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Meet Winston friends.

Finished spraying oats/orchard grass with my W-4.

I cut some more hay today as well. I used the 806 this time.

Got the ten to the power washer, looks a little better now and I have some maintenance to do to it. Much nicer to work on a clean tractor. Sad thing is, this is a much better tractor than the paint reflects. Just not sure what to do about that.

Testing the new CASE IH Puma 260 tractor and a new Pottinger brand variable chamber press near my home at the foot of the Pyrenees

That looks a WHOLE LOT like "frame is busted"!!😲 Mike

Amen! I for one really enjoy all the stories from the "good ol' days". Reminds me a lot of my grandad; he's been gone 4 years this month. I had him for 28 years, really enjoyed listening to his old stories and asking about the old days. Sure do wish I'd asked him a lot more... Mac

MT Matt, I looked at the oats yesterday. The oats are looking good, but it's time to spray weeds here too. Willy looks good out in the field pulling a sprayer. Do all of your tractors have names? The Yaeger Brothers during the Dirty Thirties were buying used (up?) tractors, overhauling them and giving them the name of the former owner. It's a habit that has stuck with me. "Ol' Minnie" was a TD-40 that the King Colony of Hutterites (they mistakenly called them Mennonites, hence the name; they bought new in 1934 and wore out in one season). Yaeger Brothers bought it and overhauled it and painted it red (like the new ones). Notice after decades of use and setting outside in the summer, the original gray is showing through in many places. I later repainted "Ol' Minnie" but I'd painted it red again with the "new style" decals. (Darn it) This was Mike at age 4 with a sick cow in our shed at the ranch. Ol' Sid was an "INTERNATIONAL" TD-40 of 1939 vintage, that pulled a Carryall "can" building B-17 runways at the Lewistown Airport early in WWII. It is a wide gauge, industrial with a winch on back. Dad said it was in pathetic shape. The rails and rollers were shot, the "wishbone" arms underneath were broken, making the tracks go "trapezoid." It was originally Industrial yellow, but the brothers painted it RED. This is the first TD-40 I ever crank started. I got to go to the field at age 10 and spring plow with this one! The only photo I have of "Ol' Sid" with its Carryall "can" hitched on is this one at the farm ca. 1952. Dad's Studebaker Commander too! Visible gas pump too. "Pat" was Dad's TD-40 that had belonged to Pat Bourke on his farm. He was the mainstay at Bourke Motor & Implement Company, where so many of the Yaeger Brother's equipment came from. This was 67 year old nephew Randy, Mike's Reeves engine partner! Dad traded his TD-9 and dozer for this TD-40. The "40s" have a lot more "snoose" than the 9s do. Traded backward in years though! The TD-40s have the same bore and stroke as Anson's TD-14! Myron Gregory logged with his TD-40. It was overhauled (worn badly) during WWII with the McCormick-Deering Blue Ribbon Program. And Bourke Motor painted it red for Myron. Then it went back to the woods. After the WWII, it was derelict again, when Audie bought it to fix up and farm with. Anson and Gary's birth year, McCormick-Deering Blue Ribbon Service pin I bought in Great Falls at a Toy Show. So uncle Audie bought Myron Gregory's TD-40 after Myron wore it out again logging with it in 1948 or 49. Audie put it in his shop, tore it completely apart and began rebuilding it. He was going to the field with it in 1950. Somewhere in there (I remember dad being very upset about THAT!) International Harvester deemed TD-40 parts as "obsolete." Audie got most of his parts but was lacking a few critical parts. So he bought a WD-9 with a MacDonald cab and "donut" tires. He went to the field with it and later finished up the TD-40 when the parts from other dealerships arrived. He put "Myron" back together and backed it into his machine shed. There it sat. One wet spring, he had some wet spots he farmed around with the WD-9. When those spots looked okay to pull the chisel plow through, he got out Myron and used it "a couple days." It's a long story as to how I acquired it, but I did. I didn't legally do it, but I changed Myron's name to "Fred," as Audie's son Fred was instrumental to me getting it. Actually, I ambidextrously call it "Audie or Fred." It answers to both! Here I'm pulling Austin Monk's 4-bottom John Deere plow at our place near Whitefish in the early 1990s. Mike is shown plowing with it at Silver Creek several years ago making a "Steam thrashed oats field" at Silver Creek. Waiting for its new seat cushions and armrests. Mike had given me "new" seat coverings and armrests for my birthday. And as you all recall, I climbed all over underneath "Audie/Fred" and it was gray paint everywhere on this July 1936 built TD-40. In November of 1936, McCormick-Deering changed from gray to red paint. It was "nagging" me to repaint it gray again. A labor of love. Every time I cranked the old girl, I would notice the gray paint inside the radiator lettering where the red paint jobs had peeled off. Primered patches. Ready to start and back out with its new paint job. Not Anson and Roger's favorite cap though. First time out with new paint. The side panels. Mike backing Audie/Fred into the shed after threshing and an empty shed. I am ashamed to admit I have forgotten the name of the Canadian gentleman who did decals. He wanted accurate decals to sell, so I helped him with photos of original decals. Out of his gratitude, he gave me my set. Sadly, not long afterward, he passed away. Maybe one of you can relate to me his name? I KNOW it is in this thread somewhere, but I'm not going looking for it! That had to have been around a dozen years ago. (My citified, Radio Personality late brother Bill, used to operate these crawlers on the farm. He once told me they weren't "TD-40s" they were T-40s. I couldn't make him understand that McCormick-Deering built gas T-40s and diesel TD-40s.) Those decals. I took this photo over the hood of me disking with Audie/Fred in 2019. The Oil pressure and temperature gauges through the hood was Audie's design. They didn't come with a temperature gauge but had an oil pressure gauge on the "firewall." Mike & Randy with Audie/Fred after pulling out the Case steam engine a couple years ago. (This is coming up again, soon!) Mike on their Reeves and Randy on the TD-40 pulling out the Reeves. About all the TD-40 gets used for anymore it this task. TD-40s made an impression on me as a little tyke. This was an art project of mine in the first grade. And ANY TD-40 story isn't complete without THIS photo. Afterall they are IH Tractors on a Montana Farm. I took the photo with brother Bill's camera in 1952 after Dad got his "Pat" stuck in mud. Due to 1980 and leaving the farm with my "tail tucked between my legs," my cousins ended up with all three of these TD-40s. So, technically they're still in the Yaeger family. And YOU thought this was the end of the story!! Below is Johnny. Named for Johnny Bourke, my former boss who "fixed up" the 1935 McCormick-Deering Farmall F-12 I ended up with. He used to show it at the Lewistown Fair with his new machinery, as a crowd stopper. Then there is "Tony" the 1940 IH Farmall A that our friend Tony Blanton gave me. Then there is 1944 IH Farmall M, "Toot" that my cousin Harold "Toot" Yaeger gave me to give to Mike. Mike went through it in his former shop in North Helena. And last, but certainly not least, is 1939 IH Farmall H, "Annie." It was bought new in late 1939 and traded in a few months later for a 1939 Farmall M by widow, Annie Stilson, whose sons were taking care of her farm her husband left she and her sons with. Yaeger brothers bought Annie in 1940 and this soon to be 80 year old duffer can't remember when it wasn't "a part of the farm." PS: I shall repeat this posting too! I forget who told me that when someone asks me the "time" I tell them how to build a clock. Gary😁

Hope she’s better quickly.

How is your oats coming along Gary? I finished spraying weeds today and the oats looks pretty good in this field. This area is full 60 lb/acre planted. The areas I sprayed were planted at 25 lbs per as I also put in orchard grass. Those areas are thin but I also see baby grass plants so it is coming along! I also see baby alfalfa coming in another area so looks like a good plant. This was the first real job for “Willy” the W-4. Did good and appears to be a useful IH tractor on a Montana farm!

A few days ago zero chance for a week here too. Still not very high, think highest chance is 50% friday..... Mowed some grass hay at inlws tonight and at next door neighbor of theirs. Neither place is very thick but inlaws is better of two. This pic at neighbors on FIL's 450

Currently have a 1026 on the hook to try and compliment my 826 I brought back from the dead. Tractor is missing the now no longer available oil cooler in the front. Curious about what others have done to replace oil cooler. One interesting part of it is the heavy duty 1456 style axle under it.

Gary many here on red power consider this topic a gem for many different reasons. For all of us ty. Your memories and your friendly way of interacting with everyone has enriched our lives.

Thank you, iowaboy1965! Sometimes I wonder, what the heck am I doing this for, anyway? Someday, this will all come to an end. I hope some of the "kids" here will remember some of these things. The stories stop when us old guys eventually kick our bucket list bucket. This is a great time to remind the youngsters here, NOW is the time to ask your family elders about their stories and memories. That history vanishes with their last heartbeat. Oh... The questions I had after Mom and Dad were gone. THEN... I thought of all the questions I had and could no longer get an answer to. Gary😬

Gary I love reading your stories about your personal past and the history of the machines that have been a part of your life as well as other local history. Repeat them as many times as you like. I don't get tired of them and every time you do it reminds me of the stories told by family and friends that are no longer around to tell them..mainly my Grandfather and my uncle Bill, but there are oh so many others as well I wish I could listen to one more time.

Took another look at the fridge this morning, more light to see and less beer effect. Pulled the cover off the flame chamber. All sooted up, tons of rust debris. But how to clean out?... no vacuum, no compressed air. Scraped loose what I could.... Brilliance struck. Took my propane torch, added a little gas to the housing, then came back with the torch lit, WOOF! Cloud of dust out the top and bottom. Guess what? not only did it blow all the stuff out, but the burner is lit and the fridge is cooling on gas again.

Well, Mr Mike Do I detect a hint of sadness, sorrow maybe for my White Underpriveledged way of life??? Actually, I am proud to be a backwoods redneck resident of flyover country. And when left alone by the outside world, am very happy Where, when we see a rainbow, it is painted across the sky by our Lord after a refreshing rain and makes me smile. Not that other thing I see (people?) parading around. I have a good friend who is honing his distilling skills without a marketing genius that shoots himself in the foot by catering to the crazies We also don't have to worry about which bathroom to use as there are many trees strategically placed by nature No matter what you heard, there is no Target painted on the side of Mr Baker's wagon because of satanic items inside, just pure wholesome snake oil😏 And with all the product makers that decided they don't want me for a customer, I am trying new things. I might even boil up some of that black billy goat tea you are so fond of😃 Well, time to get Ma a shellin' corn........dem chickens gotta eat so's I can have eggs for breakfast🤠

Lisa took Dolly in to get her side looked at. She is 66 pounds, 6 years old and still thinks she’s a puppy. I’m not so sure that my next dog won’t be a little one, but I am hoping that I don’t have to worry about it for YEARS! Nice looking pup!

6lb Shih Tzu. It’s been ten years since we’ve had a puppy.

I'm like you Lyle, I want away from people. Hopefully they're there for a short bit and realize how nice it is in the Midwest.

My dad decided that it was time to pass along my grandpa's .22 Colt revolver. As far as my brother could research it's past, it belonged to a sheriff in Texas and was his practice revolver before it made it's way to ND and my grandpa bought it sometime in the 1960s. It is an officer's model and the story goes that officers would use the .22 for practice since it is the same frame as the .38 from the day. It's nice to have a little something from my grandpa. He carried it in his pickup to plink gophers in the pasture and at the cemetary.

Mountains on one side, ocean on the other, cities with good jobs and farmground inbetween. Nice climate to.

Oh gosh Jeff...we certainly live in troubled times....I am well aware of the United States almost defaulting on its fiscal obligations....but that irrepressible fiscal genius that sits on your political lid has pulled another hat out of a rabbit...and pulled you through a major world wide crisis...But I am shocked at the parsimonious situation of the State of Nebraska.....where you are still relying on the good will of Mr Baker and his faux pas medicine cart still plying his goods out in the back blocks of civilization....for comfort and culture....and all the remedy's , no doubt, for coughs , colds , sore holes, and pimples on the dickie...and not forgetting the ''reumatiz....'' I understood there had been accusations of insider trading with "'Baker's Medicine ''...and that well known family orientated franchise "'Target '' had taken over his business...with of course ..a view to a future ,general overhaul of the well being of humanity......achieved, evidently by giving every one those ''rose tinted glass's"" which will help lift ol' hillbilly's like you ...( and some un-named folk from Arkansas,) into the twentieth century..... Getty images great stuff there, Jeff... Mike

Dang sorry to hear that Nick. Looks she will be sore for a little while. Hears hoping for a quick recovery

red power

Bad part is, is she feels fine. Thinks she needs to roll in bovine excrement and play in the pond. 10 years ago, I would have told my kids to suck it up l, let alone a dog. I must be getting extremely soft in my old age.

Couldn't agree more! There are 3 homes in our square mile. 1 is vacant, the owner having moved for health reasons. That leaves 4 people living on two properties. That's crowded enough for me!

I will reiterate the last two replies. I enjoy the stories and the way they are shared.

This is how she spends most of her time when I am not home.

My idea of truck/camper/hiking gun must be different than a “Walmart gun”. Some of the beasts at Wally World would take more than a 9mm to stop…..

Next trip up, will be bringing an old ladder, a small shop vac and a little pancake compressor. All necessities of a remote camp... But take time to aquire because you don't realize that you need them until you need them.

My pappy said son your gonna drive me to drinking if you don't stop drivn that hot rod Jimmy v-12.......doesn't have the same ring but it would be cool.

Well, I have a fuel pump out on the 98 k 2500 and don't have room in my shop to fix it, (as always) and my 2000 K1500 Silverado has 2 cracked frame rails, I didn't hardly dare to pull a trailer with it. I'd have them both piled up in the ditch. So used big red to haul in big red on my car trailer. Frame is cracked just in front of the front receiver hitch mount. I talked to a welding shop who's fixed dozens of them. It's really not that rusty,(frame wise anyway) so he thought it should work.

I bet that distracted the driver from his texting! Almost looks like the car in the other lane kept on going.

I had some friends who moved there for his work. They said there were lots of things to do for younger people. Charlotte is growing at a break neck pace. They later moved back (again with his job). If that’s what a person wants, I wish them luck. It’s not for me though.

Important safety note for all. These newer gas cans with the "safety" valve and built in breather... can develop a healthy amount of pressure when weather warms up. If you try to fill a generator tank that has a screen in the fill port, and the gas can is under above mentioned pressure, there's good chance of spilling a whole bunch of gasoline, which could be really bad, especially if you just shut it down and the muffler is still hot! I am counting my guardian angels who just spared me another stint in the burn ICU. Gotta say, PTSD is real.

I think SSS has been active for years 🤔

It should have been 10 years ago. Actually I thought there was a state wide season the first year, until Ernie got involved?

Day late but....

This is a MUCH better post than the one about Chief was back on April 4th. This is Sadie. 42 pounds of pure love, with just enough rascal mixed in to keep it interesting. Unfortunately her first human got health issues and had to give her up, but what a blessing for us!!! Likes to ride in the car or truck, likes it best with her head out the window. Absolutely adores playing fetch with the 'chuck-it'. (We are working on the frisbee...she just about has it mastered.) I found Sadie in the Sioux City Iowa Humane Society. Very nice place, and great people to work with. Check them out if you need a family member. I would keep typing, but I need my rest.....Some of us have a ball to throw tomorrow! Mike

Its not 2150 its the same red as the 5x88's and the magnum's and there is no gloss black anywhere on a IH. I have the red paint code in PPG in the shop I can get it later. One I did a few years back.

one

My trick of the trade on this is to use Vise Grips. You can't just clamp down on the ears of the snap ring though. It'll go *PING* on you in an instant. Grip the snap ring gently with the Vise Grips, right in the edge of the jaw. All you have to do is get it started in the "tube." Once it's started you can poke at it with the jaws of the Vice Grips to push it into the groove. It's easy enough for the 1000 side but the 540 needs to push the button in to shift the gear in the PTO unit. If it doesn't want to go, the PTO is supposed to be able to turn by hand 1/6 of a turn with the engine off to align the splines, so give it a twist and it will pop right in.

It's not rocket science. Crush the grapes/muscadines, add a little yeast, put in a jar with an air lock and wait. After a few weeks the bubbling will stop. Decant the wine off the solids and drink!

I use 71956 ppg red, and 9700 ppg black, there is a deadening you can get for the black, but I haven't used it, I think it looks great the way it is, but that's jmo.

This is a TD340A, clutch pedal is on the far left, right pedal operates the brakes, the tall lever on the left with the round knob is the fast reverser. The two long levers on the right are hydraulic control valve levers. T and TD340's have planetary steering, no steering brake pedals.

Well it’s summer time so……..

the way it has been raining around here lately Ol Runner is going to need to be hooking up with one of his big ol girls again and let her ride the motorcyle and he be the passanger so he does not drown in some of those hard fast rains. Still trying to convince him there are good points with them