Tractor Youth

[Ed Kennell 38,181]

Looking at some pictures from the Fawn Grove show, reminded me of an incident that's worth relating to you guys.

 

You see the guy in the green shirt on the right side of this picture.     Just as he got to the top of the hill near me, the left front wheel fell off his electric wheel chair.  He is handicapped.

 

A  quick  look and I see a broken off bolt in the end of the axle.      I didn't have the proper tools(drills and easy-outs) with me, but found an old wood chisel and a tubeless tire hole cleaner tool.

Tapping with these, After about a half hour, I was able to get the bolt to move about a 1/4 turn, but was not having much success getting it out and was near giving up.

By this time a small crowd had gathered and a young lad, maybe 12yo, said let me try. 

  He laid down on his side and using the tire awe as a punch and by tapping with skill , he backed the broken bolt out in about 15 minutes.   

The bolt was a 7mm that is not common in my tool box,  but we found the  basket on the back of his buggy was attached with two plastic  knobbed  7mm bolts.

A few 5/16 washers for spacers and the wheel was securely back in place.

The old gentleman looked at me and was reaching for his wallet.     I pointed to the lad and he was rewarded.

 

         There is hope for this world........teach those kids to pull wrenches and be self  sufficient.

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,533]

Well done Ed... And the lad.  

 

He knew the basis of that work before you came along. That by itself is excellent. 

 

To pass the reward along shows him there are things in life worth doing. People worth helping out. 

 

Excellent.  

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,577]

Excellent story!!! 

 

Thanks for passing on. We need to hear about these events… they do happen everyday, we just never hear about them…

[JoeM 7,874]

Sounds like Ed got the real reward! Would have like to see the smile on your face. 

[Pullstart 62,902]

I see the tire missing Ed, great work guiding and trusting in the young’n to work that tiny thing out!  

[WHNJ701 4,165]

A number of years ago there was this poor kinda trashy family that rented a dumpy house up the road.  Once and awhile the kid about 12 or 13 would ride by on his bike and stop say hi check out the tractors cars etc...  

One day he stopped by asked if could borrow a shovel, a cordless sawzall and some of hand tools.  Sure I figured he was building a treehouse or whatever.

A couple hours later I drive up the road I see him with a big hole in the ground by the side of the house.  I stopped all confused I asked what he was doing.  Here the water line broke a week ago the landlord was no where to be found, here the kid had enough of his family having low or no water pressure and he dug it up himself with the shovel and spliced a piece of plastic and clamped it.  

I had a new level of respect for that kid that day.  Don't know what ever happened to the family they moved shortly after.

[formariz 11,987]

2 hours ago, JoeM said:

Sounds like Ed got the real reward! Would have like to see the smile on your face. 

Well said and quite right. Rewarded with the hope for the next generations, not only for the talent shown but also for the kindness and willingness to help someone in need. Lets also not forget the title of post "tractor youth" for the choice of using it has a lot of meaning and it is well chosen. Many may not understand it but we on here do. We constantly witness it in our young ones, not only the skills and talents learned from this crowd, but more importantly the character built from associating with all the wisdom surrounding them. Stepping aside allowing and  watching with pleasure someone over half a century younger skillfully complete a job one found difficulty with. That is character, and the kind of attitude that  allows the younger ones to want to learn and emulate. It brings back memories of so many great men I was fortunate to come across in my life. Opportunity and recognition, two qualities unfortunately seldom shown to the younger ones

 

7 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

an incident that's worth relating to you guys.

Indeed Ed.

[Pullstart 62,902]

While at the show, many people noticed a fella named Donny cruising on his 702 at slow speed and an incredibly high rpm.  My best guess is that engine was spinning 5k.  @Jrblanke, Van (wheel n it?) and I were hanging out back by the loading docks (where all the cool kids hang out) and James and Van decided to ask him why.  He had a simple and convincing reason.  He was stuck in first gear!  We quickly offered to help instead of wondering any longer if he was deaf… and used James’ tire iron to pop the super rusted shift lever out of first and got all gears working.  That poor K-161 was screaming for over a day by then, smoking out the vent and all.  We were sure he was gonna blow it up!  Once we got him on his way, he stopped just before the ice cream social and asked if he could deliver it from Biglerville all the way to my house for a year long restoration project!  I’ll be set to deliver it to next year’s show and have room to pick up the yellow machine from Jay!  If it weren’t for James, having the no-shame attitude he has, we might have never met Donny and most likely would have had a split Kohler by now!

[Jrblanke 857]

3 hours ago, Pullstart said:

While at the show, many people noticed a fella named Donny cruising on his 702 at slow speed and an incredibly high rpm.  My best guess is that engine was spinning 5k.  @Jrblanke, Van (wheel n it?) and I were hanging out back by the loading docks (where all the cool kids hang out) and James and Van decided to ask him why.  He had a simple and convincing reason.  He was stuck in first gear!  We quickly offered to help instead of wondering any longer if he was deaf… and used James’ tire iron to pop the super rusted shift lever out of first and got all gears working.  That poor K-161 was screaming for over a day by then, smoking out the vent and all.  We were sure he was gonna blow it up!  Once we got him on his way, he stopped just before the ice cream social and asked if he could deliver it from Biglerville all the way to my house for a year long restoration project!  I’ll be set to deliver it to next year’s show and have room to pick up the yellow machine from Jay!  If it weren’t for James, having the no-shame attitude he has, we might have never met Donny and most likely would have had a split Kohler by now!

 

I had the easy job of flagging him down and holding the flashlight. You are the one that fixed that shifter! Well done sir.

 

Also, I'm assuming you tagged me since I'm a year younger than you, which makes me one of these "youths" and you the older generation. 😆😆😆

 

In all serious, thanks for the shout out. Having grenaded a K181 about 5 years ago due to over revving, I recognized the situation and didnt want him to do the same! 

 

Lots of great people in thus hobby. @857 horse tells about his first show where his wheel fell off and before he could get off the tractor, @wallfish and several others were already sliding the jack underneith like they were part of stock car pit crew.

 

 

Great story @Ed Kennell, thanks for sharing!