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Post by tjcarothers on Mar 25, 2008 9:17:37 GMT -5
Until my latest job I was mostly in the medical field (measuring pressure in the bladder, urine flow rates and quality of erections). Tom, With my spinal cord injury, I have had all of those tests! So now I know who to blame for the cruel and unusual punishment that I went through!!!!! Nothing quite like having your bladder filled with water until you can't take it anymore, and then having to pee it out through a tube smaller than you can imagine, only to have it done AGAIN! Do you have to take a special class to think up such torture devices? ;D TJ.
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Post by biggerten on Mar 25, 2008 9:41:26 GMT -5
TJ: Glad I could help!
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Post by jimmyt on Apr 27, 2008 17:32:28 GMT -5
'Nother newbie, here. I kept seeing links at CTOA to pics and threads here but couldn't access them, so I HAD to join up, right?
Grew up south of San Francisco on the coast, left under trying circumstances at age 15, eventually landing in Mammoth Lakes CA, in the eastern Sierra. While waiting 25 years to get my flat tire fixed, I made it my home. When the snow got to be too much for my aging body I headed downhill about 4,000 ft to Bishop, where I continued to work for the D.O.T. as an equipment operator. A promotional opportunity arose, wherein I would have to move to the edge of Death Valley, which rightly scared the pants off of me, but I did it anyway, but kept my home in the mountains, too, "just in case". Finances eventually got the better of me, so I sold that to finance the "spread" I have now, 1.25 acre outside of Pahrump NV--I bought it due to it's proximity to my job over the border in CA. Then I managed to wreck my back similar to TJ's injury, and they put me out to pasture. I've since embraced my forced retirement--it's not too profitable, but I really enjoy not having to get up at 4:30 every morning! This spring I was doing some manual weeding which laid me up for awhile. I used that time to research tractors and dealers. Surprisingly, none within a few hundred miles, so I went with the first one to respond to my email inquiry, Keno Tractors in OR. Originally was going to have them deliver it, but I figured I could do it myself way cheaper since I've got the truck and trailer already, and what the hell--I've got plenty of time now, don't I? Jason from Keno called when my 284 was ready. I left home at 2:00PM that Monday and was home by 8:30PM the next day--1,400 miles round trip. Got around 12 hours on her so far, and almost everything I needed to do is done. Guess I need to buy more implements to extend my seat and stick time...
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3RRL
Administrator
Huge Kama
Posts: 2,027
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Post by 3RRL on Apr 27, 2008 21:39:07 GMT -5
Hi Jimmy and welcome. Hope you find this site full of valuable information and enjoyable reading. I can remember when there was "nothing" within a hundred miles of Pahrump except Vegas, let alone a Chinese tractor dealer...hahaha. When I was a kid that was a favorite place for us guys to go. Vegas, then Pahrump ;D on the way home through Death Valley. There used to be a championship golf course up there too. Is it still there? I was just down the road a few weeks ago and stayed at the Silverton near the 15fwy.
Anyway, good to have you here and thanks for introducing yourself. Now you can get to starting your threads telling us about your tractor adventures. Rob-
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Post by jimmyt on Apr 27, 2008 23:01:40 GMT -5
Thanks, Rob. Pahrump is only famous for 2 things, so I'll assume you came through for the fireworks, since your wife also uses this forum. There are 3 golf courses open here, one closed at present. I don't follow the news on 'em since I don't golf myself. Or were you refering to the one at Furnace Creek? I spent 6 weeks there one summer building a new sewer system at the resort, worst job I ever had--hand-cleaning a trench in 128 degrees isn't too high on my list. The hoe, excavator and dump truck weren't air-conditioned but the loader we leased was, so the bossman spent most of his time in it, leaving me to fend for myself. Glad I was only there 6 weeks... Jim
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Post by studor on May 6, 2008 12:13:44 GMT -5
Hi All I've been meaning to introduce myself for some time but got rudely interrupted by a lady running a stop sign about a month ago. Just figured out how to post pictures ( I think) so hopefully you can see the results. We impacted the lady at about 70 kms and she was doing the same. The truck flipped onto the passenger side from the impact and turned us around facing the other way in the intersection when another car hit us in the back. Of the five humans involved, 1 dead (Lady in car), two very badly bruised (my wife and the ten year old passenger of the third car) two walking but bruised and banged ( myself and the driver of the third car). Unfortunately my four legged passsenger and constant companion (Coopers -- a nine year old 100 lb yellow lab) did not survive. I am really missing that dog! For those of you who have a great affinity to older vehicles (as I do) I can only say that my wife and I are still here due to modern technology. Starting with the paramedics and ending with the adjusters the first response is always "you walked away?" But enough of that story I am a fifty four year old semi-retired businessman who after being bought out by a large company a few years ago saw the error of my ways in working for a company that does not care about its shareholders! About five years ago I bought 143 acres of swamp, bush and an 1862 log cabin about 30 miles from the town I was born in. A river runs through it! We fixed up the cabin, changed the status to managed forest for tax purposes, and now spend as much time as possible there. Somewhere in that time I bought a Massey 135 and developed ass over the loader frame disease! Last fall I fortuitously decided to buy a Jinma 284 and was originally going to buy a crate from China Best when I discovered a local dealer (B&B Small Engines) who would sell me one for not much more than it would have cost me to go and get the crate and assemble it! As luck would have it we had a terrible winter and I racked up close to 100 hrs just blowing snow. I had been on some other forums when 3RRL suggested I might like this one -- good guess! Hope I can contribute as we go and as a fellow Canadian says "keep your stick on the ice" regards Steve
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3RRL
Administrator
Huge Kama
Posts: 2,027
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Post by 3RRL on May 6, 2008 13:30:24 GMT -5
Steve, thanks for your introduction and also for that sad story about your (Land Cruiser?) I presume. Lucky you got out of that one alive! Rob-
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Post by studor on May 6, 2008 14:06:15 GMT -5
Thanks Rob -- It was a Toyota FJ Cruiser -- I just took delivery of a new one yesterday!. Read about your Blazer and really glad about the walk aways there (you may feel guilty about a broken arm but don't -- I've spent a lot of time wondering if I could have done anything different -- you can't). I never used to pay attention when the salesman talked about safety features so I was kind of ignorant about all the ones built into the newer vehicles. Air bags hurt but at keast you can still feel the pain!!! Betcha if you look at that new truck of yours it will hold up a lot better in a crash than the Blazer (course it probably still doesnt have fire suppression!) Hope you never have the opportunity to find out.
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Post by oleblu72 on May 7, 2008 3:31:58 GMT -5
Well I guess I can start off by saying i'am from the fine state of Ohio and living in the thriving little metropolis called Fowler, thats about 30 miles north of Youngstown, that would be the city that use to have all those steel mills. My job for the last 30 yrs has been driving truck, about 1984 I got this brainstorm,although lately I think it was an attack of the stupids and decided I wanted to be an owner-operator and its been a trip ever since. I figured someone has to keep this states money woes to a minimum. So I donated about $2000.00 in 06 paying overload fines,they didn't like the idea that I was over about 19.000lbs on the last load. I've been scanning the Chinese and Korean tractor forums lately trying to make up my mind on what to buy. Last year I bought a 78 Ford 1600 off of Ebay to till with and it does a pretty good job. But when I went to the local Ford dealer I found out the painfull news those old Japanese tractors are hard to find parts for and expensive too. So now I think I would like to have a 30 to 35 hp 4WD of some brand. Seems that my little Ford might be alittle low on compression but the outfit I bought it from thought the fuel pump timing might be off alittle. As far as hobbies go I like collecting British motorcycles and I have a few old cars. And those would consist of a 73 Z28 RS, 68 Camaro with a 427, 68 Javelin that has a 455 Buick motor with nitros, and last but not least a 55 Chevy Belair HT and the only go power it has right now is a set of pedals. I have it all figured out, my brother runs a late model stock car and it has a stroked small block 434 c.i. , when he turns his back all he's gonna have is pedal power. ;D Well thats about it i'am just a plain ole simple boring person but don't fret none because i've got a bunch of simple bordering on stupid questions coming so fill your boots men, i'll be back. And before I get outta here I want to say this is one fine forum you have here. I'am impressed with the members and the ability to make these tractors far better than what they were when the crossed the pond. If there wasn't a forum like this owning a Chinese tractor would be difficult. I still havn't found anyone around my area selling Chinese tractors of any kind. Again thanks for this fine forum and to all thats involved. Mark
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3RRL
Administrator
Huge Kama
Posts: 2,027
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Post by 3RRL on May 12, 2008 21:04:09 GMT -5
Hi there Mark. Great to have you here. If you haven't made up your mind on which brand tractor yet, why not start a thread asking some questions about the different brands. Sometimes it's hard to get an apples for apples comparison between them, but the members here can tell you the straight skinny about them. I have a 55hp Kama that was about the best (IMHO) available when I bought in 2005. But now all the brands have improvements. From what I've read and heard, I really like the DF brand now. Although the 28hp Jinma my wife just got is very nice. So ask away... Rob-
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Post by oleblu72 on May 14, 2008 1:54:05 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome Rob its looks like you have a butt kicker of a forum here most definitely an asset to the owners of Chinese tractors
Theres alot to learn about all the different brands good & bad. I've been reading about all you & your wifes adventures with the Kama & her Jima and it looks like you have the capabilities of turning your 554 & your wifes Jima into top-notch tractors.
So far i've narrowed the playing field down to DF & Agtrac but i'am still looking. I wont be able to buy one till next yr. when I lose one of my big monthly bank payments. Biggest problem is I haven't worked since Dec. 07 slipped on the ice & tore my rotator cuff and the DOT wont let me drive my truck with one arm. I go in next week for surgery for the second time ,maybe they can get it fixed this time. Its going to be done at the Cleveland Clinic so things will probably be ok , i'am into my insurance c. for $20K so far.
So thanks for starting this great forum Rob its what owners of these tractors needed.
Mark
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3RRL
Administrator
Huge Kama
Posts: 2,027
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Post by 3RRL on May 14, 2008 11:13:41 GMT -5
So thanks for starting this great forum Rob its what owners of these tractors needed. Thanks for that Mark, but all the credit goes to Scott (fyhiflylo). He is the one who set this whole thing up and did all the links and beautiful graphics. Larry and I were asked to be Administrators since we have some experience with these tractors, and all three of us got kicked off another board for some stupid reason. But Scott is the Main Man responsible for this board and should get all the credit.
Bummer about your shoulder. I went through a bunch of surgeries, shoulder being one of them when I got run over on my Electraglide in 2000. So I know how you feel. The DF and Agtrac I believe are the same tractor. Chip at Artrac has branded his version of the DF as Agtrac. They are very good from what I can tell. In the DF section, there is a good comparison, listing many upgrades and features they have. I think they might be a little higher priced than the others, but probably worth it. Having said that, my wife's 284 Jinma is very nice and has a lot of new features that makes it a lot better than (perhaps) the older models. As far as Kama, they are very rugged machines with a little more weight and shuttle shift features etc. As you know, that was my choice at the time. Anyway, keep reading and you will find most of this information in the appropriate sections on the board for more details. I hope your surgery goes well. Good luck with that. Rob-
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quikduk
CTW Life Member
Dog House
Posts: 552
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Post by quikduk on May 14, 2008 16:08:12 GMT -5
I did kind of the same thing. I bought our 354 from Eric and Amy in August 2006 and couldn't be happier with the purchase, their prep. work and after sales support. They are really a great bunch. Hahaha...I did the same thing. We made a family vacation out of it. When we came back over Tehachapi, we temp. lost 1st gear so it was a wild ride till we got home. Up each of the 7 grades at around 18 mph, down at about 80+ mph. We had about 8700# combined trailer/tractor/implement weight and made the trip with it behind our '95 F150. I have about 150 hrs. on my 354. I suppose I would have had about 250 had I not started to copy this whole grapple phenomena... ;D
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Post by jimmyt on May 14, 2008 16:57:05 GMT -5
At first I tried to buy one through eBay, in Arizona. Missed by a couple thousand. Contacted that seller, and they wouldn't have any more in until June or July. Then Eric called me, had one in stock, and I went for it. After I already sent the check, a guy in Acton called me too, which would've saved me a few hundred miles, but cost a few hundred more $$$. I'm happy with the sale and service, too, plus it got me somewhere I hadn't been before. Where are you located, Ken? I can't count the times I've been up over Tehachapi Pass, both for recreation and work... Edit: I found you on the map--south of Phelan? I worked one summer at the Cajon Maintenance Station for CalTrans, pretty close to ya!
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vt365
CTW Member
Posts: 13
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Post by vt365 on May 23, 2008 12:28:13 GMT -5
my turn here I guess.
I live in Cheyenne, Wyoming on 60 acres of prime SE Wyoming dirt. I was born in Wheatland WY, which is 70 miles north of my current house. My wife and I have a beautiful baby girl that is 6 months old now and if I do say so myself the cutest baby ever.
I purchased an Agking 4540 Tractor from Triple D in Texas in January after having our mile long driveway drift in with snow over Christmas and New years. Christmas wasn't bad as I could get the Ford powerjoke out during those storms but over new years the drifts were about 4-5 foot deep and the truck just wouldn't climb out of the house. After tearing up the front end of the truck up (four chains and to much go pedal) and having my buddy bring his L series 39 horser out and digging for 8 hours to clear enough of the drive to get out, the wife told me to find a tractor. I tried the local orange dealer and green dealer but just couldn't bring my self to spend that much money.
So back to the internet for some serious tractor shoppin. Found that the best deal on the horse power tractor i wanted was in Texas. HOLY CRAP thats a far drive. So my buddy and I headed out on Friday at 7:00 pm (got a late start as I was putting the front end back together on my truck, (see above for chains and go pedal reference) and headed for Dodd City Texas. Got to Dodd City at noon on Saturday picked up the new tractor fitted with the Koyker 195 and new trailer and headed back to Wyoming, another 900 miles to go. Got back to good ole WYO on Sunday at 4 in the afternoon and slept for 12 hours straight. Whew
So now I have my tractor & ready for some snow ..........wouldn't ya know it we didn't get another storm for 3 months. Oh well at least I am ready for next year.
we have approximately 5 acres of stuff needing mowed and a mile of driveway to maintain along with landscaping and my need to build a motocross track and a walking track around the other 55 acres. The wife wants a garden and some other stuff done so maybe the 45 horse is a little overkill but after watching my buddy's 39 horse Bota struggle with the snow i decided to go bigger, and I am glad i did as I have already found the limits of my tractor and am wishing I would have gone bigger.
Now the real problem is that I found this site and all the cool shit you guys can build with your tools and I now need to get a welder, steel stock, cutoff saws, grinders, lathe's, CNC machines and so on to try and keep up. i am continually amazed at what some of you on here can build. 3rrl, larry, flick, kid just to name a few.
I wish I had your talents and skill.
all for now, I will have numerous stupid questions in the future
later Jay
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