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A little follow up to a post I made another thread about the lack of snow so far this winter. Well, we got some overnight. Not exactly a snowstorm but I was just itching to get some seat time. It was more like plowing the frost off the drive but seat time none the less. Because of the time of year when we bought this place I never had a chance to explore the acreage before all the leaves were gone. So, getting some more seat time I took a little cruise. The previous owner worked his entire life as a wildlife biologist and went crazy planting all sorts of flowering trees, grasses and bushes. I haven't seen everything in their prime I'm anxious for spring too.

Look what jumped in my truck today! He was asking $200 and I offered $100 cash and he took it! It just has a few holes in the bed which is why I offered $100

Unless you want to carry tools to work on horses just get a AAA card and let someone else get all beat up and frustrated by the side of the road! New event at the Big Show "Sparky's ratchet toss"

I don't know for sure if he had that in mind but hardly a day goes by when we don't see several. They tend to come through the back yard and cut back to the path where you see my tire tracks. Drives the dogs nuts. We have 10 acres. Right now there a path cleared basically around the perimeter and a couple of cross paths. He didn't cut any through the woods so I've got some fun stuff to do when it warms up. Yupper dupper, I've thought about a meet and greet. Could be on the agenda.

How many acres do you have? Looks like a great place for a meet and greet. With a Wheel Horse trail ride. You have an amazing property and I am anxious to see the spring pictures as well.

Beautiful property Bob. Thanks for sharing, and I'm looking forward for some Spring pics.

Hey all....some probably already know this. Can't remember if I posted this here as my old age is not helping with memory.... Last November the opportunity of buying one of my favorite tractors came up. This is a tractor I never thought would be available to purchase. Mr. John Campbell had it built by Mr. Robert Rock. The craftsmanship that goes in to the tractors Robert builds is simply amazing. You have to see them in person to actually appreciate his work. Well, I had to sell a few of my prized tractors to buy this beast but think it was worth it. The only complaint I have so far is the power. Hopefully Robert may be able to help me but not a super major issue. This tractor was not meant for work and basically a show piece. However, it has been working just a little since I've owned it. Recently the starter went out which became more of an issue than should have. However, it is is fixed and back in action. Here are a few pictures of it now. Hopefully will get some video soon when it warms up.

I have the privilege to know this kid named Cade, he goes to the homeschool academy with my girls on Mondays and our families have known each other for quite some time. Cade’s now 14 and has been raising cows for a couple years now it seems, by himself for the most part. I’ll post a link to his first video. He’s recently been added to YouTube’s payroll as a 14 year old. Pretty impressive... even if he does farm with a Deere! Please browse his his videos and if you like what you see, subscribe to his channel to help support him in his endeavors! Funny thing... in his manure video he shows the sand pit. I’ve had our buggy out to their property and recall running around in that sand quite a bit. His little brother last year rolled his quad down one of the hills in the pit and broke his arm in that spot too. Another video his dad got the tractor stuck in the woods. About that same spot, we buried the buggy and his dad got out and pushed me through the muck wearing what used to be a pearly white shirt!

Sounds to me like there is a small tractor and brush hog in your future. Your very lucky to have found that location.

WOOHOO!!

Sounds like the PO was a smart man and knew what he was doing. The Vegetation he planted will no doubt bring some good wildlife into the area! Nice place Bob!!

Thanks guys. I'm looking forward to taking pictures in the spring. We fell in love with this place. Even this time of the year the fresh snow clinging to the trees is beautiful. It's supposed to clear up this afternoon and then a couple days of extreme cold. If the wind doesn't blow the snow off it should be quite a sight tonight with about 3/4 moon.

Talk about a big storm! We were in for 4” or so, there’s a good solid 3/4” if I try hard to find it! Enjoy this paint weather!

I know where one of those is, in pretty darn good shape. I figure I could get it for half of that. I guess I probably ought to get it! Excellent buy, by the way! Looks great!

I got home today and put some more parts together. Got the piston in along with the new rod. All machine work looked great and all specs as well. Hope to fire it up this weekend!

Personally I hunt Evilpay for vintage S&K sets, store the nice little tin cases and use a home cheapo kit-case. Fill it up with cheap, good quality old sockets that will last a lifetime. I keep a full set of metric/standard deep and shallow sockets, small sockets, alan keys, hand tools, fuses, wire, fittings.. etc in an old Black/Decker case behind the seat in my cab. Even enough room for a pair of ratchet straps and a roll of the handyman secret weapon.. I drive an antique. Knock on wood I've never had to open it, but darned if I'm not prepared..

You're a brave soul using Lucas parts for anything!!

looks like he had deer in mind.

Might not have been much but it was definitely justified. For no particular reason other than I would also want to have the seat time. That's going to be a beautiful property in about three months. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would love to see some pictures.....

Good deal! I got mine for the same price from my late dad. Great little cart! Here is my oldest and my now son in laws brother. This was taken at Lagrange indiana tractor show a few years ago.

That’s what we call a wall hanger! Right next to the shop labor rates sign! I’m glad it gave him a day’s notice too by the way. Anything less would be unacceptable.

ditto on SK I've found a lot of quality tools at flea markets and garage sales - including SK sets - ratchets and sockets then if required can find missing extensions, sockets or whatever on eBay can also upgrade old SK ratchets with the DT mechanisms (DT80, DT100, DT120) to increase tooth count and reduce arc swing can also find old made in USA Craftsman tools - including the polished Professional ratchets and wrenches, etc Years ago tools were almost always passed down to younger generations in a family - but now it's not uncommon for families to sell or give away tools because they apparently have little value to the younger generation ... less interest in tools

I have 3 HF sets - not the dinky $4.99 set. They're the $40ish ones with 1/4-1/2" drive. I've beaten the heck out of them with no complaints. I have broken one socket. HF tools have a lifetime warranty, but I wouldn't feel right taking that socket to be warrantied. It was a 3/8 drive 18mm socket, on the HF 3/8 ratchet with a 6' cheater pipe on it. The socket snapped right as the bolt broke loose. Not the right way to treat tools, I know, but I needed the bolt loose and didn't have a breaker bar with me where I was. Definitely zero complaints, and I see no need to buy a more expensive brand. I own plenty of Craftsman wrenches and assorted sockets, but none that were made in my lifetime. All old stuff and they are good as well. I know their quality has declined in recent years, but I have hope for them yet. They're building a 425,000 sq foot facility right here in Fort Worth, TX, where they will be moving production of all craftsman tools to from China. Excellent to see that more and more companies are moving production back to this side of the world now.

I once found a use for the fenders off of a JD 110. The Speed Ex looks to be coming along very nicely. Hopefully you can pick up the JD, they are neat tractors. FYI a 7'x12' trailer will fit 4 tractors quite comfortably.

I used to do a 35 mile each way commute, 45-ish minutes. The best part... other than riding motorcycle on the good days... was forgetting about the day’s troubles on my way home. Good radio, good times.

An inexpensive OBDII reader to find out what caused the check engine light to trigger, I use the Bluetooth model below paired to an old smartphone with a free app.

X-2 on that ^ Sit down , grab a coffee and think about the "worst case scenarios". My first things were: The correct size fuses . 3 ton bottle jack with handle A few blocks of hardwood A folding lug wrench Extra serpentine belt and the correct tools to change it Duct tape It's a waste of space carrying a "whole socket set" A 1/4 & 3/8 drive ratchet with adapters and 8 10 12 13 14 15 & 16 mm sockets A good set of locking pliers and of course A hammer

We're not big travelers but one state we both want to see is Maine and it may happen within a couple years. Not a bad thought but I can take care of things with my little red tractors. Thanks Kevin. You're close enough you can easily make it this far. Kinda sorta Doug. This isn't the place we moved to when we came back. It's a very long story but the first place we bought wasn't our first choice. But an unethical realtor (not ours) and a Florida home that sold in two days put us in a bind. Well, we now call that place our 2 1/2 year flip. I could say it was an extensive remodel but it was really a rebuild. All new inside, electrical, plumbing, etc, etc. Out of curiosity mostly we decided to see what it was worth. It was great but there were many things that just wasn't 'us' that couldn't be changed. We discovered that the new value was far more than we expected and found this place. So....here we are. I'm not sure Steve, I don't think I saw a lot of milkweed but then again I didn't explore before winter hit. The PO planted a lot of native prairie grasses and wildflowers in the open areas. He even went to the extent of getting a gang together every few years for controlled burns like nature did (minus the gang ). I'm anxious to see what happens come spring. Don't Monarchs have a copy cat? I think we got lucky. The housing market here is red hot right now. A decent place lasting over a few days is a rarity. This place had the 'disadvantage' of being so far out. You have to drive to BFE then go a ways further to get here. But that's more 'us'.

Had to at least set the seat on to see what it was going to look like

I choosing Vigor equippment now as my „Roadside toolset“. use the 17mm nut most, several times also with impact wrench and it still lasts. (opening force 390 nm) change Axleparts on my Cars i opened allways with impact wrench. so far i‘m satisfied with the quality. The ratchets are finely toothed and rubber insulated, good if you needed in cold weather with bare hands and they had a good grip and a nice haptic too. All Things lasts my uses and also survived few times „rapes“ by enlarging ratchet lenght with pipe enhancements or the impact wrench. I got it as a Gift from my Wife on christmas 5 years ago and it looked - hum a firstly bit cheap to me, but it becomes more and more my favored Brand. i bought a few more tools from them now, and be all in all each time positive surprised with the Quality. the things seems cheap, but they last also harder daily use. Things are also available in inch sizes not only in metric. If they still available on your side i just can recommend after my experiences with. This are good tools for your Bucks and tools they last, sure not the cheapest, but good toolset for a reasonable price. The complete Toolbox even with some Car specific torx inner and outer and special multi tooth bits and and and...

@ebinmaine

I used to tune those carbs. Not hard with the right tools. Setting the height of the mixture needle stops and the idle air bleed valve with a dwell meter. Fun stuff. That stupid choke plate angle gauge was a real PITA though!

I think Craftsman’s hey-day is long over. In an effort to remain competitive they simply cheaped out on all aspects of quality and only sell tools on the reputation that the old Craftsman tools had. They are not even a consideration for me.

I have had problem with HF sockets so I don't use them . Kobalt are pretty good , have not checked out the Icon tools. Got to flea markets and yard sales and buy the old tools , much better quality.

Well i've been accused of being one short of a full deck I used thin cardboard.

Mike, you are better off just buying what you need. Buy a tool box that will fit. You want some 1/2" drive sockets and a rachet with a couple of extensions. You don't need 35 sockets you will never use. One for the lug nuts...truck and trailers. The tools to change out a bad trailer bearing...side cutters, carter pins, punch, crescent wrench, ball peen hammer. Maybe some electrical stuff in case trailer lights aren't working. Some rags, hand cleaner, tester for bulbs, bulbs. Maybe an extra bearing and seal. Basically the stuff you wish you had if you broke down. Don't buy a set, just buy what you may need.

Hopefully it’s not a sign of the times, but my new Craftsman 3/8” ratchet bought around Christmas time in the 24 pc kit is already binding up, whether loosening or tightening. I have never had such poor performance from Craftsman. I also have a Pittsburgh set from Harbor Freight and have never had a lick of trouble with their ratchets. I’d say whatever you can find locally that has a lifetime warranty is worth sticking in there... but you still need to be confident to get home if a roadside repair is needed... Thatnks for the reminder that I need to bring my virtually still new ratchet in!

I remember that you moved from Florida to that property. To me, also from the mid west That looks like part of my 20 acres in Iowa that I call heaven.... Enjoy your new piece of heaven Bob!!!! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Clean, prime, paint. Clean, prime, paint. Repeat. The seat is done and now working on the wheels

Wish we lived a Little closer...

Was nice out so got her out for some sun

You give a kid a truck and they will drive it until it won't move and then say it was a lemon!

That is the optional inner pad wear saving design. The inner rotor doesn't rotate under normal braking. During panic stops, the two rotor halves engage for emergency stopping. Standard equipment on all new 2020 trucks.

I just needed to get out yesterday for a change. We went to Top Golf and hit 80 golf balls from their top level (3 stories up). Yes, after hitting golf balls for 2 hours, I'm ready to hit the links. Check out the web site. https://topgolf.com/us/schaumburg/

Builder called thus morning, he can make a start next week. Steel bought for door opening so we can cut that and gain access. Building control notice arrived so approval given. Away we go people, I'm in the construction business lol. Mick

Just put it back together Bryce. That's one of those newfangled 2-piece rotors. It decreases the weight by not putting anything in between the two pieces. Sort of.....

While the move last fall was only about an hours drive from where we were the average annual snowfall drops to about 1/2 of what South Bend gets due to lake effect. Still, I've been waiting for some snow so I can play with my new set up on the 250' blacktop drive. Nope, hasn't happened. Every time they predict a system snow it seems to miss us and we've only barely covered the grass a couple times then that melts. Another one is predicted for tonight and tomorrow so just maybe...…………………..…….…………. (snow dance) I WANNA PLAY!!

Building control guy came out this morning. Said it was a very simple job and just needed an application and calculation for the steel beam supporting the floor above. Should be fairly straight forward now. Got a builder lined up to do the lintel and we can make a start. Really pleased. Mick

Two ply tires if they are rusted or glued are almost imposible to break loose. I cut one off my 520 that was glued. Then cut the steel bead with a side grinder.