|
Hay
May 27, 2016 13:16:19 GMT -6
Post by dexterfarm on May 27, 2016 13:16:19 GMT -6
can you get a slicer link and then remove a link or 2 of chain
|
|
|
Hay
May 27, 2016 21:52:17 GMT -6
Post by genebo on May 27, 2016 21:52:17 GMT -6
I need to get a new chain and cogs. The teeth on the cogs are worn sharp.
I made an extender mount for the idler pulley and was able to adjust all the slack out of the chain. I hope this will hold it until I get this hay baled.
Tommorrow is forecast to be clear, but rain is coming Sunday.
I hope you Dave and all the rest of the farmers who cut hay have good luck. A good hay crop helps in so many ways.
|
|
|
Hay
May 30, 2016 7:18:29 GMT -6
Post by dexterfarm on May 30, 2016 7:18:29 GMT -6
well my rings did not show up before the holiday. Now a new problem I stripped a nut and threaded shaft on the shaft that drives the distributor. Will have to see if I can get one from a junk yard tomorrow.
|
|
|
Hay
May 30, 2016 12:29:11 GMT -6
Post by genebo on May 30, 2016 12:29:11 GMT -6
Good luck with the shaft. Don't you just hate it when you do something that turns out wrong? I crossthreaded the drain plug on my crankcase and had to buy a new crankcase cover. Tweren't cheap!
|
|
|
Post by genebo on May 30, 2016 12:48:08 GMT -6
Once the baler was working, everything worked smoothly. It took me 4 1/2 hours to bale the field. I had no guess how many bales that was, but it was a lot. With heavy rain forecast for the next day I was in a hurry to get the hay out of the field.
Only one of the 3 people who were to get $1 per bale hay showed up. One had a hole in their roof they were fixing, racing the same rain. Another said he might get there later. He was working a farmer's market, selling his produce.
The lady and her 2 girls bought 100 bales with all the money they had. I urged them to load up their truck and trailer with all they could haul. They got 200 bales loaded!
I loaded ansd stacked bales in my hay barn until I couldn't lift another bale. 260 bales! I panicked and began calling people who might use some hay. Two came. One got 70 bales, another got 20. The man who was at the farmer's market finally made it and got 90 bales. The lady and her girls came back and finished the cleanup.
Whew! I had visions of heavy, wet bales I had to lift out of the field and find a way to dispose of. Too many to handle, too heavy to lift and too wet to burn. What a relief when the last bale was picked up.
The total number of bales was 740, over 100 more than that field had ever yielded before. I got $150 for that I sold. Enough to pay for the diesel and twine.
Now I'm looking for a new weather window. I have two more fields to cut.
Then there will be second cutting and third cutting. Each one will yield less. When the growing season is over, I will have barns overflowing with hay. There will be people who can relax, knowing their animals will be fed next winter.
Haying is hard work for me, but it's satisfying. And look at the money I save on a gym membership, to get some exercise!
|
|
|
Hay
May 30, 2016 12:48:10 GMT -6
Post by dexterfarm on May 30, 2016 12:48:10 GMT -6
interesting choice of words "turns out wrong" the problem was they were left handed fine threads. By the time I realized it it was to late.
|
|
|
Hay
May 30, 2016 15:31:57 GMT -6
Post by genebo on May 30, 2016 15:31:57 GMT -6
How close I came to the same thing! The pittman arm bearing on my sickle bar mower is held on by a left-handed nut with fine threads. I way-over-tightened it before I realized it. Luckily I didn't strip the threads, but it was close.
I chose to be a farmer and I don't let it get me down when something breaks. When you look at the powerful work that these machines do, you wonder how they last as well as they do!
Here's what we really need: www.facebook.com/enntymedia/videos/1732255943681977/?pnref=story
|
|
|
Hay
Jun 1, 2016 13:52:36 GMT -6
Post by dexterfarm on Jun 1, 2016 13:52:36 GMT -6
rings came yesterday and got the last piston in. I was able to find the part I broke on ebay so got that ordered. would be a perfect few days to bail here if I only had a tractor. I could put the mower on my big tractor that I bale with but it is a much bigger tractor and the 3 point mower does not really fit right on it so I will wait. Gene you have more energy than me I would not want to move that many bales. I only do rounds dont have a square baler. I have a neighbor I will have run me off 50 or so square bales so I can have a few on hand when I need them.
|
|
|
Hay
Jun 9, 2016 15:24:20 GMT -6
Post by dexterfarm on Jun 9, 2016 15:24:20 GMT -6
well I gave up finishing the tractor on time and went with using the other one. cutting, tedding, raking and bailing every day for a week. Long days. It has been going ok but trying to limp my tractor along; It sprung a hydraulic leak in a bad place at the steering wheel yes thats right fluid pouring out from the steering wheal makes it fun to drive. I did not realize until this happened that this tractor is 100% hydraulic steering. No connection the wheels The steering wheel goes to a control valve and that is it then just hoses coming from the box. It leaks real bad when cold in the morning but when it gets warmed up it mostly stops. This morning I got into a wet area and got stuck. Tryed to pull it our with a truck and got that stuck. Got another tractor and got it stuck. Going back tonight with a lot more chain so I can pull from an area with more solid ground.
|
|
|
Hay
Jun 10, 2016 20:07:22 GMT -6
Post by genebo on Jun 10, 2016 20:07:22 GMT -6
Wow! You have really had it rough the last week. You deserve a nice turnaround in luck.
I think my Kubota tractor steering is hydraulic like yours. You can't judge when you are going straight ahead by the steering wheel position. It's different all the time.
I cut on Wednesday, raked on Thursday, and baled today. Loaded and stacked square bales in the barn until my arms ache. Tonight I'm the Ben Gay Kid!
|
|
|
Hay
Jun 11, 2016 7:23:28 GMT -6
Post by dexterfarm on Jun 11, 2016 7:23:28 GMT -6
well yesterday was a good day that just turned real bad today. I cut about 50 bales worth of hay yesterday and today it is now raining over an inch this morning so no getting back in the field today. 4 days of rain now ahead of us according to their now updated forecast this morning.
|
|
|
Hay
Jun 12, 2016 13:44:08 GMT -6
Post by genebo on Jun 12, 2016 13:44:08 GMT -6
Haying can be the most frustrating part of farming! Hang tough, Mike.
|
|
|
Hay
Jun 13, 2016 8:49:47 GMT -6
Post by dexterfarm on Jun 13, 2016 8:49:47 GMT -6
We got 2.5 " of rain on Saturday morning at our house. Some how the hay field a few miles away only got a quarter. Was able to ted rake and bale most of what was down yesterday. Called it quits at dark but most of it got baled. Thanks to a wonderful neighbor who took over the raking at noon so I could start bailing.
|
|
|
Hay
Jun 14, 2016 10:22:11 GMT -6
Post by dexterfarm on Jun 14, 2016 10:22:11 GMT -6
some how we missed the rain so I was able to get the rest baled last night. Looks like a dry next weekend. Will try to get some more done then. Hoping to be done by the end of the month.
|
|
|
Hay
Jun 17, 2016 20:15:16 GMT -6
Post by wvdexters on Jun 17, 2016 20:15:16 GMT -6
It's good to hear that things are going better Mike.
We found a local farmer (friend of family) who makes a lot more hay than he needs for his herd, and is going to sell to us for $25 large bale. We got some last season and it wasn't too bad, mostly orchard grass with brome and clover mixed in. I placed our order last week and he's even going to deliver it right to our barn since one of the fields he cuts is just down the road a few miles from us, and it is easier for him to load up his big hauler and drop it here than to take it the 10 miles or so back to his farm.
It's such a great relief not to have to worry now about finding hay every yr. He's a nice fellow too. Last time he was here we all ended up sitting around and laughing while they were talking about the good ole days with my parents.
|
|