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Post by deadeer on May 14, 2022 13:40:34 GMT -5
Looks good. Anything to help out is a bonus.
We did our first paying job today. I scraped out hay and horse manure from the neighbors barn. I ran the tractor, and my wife raked out the end rows for me. It came off in layers or like sheets. When we were done, I showed her the pictures of the grapple and she said "what are you waiting for"? Lol
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Post by deadeer on May 14, 2022 13:45:00 GMT -5
Them work Great on the forklift fork also Yep. We made a couple that slipped over the tip of the fork and a retractable lock pin with different size ball and a pintle hook setup. Really helped moving some equipment at work.
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Post by deadeer on Jun 17, 2022 23:53:06 GMT -5
Progress slowed up with my aching back recently, but slowly getting back on track now. I added this expanded metal to help ward off sticks and limbs going into the grill and lights. Unfortunately it was a little too late, as the previous owner needed it before this happened! I also shed a little light on the situation.
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Post by deadeer on Jun 27, 2022 20:37:16 GMT -5
Making some good progress with the helping hand. Propping up logs to cut, roll to the splitter, and pick up to height for no bending, and then move the trailer to the wood shed. Couldnt be happier now. Back to almost fun again like in the old days!
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Jun 27, 2022 20:45:41 GMT -5
I need to get me a trailer like that to pull my tractor if/when needed. Glad you’re getting some good use out of the machine and less on your body. They’re definitely handy to have around. Probably get mine out tomorrow to grade our road, because we got a downpour yesterday that washed out some small ruts in the gravel running down the hill.
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Post by Ahawkeye on Jun 27, 2022 21:57:32 GMT -5
Making some good progress with the helping hand. Propping up logs to cut, roll to the splitter, and pick up to height for no bending, and then move the trailer to the wood shed. Couldnt be happier now. Back to almost fun again like in the old days! "Almost fun" yup split me plenty of almost fun when I was a kid! Wish I had an "almost fun" burner, something tells me heat will be expensive this year!
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Post by deadeer on Jun 27, 2022 23:04:25 GMT -5
Wood is a hot commodity here. Always got a campfire going, and exclusively burn for heat in the house. Ive only had to use a couple 100# tanks of propane in 20+ years here.
We make it a family affair. Everybody pitches in, even the wife, she helps split, but mostly stack. I'll take any help I can get. Always a reward at the end of a big accomplishment. Usually a trip out for dinner of their choice.
Blessed to have friends that hook me up with wood too. Esshup has supplied several winters worth of wood from a property he manages or his own place. Thank you! Another buddy brings wood in his dump trailer and pushes the button to off load. Talk about handy!
Then I used to sell firewood, but now since aging and ailing, it isnt as much fun like it was. If I had a consistent stream of incoming wood, I could make it work to sell a few truck loads. Thinking back to getting $65 for a heaping long bed, and now seeing it's going for $150. It almost might be worth it!
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Post by esshup on Jun 28, 2022 9:04:44 GMT -5
It's time for Luke to take over that, he can start adding to his college fund!!
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Post by deadeer on Jul 4, 2022 15:08:33 GMT -5
Since feeling better, have been hot to trot on projects. Made a set of forks for logs and branches. Have used the set up several times already and love them. Got them set up to really distribute the load across the bucket so no bending.
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Post by deadeer on Jul 4, 2022 15:14:03 GMT -5
By far, the most exciting thing I'm working on is a grapple for the bucket. Got some trimming and finish work to go. Still got to work up the brackets for the cylinder. The third function valve is coming this week. So it may be operational next weekend. Really excited to get this thing working.
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Jul 4, 2022 15:44:57 GMT -5
Looks great! That grapple will be a game changer I bet. You’ll have all the accessories you need before long if you keep this up.
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Post by deadeer on Jul 4, 2022 16:49:03 GMT -5
Looks great! That grapple will be a game changer I bet. You’ll have all the accessories you need before long if you keep this up. Well, if you notice, everything is homemade so far. If I had money, I could have just wrote the check for about $15k for everything I wanted. Lol. Couple things I will have to buy, like a tiller, box blade, and mower eventually. Hoping for a few side jobs to help finance the last few things. A buddy always has work. He just did 8hrs of bush hogging, and rough leveling with a box blade, for $1k. So there is money out there if you want it.
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Post by esshup on Jul 4, 2022 23:31:40 GMT -5
I got a 5' box blade (with teeth if you want to attach them) whenever you need to borrow it.
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Post by deadeer on Jul 10, 2022 14:30:42 GMT -5
Thanks esshup, but I just stumbled across this... Got a new addition. My buddy saw this yesterday, a 6ft blade, and said, I know where this is going! He bought it for me without even asking. Lol. That's trust! He gave $300 and said it looked very lightly used. Mostly carried around for weight, and even came with a stack of plates. I went and picked it up today and hitched her right up. Boy is it a game changer. That tractor is like a new animal with traction and even rides better. I smoothed out a few rough spots and I really like it.
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Jul 10, 2022 15:39:03 GMT -5
Very nice and for the money you paid, you about stole that. Heckuva deal I’d say. A 4 ft box blade for my tractor is $850 new, so you did good. I have just a rear blade, but it has come to the rescue many times already.
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Post by deadeer on Jul 10, 2022 22:34:49 GMT -5
Very nice and for the money you paid, you about stole that. Heckuva deal I’d say. A 4 ft box blade for my tractor is $850 new, so you did good. I have just a rear blade, but it has come to the rescue many times already. You definately want to "cover your tracks" as they say, meaning a little wider than the rear tires. A 5 foot box would work for mine, but for the price I wasnt gonna care one bit. I took some swipes with it and it pulled like there was nothing back there. Handy, if you need it. Can double as a snow plow as well if nothing else.
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Post by esshup on Jul 10, 2022 23:42:20 GMT -5
Very nice and for the money you paid, you about stole that. Heckuva deal I’d say. A 4 ft box blade for my tractor is $850 new, so you did good. I have just a rear blade, but it has come to the rescue many times already. You definately want to "cover your tracks" as they say, meaning a little wider than the rear tires. A foot would work for mine, but for the price I wasnt gonna care one bit. I took some swipes with it and it pulled like there was nothing back there. Handy, if you need it. Can double as a snow plow as well if nothing else. Yep, plow in reverse. Mine, with a 5' one, will struggle if on sandy soil and if the box blade fills up with dirt. Even with the bucket loaded with dirt and it in 4x4 low, the full box blade will be more drag than traction can pull in the sandy soil here. The tires will spin and start digging holes. Problem with tires and not tracks is that the tires load up and squat, allowing the box blade to dig in deeper, picking up more and more dirt. If the sides of it had adjustable shoes on it that allowed it to dig in only "so" far, that might help with that problem. When the tires start to spin, that also allows the box to dig deeper, compounding the problem.
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Post by deadeer on Jul 15, 2022 23:51:55 GMT -5
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Post by esshup on Jul 16, 2022 7:42:09 GMT -5
Looks great. Maybe look into 90° fittings for the top of the valve?
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Post by deadeer on Jul 16, 2022 8:06:01 GMT -5
Looks great. Maybe look into 90° fittings for the top of the valve? That's how they all are set up. When you raise the loader, there is more of a gradual flex. I think a 90 might flex the hose on too tight of a spot? I dont actually have them tied up yet either. They will be tied right to the loader arm.
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