Musings between WH and the Orange Tractors

[boovuc 1,090]

Well as fate always has it each Spring, I'm up against it time wise. Family needing my attention and full time job plus Trout Season opener coming up in my parts and I have four family properties to mow as things begin to warm. Camp is simple! It's on a ridge and won't need anything until May. However one of the properties requires a BIG Zero Turn I bought "used" to keep it's 3+ acres cut. It needs a new deck belt, hydro filter and oil, (then jack up the rear tires and gently engage the speed controls for each pump to bleed the lines), plus new gas filter, new engine oil and filter, two new plugs, a new air filter and blades sharpened and deck greased. This gets tackled later in the week.

Next is my "orange tractor" that I need to get ready. It will need two fuel filters, (under the freakin' thing that sometimes requires you to bleed the fuel lines after changing), a hydro filter and new oil, a new oil filter and diesel motor oil, plow off, deck on, (mower deck is already taken care of for the season), and the ag tires off and turf tires on plus I should change out the front axle oil. I missed getting to NAPA this morning for the filters so it was put on hold plus I use the factory hydro oil so I need to see the dealer for it.

 

Now..........in less than one hour this afternoon, I completely readied my 417-8 for mowing. No oil filter! Just changed the oil. Blew out the air filter, removed the deck, took the blades off, sharpened and re-installed and re-mounted the deck after greasing. Changed both spark plugs and changed the gas filter and greased the zerks on the frame. Tranny gear oil level was good. (No Hydro oil or filter to screw with).

 

Between the time and the expensive filters and oil for the "other" tractors/mowers, I sometimes forget just how simple and inexpensive the Wheelhorses are to maintain. No they aren't 4 wheel drive. They don't have power steering or mow super fast and they don't have a 3 points behind them, but the gear drive wheelhorses I have are always available in a pinch and the Orange Tractor will not be doing an inaugural mowing this year. Same as the previous two seasons. (And my 310-8 will be ready to go after work on Monday).

Fancy features do come at a price both at purchase and for each year thereafter. Not an issue if you have lots of money and time! And people wonder why I won't part with them!

 

 

[Pullstart 68,542]

Good to hear you “gripe” about the cost of filters, oil, etc. and the troubles to obtain them.... means you’re taking care of your stuff!  Great work!