Author Topic: What did you do this weekend? (Read 138687 times)

sqlbullet · « **Reply #425 on:** July 30, 2018, 02:40:54 pm »

Dug out a half dozen or so small stumps. I was going to dig out the big one but he said not to bother as it is not in the way of the planned fence. And, it would have taken hours and hours for my small little BX to get out.

Moved a bunch of largish rocks around, even kept a few they didn't want. One had to be right at 850 lbs since that is what my front bucket is rated to lift, and I could lift it about 2.5' and no higher.

And then I pushed together all the debris, brush, etc that was along the property line where the fence is planned. Next Monday the county green waste dumpster shows up and I will be back over helping pack it as full as we can. Not sure one dumpster is gonna do it.

After that I will swap the backhoe for the three point hitch and tiller and churn and grade some of the cleared area.

They are handy to have around when you need one. Rapidly approaching the point where I don't need one enough to justify the money tied up in it.

WeTheArmed.com

booksmart · « **Reply #426 on:** July 30, 2018, 03:24:51 pm »

Cool.

We've got grading/drainage issues to correct, need to put in french drains.

I also need to figure out how to kill sumac. I hate that fluffing tree.

sqlbullet · « **Reply #427 on:** July 31, 2018, 10:26:52 am »

You can grade with a BX-25D. But it is painful. The front bucket has no ability to tilt, unlike the blade on a landscaping excavator. So on the BX when you drop the bucket it just follows the grade the rear wheels are on. So, you end up having to use the hoe and bucket to dig out and drop dirt, and then the float mode of the bucket to smooth and compact it back down. It can be done, and I have done it, but a tracked excavator with a blade that has some ability to tilt would make many jobs much easier.

Still, as an all around landscaping tool, it is hard to beat for the price.

sqlbullet · « **Reply #428 on:** July 31, 2018, 10:28:23 am »

I would edit my last post, but I can't....

If you just need to raise, lower or smooth the existing grade, it works fine. The issue come in when you want to change the grade.

booksmart · « **Reply #429 on:** July 31, 2018, 01:46:27 pm »

Well, considering that right now we've really got improper grading... some slopes towards the house, some slopes parallel to the house, we've got low spots where rain puddles, we've got 4-5 different types of grass, the g#$%#^n sumac that pops up wherever it d#$% well pleases, a few places where bushes or trees used to be and the root system's rotting away so the dirt falls out beneath you as you walk over it when you mow...

And a shiny new fiber optic line running through that I don't want to cut.

Mississippi556 · « **Reply #430 on:** August 01, 2018, 02:15:19 pm »

Quote from: booksmart on July 29, 2018, 07:51:59 pm

The husband of a friend of mine has a Kubota dealership... I have a feeling I'll be renting one next year, for probably the same reason you were driving it around Nukmed's yard... Landscaping? Fixing grading issues?

Utility size Kubota tractors are virtually bullet proof if you take reasonable care. Change fluids and filters on schedule, keep coolant in the radiator and they will run just about forever. I picked up this Kubota M4030SU (5 cylinder 51 hp diesel) at an auction many years ago. It was made in 1991, if I recall. I use it regularly (again this weekend, weather permitting) to keep up my little 18.9 acres of heaven. I paid $10k, out the door with the attached box blade for it around 2000-2001. It was just being used to spread gravel on a used car lot that went out of business. Only a couple hundred hours on it then. I picked up a new 6' Bush Hog HD field mower, a used 8' four gang disc, and a post hole digger for the PTO. Added a QD three point hitch. That's it. Might get a PTO log splitter on down the road. I don't have a bucket, but don't really need one for what I do.

I did put new rear tires on it last year, otherwise it's pretty much the same as when I bought it.

If you own land that is more than you can keep up with just a zero turn or a garden tractor, look for a used one of these. You really can't wear it out if you don't neglect it. They are a Godsend.

This photo was taken right after I cleaned it up "real purty" to use for our church's annual hayride.

booksmart · « **Reply #431 on:** August 01, 2018, 05:43:48 pm »

My buying one would be a wee bit o' overkill - we have about 2/3 acre in the middle of suburbia, about 1/2 of which is occupied by the house itself... A friend of mine has a small plot in western TN, and I think he has a Kubota of some flavor... speaks highly of it.

Mikee5star · « **Reply #432 on:** August 02, 2018, 02:01:05 am »

I have been looking at similar tractors, but 4x4. We have 10 acres, and need something more than we have in terms of equipment. A skidsteer would probably make more sense, but I don't see the money available any time soon.

Mississippi556 · « **Reply #433 on:** August 13, 2018, 05:19:10 pm »

Yes, a 4x4 would have been my choice, too, but this came along for a bargain and I just couldn't pass it up. It's been flawless over the years. I just have to be a bit more careful where I put it when things are really wet and I get into the soft stuff. I've had to winch it out a couple times cutting too close to a creek bed, but not often. I have a very old beat up 8,000 lb. Warn winch. Older than the tractor. You'd be surprised what you can do with a winch strapped to a tree trunk.

Honestly, I just cut fields of mostly Bahia grass, plant a little brown top millet for dove season, and then throw winter wheat or rye on that for the deer. Not much winter here.

For those with fewer acres, maybe a commercial zero turn Scag, Ex-Mark or such, if you are not cutting more than about 5 acres at a time, or the BX or L series Kubota. Those commercial zero-turn mowers are lightning fast.

For that suburban paradise, a small belly mower garden tractor does just fine.

booksmart · « **Reply #434 on:** August 13, 2018, 06:31:50 pm »

Mowed the yard, replaced two light fixtures, shuffled 8 systems around at work as part of a departmental move, and spray painted two cracks in my basement wall to get 'em ready to chisel 'em out with an airhammer and fill back in with hydraulic cement (wanted to be able to see what I was aiming at while wearing a mask/goggles).

Last weekend was prep the ductwork for in the basement for sprayfoam installation. Weekend before that was treat the basement ceiling joists for mold.

Raptor · « **Reply #435 on:** August 13, 2018, 06:39:58 pm »

Technically it wasn't a weekend (took Wednesday-Friday off to celebrate completing my Master's Program), but it still counts.

Words cannot adequately convey just how much I missed this place.

Came home Thursday night, then spent all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday moving furniture from my parents' house into my new apartment. Got more exercise in the past three days than in the last three months (probably closer to six months) combined. Now everything hurts.

AltRight Vanguard · « **Reply #436 on:** August 13, 2018, 08:07:33 pm »

Congrats on your own place. Wonderful feeling, isn't it?

booksmart · « **Reply #437 on:** August 13, 2018, 08:41:12 pm »

Congrats on the Master's, too!

Raptor · « **Reply #438 on:** August 14, 2018, 07:33:32 pm »

Quote from: AltRight Vanguard on August 13, 2018, 08:07:33 pm

Congrats on your own place. Wonderful feeling, isn't it?

Thanks. It is a wonderful feeling, if a bit lonely: Mom & Dad still have the dog, so there's no happy furball to greet me at the door when I get home from work.

Quote from: booksmart on August 13, 2018, 08:41:12 pm

Congrats on the Master's, too!

Many thanks!

booksmart · « **Reply #439 on:** August 18, 2018, 08:49:56 pm »

Two things: Don't know if it's just me or not, but server time seems... off. Raptor posted the 14^th, but I'm getting an alert that "this topic has not been posted in for at least 90 days, yadda yadda yadda..."

Second: The Saga of The Post is done. Got a call Wednesday from Lowe's... "Hi, this is Amanda from ProServices. We haven't had a lot of communication with the vendor, but we also had a post arrive. With your name on it. I've measured it, and it is exactly 8'9". Come and get it when you can."

"Awesome. Do I owe anything?"

"Nope."

"Do I need to bring in the mismeasured post?"

"Nope. What're we going to do with it?"

"... The same thing I would, I reckon. Okay, see you as soon as I can get there."

Got to the store this morning, rented their truck, brought it home, slid it into place, and took their truck back.

Tacked it to the beam, nudged it to plumb, and removed the temporary columns.

And now the second floor bathroom door closes properly.

Now, I'll wait a few weeks for everything to re-settle, plaster a few cracks, and touch up some paint.

Tomorrow, got some work to do at the office getting three new classrooms ready for classes to start Monday.

Mikee5star · « **Reply #440 on:** August 19, 2018, 12:27:38 am »

Nice Booksmart.

I got to go for a ride in my dad's new plane today, and sided the front gable of my cousins new house with him.

New plane, 1958 Comanche. New to him anyways.

booksmart · « **Reply #441 on:** August 19, 2018, 01:11:55 am »

Very cool.

Plebian · « **Reply #442 on:** August 19, 2018, 01:27:37 pm »

The past few weekends have been helping my dad replace siding. They had baseball size hail. So we got to replace windows as well. They needed new windows anyway.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

Mikee5star · « **Reply #443 on:** August 19, 2018, 04:51:16 pm »

Today I am supposed to be putting the hitch under the the wife's truck and building the rear gate for her canopy. But it is raining fairly hard right now so laying in the driveway is not enthusing me.

cpaspr · « **Reply #444 on:** August 20, 2018, 10:56:07 am »

Wasn't this weekend, but it was on A weekend. I put an 8,000 pound class 3 hitch under my 2016 Colorado. Had to tie ropes around the ends of the bumper to hold in roughly in place, since the same bolts that hold the bumper to the truck are used to install the hitch (replaces the bumper hitch piece that tucks up and hides under the bumper). Took my neighbor and I an hour or so. Pain in the posterior. Literally. Not nearly as easy as a class 3 for a Ford Ranger. Those are 15-20 minutes, solo installations, without air tools.

MTK20 · « **Reply #445 on:** August 20, 2018, 12:54:31 pm »

Quote from: cpaspr on August 20, 2018, 10:56:07 am

Wasn't this weekend, but it was on A weekend. I put an 8,000 pound class 3 hitch under my 2016 Colorado. Had to tie ropes around the ends of the bumper to hold in roughly in place, since the same bolts that hold the bumper to the truck are used to install the hitch (replaces the bumper hitch piece that tucks up and hides under the bumper). Took my neighbor and I an hour or so. Pain in the posterior. Literally. Not nearly as easy as a class 3 for a Ford Ranger. Those are 15-20 minutes, solo installations, without air tools.

That sounds awful $:-\$ . You know, Toyota Priuses don't have tedious trailer hitch hook up problems

.

coelacanth · « **Reply #446 on:** August 20, 2018, 05:29:56 pm »

I didn't do jack sh*t. Took a drive last week - out of Phoenix - looking for some altitude. Found some. Stayed a week. Made my lazy old dog look positively industrious. Enjoyed it thoroughly. That is all.

booksmart · « **Reply #447 on:** August 20, 2018, 06:57:42 pm »

Gotta do that every once in a while.

Raptor · « **Reply #448 on:** August 20, 2018, 07:23:03 pm »

Got my apartment's internet service set up and squared away (FINALLY! Only took a week!) and moved more of my crap out of my parents' house and into my apartment.

cpaspr · « **Reply #449 on:** August 21, 2018, 10:07:39 am »

Quote from: MTK20 on August 20, 2018, 12:54:31 pm

That sounds awful $:-\$ .

Well, it wasn't fun, but it was satisfying when it was all done.

Quote from: MTK20 on August 20, 2018, 12:54:31 pm

You know, Toyota Priuses don't have tedious trailer hitch hook up problems .

Don't have "tedious trailer hook up problems" at the back end, or at the front? I could tow a Prius with no problem. The same can not be said about the Prius. And if my battery needs replacing it doesn't cost $7,000 or more.