Tuesday, February 24, 2009

FEB 24, 2009


SUNDAY WE WELDED THE WINCH MOUNT ON THE FRONT OF PETE'S DODGE. WE FABRICATED THE MOUNTING ON SATURDAY AND GOT IT MOUNTED ON THE TRUCK AND OPERATIONAL ON SUNDAY. PETE SAYS IT LOOKS TOUGH. IT IS A 9000 POUND WINCH (IT DOESN'T WEIGH 9000 POUNDS, IT PULLS 9000 POUNDS) WHICH SHOULD PULL TREES OUT OF THE FOREST WHERE HE CAN MAKE FIRE WOOD OUT OF THEM. HE WILL PROBABLY FIND OTHER USES FOR IT BEFORE LONG. LOOKS NICE.

SUNDAY WE PUT THE ISUZU PICKUP IN THE SHOP TO REBUILD THE FRAME. IT HAS A TOUGH ENGINE AND RUNNING GEAR (IF YOU CHAIN IT TO A TREE, IT WILL DIG 4 HOLES IN THE GROUND VS A 4 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK WHICH DIGS 2) AND IT IS SHORTER AND MORE COMPACT THEN A NORMAL TRUCK. WE WILL MAKE A MULTI USE VEHICLE FOR AROUND THE FARM. A TUGGER, A PULLER, A HILL CLIMBER, A CALF CATCHER, AND OTHER THINGS WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT.

MONDAY WE GOT THE BODY DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME AND ALMOST SET ASIDE. THE FRAME IS REALLY RUSTED BUT WE WILL BE REPLACING ALMOST ALL OF THE ORIGINAL FRAME WITH NEW TUBING FOR A MORE STRUCTURALLY STRONG FRAME TO MEET OUR USES. I HAVE A SET OF OVER-SIZED TIRES AND WHEELS TO PUT ON THE BEAST TO GIVE MORE GROUND CLEARANCE. THAT WILL MAKE IT TOUGH.

MONDAY, FOREST CAME OVER WITH HIS PORTABLE SCALE TO WEIGH THE CALVES. WE SET IT UP IN THE CHUTE IN THE BARN AND WITH A FEW MODIFICATIONS TO MAKE THE CHUTE NARROWER, TO USE A CHUTE DOOR AS A BLOCK IN FRONT OF THE SCALE, AND PETE WITH A RIOT PANEL AS A BACK DOOR TO MOVE THE CALF ONTO THE SCALE, WE WEIGHED THE CALF CROP.