A few more days of strong sunshine or a day of rain and my driveway will be clear. It might take a little longer for it to dry out and firm up. Maybe I'll try and get the Wr250X out for a ride Friday.
There was a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers in the back yard today. I don't know how to determine their sex, but I'm guessing there was some flirting going on. They were hopping from tree to tree, one chasing the other.
Last week, Nancy and I were down in the "cities". We stopped by to see my riding buddy John, and his wife, Wendie. John and I had been talking on the phone about pulling the engine off the tractor. I had been telling him about needing some way to support the tractor after I removed the front axle. Whatever I used would also have to support the transmission after the engine was removed. On both sides of the tractor, at the end of what Allis-Chalmers calls the "torque tube", or clutch housing, are 2 threaded 5/8" holes. I had given John the dimensions over the phone and we had talked about a reinforcing plate and lengths of 2x4's. John, the craftsman that he is, came up with a perfectly fitting aluminum plate, and a bag of hardware.
The plate...
Plate placed over the threaded rod studs on the left side... The plate will be attached to a correct length of 2x4, then tightened down to the studs.
The engine separates from the clutch housing, AKA "torque tube" right in front of the plate. I'll take plenty of pictures when I get things set up to pull the engine. It will be clearer then.
In the mean time, I wait patiently for more warm weather!!
I can't comment on the tractor business, but I will say those pileated woodpeckers are my absolute favorite woodpecker!
ReplyDeleteI had several in the woodsy area where I lived in Sturgeon Bay and you could always tell when they flew in- the sky would go dark! They are so huge, so fast and such a fantastic design! And you have not heard a woodpecker pecking in the woods until you hear one of these!
If you are unfortunate enough to have one hammer on your house, well...that's why some people come running out of their houses waving their arms yelling "Cut that out!" into the sky.
They are neat to see and they have a pretty odd call too. You'd think you were in the tropics when they start squawking. They always reminded me of a pterodactyl.
DeleteErik - I've seen a few pileated woodpeckers around here, they kind of make me think of "Woody," but more prevelant are the smaller Downys.
ReplyDeleteYour drive looks good compared to mine. I've no snow left on it but the mud is deep, really deep ... I think the gravel fairy must eat the stone each year.
Hope Friday sees you on two wheels (my little Star is still tucked in her winter hibernation spot.)
We're lucky, we've seen Downy, Hairy, and Pileated in the yard. There's no shortage of wildlife here.
DeleteErik:
ReplyDeleteI'll be sure to think of you as I ride my bike on clear roads. Forecast is for sun all weekend with temps up to 20°c, and tomorrow is a Stat Holiday (Good Friday). Yes, this is a long 3 day weekend for us. Oh, I forgot, you're retired.
No woodpeckers here in the city. Can't say I have ever seen a real one
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Bob, a few more weeks and winter will be just a bad memory. The temps are slowly getting better.
DeleteHave a great weekend!
VERY nice looking bracket Erik, I like it and should work great.
ReplyDeleteIf I weren't working tomorrow, chances are good that I'd at least try a ride.....but, and it's a big one, our driveway is our absolute limiting factor right now. 4" of still-slushy ice is next to deep water is next to 4" of mud. We made it in this evening; every day a gamble and I'm thankful for freezing temps in the morning.
Somewhere here I managed to shoot a bit of video of two woodpeckers doing a 'love dance'.
Thankfully my driveway is flat. It's a bit soft and probably will be until things dry out.
DeleteHooray for warmer weather and melting snow.
ReplyDeleteIt must be spring - the birds are flirting.
Hope you get the WR out today or this weekend.
This winter seemed longer than any I can remember. Things are improving though!
DeleteThat path looks wide enough to get the bike out. Just need some different tires. Someone in Anchorage has TKC's on his Honda CBR sportbike and has been riding throughout the winter.
ReplyDeleteKnobbies on the FJR or Ninja would be interesting. When it's time to replace the tires on the Wr, I'm thinking of going to something a bit more off road. Not full knobbies, but maybe more like a 50/50 tire.
Delete