The Kubota RTV makes cleaning up possible for us. We can make a load of dead wood quickly, but dragging it away is the hard part. The RTV holds a good load, and the bed dumps it without us having to handle the wood a second time. A couple more afternoons and we will have everything in ship shape again.
One of the really great shows in the middle of the country!
...Rocks In Our Heads? We picked up rocks every time we took a trip anywhere, and we also have a lot of rocks from under the old farm house that was torn down sixty years ago. You gotta do something with all those rocks, so making an unmowable area that grows weeds and new trees seemed like a decent idea. We are in the process of cutting young trees, and trying not to tag rocks with the saw. It is amazing the way a place can overgrow with trees in a few years. So, we are gathering up the rocks and moving them to a new spot.
Many Thanks to Merle for spotting this YouTube channel!
Study the "centipede" and think about curve radius. It works OK on Union Pacific lines, but when the Big Boy visits other railroads, they can get bound up. A tight curve in a yard or a Y will have wheels climbing the rails. When the Big Boy made its first tour there were some videos of very slow and careful moves being made to avoid derailing. From Union Pacific Railroad Company Fans on Facebook. "This image of engine 4023’s tender helps illustrate why the type is known as a centipede tender. Visible on this side are the five wheels mounted to the tender and the two installed in the leading truck. The diagonal row of rivets indicates the partition between the water tank in the rear of the tender and the coal bunker in the front. Note the recessed ladder on the left and the 10 in (254 mm) sideboards atop the tender on the right.."
Take a look at the hinge on this locust we cut the other day. No need to bore on this one. It was leaning way back, and I had the tractor supporting the back weight while I set up the hinge. A well aimed hinge of the proper width and length, with the front and back level will put your trees on the ground safely, where you want them.
Paul was a real good guy. I have enjoyed his videos for years, and often go back and refer to them.
Here is just one example of Paul's work to provide useful information to his viewers.
There were some black locusts leaning out and getting in the way of the lawnmower, so they became a project over the weekend. We dropped them with the help of the tractor. Bucking, splitting, and stacking went without a hitch. We don't know how lucky we are.*(Cultural Reference at the end of this post.)
Meriden, Kansas. Thank You, Merle! 67 inch flywheels, 7000 pounds! Note the patch for the freeze damage on the water jacket.
