Prybar

Similar list as OP

 

[RedFordTruck]

Channellock 440 and USA Vice Grips

 

[MarkH]

Hammer
Slip Joint Pliers
Phillips and Flat Blade Screwdriver
Crescent wrench
Channel Locks
Vise Grip
Prybar

At one point we used to be able to live on that. As machines have gotten bigger and down time as become more costly we have added RP wrenches, ratchet sockets, hacksaw. ie the machine tool boxes are about up to where the pickups used to be. The trucks are now dedicated service, with fuel, lubrication supplies, air, the blue wrench, a couple may have welders, and enough tools to do anything we need. Regular sockets, impacts, a couple complete wrench sets, etc. They are where the shops used to be. I do not want to talk about the changes to the shops. From when I started from barely being able to do more than an oil change to doing everything except some injector pump repairs.

 

[genevabuck]

I know quite a few farm boys who carry a Leatherman Tool with them. It allows them to turn bolts, cut wire, turn screws, saw, file and crimp things, and fix machinery without having to keep returning to the barn all the time.

 

[Deadhead]

The sad part now-a-days is that the first tool you pull out is a lap top or multimeter to work on the new ones.

 

[KinzeMech]

The sad part now-a-days is that the first tool you pull out is a lap top or multimeter to work on the new ones.

I'm with you on the laptop, but multimeter? Really? One is sophisticated, and arguably unnecessarily so, and the other is a common diagnostic tool that has been around for decades. I had one to play with as a child, and knew that the R1K scale on the meter could tell me if a wire had continuity years before I ever learned that R was for resistance, ohms was it's unit, and less was more in terms of continuity.

 

[sdguy55]

While posting in another thread, I got to thinking about the "Universal" tool set I used to carry around while growing up on the farm. I could fixed 99% of all farm machinery problems with the following tool set:

1.) a set of vise grips
2.) a pair of pliers
3.) an adjustable wrench
4.) a large flat-blade screwdriver
5.) a ball-peen hammer

Optional:
6.) a bigger ball-peen hammer


Anyone else have a tool set like this?

In alot of ways you become a better mechanic by having to use just these tools to figure things out. On todays machinery its a lil harder but it FORCES you to think of creative ways to fix it.

 

[KinzeMech]

although I can see your point in that I've been out to the field to chase down electrical troubles, started testing with my digital MM, and hear the farmer on his phone, "Yeah, the guy's here now, he just hooked his computer up to it". funny ****...

 

[KinzeMech]

In alot of ways you become a better mechanic by having to use just these tools to figure things out. On todays machinery its a lil harder but it FORCES you to think of creative ways to fix it.

It is fun that way. Once I was planting, and the AC thermostat switch went out. Turning the dial to full cold would not power on the compressor. The only thing I could use from the tractor or the seed truck was a torn bit of old christmas lights that had gotten left on the bed of the truck. 5 minutes later, christmas light wire pinched under the spade terminal on one end, wrapped on the positive battery post on the other, and I had cold ac all day long. Damn cold actually, without the thermostat switch, it never shut off. Had to run the heater against the ac to balance temp.

 

[sdguy55]

It is fun that way. Once I was planting, and the AC thermostat switch went out. Turning the dial to full cold would not power on the compressor. The only thing I could use from the tractor or the seed truck was a torn bit of old christmas lights that had gotten left on the bed of the truck. 5 minutes later, christmas light wire pinched under the spade terminal on one end, wrapped on the positive battery post on the other, and I had cold ac all day long. Damn cold actually, without the thermostat switch, it never shut off. Had to run the heater against the ac to balance temp.

Lucky you didnt freeze it solid. Did that once with a window unit

 

[KinzeMech]

It did, but still blew cold air. The evaporator coils were in the cab roof. when I parked the machine for the day, it all thawed out, overloaded the drain, and ran out the vents. The next morning, the cab looked like someone had thrown a 2 gallon bucket of water in it.

 

[RCStocker]

I did not read all the post but dows anyone inclued bailing wire and wire cutters in thier box anymore? I never have found a use for it other than keeping the bull in. LOL

 

[KinzeMech]

Baling wire is the duct tape of the ag world.

If you cant duck it...

 

[Buckgnarly]

Adjustable wrenches, BFH, bailong wire, duct tape, screwdrivers, pliers are the main tools on my tractor. The adj wrench and BFH have a special spot right at the top of the box!

 

[RedFordTruck]

Baling wire is the duct tape of the ag world.

If you cant duck it...

This is very true