Super cold weather is getting old!!

[JD Seller]

This super cold weather is getting old to me. Everything is taking longer to do. Also have been fighting a batch of bad fuel in the main farm tank, all week. That just makes it more fun. Six tractors so far and counting.

The snow we have is rock hard after we where 34 degrees last Saturday. Then the drop to double digit below zero has made it like concrete. I have a couple of places that drifted out into the lane some. They do not block travel but I tried to blow them today just to have the road more clear if we do get the snow/rain Friday they are talking about. The blower just rode up over them like they where concrete. I had to take the loader tractor and bust them up an then blew the snow out into the field.

Highs to be in the thirties this weekend. That will feel real warm. Heck I was in shirt sleeves today between the truck and house and it did not feel too bad.

 

[SweetFeet]

JD Seller,

Then you are more of an optimist than me... it's not GETTING - it already GOT old (the day the cold front moved in). LOL.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Getting very old. -9 right now, (10:45 p.m.).

Glenn F.

 

[old]

Was up around 38 today and close yesterday. Calling for temps in the upper 50s on Sunday. When I think it is cold I just try to remember places I have been that made what we have seem warm

 

[Ivan in Mich]

Been cold here with a windchill yesterday of -30. Warmer this weekend with temps in the 30"s and time to break out the shorts. What is with the fuel this year? I have been fighting it all winter and yesterday a guy that is a logger told me he has problems with the last batch he bought. He said it plugged all his filters on 6 pieces of equit with a black specked gunk. To say he is not happy would be an under statement.

 

[JerryS]

Looks like a great opportunity for you to stay in and become proficient on the ukelele. I have some additional information I can give you if you want to e-mail me.

 

[JD Seller]

That black specked gunk is what we are fighting. Every tractor that we use regularly in the cold has been effected.

The loader tractor is on its 7 th filter in two days. I have pumped the tank dry twice and flushed it out when empty but still getting the specks of black stuff in the filters.

On the feeder wagon tractor I just removed the tank and washed it out with muriatic acid an hot water. That got the stuff out of it. Took all the paint off the outside too but it is clean. On Monday it took three filters just to empty the first load of feed.

Fuel man delivered fuel Friday afternoon. Everyone he filled with that load is having trouble. HE claims the company will stand the costs. My question to him was what about lost time and labor of cleaning everything???

The main fuel tank is getting replaced with a new tank in the morning. I am not chancing what ever is in it on any other tractors.

Other than the one feeder wagon tractor and the loader tractor I just switched tractors around to ones that we did not fuel up.

Then we have been working between chores to get the effected ones flushed and cleaned up.

 

[oleclint]

JD, I know about what you guys are going thru up there. We used to farm 40 miles strait east of Dubuque. Winters can be and are brutal there. We have had 'winter blend' fuel jell up in the 4520 moving snow. Not fun. good luck and hang in there. clint ,in Oklahoma now.

 

[bison]

Soo,..what are you fella's gonna do when you get real winter???,..like below zero and up to - 40 for 4-5 months at a stretch :lol:

 

[gene bender]

Where were you in the late 70s or the fall and winter of 59-60 this was mild compared to this.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I am in northern Grant Co Wi, and I got a bad batch to, must the same stuff, little black pieces makes it a bugger!

 

[Bret4207]

(quoted from post at 00:42:30 01/09/14) Where were you in the late 70s or the fall and winter of 59-60 this was mild compared to this.

I've been through lots worse winters, but I was young, we had fuel oil heat and coal in addition to wood, I didn't have livestock or a family much less a barn or a grown childs water issues and house to take care of. That makes the difference!

 

[nybadlybent]

Bret, as I recall it is always cold in Macomb. In fact this has ben a pretty warm winter so far.

 

[coonie minnie]

Who is your supplier?

 

[RLA]

So far @56 years old I don"t mind the winter.
I consider these day"s a challenge & when the
day is done I master the challenge. I do know
the day will come when I will consider them a
real headache. But for the meantime I say"s it"s
winter. And I have seen much worse as some
would say, and I call them a greater challenge.
We don"t have much snow to deal with for a
change & not even running chains on the
spreader tractor but it"s cold, and in the Cold
Cold weather we run more gas tractors & less
diesels & these old 2 cylinder"s always like
the sub zero air. Music to my ears bucking deep
snow & the tractor not missing a beat, just
trembling as it"s working!!! Anyone who"s pulled
an old 60 J/D with a 520 NH speader loaded to
the hilt in 2 feet of snow with a winter frt on
the tractor & field chains know what tremble I"m
talking about.. It"s old John say"en hey fella
I don"t have much more....

 

[Lazy WP]

All you guys who are saying it used to get colder need to go check the records. It was colder, because almost no one had a cabbed tractor, and we were all a whole bunch younger, and the stories get better with age.
We have gotten over most of the real cold stuff, but the ice is terrible. I slid my tracked skidsteer to the bottom of a hill, day before yesterday. Yesterday, it was 26* and I had waterers freeze up. Made it past a week of below zero, and they freeze up at 26 above. GRRRRR

I feel for anyone fighting with fuel in this weather. It ALWAYS happens after you make the brag that you haven't fought with fuel issues. Truth betold, your supplier has a whole bunch more effect on any fuel issues then you do.

 

[JD Seller]

Local fellow hauled it but the fuel came out of McGuire's terminal in Dubuque.

 

[TGIN]

We missed the snow that shut Indy down by about 40 mile . We had all rain but the cold came in and froze it all . We had just enough snow to get some traction on the ice . They sent most of our state plow trucks to Indy to help out . My water froze while it was running , got it thawed out , took 2 days , on the bright side I have a new salamander heater . I have had all the fun I want to for this winter . 20 yrs. ago I kinda liked winter , everything slowed down . Do a littel hunting , keep the cows feed , cut some wood and everything was good , just aint that easy anymore . My prediction for 2014 is right here on yt there will be some grumpy old men , me included , please dont take it personaly if it happens .

 

[Anonymous-0]

You have not seen much weather if you are counting this little snap as bad.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I've seen plenty of weather. Not ssying -19° this morning is any record, but I still don't have to like it.

Glenn F.

 

[DoubleR]

I was working outside all yesterday afternoon and thought we were having a heat wave. I checked my weather station last night and found out it only reached 8 degrees.
I guess it all depends on what your use to. Although it did seem cold out there this morning doing chores.It was minus 16.
I'm not looking forward to Saturday when they are calling for 30's and heavy rain. That will be a mess with the 16 inches of snow we just got.

 

[Anonymous-0]

In Dec. of 83 it didn't get above zero for over two weeks, we were milking cows then. Dec. 2013 was cold but not as cold as 83. Now I just have stock cows, feed them and then head for the shop where it's warm.

 

[Adirondack case guy]

Sounds like the issue you had with the sons and subsequent orginizational meeting is paying off now. funny how somethings can be a wakeup call, forcing you to be prepared for a worse future event.
Loren, the Acg.

 

[GordoSD]

It's algae. Get in the habit of taking a fuel sample every new fueling day. Use a qt mason jar (clear( fill it two thirds full. Cap it. Swirl it rapidly using your wrist. Then stop and look for 10 water on the bottom, algae toward the top. Then set it aside. check in 5 minutes for algae on the water or on the bottom.

 

[Russ from MN]

Just read this morning that the sustained cold weather is killing off a lot of the emerald ash borer larvae, not all, but it's going to slow them down. Have heard in the past that it takes cold weather to kill off the tent caterpillar also. I guess there is a good side to this cold weather!

 

[RayP(MI)]

Worst problem I've had is that the cold air gives me caughing fits that sometimes last for an hour or more after I come in. Am carrying about 25 buckets of hot water out to supply the sheep/llamas/goats, and to thaw the 80 or so rabbit water bottles 2x a day. Then there's dragging 5 bales of hay through the snow daily to feed the outside critters. Rabbits are inside a good solid dairy barn (retired) which rarely gets below freezing, except in this weather. Have had trouble with diesel gelling in PU/plow truck, running almost straight kerosene in it right now. Was out yesterday clearing up the snow around the farmstead - 2 1/2 hours. At least it was easier to carry water and hay today. I'm not even going to attempt to run the other diesels righ now. May wait for spring!

When I was loading up the truck with kero, got to talking to the bulk delivery trucker who was downloading into filling station's tanks. Asked him if he'd been having complaints about gelling. He gave me a half full - 2.5 gallon jug of diesel treatment they use. 2.5 gallons treats
up to 3,750 gallons. Must be pretty potent stuff!
Power Service Arctic Express is the brand name.

 

[GordoSD]

I was in shirt sleeve here too. Polypro undershirt sleeves. Heavy Cabela's Chamois shirt sleeves. Hoody sweatshirt sleeves. Carhart insulated bibbers.
That was for indoors in the shop. LOL

 

[notjustair]

It's the climbing up and down with all of those clothes on. It just about does me in.

There's an old boy around here that is always spot on about his weather predictions. I'm not sure how he does it. He says we will have a storm dropping two feet of snow between January 20 and February 10. That's not a lot for most folks but in NEKS that is a lot for one storm. So look out boys, you know it will hit some of you harder.

This talk of diesel trouble makes me happy I have a gas loader tractor.

 

[MARK ROBKE]

There are algicides you can add to your fuel, but it is hard to get rid of. I think you will have remove and clean all your tanks. Good luck. Mark

 

[chuck from neb]

This little cold snap were having now is minor so far compared to the winter in 97 ....which started in november