What ya working on?

[Lazy WP]

Ended up with a new 5th wheel plate. I never could get the old one where I wanted it. Always seemed to hang up. 
Next project was new tires for the drive axles. I’m one of the few who runs super single tires in this area. Not sure how much I like them for local work, but totally confident that long distance work they will pay for themselves in a year. 
According to what the tire shops charge, I just made $150/hour. I can dismount and remount 3 in an hour, and not work overly hard doing it. 

[Lazy WP]

And the worst part about changing tires is my vanity! I would really like to find stainless center caps, but chrome plastic is what I’m dealing with. 

[Cool1566]

Speaking of fifth wheels, what do you think of the poly discs instead of grease? I’ve never really known which is best. 

[Lazy WP]

37 minutes ago, Cool1566 said:

Speaking of fifth wheels, what do you think of the poly discs instead of grease? I’ve never really known which is best. 

I hate the mess of grease. I put the teflon on when I was pulling a leased trailer and the owner didn’t want me to get grease on his trailer. 
I think the poly/ Teflon are probably slicker on the plate, but you have to remember to grease the king pin of the trailer. The jaws need lubricant or they make noise, and hang up. 
I put a poly disc on my hopper for now. They have changed the style some and don’t have the metal ring holding the disc on anymore. 

[BrunsFarms]

[New Englander]

18 hours ago, Lazy WP said:

super single tires

I've noticed for years that most European tractors run them rather than duals.

What are the savings? Lower rolling resistance?

[Farmallh194012345]

54 minutes ago, New Englander said:

I've noticed for years that most European tractors run them rather than duals.

What are the savings? Lower rolling resistance?

Many U.S. truckers use super singles because they are easier to maintain and not having to run 4 tires on each axel. We don’t run them but we bought a truck with super singles but we switched them out 

[Lazy WP]

1 hour ago, New Englander said:

I've noticed for years that most European tractors run them rather than duals.

What are the savings? Lower rolling resistance?

I don’t like trying to maintain the same tire pressure on 8 tires! Call me lazy, but I don’t like crawling around on my knees trying to get the air gauge on the inside set of tires, and if you don’t do that, 1 of them will be 10 pounds lighter and wear faster. 
Other advantage is weight. I’m 500 pounds lighter with super singles than dual tires. 500 tractor, 500 trailer. Doesn’t sound like much, but 200 loads per year is 200,000 pounds I can charge for legally. 
Other thing is I don’t conform well to popular opinion. 

[New Englander]

19 minutes ago, Lazy WP said:

I don’t like trying to maintain the same tire pressure on 8 tires! Call me lazy, but I don’t like crawling around on my knees trying to get the air gauge on the inside set of tires, and if you don’t do that, 1 of them will be 10 pounds lighter and wear faster. 
Other advantage is weight. I’m 500 pounds lighter with super singles than dual tires. 500 tractor, 500 trailer. Doesn’t sound like much, but 200 loads per year is 200,000 pounds I can charge for legally. 
Other thing is I don’t conform well to popular opinion. 

So I got curious and put Mr. Google to work and it would seem that most would agree with you, Michelin claiming considerable MPG improvement plus the weight savings. Those who don't like them are vicious in their hate. It would seem that a fleet operator seeing the MPG improvement would have the greatest gain. Some claim way better tire life, especially with Michelin. I've been a fan of Michelin for years so I'm not surprised they work for the big rigs too. Even our jets used Michelin.

EDIT: In case anyone is wondering the M18902 Michelin Air H32X10.5R16.5 16Ply tires are $5000. each. Jets are expensive to operate!

Edited May 14 by New Englander
A little info

[Lazy WP]

28 minutes ago, New Englander said:

EDIT: In case anyone is wondering the M18902 Michelin Air H32X10.5R16.5 16Ply tires are $5000. each. Jets are expensive to operate

I priced Michelin for my truck and they are $1320 a piece. I don’t have corporate America backing my expenses, so comparatively, I am guessing my truck is probably just as expensive to operate as your jet is. 

[yellowrosefarm]

6 minutes ago, Lazy WP said:

I priced Michelin for my truck and they are $1320 a piece. I don’t have corporate America backing my expenses, so comparatively, I am guessing my truck is probably just as expensive to operate as your jet is. 

If a small corporate jet burns 200 gallons of fuel an hour to go 500 mph, that's 2.5 miles per gallon, so you're not far off on fuel comsumption either. Just numbers I pulled off the internet.

[New Englander]

22 hours ago, yellowrosefarm said:

If a small corporate jet burns 200 gallons of fuel an hour to go 500 mph, that's 2.5 miles per gallon, so you're not far off on fuel comsumption either. Just numbers I pulled off the internet.

Yes, ballpark numbers. We would burn closer to 300 GPH going 560+ MPH. Slowing to long range cruise would improve MPG considerably, a tactic we'd use for 12 hour flights. LRC is mach .80 while normal cruise is mach .85. Plane would do .90 but the design was optimized at .85. The drag rise any faster than .85 was pretty bad and fuel burn would go up drastically. Maintenance costs per hour. Most everything is time calculated, brakes are landings charged, inspections can be hours or calendar, major dismantle the plane inspections, the C checks, are calendar. Passengers are amazed when they see the plane with engines, APU, flight controls, landing gear, windows, all inspection panels, and interior all removed. C check is many millions for a large corporate jet and usually when the plane is stripped and painted and interior re-ragged and refurbished. All the cabin transparencies (windows) get removed, inspected, measured, polished or replaced and reinstalled. It's about 3 months downtime every 8 years. Corrosion is often encountered and makes for some big repairs.

Picking your cruise speed can become maintenance cost per hour v fuel costs. Go fast when fuel is cheap, slow a bit when it's expensive. Generally the sweet spot for us would be in the m.82-m.83 range where we'd fly when not in a hurry like a deadhead. Right now I bet there's a lot of conservation methods going on.  Going slower than m.80 or LRC never panned out. Different planes are optimized for different speeds. 

[midnightman]

On 5/12/2026 at 11:45 AM, MinnesotaFarmall said:

Ended up putting an original ih muffler on my 1066. Tractor looks rough buts mechanically great. And my brother made my boy a "corn planter" for his birthday. He's already got his corn done, I still haven't even started. 

Built my kids this outfit years ago. My nephews now operate it whenever they come over.

[BrunsFarms]

[boboryan]

15 minutes ago, BrunsFarms said:

nice hat rack, are those railroad spikes?

bob

[BrunsFarms]

1 hour ago, boboryan said:

nice hat rack, are those railroad spikes?

bob

Thanks, yes they are railroad spikes

[Lazy WP]

Truck is still parked. Corrals are getting a little upgrade. Built to heavy of a gate and a single brace isn’t holding everything in place. 

[Lazy WP]

First pipe is in place for the second time. I love my 800 Case, with the F-11 Farmhand loader on it. I can get the tractor in position and operate the loader from the ground in front or behind the rear wheel! Saves lots of climbing in and out of either the skid steer or the 2090. Problem is, it needs a touch over 10 feet of vertical space and I put the pipe at a touch above 9 feet. 

[Lazy WP]

Finished it up. I am NOT USED TO MANUAL LABOR nor 100 degrees. I sit in my air conditioned truck and complain if the a/c is not turned on all the way!!

[MT Matt]

My IH #15 rake needed an upgrade. Not a fan of the rake compared to my New Hollands but with the straight axle, I can drag it down the road.  Hard to get rid of a $100 rake.  What I didn’t like was how tongue heavy it is and the terrible jack under it.

I had found some NH rake parts on Craigslist awhile ago with this front dolly.

So I chopped off the hitch and cut it down. Made something to slide onto the pin and welded supports to it.

Took a few chops to get it to fit and keep the rake the same height.

It just barely has enough room but I can pivot it all the way around.

All done and ready for the season.

Had some mooches show up this morning on the field above the house.

Can only see a couple cow elk in this pic out my bedroom window but there were at least 10 that walked by.

[Alan Dinan]

8 hours ago, MT Matt said:

My IH #15 rake needed an upgrade. Not a fan of the rake compared to my New Hollands but with the straight axle, I can drag it down the road.  Hard to get rid of a $100 rake.  What I didn’t like was how tongue heavy it is and the terrible jack under it.

I had found some NH rake parts on Craigslist awhile ago with this front dolly.

So I chopped off the hitch and cut it down. Made something to slide onto the pin and welded supports to it.

Took a few chops to get it to fit and keep the rake the same height.

It just barely has enough room but I can pivot it all the way around.

All done and ready for the season.

Had some mooches show up this morning on the field above the house.

Can only see a couple cow elk in this pic out my bedroom window but there were at least 10 that walked by.

Very nice, Matt!! The rake and the view!!

[Sledgehammer]

Worked on benches today. Got tops on and finished minus the cabinet doors and drawers. Even dug out a Wilton I had stashed away and mounted it on the butcher block work bench top. Vise is dated 2/87

[Alan Dinan]

Looks great Todd!!

[Cool1566]

Now I see what the cabinets were for ! I like!

[TroyDairy]

On 5/14/2026 at 4:12 AM, Lazy WP said:

I don’t like trying to maintain the same tire pressure on 8 tires! Call me lazy, but I don’t like crawling around on my knees trying to get the air gauge on the inside set of tires, and if you don’t do that, 1 of them will be 10 pounds lighter and wear faster. 
Other advantage is weight. I’m 500 pounds lighter with super singles than dual tires. 500 tractor, 500 trailer. Doesn’t sound like much, but 200 loads per year is 200,000 pounds I can charge for legally. 
Other thing is I don’t conform well to popular opinion. 

FWIW, here in WA all the larger fleets run Super Singles on road applications.  Milk trucks to Seat warmer types.  Dump truck prob least seen with single but otherwise I reason it's more common then duals...?  Cousins said he get better MPG but only downer is if you got a flat you are DOA till help arrives.