I always spend a bit of time around this part of the year washing, oiling and greasing the few bits and pieces of machinery I have and trying to get them pushed into the corner of a shed somewhere so that they’re not lying out in the rain all winter.
The slurry tanker and agitator have been on the to-do list for the past two months. Shameful I know, but I am only just getting round to it now.
I must say I’m really not a machinery man, as long as it works and does what it’s supposed to, I’m generally happy enough.
Although I wouldn’t tend to abuse what I have, I wouldn’t really be giving it any more care and attention than is absolutely necessary. Stock is more my thing.
Machinery
That being said, I’ve been threatening for the past few years to change my old tractor and my old telehandler for a newer, fresher tractor with a front loader.
Roll the two into one so to speak, but when it comes down to it, I just can’t manage to justify the kind of money I’d have to spend to get what I’d like.
Secondhand tractors are mad money and, to be honest, my tractor doesn’t do a pile of work - mixing and spreading a bit of slurry and drawing in a few round bales.
The rest of the time is spent ambling about with a power box on doing not very much.
I spread all my fertiliser with a quad and since I stopped using a diet feeder a few years back, I could almost manage without it during the winter if I really had to. So, I recently decided no new tractor was needed.
Tidying up
I’ll spend the few euros tidying up the one I have and maybe I can justify changing the loader in the not so distant future, or maybe that’s just wishful thinking too - it actually does do quite a lot of work, especially in the winter.
Anyway, the process has begun. I sent it away a few weeks ago to get serviced and to get new lights and mirrors on.
The lights have been a bit hit and miss for a while, especially the spotlights.
The last time my spotlights stopped going, I checked the fuse box to diagnose my problem. To my horror, I found that a part of my fuse box had melted.
So, as you can imagine, getting new lights became somewhat of a priority, not for cosmetic reasons nor practical reasons, but just to stop my tractor from going on fire!
LED lights
Thankfully, all that has now been sorted, with a complete new set of lights all round. Big fancy LED ones no less, thank you very much. New mirrors have been fitted as well and even a big flashing orange light.
I’m finding myself driving around the yard with the flashing beacon on just for the sheer hell of it! And sure, why not?
Next on the agenda is to get the wheels sand blasted and resprayed. Bit by bit, I’ll have it looking like a new tractor.
Unfortunately, if the LED lights and mirrors are anything to go by, I could be out the price of a new tractor before I’m finished!
Read more
Farmer Writes: appreciating the simple things in life
Farmer Writes: a change of plan may be needed
I always spend a bit of time around this part of the year washing, oiling and greasing the few bits and pieces of machinery I have and trying to get them pushed into the corner of a shed somewhere so that they’re not lying out in the rain all winter.
The slurry tanker and agitator have been on the to-do list for the past two months. Shameful I know, but I am only just getting round to it now.
I must say I’m really not a machinery man, as long as it works and does what it’s supposed to, I’m generally happy enough.
Although I wouldn’t tend to abuse what I have, I wouldn’t really be giving it any more care and attention than is absolutely necessary. Stock is more my thing.
Machinery
That being said, I’ve been threatening for the past few years to change my old tractor and my old telehandler for a newer, fresher tractor with a front loader.
Roll the two into one so to speak, but when it comes down to it, I just can’t manage to justify the kind of money I’d have to spend to get what I’d like.
Secondhand tractors are mad money and, to be honest, my tractor doesn’t do a pile of work - mixing and spreading a bit of slurry and drawing in a few round bales.
The rest of the time is spent ambling about with a power box on doing not very much.
I spread all my fertiliser with a quad and since I stopped using a diet feeder a few years back, I could almost manage without it during the winter if I really had to. So, I recently decided no new tractor was needed.
Tidying up
I’ll spend the few euros tidying up the one I have and maybe I can justify changing the loader in the not so distant future, or maybe that’s just wishful thinking too - it actually does do quite a lot of work, especially in the winter.
Anyway, the process has begun. I sent it away a few weeks ago to get serviced and to get new lights and mirrors on.
The lights have been a bit hit and miss for a while, especially the spotlights.
The last time my spotlights stopped going, I checked the fuse box to diagnose my problem. To my horror, I found that a part of my fuse box had melted.
So, as you can imagine, getting new lights became somewhat of a priority, not for cosmetic reasons nor practical reasons, but just to stop my tractor from going on fire!
LED lights
Thankfully, all that has now been sorted, with a complete new set of lights all round. Big fancy LED ones no less, thank you very much. New mirrors have been fitted as well and even a big flashing orange light.
I’m finding myself driving around the yard with the flashing beacon on just for the sheer hell of it! And sure, why not?
Next on the agenda is to get the wheels sand blasted and resprayed. Bit by bit, I’ll have it looking like a new tractor.
Unfortunately, if the LED lights and mirrors are anything to go by, I could be out the price of a new tractor before I’m finished!
Read more
Farmer Writes: appreciating the simple things in life
Farmer Writes: a change of plan may be needed
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