What have you done to your Wheel Horse today?

[953 nut 55,290]

5 hours ago, cschannuth said:

How fast should I be traveling when I am plowing?

Ground conditions will tell you if you are too fast or slow. Depending on compaction and moisture content, soil type etc. you may need to alter your speed on any given day.

[PeacemakerJack 10,738]

@cschannuth I rarely have ever plowed in 3rd gear just simply because most of our soils around here are too heavy for that.  I agree with Dick in that conditions will dictate.  Last fall I went to my uncles and was plowing in one of his soybean fields on a Saturday evening.  The moisture content in the soil was perfect and the plowing was really good.  I had other obligations and could only plow for an hour or so.  The next day was sunday and I was excited to plow for several hours in the afternoon however it was sunny and breezy all morning and by the afternoon the soil had dried enough that I could barely keep the plow in the ground!  Jim, by contrast, has very sandy soil and I found that I needed to plow in second or my tractor would tend to spin out.  Second gear kept the tractor moving enough where it was grabbing fresh hunks of sod with the land side tire and giving me the much needed traction.  

 

Short answer: I usually plow in hi range 1st or 2nd.  If it will plow good in 2nd I keep it there, if the plow won’t stay in the ground I try 1st.  If I know I have good adjustments on the plow and it still won’t stay in—I know the soil is too tough to plow on that day with my GT. 

[cschannuth 3,816]

1 hour ago, PeacemakerJack said:

@cschannuth I rarely have ever plowed in 3rd gear just simply because most of our soils around here are too heavy for that.  I agree with Dick in that conditions will dictate.  Last fall I went to my uncles and was plowing in one of his soybean fields on a Saturday evening.  The moisture content in the soil was perfect and the plowing was really good.  I had other obligations and could only plow for an hour or so.  The next day was sunday and I was excited to plow for several hours in the afternoon however it was sunny and breezy all morning and by the afternoon the soil had dried enough that I could barely keep the plow in the ground!  Jim, by contrast, has very sandy soil and I found that I needed to plow in second or my tractor would tend to spin out.  Second gear kept the tractor moving enough where it was grabbing fresh hunks of sod with the land side tire and giving me the much needed traction.  

 

Short answer: I usually plow in hi range 1st or 2nd.  If it will plow good in 2nd I keep it there, if the plow won’t stay in the ground I try 1st.  If I know I have good adjustments on the plow and it still won’t stay in—I know the soil is too tough to plow on that day with my GT. 

 

Thanks.  My plow doesn’t always seems to want to turn over the dirt fully so I thought more speed might throw it over a little better. I’m definitely a rookie and still learning. 

[Vinylguy 4,674]

First mowing at the lake and as usual the little commando performed magnificently.  Amazing how this 50 year old rear discharge deck still cuts like new. Love love love my Wheel Horse.

[squonk 41,142]

 Put the recycler on the C-160 yesterday. It's snowing today! 

[PeacemakerJack 10,738]

4 hours ago, cschannuth said:

 

Thanks.  My plow doesn’t always seems to want to turn over the dirt fully so I thought more speed might throw it over a little better. I’m definitely a rookie and still learning. 

I can’t stress enough the importance of a shiny plowshare and moldboard.  If you have a rusty one, you should take some time with a sanding device to polish it up some. Then maintain it.  Don’t ever leave a polished plow out in the elements, I personally rub grease or heavyweight oil over mine if they will be stored for a period of time.  A rusty plow is a sticky plow, and a sticky plow doesn’t turn the soil well. 

 

 

As as far as “being a rookie” we all started sometime at everything we do.  I’ve been plowing for awhile but I still learn new tricks and tips nearly every season—either by experience or by education from my fellow plow dogs. I’m just glad that yet another  guy is getting into turning earth!  It takes some patience and guidance to get it down pat but stick with it and you’ll be “plowing like a pro” in no time.  

 

It’s hard to explain those days in the furrows where the tractor is running good, the plow is scouring great, soil conditions are near perfect, and the weather is comfortable—when you get to experience that, you’ll be hooked for good!

[Shynon 7,459]

Got the lawn rolling, thatching and sweeping done. Put some new shoes on the front of the loader. Along with some new thrust bearings from @wheelhorseman

[cschannuth 3,816]

3 hours ago, PeacemakerJack said:

I can’t stress enough the importance of a shiny plowshare and moldboard.  If you have a rusty one, you should take some time with a sanding device to polish it up some. Then maintain it.  Don’t ever leave a polished plow out in the elements, I personally rub grease or heavyweight oil over mine if they will be stored for a period of time.  A rusty plow is a sticky plow, and a sticky plow doesn’t turn the soil well. 

 

 

As as far as “being a rookie” we all started sometime at everything we do.  I’ve been plowing for awhile but I still learn new tricks and tips nearly every season—either by experience or by education from my fellow plow dogs. I’m just glad that yet another  guy is getting into turning earth!  It takes some patience and guidance to get it down pat but stick with it and you’ll be “plowing like a pro” in no time.  

 

It’s hard to explain those days in the furrows where the tractor is running good, the plow is scouring great, soil conditions are near perfect, and the weather is comfortable—when you get to experience that, you’ll be hooked for good!

 

Thanks for the great insight. I bought my plow used and you can tell it was stored outside. I thoroughly clean it after use and I oil it before I store it inside.  I don’t have it shiny so that will be my next project. Thanks again. 

[ebinmaine 67,567]

One of the bigger projects that my honey and I are working on this year is creating a trail that goes into the forest that we can use for hiking, jogging, mountain biking, and to get the tractor and logging trailer and splitter out where we can harvest wood.

We worked on our bridge going over the little stream in the forest today.

We are using a combination of forest logs, and very large pallets, and some boards I got from work when they took some shelves down.

Today we used the B80 and a yard trailer to haul the boards and tools down to the bridge site. It's about 400 ft plus or minus into the woods.

 

 

 

 

This is about halfway through the process. The farthest pallet out is sitting about a third of the way onto the pallet in the middle.

The first section is the bridge that my honey built by hand. Two logs laid down on the forest floor and then the other boards nailed on top of it.

 

 

This pic is taken from the opposite end of the one above. After we rolled it out of place and I dug the end in so that it would sit level.

You can see how we are adding boards in between the existing pallet boards.

Just a few more to go and we'll be able to drive the tractor across.

 

 

[19richie66 17,508]

Very cool!

[953 nut 55,290]

22 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

the bridge that my honey built by hand.

[ebinmaine 67,567]

6 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

AYUH !!!!!

[BPEisenhower 535]

Hello Horse fans! I took PeacemakerJacks advice about Valspar and after some searching, I finally got a gallon of paint and 2 cans of hardener from Farm and Fleet of all places. Not bad for $30.00. Now for sandblasting, Scotchbrite, and patience. Thank you Peacemaker!!

Edited April 29, 2018 by BPEisenhower

[953 nut 55,290]

16 minutes ago, BPEisenhower said:

got a gallon of paint and 2 cans of hardener

May need to pick up some reducer too. Won't spray well without it.

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

Took two of my RJ frames apart today to get sabndblasted.    Disassembled parts and primed and painted some gas tanks, seat springs,  cables , etc.   

I may only have  enought good parts for two RJ's instread of three but will make sure the trransmission parts and othe goodies get reused, sold or  saved in some way!

 

[chip61 658]

Didn't get to do anything to mine, but I worked on my neighbor's daughter's Cub Cadet and looked at her poor Horse-I think this is a good case of abuse that should be reported! She asked me to get it running and get a new seat for it because this one moves around, but I think the seat is the least of her worries!!  Poor Horse

 

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2018 by chip61
pics didn't upload-operator error

[WHX?? 48,828]

Nothin ther Chip61 for me ..... Lane you the only guy I know paints on a garbage can and come smelling like a !

[WHX?? 48,828]

Got it Chip.....eitch......

[ebinmaine 67,567]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TonyToro 1,049]

My neighbor and I welded up the Wheelie bars and the front weight bar. I started priming the tins a few days ago. Hopefully the paint comes in tomorrow and I can get painting. She’s starting to look like something.

 

[rjg854 11,378]

After it stopped snowing Saturday,  I took the rear chains and roller chains off the 68 Commando 8, and changed the dozer blade over to the 36" mower deck. Changed the oil and greased the tractor and checked the lube. It's ready for lawn duties. 

[BPEisenhower 535]

On April 29, 2018 at 6:43 PM, 953 nut said:

May need to pick up some reducer too. Won't spray well without it.

 

On April 29, 2018 at 6:43 PM, 953 nut said:

May need to pick up some reducer too. Won't spray well without it.

I found some PPG Delthane/Delstar fast reducer and fish eye remover. Painted my IH 560 worker this winter. Hopefully this Horse turns out as well. 

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

 

Got up ealry and started painting my RJ  redo again.

 

Painted another RJ gas tank  and the frame which I had sandblasted and primed yesterday!

 

 

[CountryRock 199]

Got everything back on my 246H on Sunday.  Was a little late when I finished and the weather was garbage yesterday so I waited til today to start it.  Fired on the second crank an it sounds sooooo smooth.  Pretty happy with it as this is the first time I've done engine work like this.  I ended up setting the smoke alarm off in the garage from all the oily dirt burning off the exhaust, lol.  Other than that, no issues.  Hat tip to @Docwheelhorse for all the advice he gave me while working on this.

Edited May 1, 2018 by CountryRock

[ohiofarmer 3,276]

 I sanded the rims  10 front and 8 rear and decided that it was time to make a wheel rotating device so i could spin the  wheel while painting.  All it took was an MTD rear differential with mounted wheels, a Harbor Freight battery powered drill, and piece flexible tubing. The tranny has an 11 to 1 gear reduction, so the drill on slow turns the wheel much slower  Use the tubing to join the drill to the transmission drive, Flip the axle to a standing position, and that is it.  Redneck Solutions Inc.

 

 I have developed a way to paint the entire wheel in one operation. I am gonna owe you guys pictures of that