Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Website update

I finally added some photos to my website that I took some time ago.  I didn't take all of them, but you can tell which ones someone else took because I'm in them.  http://tractortech.com/pictures/photos.html  I had a day off today and felt like doing something different.  You can't spend everyday in the shop.

I dusted off my guitar and hope to finally improve my playing.  I always say I'm not a guitar player, I play with a guitar.  Maybe I will finally change that.  I have had a guitar for more than ten years and still get frustrated and walk away for months at a time. If I get better at it I will make a video and upload it to youtube. http://www.youtube.com/user/casemech?feature=mhee

Okay, go look at my pictures and youtube channel.

Monday, August 15, 2011

New WM V sweeper

Do you ever wonder where those tasty almonds in your candy bar come from.  I know, I was in the field when they were harvested.

First a machine grabs the trunk of the tree and shakes it causing all the almonds to fall to the ground.

Next a machine that sweeps them into a pile that can be picked up and loaded into a truck comes in.  That is my part.  I work for a dealer who sells and services sweepers.  It is a dirty dusty job, but some one's got to do it.  And I get to eat almonds all day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vB8rsDn0MM

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

split melon

This morning I managed to split my head open while crawling under a tractor to check the wiring.  I didn't think it was much more than a bump on the head until driving away from the job site I felt blood running down my head.  I drove home and got doctored up and I went back to work.

Turned out to be a productive day after that.  I tore down a Massey Ferguson 1030 that had an engine miss fire.  Compression on number one cylinder was zero!  I thought my gauge was broken until I removed the cylinder head to find a broken connecting rod on number one piston.  The little three cylinder engine actually ran on two cylinders to get it into the shop. When I drained the oil from the crankcase, I could feel the rod cap laying in the pan with my finger.  I don't know how it didn't get caught by the rotating engine when driving it in.

There is coolant in the oil, and the crankshaft doesn't look too good. 

I don't know yet if I will be able to fix this tractor because of parts availability.  The last one I worked on I had to make some of my own parts and this one is in much worse shape.  Cross my fingers because this would be a good paying job.

Monday, July 11, 2011

monday, monday

Today I worked on the wiring on an old almond sweeper. It went pretty well, but what could go wrong?  Simple boring job really.  I would rather work on something more challenging, but this kind of job pays the bills.