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| Morning ritual: breakfast and videos |
This second video is a little longer than the first. It only took me until about 4am to get this one done. The learning curve on video editing is definitely reducing. I've figured out that a majority of my editing time is dependent on my SLOW laptop processor. Google searches tell me that Windows Movie Maker is a resource HOG on the computer and that Mac computers are better at video editing. Wifey will love to hear that. She's a die hard Mac fan. I'm a PC. Remember those commercials? LoL.
Anyway, the video is up on YouTube titled Treasure Hunting on the Farm. Towards the end I show some old farming equipment and hope some of you can help me figure out what it is. I hope to get it into the barn and clean it up some day. I have the 25g Bench Top Sandblast Sandblaster Cabinet on my Amazon Wish List so that I can clean up relics like these and restore them. Much like Wranglerstar did on his old apple cider press that he got from a neighbor.
There is SO much rich heritage to be learned from farms like these. I look forward to many hours of adventure and building a sustainable farm that can support numerous people. Today I'll start working on getting a battery charged on either the old Ford tractor or one of the two riding lawn mowers in the barn. I depends on how bad they look once I go inspect them.
Wish me luck! I'm NO mechanic...but it is time to learn!
~OJD
Did you see my note in the paragraphs? I miss you sweetie. Tell the girls I love them.
I am not sure but that first one looks like an old row planter but I couldn't see enough to do more than guess.
ReplyDeleteThe disc is in parts and it looks like the proper size to fit on the 9n you have in the barn if you have all the parts there to get it back together. The first disc part fits in under that last section you found in the grass I believe.
The second item is I think a claw harrow. Again didn't see enough to be certain but the claws and frame part looked right. The claws should be adjustable and ride down allowing the other part to drag as well to level out your fields after it's been plowed and disc'd.
Prolly an old 2 bottom plow around there somewhere I would bet.
No, not "horse apples". that looked like a Yucca plant. Horse apples come from the Bois D' Arc tree. They are green and about the size of a large softball. Nasty! Have a milky, sticky sap.The wood is bright yellow and about the toughest wood around. Fence posts were made of that wood or mesquite. Start carrying a stick with you. Stir the grass before you move things. You have as many snakes as we in North Texas do. Happy hunting!
ReplyDeleteHey Orange Jeep dad,
ReplyDeleteI would get that old ford tractor up and runnin first thing to pull most of that junk into an organized pile.
pull the battery, replace it. drain all the fuel. replace the fuel and install in filters. check all fluids including engine oil. if there is plenty of oil in the engine, try to start the engine. see if it even turns over.
if the engine turns, then maybe it will caugh back to life.
gently ease the old tractor back to life. This will be your most important piece of equipment because you will need to mow (with the brush hog) and tow much of that junk into a pile.
If you have to, get a technician to work on it. I think its a 1950's ford with a one barrel carb, gasoline engine. Its simple, stupid and very, very tough. Lots of torque for towing and removing junk and brush.
Oh' yeah on the fuel. If you cant find ethanol free gasoline, get stabil fuel stabilizer and follow the instructions on what amount to pour in the tank in relation to the amount of fuel.
Breath some life into that old girl....
Hey guys, do they make Chilton manuals for tractors?
ReplyDeleteDo you actually own the farm and all the equipment on it? Before I started messing with stuff hidden around the farm, I'd make sure that it didn't belong to someone else. Sometimes stuff is stored and isn't abandoned.
ReplyDeleteI think the second? piece is some sort of row-crop cultivator or hiller.
The biggest piece is a chisel plow from what I saw.
I live in OK and I've been seeing more and more rattlesnakes lately, so I wouldn't be sticking my hands or feet into areas like that if I could help it. Get something like a stout hoe or a long crowbar and yank that stuff out of the weeds to look at it. You can look right at a rattlesnake and not see it and they don't seem to rattle that much to warn you.
Wildfires are also a concern, and people have started them by driving through tall grass and/or parking in tall grass. The catalytic converters then start the grass smoldering or burning and in a flash you don't have a vehicle anymore and the entire farm is on fire.
That car could bring some money. Many folks look for old cars to restore. To me it looks like an old Buick Cutless or Skylark. If you can get the title to it, you could sell it and use the money for moving the family. Same for the boat depending on the condition.
ReplyDeleteI agree with PP that those look like cultivation discus, not sure they went with the Ford, did anyone ever have a Farmall Cub on the farm?
ReplyDeleteI think that the Ford is an model 850 not a 9n, local tractor company can tell you. How long has it been since it was running, the fuel tank and carb might need cleaning especially if gas with ethyonal was used in it was left sitting. I would pull each plug and put a little Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder and turn the motor over slowly and after cleaning carb; install new plugs and see if it fires up. Remember these old models still have points and they may need changing also.
As for manuals do a search online, and local used book stores. Chilton's has a general small HP tractor repair manual but it is for models after 1959, if you find one cheap it might still be worth having????
I agree also with Rob...even if you do not have title you can part it out
The plant is a yucca --- can't see enough to tell which variety for sure. Enjoying reading about your journey. Best of luck to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteLike the others said the large implement appeared to be a chisel (or sweeps, depending on the blade on the bottom, they could be changed out) that attached to the 3 point on the back of the tractor.
ReplyDeleteThe plant is a yucca plant. You do need to get a stick to kinda poke around, the rattlesnakes in the area can be nasty. I would also thing getting the tractor up and running would be the first thing. You might be able to find a manual for the tractor online but that's pretty iffy.
Solarman maybe right, that tractor maybe an 850 or at least an 800 series and not a 9n. There is a lever on the left in front of the operator seat I am not familiar with. It still doesn't look as blocky to me as the 850's I have seen but I am sure there are several types I haven't seen as well.
ReplyDeleteThe car might be an Oldsmobile 442, if so it is worth a bundle!
ReplyDeleteI do hope your tetanus and booster shots are up to date! Exploration can be a lot of fun, I wonder if that trailer can be made weatherproof? Good outdoor storage. I was wondering as you were walking around if all wells on the property are clearly marked :-)
ReplyDeleteI think just like Elizabeth as my first thought was make sure everyone gets a tetanus booster before moving out!
ReplyDeleteI believe yucca is edible and I concur with those who have stated that the plant you asked about is yucca. Pretty stalks of white flowers will adorn the plant in spring.
Aside from the humidity and heat, you are moving to a piece of heaven! Very pretty. When I lived in MO, we kept a few corn knives for cutting back the jungle overgrowth. If I had to move back, I would have a few goats to eat those weeds and a flock of free range chickens to take care of those grasshoppers. Get the chickens before you get a pup or kitten. My chickens have my year old labrador trained as well as my three older cats. Goats and chickens are great 4H projects, easily handled, and something I'd seriously consider getting the girls into. They will make great friends and learn things that you will want them to teach you, also. The new 4H year starts in October, I believe. The University Extension offices are usually located in the court house, but check the phone book or internet to find out first.
Best wishes to you and your family on this great adventure! I am excited to have "re-found" your blog and look forward to catching up and reading future posts.
sidetracksusie
Our family moved to a sm town in SE OK in '07. Better climate for my health. Best wishes on your homesteading adventure.
ReplyDeleteI agree w/ Rich: B/4 I'd start nursing the tractor back to life, I'd find out if it's mine or if someone else is going to claim it when word gets out that it runs. Same w/ the trailer & car. Get the car title. If it has an old license plate, the TAG office in your area can look up the owner.
There's so much great advice here from everyone that I am overwhelmed. The farm and everything on it belongs to my family. My aunt, three uncle's and father are the trustees. No one person owns any one thing. It belonged to my Grandmother and when she recently passed, it was bequeathed to them. I won't do anything without running it by them first. I asked their permission to live at the farm and permission was granted. I don't want to take anything away from anyone else. I simply want to work the land and enjoy the fruits of my labor.
ReplyDeleteYour Grandparents were mighty smart to put the farm in a trust. Kudos to your family for keeping the farm and not succumbing to dividing it up and selling it off to a developer, as I see being done here in Wyoming.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy all that working with your hands. I have a "inside a medical office" degree and have never been happier than the years I was a stay at home, gardening, homeschooling wife.
Blessings to you and yours,
sidetracksusie
Hi OJD
ReplyDeleteFor help on all things tractor, I found a great resource at tractorbynet.com in their forums. Very knowledgeable and nice folks. I also am a tractor newbie and they treated me kindly.
Ok. Thanks.
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