Tractor Challenged

I always tell people that I am not short, I’m vertically challenged. However, I make up for that by being horizontally enhanced. But as it turns out, I’m also tractor challenged.

Yesterday I went to Tuscaloosa Tractor and picked up the new lower adjuster arm for my Kubota’s three-point hitch. Before I left the house, I also took off the center adjuster arm for the hitch because it was so stiff that I couldn’t get it to adjust. A couple of the mechanics there were kind enough to put it in a vise and spend some time lubricating it and running the adjusters in and out to get it freed up again.

As it turns out, there are two rubber plugs on the arm that are supposed to be pulled occasionally and get a squirt of lubricant. Apparently there’s nowhere in the owner’s manual that tells you to do that. One of the mechanics said it’s one of those things that the manufacturer must assume everybody already knows, but no one is aware of.

Back at home, it only took me half an hour or so to get both adjuster arms reattached and everything was working properly. Since I have no mechanical ability at all I was rather proud of myself. But that didn’t last long. It never does.

It was a nice afternoon and I decided to do some mowing toward the back part of the property. I haven’t cleared that area in quite a while and it definitely needed it. Everything was going along just fine, and after a couple of hours I was about ready to call it quits for the day when I apparently ran over something, I still don’t know what. But whatever it was, it punctured my right rear tire. I could hear the air rushing out in a woosh even over the sound of the diesel engine and the tractor settled down on that side.

It was only a short distance to the barn so I was able to limp back there, where I inspected the tire but could not see what the problem was. Today I need to go someplace and get a jack capable of lifting the rear of the tractor, raise it up and get the tire off, and take it to some place to see if it can be repaired or if I’m going to have to replace it. Another possibility might be to put a tube in it. But I won’t know any of that until I get the tire off and have somebody take a look at it. It’s always something, isn’t it?

Before I go, someone asked me how big the shooting backstop our son Travis and I built is and if I am sure it will stop a bullet. Here he is sitting on top of it. I have no doubt it will stop anything I ever plan to shoot.

Be sure to enter our latest Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an audiobook of my friend Suzie O’Connell’s Starlight Magic, from her popular Northstar romance series. Can the magic of the stars heal a tormented soul? Single father Brodie Dunn aims to find out by putting his heart on the line. Recently widowed artist Celeste Dawson desperately needs a tranquil place where she can rebuild herself. Two months after her husband’s violent death her career is in jeopardy and she can’t engage in the art that was once her escape from the world. She hopes a trip to Northstar will help her find peace. There’s no place better for healing, especially after she meets her charming new neighbor, ski hill owner Brodie. He suspects Celeste is going to be trouble right from the start, but he can’t ignore the pain in her eyes. On the saddest night of his life, he made a promise under the stars to laugh instead of cry and to help any wounded heart he comes across. He’s sure that philosophy and maybe a little starlight magic will do wonders for Celeste…if his apparent inability to take anything seriously doesn’t drive her mad first. A tale of forgiveness and hope, Starlight Magic will grab you by the heart.

To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening. Note: Due to the high shipping cost of printed books and Amazon restrictions on e-books and audiobooks to foreign countries, only entries with US addresses and e-mail addresses are allowed. After 90 days, unclaimed prizes revert back to the drawing pool for a future contest.

And finally, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.

Thought For The Day – Never look down on anyone unless you are admiring their shoes.