So it made it up into the 70's today and it proved the perfect time to bring the tractor home and see how the open feeding for the bees was going.
First thing I noticed right off was a lot of coming and going activity in the one hive I thought was a dead out. I suppose it could be just robbers but at times it looked entirely too busy for that. So maybe it is still alive and the ball was just so far down in I couldn't hear em when I wrapped on it.
Keeping my fingers crossed there.
The bees found the open feeder this morning and by late afternoon had already consumed over three quarters of the syrup.
I went and purchased two more of these chicken water things to put out for the other hives in their locations. I imagine varmints might be an issue but we will see.
Then it was off to bring the old 861 diesel home. I decided it was such a nice day I would drive her the six miles or so and give her a workout to boot and see how she runs.
Not one hiccup or strange sound all the way home. I took the front grill off and started working on getting the nose cone off this afternoon. I just can't let it go. Still a lot of cosmetic work left to do on the old girl but she runs now as good as new and is finally back home.
So far this little rebuild has run damned near 4 grand btw and I ain't done yet. All I got to say is never again at this point. I now have all told almost 7K into this tractor just because I am too stubborn to stop when I am ahead. Once I get the old and new paint balanced out and the rest of the sheet metal finished though she is going to look good baling the fields LOL.
Anyway out to catch up on chores I will answer comments from yesterday's post when I get back in tonight.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!!!
The work on her is well worth it, and no monthly payments!
ReplyDeleteK - She better last that's all I can say. I am hoping to run her in the next Christmas parade though :)
DeleteWow that must have been some ride home. It doesn't set a record though as some guy near me drove a combine from about 3 counties away, clear across the blue ridge mountains on back roads. It must have been close to a hundred miles and all to save trailer costs. He got withing a mile of his farm and right in the middle of a little town it suddenly burst into flames and then the plastic fuel tank went up. Nearly burnt down the town before the fire truck got there. Burnt the phone pole and phone wires creating more havoc. I saw a huge black cloud rolling up and went to watch. Glad you didn't end up riding a fire ball like that guy, you have a real tractor there, it will be worth it in the long run.
ReplyDeleteSf - WOW. I was worried about the long road trip but then I thought it would be a good break in cruise for the old girl. Was a nice day for it and people came out and waved and yelled how much they love the old tractor.
DeleteStarted your own one man parade, I see. 7K for that? Still a good deal. New equipment costs are insane.
ReplyDeletemy Dad drove his "new" 8N 25 miles to our farm. We still use it 40 years later!
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about engines, well nothing at all actually, but I am in awe of people who are mechanically minded, and that tractor sure looks pretty sat there, ..... and it is working! Wow, but you must have shivers of pride in the fact that you have made it come alive again.
ReplyDeleteMust have missed it, but wondered what eventually happened with the balancer?
ReplyDelete