Got up this morning to 15 degree weather. I went out to breakfast, and met my SIL ands grandson at the barn about 1030. We found a piece of four inch angle, and cut off 2 one foot pieces for a brace over the loader arm cylinder rods. went in to start the 6400 anddiscovered some dummy (read 'me') forgot to plug the d@amn thing in yeasterday after feeding. About 1/2 an hour later, it fired up and off we went. Should have known better. 12 miles later, I pulled into the lane to be greeted by the local killers- a lab and bluetick. They were ready to sit back and watch the show. The owners' boys cme out, and we went to work. Gates came down or off. Old gyromower got lifted out of the way. Crouse construction had very conveniently cut a round hole in each side of the bucket for our chains. I pulled the 6400 up to it, lowered the bucket, and Jimie hooked the chain over it. Pullled back on the lever, the chain tightened up and promptly lifted the back end off the ground. I knew then that this wasn't going well. Jim unhooked the chain, and I dipped the bucket tip in front of the loader bucket, picked up the front end of the 6400 and tried to get under the loader bucket. I wound up on the teeth. Backed up, tried again and just scarified the frost. So I backed up just a bit further, worked the bucket back and forth a few times, and started making some headway down. It's only been below freezing for a few days, so the frost isn't too deep yet. I was only thinking I wish this kid had gotten in Craigslist a couple of weeks earlier before it got cold. Anyway the third time was the charm- my bucket finally went below the teeth on the loader. It was only a couple of seconds until the AC's arms moved for the first time in fifteen years! Up they came, and Jim and Todd each threw an angle over the lift cylinder rods. Todd moved the hydralic valve back into neutral, and we were ready for the second phase. As I turned around, Jimie put a chain around the tow hook under the AC, and Todd hooked up to the clevis on the rear of the 6400. When everyone was clear, I tried to give the old AC a tug. No dice. I couldn't see it move, but Todd said it came forward about an inch or so. But all I could do was kind of spin on the now greasy thawing ground. Even with the four wheel engaged and the rear locked up,we weren't gonna go up hill any. So, the owner said he would try to get his Ford backhoe started and we'd put some more HP into this mess. Of course, Mr. Ford was cold, and didn't want to wake up. After about 1/2 anhour, it finally started, but was cold and wouldn't steer. It had to run for another half hour or so before Keith could steer it. In the meantime, I went down into the pasture and moved a pile of posts from the backside of the AC. We hooked the chain to the ROPS mounts because the AC doesn't have a drawbar. Todd asid the tractor moved back this time about 2 or 3 inches, but the frozen ground has the tracks pretty tight. The backhoe finally came down over the hill and butted up to the now raised bucket. Even both tractors didn't move her anymore against the frozen tracks.
I'm gonna call George in the morning and get the batteries he has. Then we'll try to start the AC where she is. It's supposed to be a bit warmer tomorrow, so we'll give it a try. I talked to Keith, who was the last guy to run it, and he said it ran well. He didn't know about the oil, but said the fill cap-breather was on it previously. That's when one of the older boyd piped up and blamed a younger sibling of playing around with things and checking stuff out. So I et the feeling we'll eventually find it somewhere under the tracks. But it does help convince me there is little if any water down in the pan. So, if it will start, we may be in luck if this kid just pulled it off not too long ago. I think he's about eight or so. It also explains why there are a bunch of wire pieces strewn around the engine compartment. Not hooked to anything- but wrapped around bolts and injector lines and so forth.
After putting up gates to keep the horses in, we went ahead and left. The Ravens- Texans game had already started, and that is more important. At least in my helpers' minds. More later-
I'm gonna call George in the morning and get the batteries he has. Then we'll try to start the AC where she is. It's supposed to be a bit warmer tomorrow, so we'll give it a try. I talked to Keith, who was the last guy to run it, and he said it ran well. He didn't know about the oil, but said the fill cap-breather was on it previously. That's when one of the older boyd piped up and blamed a younger sibling of playing around with things and checking stuff out. So I et the feeling we'll eventually find it somewhere under the tracks. But it does help convince me there is little if any water down in the pan. So, if it will start, we may be in luck if this kid just pulled it off not too long ago. I think he's about eight or so. It also explains why there are a bunch of wire pieces strewn around the engine compartment. Not hooked to anything- but wrapped around bolts and injector lines and so forth.
After putting up gates to keep the horses in, we went ahead and left. The Ravens- Texans game had already started, and that is more important. At least in my helpers' minds. More later-
