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Winter Lighting

Discussion in 'Quitters' Club' started by Fireball, Oct 29, 2021.

  1. Dec 22, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    I'll have to consider doing something similar to my dad's massey Ferguson plow skids. He gets a lot longer out of them, but they're really expensive!

    All I have is a Hobart 140 mig.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  2. Dec 22, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    I'm in for more jeep plowing pics!
     
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  3. Dec 23, 2021
    GillaFunk

    GillaFunk I'm the Dude, so thats what you call me. 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Graeagle Calif...
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    so if I can beat this flu back down, I’ll be plowing my neighborhood again in a few days. I’m tempted to start my own YouTube channel to document my adventures
     
  4. Dec 23, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    I'd watch at least a few episodes.
     
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  5. Dec 24, 2021
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    Doooooiiiiit.....
     
  6. Dec 25, 2021
    bigjohn

    bigjohn Active Member

    Kelso Wa
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    Mar 18, 2010
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    1,054
    The snow is flying here again but too warm outside to stick to the asphalt driveway. My plan is to put the little kubota to work with the loader bucket clearing the upper driveway. In the past after I’m done “playing” the ruts freeze and makes for a very rough drive out of here. And the berms the county plows push across our driveway entrances can get nearly impassable without a lifted rig.
     
    Fireball likes this.
  7. Jan 6, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    More winter prep. Perhaps a little late in the game, but we're still learning with the new tractor this year.

    Our neighbor gave us some lightly used semi-truck chains with wide enough cross-links for the the front tractor tires:
    [​IMG]

    When there is ice under the snow, the tractor definitely struggles for uphill traction snow blowing.

    I decided to go to town on the chains. Big screwdriver, vice, and a hammer to undo the cross links to make singles chains out of duals:
    [​IMG]

    I saved all the extra cross-links:
    [​IMG]

    And used them to double up the new single-wide chains. Good grief that was a lot of work. My arms are sore:
    [​IMG]

    After shortening them, they seem to fit pretty well. It will be interesting to see if the cross-links will all suck down into the treads or if enough of them will stay on top and be useful. If they all suck down, I'll put a connecting link between every two to hold them up:
    [​IMG]

    I'm also going to order a set of chains for the rear. Tractor chains are pricey!

    The tractor is also struggling to start at less than 20 degrees. It takes 6-8 attempts of glow plug then start until it comes up to idle without dying. I have Howes anti-gel in the fuel so I think it just doesn't want to fire. Time for a block heater. I got one of the in-hose type.

    Here's a nice nod to serviceability. A hose from the radiator drain the points to a nice spot for a drain pan:
    [​IMG]

    It felt a little weird cutting up the radiator hose on a new tractor:
    [​IMG]

    The deed is done and it gets noticeably warm to the touch when plugged in. We're under another winter storm warning so I'll get to try it out in the next day or two:
    [​IMG]

    Anoher nice nod to serviceability is all but one cup of the coolant went back in without having to burp it. I dumped the extra cup in the overflow tank to it can suck it in later on it's own.
     
  8. Jan 6, 2022
    GillaFunk

    GillaFunk I'm the Dude, so thats what you call me. 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Graeagle Calif...
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    Niiiice.

    Fireball, turn those tensioner hooks around. Otherwise you may puncture your tire. Maybe?

    also, the Maasdam mini load binder really allows you to get tire chains on tightly. No slop, far less prone to falling off. Shop around for best price.
     
  9. Jan 6, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Yeah, It was easier to stretch them this way for fitting and my are were getting tired. I need to switch them around before use.

    These are cool! I definitely need to hunt some down.
     
  10. Jan 6, 2022
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Aug 3, 2003
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    Warning Will Robinson! Danger! I know that more than one tractor-maker prohibits front chains.

    Tractors have extremely powerful torque, but the front axle is nowhere as strong as the rear. Without some slippage, chains on the front can overstress the front drive components when they compete with the rear. (Think of a Jeep in 4-low on dry pavement...)
     
  11. Jan 6, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    I not too worried about that. Tons of people run 4 wheel chains on the same tractor with no issues.
     
    PeteL likes this.
  12. Jan 6, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    As expected, half the cross-links fell into the treads, but the ones that didn't made a huge difference going uphill. I'm not sure I'll need rears. We'll see when the current slush freezes to sheet ice in a couple days:
    [​IMG]

    I'll have to find some time to tie cross-link pairs together so they can't go down into the tread.
     
    Twin2 likes this.
  13. Jan 7, 2022
    GillaFunk

    GillaFunk I'm the Dude, so thats what you call me. 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Graeagle Calif...
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    Probably just need thicker links, or a Diamond pattern.
    [​IMG]

    I ordered a set of these for Dorris: mor cross chain over the tire tread. Maximum traction
    [​IMG]
     
    Fireball likes this.
  14. Jan 7, 2022
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Aug 13, 2015
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    6,656
    Need V-bars :twist:
     
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  15. Jan 7, 2022
    GillaFunk

    GillaFunk I'm the Dude, so thats what you call me. 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Graeagle Calif...
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    Hopefully these work well enough. I generally fine with what was on before…but…..these should help.
     
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  16. Jan 8, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    I'm going to do a simpler imitation of the diamond pattern. Hopefully I'll have time this weekend. Not supposed to get any precip for a while so it's a good time to tear into them.
     
  17. Jan 10, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Modified the chains so they don't fall into the tread today.

    Cut 18 links of the extra side-chain:
    [​IMG]

    Bent and unhooked them:
    [​IMG]

    Ground bevels halfway through on opposite sides of the cut for good welding penetration:
    [​IMG]

    Hooked pairs of cross-links together in the middle and bend the link back together for welding:
    [​IMG]

    Like so:
    [​IMG]

    Welded all the new links together. The only way I could get a good ground on the rusty chain was to clamp Vise Grips to the link and attatch the ground clamp to the Vise Grips:
    [​IMG]

    Back on the tractor. I used a jack to lift the tire off the ground so I could rotate and install the chains more evenly. This looks like it will work. At least one of every pair of cross-links is forced up and over the tread:
    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Jun 14, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Feb 9, 2018
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    Winter's gone, but here's another tractor mod; A barb-wire spooler for bulding fence..

    A piece of 2x2 tubing, a piece of 3/4" black pipe, and a plow disk. I originally made it to work in a receiver hitch, but the trucks don't fit so I bolted it to the tractor drawbar. Worked great:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Nov 27, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    There is a chance of 4"+ of snow this week, so it was time for some winter prep. 4" doesn't sound like much but with a little wind it can mean 3ft drifts across the driveway.

    Used a masonry bit in the drill to install driveway markers:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Also put the front-mount snow blower subframe on the tractor. It interferes with the under-tractor mount for the back-hoe so some disassembly/assembly is required:
    [​IMG]
     
    txtoller, Jw60, Stakebed and 2 others like this.
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