Tomorrow I go to the VA.
Perhaps I'll live.
Just one more day....
Damn! I got a fifth of whisky yet to drink!
Scott
Plan for five days....Just in case.
Fell a couple times out on the property pulling thistles again. My neck ,usually unhappy ,is now quite unhappy.
And knee of course.
Gassed up both tractors and need to get them lubed before more work.
But to get on the loader tractor ,due to the loader frame sticking out on each side , getting to/on the seat gets interesting...
Lean crutches against a rear tire,then grasp one fender and the seat and hop onto the drawbar. Then grasp the hydraulic lever block on the left and the seat and jump onto the rear of the transmission where a rockshaft would be mounted to use rear area hydraulic leverage.
Holding the lever block and seat then allows carefully swinging leg around the shifter (tractor shut off of course in case the shifter is bumped).Then onto the seat.
Ready? Hmmm ,it won't start because some one forgot to turn the gas on. So...Jump over the side using frame for stability on impact with the ground. Turn on the *$@#! gas and repeat mounting the tractor from the drawbar.
Hooray it starts! Warm it up a bit ,put it in gear ,let out the clutch and...Hear crutches hit the ground when the tractor moves.
Shut off tractor. Jump over the side grabbing the loader frame to increase stability upon impact from the ground.
Remount tractor. Grab crutches and pull them up.....
A previous owner added a steel plate for a back on the seat of the other ,nonloader tractor. Just toss crutches over the seatback ....Jump from brush hog deck edge with a hand on the steering shaft and the other on a rear tire and land on the platform.
Sit down. Pull ignition kill switch (coil ground) set choke and throttle ,crank ,(this one can be hand cranked to start ,a whole nother deal making danged sure shifter is in neutral..) crank...It won't start. Hop off tractor using steering shaft and a tire. Turn on gas. Remount tractor....
I do really enjoy them stinky things. They reward attention. And do some grunt work for me beyond my ability anymore.
So ,I'll live to get up tomorrow and tinker with one before the day is out. In theory...
I run em dry at shutdown for the night by shutting gas off. Once in a while I remember to turn it back on first. But seldom if on the seat first.
Neutral. Gas on. Coil kill switch off. Throttle position. Choke. Crank...
I'd set the little brake lever to hold the brakes for each start up ,but usually forget to disengage them until I see smoke rolling out by the bull gears...
But do use them if ground is not quite level.
I do remember to "shake hands" with the shifter to be sure it's in neutral every time before anything else. Can't have it in gear and take off when in front of the tractor hand crankin it.(!)
