Updates from the Middle West - 8N Running Fine!

My work schedule has been pretty crazy for the past year or two, so I haven't been posting as much… thought I'd throw a few updates here, and also report that my 8N continues to run just fine with no issues seven seasons (starting my eighth) after the rebuild (search the boards here for "Operation 8N" for all the sordid details).



We haven't had that much snow this winter (yet - el niño may surprise us before it's said and done), and this is as cold as we've seen so far. The one or two snows that required drift removal were handily handled by the Boomer 8N.



We had a couple inches a few weeks back, so despite not really *needing* to plow the drive, I decided to exercise the 8N anyway. It had not been run in nearly two months, and fired on the first revolution (no battery tender, either).



I found a local and cheap source for mulch, and have been hauling multiple loads for my wife to use on her garden and around the fruit trees. I pull my flarebox wagon, so I'm bringing a double load each time. Oh, I also recently sold the '99 F-250 4x4 Powerstroke and bought my first (and last, I hope) ever new pickup truck, a fairly low-trim RAM 2500 Tradesman 4x4 with the 5.7. Other than wishing it sat as low as my old F-100, I like it.



The 8Ns work well together - one to run the hoist and the other to maneuver in through the narrow garden gate.



Finally, I've been gradually selling off all my implements (other than my haying equipment), since the boys are both married and out of the house and I have no plans to play with other crops in the future. A guy came over from Indiana today to buy the infamous New Idea No. 300 Corn Picker (in which I almost lost my hand about 7-8 years ago).



His trailer was 8' wide, but the wheels on the picker are 11' wide. We scratched our heads and contemplated several methods for loading before deciding simply to jack the thing up 36" in the air and back the trailer underneath.



It took us nearly four hours, but we got 'er done!

es

Interesting -- thanks for the update....

Nice pics Ed. Where in IL are you?
75 Tips

About an hour from Peoria...

es

If I had a nice indoor/outdoor thermometer like that I would probably never leave the house in the winter ;-)

TOH

As we speak.......I'm in Tuscola looking at
a car.

Nice post and pictures Ed.
There's something to be said for paring down
and consolidating. I used to have quite a
few Dearborn implements that I had
collected. Plus a grain drill, various
mowers, cord wood saws, planters and other
items. Didn't have room to store them all
inside and felt bad about them rusting.
Had too many to really focus on restoring
them. Also made the switch from Red to Blue
about that time. So I sold a lot of stuff.
It was liberating in a way. It let me focus
on just the few implements I use frequently.
Ones that were already in VGC that didn't
need work to use. Just hook up and go.
Nice pickup! I've been fortunate to have
owned 4 new pickups in my life.
Don't know if I'll ever get another.
As for the Dodge being so tall.
I drove Fords for years but when they came
out with the Super Duty models they jacked
them up so darned high. That's when I went
to Chevy as the tailgate is about 3" lower
than the Fords and Dodges.
Makes a big difference when you're loading
tools, lumber and sheetrock in one every
day.

Ed, Nice post. A picture that you took of your 8N picking corn still graces the desktop of one of my computers.

Colin, MN

Probably this one, Colin:



Ultradog, I thought my Super Duty was tall! The 2500 tailgate is 41" off the ground empty. They don't make lowering springs for the 2500, else I'd have a set on order already. Looking into putting air bags on the rear...

es

That's it!

Glad to hear things are well for you Ed. Even if it is a bit chilly.