Fencing upgrades
With Donna's new greenhouse not protected from our cattle, we have decided to enlarge the backyard (Temporary) fencing to include it. Another fencing project is to protect the area in our old garden where we have been storing round bales used for feeding the cattle in the wintertime. Last year two of the youngest calves learned how to squeeze through the sloppy barbed wires and get into the hay area. As they grew, they used the same learned technique to get through other areas of fencing, including the front fence along side of the road.
Last Sunday, with Benjamin's help, we attempted to mount the Danuser post hole digger to the back of the Kubota. We could not get the Post hole drive shaft connected to the PTO on the tractor because the shaft would not extend. Monday, I spent most of the day trying various heavy handed schemes to get the shaft to move, and finally in late afternoon, with Donna's assistance (and advice) we got the thing mounted to the tractor. By then, both of us were too "pooped to pop", and we waited eagerly for the evening news followed by "American Idol" on network T.V., then bed.
Today (4/16/2019) we drove into Lockhart to the farm supply store and got 20 steel T-posts, 10 wooden posts, and two bags of Portland cement.
Now, we need to figure out exactly where to dig those holes...
Wednesday (April 17) I started off by adding a quart of Hypoid gear oil to the post hole digger. (May need to add more, after I buy another bottle of it.) Moved the rig out to the first hole location and let it rotate, digging up two buckets of rocks, which I saved to put back into the bottom of the hole after the post is in place. Later, we will top off all three holes with a foot or so of concrete, mixed all at the same time.
As of April 21 (Easter Sunday) the wooden posts and the T-posts are in the ground for the fence around the house back yard/garden/chicken pen/greenhouse area. The roll of fencing is unrolled and standing temporarily alongside the posts, waiting for the concrete to be placed in the holes around the posts. After mixing two loads of concrete in the Harbor Freight Mixer, the mixer decided not to turn the tub. The 2nd load was finished by helping the tub turn (by hand), and shoveling out the concrete. The two posts by the existing back yard gate are set in concrete, as is the post at the end of the fence near the chicken pen. There are probably a dozen bolts and nuts to remove from the motor protective cover of the mixer so I can tighten the belt on the motor that drives the shaft that turns the tub. If that gets the mixer working, I can pour the remaining posts in the fence around the back yard.
Some photos:
You may be wondering why we are messing with this hand-powered-shoulder-busting-post-hole-digger? Well, the tractor dug the holes too close together, not leaving enough room for a fence latch mechanism, so the existing hole needed to be elongated. Lesson: If you are going to elongate a hole (move a hole) do it when the dirt is fresh. Wait a few days, and the clay gets really hard. REALLY friggin hard!
Last Sunday, with Benjamin's help, we attempted to mount the Danuser post hole digger to the back of the Kubota. We could not get the Post hole drive shaft connected to the PTO on the tractor because the shaft would not extend. Monday, I spent most of the day trying various heavy handed schemes to get the shaft to move, and finally in late afternoon, with Donna's assistance (and advice) we got the thing mounted to the tractor. By then, both of us were too "pooped to pop", and we waited eagerly for the evening news followed by "American Idol" on network T.V., then bed.
Today (4/16/2019) we drove into Lockhart to the farm supply store and got 20 steel T-posts, 10 wooden posts, and two bags of Portland cement.
Wednesday (April 17) I started off by adding a quart of Hypoid gear oil to the post hole digger. (May need to add more, after I buy another bottle of it.) Moved the rig out to the first hole location and let it rotate, digging up two buckets of rocks, which I saved to put back into the bottom of the hole after the post is in place. Later, we will top off all three holes with a foot or so of concrete, mixed all at the same time.
As of April 21 (Easter Sunday) the wooden posts and the T-posts are in the ground for the fence around the house back yard/garden/chicken pen/greenhouse area. The roll of fencing is unrolled and standing temporarily alongside the posts, waiting for the concrete to be placed in the holes around the posts. After mixing two loads of concrete in the Harbor Freight Mixer, the mixer decided not to turn the tub. The 2nd load was finished by helping the tub turn (by hand), and shoveling out the concrete. The two posts by the existing back yard gate are set in concrete, as is the post at the end of the fence near the chicken pen. There are probably a dozen bolts and nuts to remove from the motor protective cover of the mixer so I can tighten the belt on the motor that drives the shaft that turns the tub. If that gets the mixer working, I can pour the remaining posts in the fence around the back yard.
Some photos:
I have surplus both wood and steel Tee posts.
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