Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Shining a Little Light on Things


Today turned out to be a much better day than the last four or five weather-wise anyway. The sun came up bright and clear while I was feeding this morning and there was frost over everything. Even a fine layer of ice that gave the mud I been trampling though for a week some stability.

The missing Rhode Island red hen was waiting for me at the door this morning too urging me to let her friends out so they could go forage as a group. Not sure where she spent the night but I bet it was on top of the coop/stall enclosed area on the wire roof.

First order of business today was to get the last two water tank heaters ran and plugged in. I installed some hooks along the side of the barn to hold the extension cord well off the ground above head height and made several tie off points. This way if they happen to get snagged some how nothing will get pulled loose. I dislike running electric wires all over and around the barn but this time of year it's a necessity.


I then went back and did a bit more looking at the new tractor. Something was bothering me about it a bit and a few odds and ends didn't add up which was making me scratch my head. For one thing the serial and model number plate was awful hard to read and looked like it could have been an 850 and not an 851. Sure enough a little more investigation and a quick response from a tractor forum I read and it turns out what I have is a 1956 Ford 850 not a 57 851 like the hood would advertise.


The key is that the 100 series tractors did not have a fuel gauge while the 01's did. My bet is the old hood on this girl got destroyed somehow and was replaced. Not a big deal to me actually as there is very little difference between the 850 and 851 other than about five more tested horsepower at the drawbar. Weight and lift is exactly the same.

In fact all I need to do now is find a Jubilee and I can say I got every model covered from 8N to 01 series :)

Maybe I should find a 2N and 9N too?

The five days of rain did however cause the round bales in the pasture to mold pretty bad so I had my neighbor drop off another couple of bales with his big New Holland. Got a few ruts in the process I am going to have to blade out now come Spring but the sheep and horses were much happier.

Looks like we are now 100% set for Winter. Bring it on and let's get it over with!!!!

Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!


15 comments:

  1. A day without rain here but not for long there is more on the way, I am glad your chicken turned up the dirty stop out :-)

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    1. Dawn - Apparently another Wintery mix popped up here this evening too although not in the forecast. So we ended up getting more rain yet again. If we get a nice warm spell I should be able to get back out and try the post holes again.

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  2. Glad your bird was waiting on you, who knows what was in her little brain.
    You will need a Ford tractor museum sign before long. Then there are all of the Ferguson and MF models to start on. More rain and mud here.

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    1. Sf - More rain again for us tonight too. I don't think I will ever get my old girls to museum quality but I would like to have a little Farmall cub :)

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    2. Lots of the little Farmall tractors here, they seem to have loved them for tobacco.

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    3. I have heard and read that actually. Seems the little Farmall A's, B's and C's were THE tobacco tractors of the period. Never have seen anyone say why though.

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  3. find a 2n and a 9n?

    self control, the cornerstone of civilization, and maybe of a happy marriage, too.

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    1. deborah - Well I am safe I guess. I have no where to put any more tractors anyway :)

      I could build another building though

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  4. PP,

    You sound like you're satisfied with the new tractor even though it's a '56 Ford 850.
    Good to hear your red hen returned!!!
    I'm praying this winter won't be a hard difficult one.

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    1. Sandy - Oh it doesn't bother me whether its a 56 850 or a 59 851. There was really very little difference between the two tractors. The 851 had a little more power (like about 5 HP) because they rounded the cylinders I think but for all my purposes the two models are identical. She's in good enough shape overall I ain't complaining.

      I don't think it will be a bad Winter. I predicted a milder than usual one a few months ago and I am sticking to it. For us that is :)

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  5. We are finally seeing the sun today! Its rained and rained and rained Glad for the rain but whew that lack of sun is a tough one.

    Glad your hen was ok and showed up :O)

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    1. Texan - Ya I start to get grumpy after about the 3rd day without sun. We got cloud cover today and a bit of a Wintery mix last night but not enough to get pissy about. Still back to cold and sunless for us here today.

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  6. You can never have too many tractors!

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    1. I agree!!! Unfortunately not enough shed space does happen far too often :)

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