Al, I always use a leaf blower to blow off the debris on my mower deck each time I am done using it. It only takes a couple of minutes. I also sharpen the old blades when I put new sharpened ones on. It's good to have a sharp set available because you always notice your blades are dull in the middle of a job.
One thing Ive learned is that when I change the blades, I scrape and paint the bottom of the deck as well. The grass sticks to it and rusts the deck if it isn't kept painted and rust free. Takes all of a couple hours and saves thousands in replacement costs. Just a thought.
Funny, I am an old lady, retired now..and still, your tractor repair video had my attention..I had a Mahindra tractor, same size as yours, The dealership was great as far as maintenance or problems and allowed me to watch, rare..Blade sharpening, fluid changes. But I guess it is seeing what Figaro is up to, the crazy white chicken memory plates on New yoke city, The goats, egg gathering, Olivia's Sweet Shop or Gina's cooking, Your construction building madness , Pluto and Tanner's zoomies, just keeps me waiting for the next video..well, oh great, the Barbeque..Dang it Al!!! I am pulling out my smokey Joe grill now, those burgers drove me crazy!!! Thank you for sharing!
Al when you had the blades off you should’ve taken a wire brush and clean the underside the mowing deck real well and gave it a fresh shot of paint , preferably a glossy doesn’t matter what color just give it a good paint job this will help with discharging of the cut grass , also when you flip it to the upper side you should’ve pulled the belt off clean the upper deck and wire brush it also to get rid of the rust and debris and give it a good coat of paint to keep it from rusting out , it’s cheaper to maintain and keep in good condition then having to buy a new deck to replace the old one because it’s all rusted out .. that what they call keeping your equipment and good condition, if you do this at the end of the growing season and clean it up then repaint it before storing it away for the winner , you would not have to do it in the spring time
Goooooooooood Evening , Al , Gina & Olivia , Whenever I have the mower deck off , I like to spray the underside with two or three good coats of WD40. It helps to keep cut grass from sticking to the underside sheet metal. As you may know , WD40 is a water displacement spray. It helps to keep the moist cut grass from sticking. Less rust that way . I hope .
It is nice to see you take time with your daughter. The tractor may be gone one day. Her memories will last a lifetime. Do what you love and love what you do.
I just love the way Al you and your daughter interact with each other when you're buying a coffee or slushy or whatever that is so cute and precious. And you can grill all year we grill in the so cold winter of Minnesota .
Don’t be using your mower deck for brush cutting. It’s not meant for that and could cause some damage. You need to get yourself a rear pto power brush mower. That would do a lot better job than the mower deck. Great video keep up the good work on the homestead.
You are so correct 100 % ! If Al attempts to mow pastures with heavy brush, He will tear up that Kubota Mowing Deck ! It's only for mowing yards and such , NOT pasture land or brush fields !!
You need to epoxy the floor in the work shop or get some Rubber Matt's to lay down to protect the concrete from stains . Tractor supply sells some I need to get a few for Garage and laundry room floor . Plus easier on your feet and knees .🤔
A friendly comment from me. That mower-deck is mucky and encourages all kinds of critters to sniff around and make even more mess on the moving parts; a quick power wash off when you finish using it will really make your equipment last a lot longer.
I wouldnt really say critters are the problem with that comment..I would more say that it would keep moisture under it and promote rotting with rust...learned that the hard way on my last mower.i dont power wash the new scag now just some quick blower action when I'm finished mowing.
I’m sure his outside water source has been shutoff for the winter. I’m from the same latitude about 45deg N and we have to drain and blowout all non-insulated outside water pipes. Maybe he’ll do it once it warms up!🌞
@@markrandall1456 Of course, but the person said he should power wash it. Unless someone lives this far north, one may not think about such mundane tasks. I'm pretty sure there aren't to many Southerners that think about no outside water source for 3-5 months. Matter of fact, I'm sure many Southerners think us Yankees are crazy!😂 They're probably right!
I suspect that bar on the back side of the mower deck is to help level and prevent bounce of the deck as it moves over uneven terrain. Something like a vehicle front end suspension. Now that you have the new workshop the tool boxes need to be moved down there now. Or maybe some of them so you do not need to carry them back and forth. When servicing mower blades use a piece of wood to block the blade in place while you loosen or tighten the bolts. It is safer and easier. Also, all gear boxes I have ever seen are only filled about half way up the box.
The deal with goats is that they are browsers, not grazers. They don't eat off the ground if they can help it; that minimizes their parasite uptake. Goats are very susceptible to worms - the less they eat off the ground, the fewer worms they get.
You should put doors or another roll up door on that side Barn right beside your shop and a heater and lights in there and that's where the tractor and the Mule should be stored you have plenty of room down farther down for hay and all your other supplies.
Al old mower blades great for projects. If you've got a welder take an old Tpost cut to 18" 2 PC's weld an old blade weld to the Tposts pound into the ground and you got boot scrapers for mud . I've got one at each gate for my garden made from old mower blades
Amazing what a day or two of warmer weather does to your land. Looking forward to all the new babies coming soon. And the new projects. Those burgers looked yummy. Have a good weekend.
OOOhhh! another potential set of projects. * Consider making a place to do big equipment maintenance in the wintertime so that it is easy and comfortable. You are more likely to do it if it isn't a hassle. Consider making a place to easily work on the Kubota, the Mule and any other potential big equipment. You need one garage stall that is tall & wide enough to drive all of the vehicles up onto ramps or raise them with heavy duty jacks so working under them is not as cramped and uncomfortable. Make it easy on yourself! * You need work tables around the vehicle bay to pre assemble or clean parts, and store all the tools and parts for each of those maintenance jobs at those stations. Store all the vehicle parts & tools there so you know what you have , what you need to do the job at hand. Include storage for big equipment parts like the mower deck. Get all that Kubota stuff out of the basement and get it in one and only one place up off the ground for all of it so it doesn't freeze there. * Consider making a shelving unit to store all the big and heavy things you transport with the tractor so they are up off the ground and don't get stuck frozen to the ground. If it were on wheels, it would make your life so much easier. It would be so nice to just directly grab or shelf big stuff like that mower deck on a custom shelving unit you wheel over to easy access with your tractor forklift instead of prying it off the ground and walking it over to the forklift - let the storage system and the tractor do all that work. Save you back, man! Save your body from unnecessary strain! We aren't getting younger, but I hope we are getting smarter. * Consider making a rolling worktable where you can offload the mower deck from the 'bota forklift - just start working on it without having the wrestle it too much. I saw a UA-cam channel where the videographer made a giant "rotisserie" to build a custom trailer. A smaller version would flip that mower deck. See Matthew Cremona's "@t" playlist on UA-cam. Love that channel. You might like it, too. * Lumber storage would be super awesome, too. Since you work with wood so much, it's be nice to be able to get at it in the wintertime when you want indoor projects. Have you read The Lean Farm? ISBN: 9781603585927 I cannot recommend it highly enough - it opened my eyes to making things easier on myself and those around me.
A sign of a good workman is the condition of his tools. That's the advice my father always gave me. If you look after your tools, your tools will look after you. That's the advice my grandfather gave my father. Al, I'm now passing that on to you. If you don't clean your mower, the dirt and grass will cause rust, which could result in a very nasty accident. Plus, equipment is very expensive to replace.
I think it's cool you send your goats bloodwork to WSU. I live 10 miles from there. It's an awesome vet school. They just did emergency surgery on a K9 officer shot in the eye.
This is the perfect time for farm vehicle maintenance for sure! Get everything ready for the season ahead. So, would we be looking for some Figaro workshop shirts soon? He is the new shop supervisor for sure! Boy those burgers look good. Blessings to all.
Gooooood evenin' Al! I like seeing you use those pink ratchet straps! You should put them on your Amazon store, several folks have inquired about them!
If you wanted to make it easier on pulling items out of the ice, the 12inch by 12inch pavers work well for putting under equipment. I use them with our implements in our Shelterlogic shed to keep them off the ground, and make for easier access in the winter and spring when going through items. We used to use scrap wood, but at some point it needs replacing when it rots away, hence why switching to the pavers.
Take a look at tractorbynet forum under Kubota. I'm pretty sure they have step by step process in replacing the axle seals. I am a member of this forum and they have mentioned Luminah Acres from time to time...just some of us fans.
On our lawn mower, my Aunt sprayed Pam before using it underneath the mower. After mowing, the grass easily came off the underneath. It makes a big difference, when something sounds crazy but it works, & saves the mower from rust.
Preventative maintenance should be a must. Goof job Al. Would have loved having burgers with you all. I didn't shovel my deck the last two storms and that's where my grill is. Many blessings.
I agree. But...I don’t do that myself I’m ashamed to say! I do scrape mine with a putty knife. Our grass is lush so it always gets a big build up. I feel guilty I don’t wash it clean and wax it at season’s end, but I just don’t have that kind of time. I do blow loose grass clippings off with a blower after each cutting (mainly because I don’t want the mess in the garage). It helps that we store our machines in a dry garage.
The center greese cert is for your deck too float. You can tighten springs so wont float as much. There dampener spring adjust return rate. Top bolts are help level your deck.
One of the known issues with the spindles of some makers is they use sealed bearings yet have a grease port so the owner thinks they are greasing the bearing but are just packing a cavity with grease and putting more and more pressure on the bearings seal. The only way to check is to pop one of the spindles apart to see what type of bearing is in place as it could be as simple a fix as pulling the seal off that side of a bearing so the grease can get in and keeping the other seal in place to keep dust out.
Being able to pull your vehicles into the shop will make routine maintenance both easier, and a more attractive proposition! It can't be too fun trying to accomplish those tasks outside in the rain, or on wet ground!
Here is a tip for your mower blades, get yourself a blade balancer or you will be replacing bearings, shafts and eventually mower deck because out of balance blades will wallow out the deck mounting area... !!!
Having a spare belt for the mower is always a good idea. Especially after not being used in winter, belts can become brittle and break in the first hours of use in the new season.
Raspberry slush sounds yummy flavor 😋 with 52* & Figaro enjoying shop time Gina making homemade Goodness gourmet Potatoes 🥔 Burgers 🍔 Livi working after school gathering her chicken eggs 🥚 & then working in her Concession stand ❤️❤️
Food looked delishious, its snowing here in Michigan again but what we had all melted yesterday, so nothing is sticking. I think I'll go make a burger for lunch! Thanks for the video, love watching all the farm animals and seeing how to care for them. I would love to get some chickens for eggs.
Glad to hear you say your going to do better maintenance.... Maintenance is alot easier then repairs... Battery grease gun makes greasing alot easier and faster so your more likely to take the time to do it... A preasure washer or hotsy would be great also. Amazing what you see once something is clean.. like your mower deck! This winter I've greased my tractor twice if that and Akaska is rough on equipment anyway and this year I've plowed alot of snow and skidded out alot of logs.... So I'm guilty also... Summer I grease it daily but 30 below really kills my motivation...
Love how you imaginary play with Olivia. It’s lovely to see her do it and for you to encourage it too. I think a surprise sundae on the day new chicks move In will be fun to see. 👍🏻
Greetings. These Kubota BX's are stout little machines and they'll last to the next generations when properly serviced, good to see you taken'n care of the business, LOL. On the MMM (mid mount mower) the lever assembly you were wondering about, it's purpose is to allow the MMM to move up/down when the anti scalp wheels encounter an obstacle and recenter to level once it "rolls over" the obstacle without transferring the pressure to the lift arms and bending or breaking them.. Look at it like a flex joint. The grease zerk lube's the pivot pin. My MMM is a 2004 model and it's still running the original belt and spindle assembly's. I finish mow approx 4 acres that I trained many moons ago with a bush hog so it's easy on the finish mower. I hear you on the shipping charges, they can get outrageous depending upon size and weight. I ordered a small part for my Mrs car the other day and the S&H cost more than the part... Enjoy your video's, GODspeed to you and yours. Dave
There is a check and drain plug on the side of the mower deck gearbox. The bottom one is drain, fill oil till it comes out the top hole. You may want to change that oil if it's original, I'd use 80-90 gear oil
Hi Al. I know that you are probably not going to go back and clean it, but leaving grass stuck onto the underside of the deck will hold moisture, and will cause the deck paint to peel and it WILL rust. Power wash it (if possible) dry it off then spray a thin coat of WD-40 or perhaps some organic oil that you have (Non-stick cooking spray). This will increase the life of the deck, and will help the grass to exit the deck better. Rust killed the deck of my last mower and this was a great tip that I found.
Todays video was not the most interesting but I just need to watch. The interaction between you and Livy I just love too precious the memories you two make are awesome.
Best way I've figured out how to remember maintenance is using my calendar on my phone. I have lots of equipment to do stuff on, 2 john deere garden tractors, 2 simplicity garden tractors , my kubota front end loader, pick up truck, dump truck, 5 trailers, push mowers, tree chipper, multiple small tool equipment, once I do maintenance on the machine I set a reminder only phone usually for a month afterward to remind myself with notes on what to do such as grease, oil change. Air filter clean/change, or anything I think might be of importance when that month timeframes comes due cuz I usually forget within that time frame between services. It saves me lots of headaches in the end, also I document what I have actually done in my calendar so I can look back as to when & what I actually did as i sometimes get overwhelmed on this stuff (i always have something being repaired in my shop).
I would hang a big wall calendar that they give away at tool suppliers with squares...at a glance you know what you did and can write in when you need to do it again..and helps with planning..I used to have a lawn service and was a great quick reference guide..if not get a desk top calendar and hang the sheets up...they are cheap but def helpful
One thing my late father did was keep a 3 ring binder and a notebook for each of the pieces of equipment we had. He would keep the manuals, the original receipt, and any other receipts from parts and other items purchased for the equipment in the binder. Also he would keep any repair receipts in the binder. Then in the notebook he would write down the date he performed maintenance and what he did on the equipment. But as he got older and had health issues, he was unable to do the work himself and relied on taken the equipment to a repair shop for most of the repairs. The smaller stuff like changing oil and oil filter he could still do most of the time. Come spring time I will have to get my lawn mower and the rototiller repaired.
something I learned yesterday was to always check your oil and grease level first to make sure you can add oil/grease back in the event you loose it before taking anything off or apart. about bending that part back...my husband uses a chain and our big tree all the time to bend auto dents etc. I've seen him fix some serious metal dents etc doing that.
@ Dan Mooney , I was thinking along those same lines. Al has a work bench now. He could just place the deck onto the work bench. Of course I think that way because I am 77. If I get down on my knees , I can't get back up onto my feet.
Under the gearbox on the left side is a grease fitting. Also in the kubota book it says use gear oil for oil in the gear box. There is two little plugs on the gearbox one above the other. Bottom is for draining and upper is when filling it lets you know when oil is at the proper level.
Wasn't going to say anything, but after reading some comments, here's my 2 cents. I would have cleaned the mower deck and made it look brand new, and then the Kubota. I love it when things look new, especially when they've been around for some time. But you did the maintenance and it's in good condition, so to each his own. Good job.
*Sigh*. I’m terrible at maintaining my equipment and watching and listening to you is making me think about changing my ways this year. I’ll keep you posted.
I noticed the griddle next to the grill. ALWAYS use my griddle for burgers snd steak and pork chops and stir fry and..... you get the idea. Griddle keeps all the juices in place instead of "smoking" up the place. Love my griddle. Love your blog, keep it up. Mike
If you use a wide mouth canning jar ring they make the perfect size burger and totally round to match your buns..and the cook evenly..and old trick I learned years ago...
I just remembered a customer about 40 years ago who came into our Western Auto Store complaining that the blade we sold was no good. It turned out he had installed it upside down cutting with the trailing edge.
I think "everything is frozen in the ground" could be a great English "hook" for a K-Pop song here in South Korea.... A man of many talents Al! Great vid on the Kubota
See if Tractor Supply will give you a free tractor to try out or go to Rural King like the Outdoors with the Morgans did with Rural King. On RK tractor is worth $34,000.00 and he got it for two years Free to try.
As we can see a lot of people telling you what to do, learn as you go and do the best you can, I think your doing great so far, people trying to help is great !
I would consider cleaning all the grass off the top of that deck fairly frequently. My 73 International mower deck is rusted from the previous owner not cleaning that off. The moisture creeps in and stays damp under that old grass. From the summit of Tater Nob in Parker County, TX, thanks for the fun. :-)1
Gina was not out there when he did the maintenance.. We all take care of our stuff differently. His stuff his way, I was thinking all the stuff others had wrote How is the sap flowing. Put out just 2 lines close to the house and wow within 24 hours we had a half gallon. Translates to maybe a tablespoon.
yes and no. My old uncle always greased his hay bailing machine but...it never got cleaned off except around the grease fittings. It's time management. Not required unless a person is OCD about these things. I was a jet fighter aircraft mech in the AF. We kept our machines spotless on a daily basis but they cost quite a bit more!
Al. you might be able to can use a big crescent wrench to straighten out that wheel fixture. I've done this with thicker sheet metal. You may even use a cheater bar on the end of the wrench. Place the jaws of the wrench on either side of the sheet metal near the bent deck. Tighten the jaws down. Now exert the pressure to try and bend the deck. You can picture what I'm talking about! Good luck!
What I was trying to say is that your gate on the boys goat pen is open enough for there heads to stick threw so you might want to adjust it so no coyotes could get in or the goats could squeeze there way out just saying talking into the microphone doesn’t always work correctly have a nice day
Al please consider getting a 4' bush hog. Been on a farm all my life and that Kubota is to nice and expensive to mess up. With the amount of pasture you have it will make your tractor and deck last many more years. Burgers looked great!
I watched you making sausage and mixing it by hand. I used to do it that way but now I use a L&M manual mixer that has a 20 pound capacity. I also us it to make jerky out o 91% lean ground beef.
Use an impact wrench to remove your blades , when blades are off you should check the balance of your blades ( drive a nail into 2x4 partway , put hole in blade over nail to see if it is balanced) .
Enjoy the channel. We are doing a lot of the same things on our acreage and I appreciate knowing we are not alone. Couple of comments on the clean-up work you are doing on the deck. I will echo some of the comments about cleaning off the grass and debris after mowing, but a pressure washer can actually lead to additional corrosion. I suggest an air line or even a leaf blower to clean it off and keep it dryer. I will say I am impressed with how well built that deck is. I watched the video of you mowing the rocks in your new pasture and I know it made me cringe. The fact those blades are original and came off looking as good as they did is impressive. If they were not tweaked, I would sharpen them and save them in case you bend one of the new ones. If they are truly bent and worn out, I save old blades and use them as the sacrificial rods for rust removal projects with electrolysis. Another little tip that is inexpensive and can help a mower deck last longer is "painting" the underside with old motor oil at seasons end. It protects where you no longer have paint and keeps things from getting too crusty. My 2 cents. Take care!
Preventative maintenance that's where it at Al . Maybe a list would help. Hope your feeling better. Your family is so beautiful keep up the great work.and Thanks for taking the rest of us on your journey. ♥️
Al, I always use a leaf blower to blow off the debris on my mower deck each time I am done using it. It only takes a couple of minutes.
I also sharpen the old blades when I put new sharpened ones on. It's good to have a sharp set available because you always notice your blades are dull in the middle of a job.
Figaro's always around to lend a helping paw, I think he enjoys the workshop as much as you do.
...I think Figaro's a natural Shop Cat...!
One thing Ive learned is that when I change the blades, I scrape and paint the bottom of the deck as well. The grass sticks to it and rusts the deck if it isn't kept painted and rust free. Takes all of a couple hours and saves thousands in replacement costs. Just a thought.
Funny, I am an old lady, retired now..and still, your tractor repair video had my attention..I had a Mahindra tractor, same size as yours, The dealership was great as far as maintenance or problems and allowed me to watch, rare..Blade sharpening, fluid changes. But I guess it is seeing what Figaro is up to, the crazy white chicken memory plates on New yoke city, The goats, egg gathering, Olivia's Sweet Shop or Gina's cooking, Your construction building madness , Pluto and Tanner's zoomies, just keeps me waiting for the next video..well, oh great, the Barbeque..Dang it Al!!! I am pulling out my smokey Joe grill now, those burgers drove me crazy!!! Thank you for sharing!
Al when you had the blades off you should’ve taken a wire brush and clean the underside the mowing deck real well and gave it a fresh shot of paint , preferably a glossy doesn’t matter what color just give it a good paint job this will help with discharging of the cut grass , also when you flip it to the upper side you should’ve pulled the belt off clean the upper deck and wire brush it also to get rid of the rust and debris and give it a good coat of paint to keep it from rusting out , it’s cheaper to maintain and keep in good condition then having to buy a new deck to replace the old one because it’s all rusted out .. that what they call keeping your equipment and good condition, if you do this at the end of the growing season and clean it up then repaint it before storing it away for the winner , you would not have to do it in the spring time
Goooooooooood Evening , Al , Gina & Olivia ,
Whenever I have the mower deck off , I like to spray the underside with two or three good coats of WD40. It helps to keep cut grass from sticking to the underside sheet metal. As you may know , WD40 is a water displacement spray. It helps to keep the moist cut grass from sticking. Less rust that way . I hope .
I’m so happy for y’all’s temps to get warmer....
💝
It is nice to see you take time with your daughter. The tractor may be gone one day. Her memories will last a lifetime. Do what you love and love what you do.
I love the games you play with Livy every day. Counting in Spanish, running a fast food joint; very educational play, and fun, too!
I just love the way Al you and your daughter interact with each other when you're buying a coffee or slushy or whatever that is so cute and precious. And you can grill all year we grill in the so cold winter of Minnesota .
Don’t be using your mower deck for brush cutting. It’s not meant for that and could cause some damage. You need to get yourself a rear pto power brush mower. That would do a lot better job than the mower deck. Great video keep up the good work on the homestead.
Justin VanNatta need a bush hog mower
You are so correct 100 % ! If Al attempts to mow pastures with heavy brush, He will tear up that Kubota Mowing Deck ! It's only for mowing yards and such , NOT pasture land or brush fields !!
@@BearStar1 People tried to tell him that when he was mowing really high brush and grass last year.
Get a flail.
You need to epoxy the floor in the work shop or get some Rubber Matt's to lay down to protect the concrete from stains . Tractor supply sells some I need to get a few for Garage and laundry room floor . Plus easier on your feet and knees .🤔
figaro is so sweet and he keeps his white socks so white!
I am glad to see Figaro supervising your blade change. Now we know its done right!
A friendly comment from me. That mower-deck is mucky and encourages all kinds of critters to sniff around and make even more mess on the moving parts; a quick power wash off when you finish using it will really make your equipment last a lot longer.
I wouldnt really say critters are the problem with that comment..I would more say that it would keep moisture under it and promote rotting with rust...learned that the hard way on my last mower.i dont power wash the new scag now just some quick blower action when I'm finished mowing.
I’m sure his outside water source has been shutoff for the winter. I’m from the same latitude about 45deg N and we have to drain and blowout all non-insulated outside water pipes. Maybe he’ll do it once it warms up!🌞
@@markrandall1456 Of course, but the person said he should power wash it. Unless someone lives this far north, one may not think about such mundane tasks.
I'm pretty sure there aren't to many Southerners that think about no outside water source for 3-5 months. Matter of fact, I'm sure many Southerners think us Yankees are crazy!😂 They're probably right!
I suspect that bar on the back side of the mower deck is to help level and prevent bounce of the deck as it moves over uneven terrain. Something like a vehicle front end suspension. Now that you have the new workshop the tool boxes need to be moved down there now. Or maybe some of them so you do not need to carry them back and forth. When servicing mower blades use a piece of wood to block the blade in place while you loosen or tighten the bolts. It is safer and easier. Also, all gear boxes I have ever seen are only filled about half way up the box.
The deal with goats is that they are browsers, not grazers. They don't eat off the ground if they can help it; that minimizes their parasite uptake. Goats are very susceptible to worms - the less they eat off the ground, the fewer worms they get.
You should put doors or another roll up door on that side Barn right beside your shop and a heater and lights in there and that's where the tractor and the Mule should be stored you have plenty of room down farther down for hay and all your other supplies.
Time to add some storage shelves and hooks in the Kobota stall. Get stuff off the ground out of the ice.
Forgot to grease the blade shafts
@@Tw-gi3kt AND WIRE BRUSH THE DECK BOTTOM.
Al old mower blades great for projects. If you've got a welder take an old Tpost cut to 18" 2 PC's weld an old blade weld to the Tposts pound into the ground and you got boot scrapers for mud . I've got one at each gate for my garden made from old mower blades
Amazing what a day or two of warmer weather does to your land. Looking forward to all the new babies coming soon. And the new projects. Those burgers looked yummy. Have a good weekend.
Very proud that you use them I pads and take good care of your knees James T North Carolina
OOOhhh! another potential set of projects.
* Consider making a place to do big equipment maintenance in the wintertime so that it is easy and comfortable. You are more likely to do it if it isn't a hassle. Consider making a place to easily work on the Kubota, the Mule and any other potential big equipment. You need one garage stall that is tall & wide enough to drive all of the vehicles up onto ramps or raise them with heavy duty jacks so working under them is not as cramped and uncomfortable. Make it easy on yourself!
* You need work tables around the vehicle bay to pre assemble or clean parts, and store all the tools and parts for each of those maintenance jobs at those stations. Store all the vehicle parts & tools there so you know what you have , what you need to do the job at hand. Include storage for big equipment parts like the mower deck. Get all that Kubota stuff out of the basement and get it in one and only one place up off the ground for all of it so it doesn't freeze there.
* Consider making a shelving unit to store all the big and heavy things you transport with the tractor so they are up off the ground and don't get stuck frozen to the ground. If it were on wheels, it would make your life so much easier. It would be so nice to just directly grab or shelf big stuff like that mower deck on a custom shelving unit you wheel over to easy access with your tractor forklift instead of prying it off the ground and walking it over to the forklift - let the storage system and the tractor do all that work. Save you back, man! Save your body from unnecessary strain! We aren't getting younger, but I hope we are getting smarter.
* Consider making a rolling worktable where you can offload the mower deck from the 'bota forklift - just start working on it without having the wrestle it too much. I saw a UA-cam channel where the videographer made a giant "rotisserie" to build a custom trailer. A smaller version would flip that mower deck. See Matthew Cremona's "@t" playlist on UA-cam. Love that channel. You might like it, too.
* Lumber storage would be super awesome, too. Since you work with wood so much, it's be nice to be able to get at it in the wintertime when you want indoor projects.
Have you read The Lean Farm? ISBN: 9781603585927 I cannot recommend it highly enough - it opened my eyes to making things easier on myself and those around me.
A sign of a good workman is the condition of his tools. That's the advice my father always gave me. If you look after your tools, your tools will look after you. That's the advice my grandfather gave my father. Al, I'm now passing that on to you. If you don't clean your mower, the dirt and grass will cause rust, which could result in a very nasty accident. Plus, equipment is very expensive to replace.
I think it's cool you send your goats bloodwork to WSU. I live 10 miles from there. It's an awesome vet school. They just did emergency surgery on a K9 officer shot in the eye.
If that grass gets caught up in the belt it can actually make the belt jump the pulley so it is a good idea to clean the grass and straw off the deck.
Why not spread out the feed for the chickens? Looks like some of them have to wait for others to move and hope there's something left.
@Iron *Fe* He already answered your question in his post.
I would LOVE to see a kiddie pool for the ducks this spring! You could put it out before rain storms to fill it up for Maverick and Goose.
This is the perfect time for farm vehicle maintenance for sure! Get everything ready for the season ahead. So, would we be looking for some Figaro workshop shirts soon? He is the new shop supervisor for sure! Boy those burgers look good. Blessings to all.
Gooooood evenin' Al! I like seeing you use those pink ratchet straps! You should put them on your Amazon store, several folks have inquired about them!
If you wanted to make it easier on pulling items out of the ice, the 12inch by 12inch pavers work well for putting under equipment. I use them with our implements in our Shelterlogic shed to keep them off the ground, and make for easier access in the winter and spring when going through items. We used to use scrap wood, but at some point it needs replacing when it rots away, hence why switching to the pavers.
Take a look at tractorbynet forum under Kubota. I'm pretty sure they have step by step process in replacing the axle seals. I am a member of this forum and they have mentioned Luminah Acres from time to time...just some of us fans.
On our lawn mower, my Aunt sprayed Pam before using it underneath the mower. After mowing, the grass easily came off the underneath. It makes a big difference, when something sounds crazy but it works, & saves the mower from rust.
Just a thought on the blades, I have 2 sets, 1 in use the 2nd sharp and ready to go. Happy weekend everyone .
Ken i do the same
I used to have 3 sets. One on the mower, one as a spare, and one in the shop to be sharpened on a rainy day.
Preventative maintenance should be a must. Goof job Al. Would have loved having burgers with you all. I didn't shovel my deck the last two storms and that's where my grill is.
Many blessings.
Should have used a high pressure cleaner on the mower deck before storing it 😕
Wayne From West Oz yeah grass can very acidic and will soon eat its way through a deck
@@bobb6342 Plus grass holds moisture which will hasten the damage.
I agree. But...I don’t do that myself I’m ashamed to say! I do scrape mine with a putty knife. Our grass is lush so it always gets a big build up. I feel guilty I don’t wash it clean and wax it at season’s end, but I just don’t have that kind of time. I do blow loose grass clippings off with a blower after each cutting (mainly because I don’t want the mess in the garage). It helps that we store our machines in a dry garage.
GREAT video,loved it guys!!
Removing blades, bind a piece of hardwood between blade and deck instead of trying to hold against it, it’s easier and safer😀
Hi Al, you could drill some 1" holes in the tractor shed timbers and drive some dowels in for pins to hang stuff from.
The center greese cert is for your deck too float. You can tighten springs so wont float as much. There dampener spring adjust return rate. Top bolts are help level your deck.
I miss the days my kids played store keeper. Thanks sharing! I had a happy walk down memory lane
One of the known issues with the spindles of some makers is they use sealed bearings yet have a grease port so the owner thinks they are greasing the bearing but are just packing a cavity with grease and putting more and more pressure on the bearings seal. The only way to check is to pop one of the spindles apart to see what type of bearing is in place as it could be as simple a fix as pulling the seal off that side of a bearing so the grease can get in and keeping the other seal in place to keep dust out.
Being able to pull your vehicles into the shop will make routine maintenance both easier, and a more attractive proposition! It can't be too fun trying to accomplish those tasks outside in the rain, or on wet ground!
Here is a tip for your mower blades, get yourself a blade balancer or you will be replacing bearings, shafts and eventually mower deck because out of balance blades will wallow out the deck mounting area... !!!
Having a spare belt for the mower is always a good idea. Especially after not being used in winter, belts can become brittle and break in the first hours of use in the new season.
Raspberry slush sounds yummy flavor 😋 with 52* & Figaro enjoying shop time Gina making homemade Goodness gourmet Potatoes 🥔 Burgers 🍔 Livi working after school gathering her chicken eggs 🥚 & then working in her Concession stand ❤️❤️
Good morning Al, another great video you posted. I think you would enjoy getting a brush cutter for maintaining you pasture.
I Love Figaro. We miss our cat that died after 23 years, she also was Black and White.
Food looked delishious, its snowing here in Michigan again but what we had all melted yesterday, so nothing is sticking. I think I'll go make a burger for lunch! Thanks for the video, love watching all the farm animals and seeing how to care for them. I would love to get some chickens for eggs.
Ahh spring time. Garden spring flowers baby goats. Can't wait to see all that. Thanks for sharing.
Glad to hear you say your going to do better maintenance.... Maintenance is alot easier then repairs... Battery grease gun makes greasing alot easier and faster so your more likely to take the time to do it... A preasure washer or hotsy would be great also. Amazing what you see once something is clean.. like your mower deck! This winter I've greased my tractor twice if that and Akaska is rough on equipment anyway and this year I've plowed alot of snow and skidded out alot of logs.... So I'm guilty also... Summer I grease it daily but 30 below really kills my motivation...
Love how you imaginary play with Olivia. It’s lovely to see her do it and for you to encourage it too. I think a surprise sundae on the day new chicks move In will be fun to see. 👍🏻
Umm..I would like to order a blueberry smoothie or a hot fudge sundae. Please and thank you ma'am! 😀🍨
Greetings. These Kubota BX's are stout little machines and they'll last to the next generations when properly serviced, good to see you taken'n care of the business, LOL.
On the MMM (mid mount mower) the lever assembly you were wondering about, it's purpose is to allow the MMM to move up/down when the anti scalp wheels encounter an obstacle and recenter to level once it "rolls over" the obstacle without transferring the pressure to the lift arms and bending or breaking them.. Look at it like a flex joint. The grease zerk lube's the pivot pin. My MMM is a 2004 model and it's still running the original belt and spindle assembly's. I finish mow approx 4 acres that I trained many moons ago with a bush hog so it's easy on the finish mower. I hear you on the shipping charges, they can get outrageous depending upon size and weight. I ordered a small part for my Mrs car the other day and the S&H cost more than the part...
Enjoy your video's, GODspeed to you and yours.
Dave
There is a check and drain plug on the side of the mower deck gearbox. The bottom one is drain, fill oil till it comes out the top hole. You may want to change that oil if it's original, I'd use 80-90 gear oil
Yes looked like too much oil in gear box.
Hi Al. I know that you are probably not going to go back and clean it, but leaving grass stuck onto the underside of the deck will hold moisture, and will cause the deck paint to peel and it WILL rust. Power wash it (if possible) dry it off then spray a thin coat of WD-40 or perhaps some organic oil that you have (Non-stick cooking spray). This will increase the life of the deck, and will help the grass to exit the deck better. Rust killed the deck of my last mower and this was a great tip that I found.
Todays video was not the most interesting but I just need to watch.
The interaction between you and Livy I just love too precious the memories you two make are awesome.
Best way I've figured out how to remember maintenance is using my calendar on my phone. I have lots of equipment to do stuff on, 2 john deere garden tractors, 2 simplicity garden tractors , my kubota front end loader, pick up truck, dump truck, 5 trailers, push mowers, tree chipper, multiple small tool equipment, once I do maintenance on the machine I set a reminder only phone usually for a month afterward to remind myself with notes on what to do such as grease, oil change. Air filter clean/change, or anything I think might be of importance when that month timeframes comes due cuz I usually forget within that time frame between services. It saves me lots of headaches in the end, also I document what I have actually done in my calendar so I can look back as to when & what I actually did as i sometimes get overwhelmed on this stuff (i always have something being repaired in my shop).
I would hang a big wall calendar that they give away at tool suppliers with squares...at a glance you know what you did and can write in when you need to do it again..and helps with planning..I used to have a lawn service and was a great quick reference guide..if not get a desk top calendar and hang the sheets up...they are cheap but def helpful
One thing my late father did was keep a 3 ring binder and a notebook for each of the pieces of equipment we had. He would keep the manuals, the original receipt, and any other receipts from parts and other items purchased for the equipment in the binder. Also he would keep any repair receipts in the binder. Then in the notebook he would write down the date he performed maintenance and what he did on the equipment. But as he got older and had health issues, he was unable to do the work himself and relied on taken the equipment to a repair shop for most of the repairs. The smaller stuff like changing oil and oil filter he could still do most of the time.
Come spring time I will have to get my lawn mower and the rototiller repaired.
Greetings, Lee here, to bad you could not put some 4X4's down to put things on to keep them from freezing in the ice. Later
Another great video! Have you guys considered having a local farmer come out with a rock rake to clean up your pasture? Love the videos
something I learned yesterday was to always check your oil and grease level first to make sure you can add oil/grease back in the event you loose it before taking anything off or apart. about bending that part back...my husband uses a chain and our big tree all the time to bend auto dents etc. I've seen him fix some serious metal dents etc doing that.
Leave the mower deck on the forks of the tractor, raised up to waist height, more comfortable than working on your knees!
@ Dan Mooney ,
I was thinking along those same lines. Al has a work bench now. He could just place the deck onto the work bench.
Of course I think that way because I am 77. If I get down on my knees , I can't get back up onto my feet.
@@donaldmiller8629 me neither Dan!
I would so have rehabbed that mower attachment while it was in the shop. Wire brush and maybe some paint. Or spray it with PAM
Under the gearbox on the left side is a grease fitting. Also in the kubota book it says use gear oil for oil in the gear box. There is two little plugs on the gearbox one above the other. Bottom is for draining and upper is when filling it lets you know when oil is at the proper level.
The old blades, look not bad. I would keep them for spares. If you hit a rock, they will get bent up.....
I love your shop cat!
So excited to find out who is prego💞 Figaro sure is no scardie cat he climbs high 💞
Wasn't going to say anything, but after reading some comments, here's my 2 cents.
I would have cleaned the mower deck and made it look brand new, and then the Kubota. I love it when things look new, especially when they've been around for some time.
But you did the maintenance and it's in good condition, so to each his own. Good job.
Love you all🙏🏼💖💙
*Sigh*. I’m terrible at maintaining my equipment and watching and listening to you is making me think about changing my ways this year. I’ll keep you posted.
I noticed the griddle next to the grill. ALWAYS use my griddle for burgers snd steak and pork chops and stir fry and..... you get the idea. Griddle keeps all the juices in place instead of "smoking" up the place. Love my griddle.
Love your blog, keep it up.
Mike
If you use a wide mouth canning jar ring they make the perfect size burger and totally round to match your buns..and the cook evenly..and old trick I learned years ago...
I just remembered a customer about 40 years ago who came into our Western Auto Store complaining that the blade we sold was no good. It turned out he had installed it upside down cutting with the trailing edge.
Oh boy the girls tummies are looking big, I can't wait till the babies come.
I had same motor in Ford tractor & never had any trouble with it .
I think "everything is frozen in the ground" could be a great English "hook" for a K-Pop song here in South Korea.... A man of many talents Al! Great vid on the Kubota
Hey since you are doing maintenance, use a kartcher and give everything a nice wash! It takes 5 more minutes and makes a huge difference!!
Should use 90 gear oil in the mower gear box. Same thing you will need for the front axle when you replace the seals.
See if Tractor Supply will give you a free tractor to try out or go to Rural King like the Outdoors with the Morgans did with Rural King. On RK tractor is worth $34,000.00 and he got it for two years Free to try.
As we can see a lot of people telling you what to do, learn as you go and do the best you can, I think your doing great so far, people trying to help is great !
I would consider cleaning all the grass off the top of that deck fairly frequently. My 73 International mower deck is rusted from the previous owner not cleaning that off. The moisture creeps in and stays damp under that old grass.
From the summit of Tater Nob in Parker County, TX, thanks for the fun. :-)1
I just love your family 😁 ❤️
were going to get in the 50 s this weekend here in Wisconsin cant wait love ur videos
Gina was not out there when he did the maintenance.. We all take care of our stuff differently. His stuff his way, I was thinking all the stuff others had wrote How is the sap flowing. Put out just 2 lines close to the house and wow within 24 hours we had a half gallon. Translates to maybe a tablespoon.
Agreed..every1 is different...doesnt mean 1 is wrong or right
Does it drive anyone else crazy that he's working on that deck without first cleaning off all the grass and debris?
Yes, me.
Yes, but it sounds like he realizes he needs to be more proactive on his maintenance. Al, we will watch you clean your mower too! Lol.
yes and no. My old uncle always greased his hay bailing machine but...it never got cleaned off except around the grease fittings. It's time management. Not required unless a person is OCD about these things. I was a jet fighter aircraft mech in the AF. We kept our machines spotless on a daily basis but they cost quite a bit more!
Al. you might be able to can use a big crescent wrench to straighten out that wheel fixture. I've done this with thicker sheet metal. You may even use a cheater bar on the end of the wrench. Place the jaws of the wrench on either side of the sheet metal near the bent deck. Tighten the jaws down. Now exert the pressure to try and bend the deck. You can picture what I'm talking about! Good luck!
never mind, I don't think my trick will work after watching more of the video.
What I was trying to say is that your gate on the boys goat pen is open enough for there heads to stick threw so you might want to adjust it so no coyotes could get in or the goats could squeeze there way out just saying talking into the microphone doesn’t always work correctly have a nice day
The concave washer on your mower deck is called a belleville washer, it's a type of lock washer
Al please consider getting a 4' bush hog. Been on a farm all my life and that Kubota is to nice and expensive to mess up. With the amount of pasture you have it will make your tractor and deck last many more years. Burgers looked great!
The grease fitting for the bushing keep it from wearing out the metal. I believe because the bouncing up and down then back in forth
I don't know why but I really enjoy watching your vlogs
👍✌️excellent work in whole.keep on my best regards
Thanks Al......A good cup of coffee or two and Lumnah Acres is always is a great way to start the day. It brings many of us back to our grass roots.
Once Livvie's sweet treat shop gets a few more customers, she should do a flavor of the day! Both for ice cream and coffee treats!
Thank you 🙏. You guys have been such an inspiration to me and wanted to let you know 😃
Maintenance on your equipment is key
I watched you making sausage and mixing it by hand. I used to do it that way but now I use a L&M manual mixer that has a 20 pound capacity. I also us it to make jerky out o 91% lean ground beef.
Use an impact wrench to remove your blades , when blades are off you should check the balance of your blades ( drive a nail into 2x4 partway , put hole in blade over nail to see if it is balanced) .
Enjoy the channel. We are doing a lot of the same things on our acreage and I appreciate knowing we are not alone. Couple of comments on the clean-up work you are doing on the deck. I will echo some of the comments about cleaning off the grass and debris after mowing, but a pressure washer can actually lead to additional corrosion. I suggest an air line or even a leaf blower to clean it off and keep it dryer. I will say I am impressed with how well built that deck is. I watched the video of you mowing the rocks in your new pasture and I know it made me cringe. The fact those blades are original and came off looking as good as they did is impressive. If they were not tweaked, I would sharpen them and save them in case you bend one of the new ones. If they are truly bent and worn out, I save old blades and use them as the sacrificial rods for rust removal projects with electrolysis. Another little tip that is inexpensive and can help a mower deck last longer is "painting" the underside with old motor oil at seasons end. It protects where you no longer have paint and keeps things from getting too crusty. My 2 cents. Take care!
Preventative maintenance that's where it at Al . Maybe a list would help.
Hope your feeling better.
Your family is so beautiful keep up the great work.and Thanks for taking the rest of us on your journey. ♥️
Good goal !