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Bvance, don't be down on your profession, we need bankers and over the years I have know several excellent individuals who were bankers. I also know a few quality attorneys, a couple are friends.

Now politicans, that is another story.

I'm an engineer and we mostly conflict with attorneys and architects.

Dave

TP members coming and going
Website Operations Howto
Replies 119 Post by kyvette

Broken,
I would recommend using schedule 40 PVC conduit. It is normally stock in 10ft lengths but, you can sometimes get it in 20ft lengths. I would also recommend a depth of 36". This exceeds NEC depth requirements, but will add additional protection. The warning tape is also a good idea and should be about 12" below final grade.

You cannot keep water out of conduits, therefore use conductors rated for wet locations. I would suggest junction boxes at the base of each pole.

Hopes this helps, Dave

ground wireing
Home Improvement
Replies 9 Post by kyvette

This dicussion brings up a memory of a stupid stunt I pulled about 30 years ago.

I am sure most of us have pulled some really dumb stunts at somewhere along the way. My was pulling a two-axle trailer with a full size farm tractor behind a 1/2-ton, 4x4, short bed, GMC pickup without trailer brakes and to make matters worse I was using a pintle-hook. I don't know what the tractor weighed but it was a 70's model Massy-Ferguson in the 50 -60HP range.

The pickup could pull the load with no problem, but going downhill was the problem. I was on a 4 lane highway with hills and on the first hill the trailer begin to push the truck and started the rear end swaying. I had to accerate to regain control and by the time I hit the bottom of the hill I was going about 70mph. This resulted in a stop to access the situation and check my pants.

The rest of the way home I would creep as I started over the hill and accerate on the way down. This worked and fortunely I didn't damage anything or anyone. Just an example of getting heavy load behind a vehicle not designed to handle the load.

Review FlexPoint 3PH Receiver Hitch
Operating and Attachments
Replies 19 Post by kyvette

Kwolf, check my pictures, there is one using a box blade to cut a new driveway. This can be slow work unless you have additional weight and lug tires. Box blades are good for light grading, spreading dirt, gravel, etc but they do not take the place of a bulldozer. My box is a 48" made by Atlas.

A couple of weeks ago I used the box blade to level and workup the soil prior to planting grass seed, it did a nice job.

I have more pictures I can email you if you are interested.

Dave

Box Blade
Operating and Attachments
Replies 4 Post by kyvette

In 1988 I purchased a "Ford" lawn tractor, I believe it was a LY series, 16HP, twin cylinder Briggs engine, hydrostatic drive, with a 48" mower deck. It listed for $2995, but as it was end of the season in October I got it for $1995.

I sold the tractor in June 2004 for $350. The tractor mowed 2 acres weekly during the season and occasionally a neighbors yard or two.

Other than routine maintenance I only experienced minor problems that I was able to repair.

I bet today's Lowes/Home depot lawn tractors wouldn't have lasted 16 years.

NEW HOLLAND SMALL TRACTOR QUESTIONS
New Holland Tractors
Replies 16 Post by kyvette

Jerry, If the seedlings aren't too long you could use an old tobacco setter. The setter allows you to sit and place a plant into fingers that open as they pass between the seats. You lay the plant in the open finger and the setter opens a hole in the dirt, inserts the plant, a shot of water, and then covers the hole.

For this to be effective the soil must be tilled as the setter cannot plant in hard ground. You will also need a tractor to pull the setter (or a horse) and a water container.

I have spent many an hour riding a setter planting tobacco plants and at the end of the patch we would plant a row or two of tomato plants.

Dave

pine tree planter
Operating and Attachments
Replies 12 Post by kyvette

Murf, if you happen to cross central Kentucky, we have a 5000ft runway, in my home town, and you would be welcome.

FYI, in May of this year we spent a week at Depoe Bay, Oregon. This is a small fishing village located between Lincoln City and Newport on the Oregon coast, about 90 miles southwest of Portland.

This is beautiful country with excellent resturants. We stayed in a condo by WorldMark. Our patio was about 20ft from the ocean cliff. In the evening, after dinner we would watch the whales play in the surf and the sunsets, as the saying goes, "where to die for". I have pictures of the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen, just happened to be in the right spot at the right time.

If you are going to visit this area, let me know, and I can provide you info on things to do and resturants.

Sounds like a fun trip. Dave

The travel bug
Just For Fun Off Topic
Replies 31 Post by kyvette

Thanks fellows for the input, I knew I could get some good ideas here. Earthwrks, I did consider a sliding "Barn" type door, and haven't ruled it out.

One of the issues is the local building codes. If I install an overhead "garage door" I am required to finish the adjacent interior walls and ceiling. The building inspectors consider it a garage. I may finish the interior in the future, but have no immediate plans now.

I'm trying to hold construction costs down so the wife can spend the money on fancy lighting fixtures, leaded glass front door, and high end plumbing fixtures, you get the idea.

I did see a carriage door constructed with a 1 3/8" douglas fir frame, insulated and a 1/2" backer board.

Kthompson, a fiberglass frame is another good idea that I will take a look at.

Thanks, Dave

Exterior basement door
Home Improvement
Replies 10 Post by kyvette

Redrum,
I measured my ROPS last night and it's 72" high with turf tires.

Dave

TZ ROP Height
New Holland Tractors
Replies 9 Post by kyvette

My general contractor ask me about using plex instead of copper in my new house. He said he had used it in the last 6 or 7 houses he had built. I did a little research and so far have only been impressed with the product and apparent ease of installation.

I told my general to go ahead with plex. I'm not sure I can afford copper. I am also conerned about increases from my electrical contractor. My general included price increases in our contract, but I bet there isn't enough for electrical.

Pex vs Copper replace Copper Pin holes
Home Improvement
Replies 17 Post by kyvette

Scott,
I use a belly mower on my TZ24 which protects the filter. However, I also use a box blade and try to be careful of the filter when the belly mower is off. It would be a good idea to purchase a spare filter and keep on hand. Dave

Watch out for the filter
New Holland Tractors
Replies 7 Post by kyvette

I have 148 hours in 23 months, that averages 77 hours per year. I do mostly mowing, some box blade work, and wood lot clearing. No commerical work.
Dave

AVERAGE ANNUAL HOURS ON CUT
Everything and Anything
Replies 21 Post by kyvette

I receive this magazine at the office and would recommend it for compact tractor owners. My subscription was free, I don't know if everyone can qualify for a free subscription. It has a lot of toys for the big boys.

Compact Tractor Guide
Operating and Attachments
Replies 5 Post by kyvette

Murf,
My land is gently rolling, if you look at my pictures 5 & 6 you will get a good idea.

Thanks for your help. Dave

Soil Drainage
Garden and Landscape
Replies 9 Post by kyvette

kthompson, if you are using XP your problem maybe a rights issue. If you happen to be logged on as a user, you can't change your desktop. You need to log on as power user or administrator.

Has anyone purchased a Dell computer lately
Everything and Anything
Replies 52 Post by kyvette

Getting back to the original subject, I would forward the phishing email from "paypal" to your state's Attorney General's Office. Just because Paypal says they can't locate the originator of the email, doesn't mean it can't be done. Emails leave tracks in Cyberspace, but it can take a lot of effort to track them. Enough complains and someone will pick up the ball and run.

Your Attorney General's office may not be able to find the originator, but they can direct you to where to forward your complaint.

Paypal email scam
Website Operations Howto
Replies 24 Post by kyvette

Edwin, you need to determine the rear PTO horsepower rating for your tractor. Acquire a mower that is rated at or below the PTO horsepower for your tractor. If you acquire a mower that requires more horsepower than you have you won't be happy.

I would expect your rear PTO to be about 19 - 20HP, depending on your transmission.

Hopes this helps, Dave

What size 3 point finish mower
Jinma Farmpro Agracat Nortrac
Replies 11 Post by kyvette

lbrown59, I have scanned all of the responses, therefore, please forgive me if I repeat something that has already been suggested.<br>
<br>
I am an electric utility engineer and quite offen we are ask to remove or relocate a guy wire. If I could see a layout of how the poles and anchors are placed I could advise as to the neccessity of the guy wire in question. Generally, if the route deadends or makes an angle on the pole (>5deg) a guy wire and anchor are required.<br>
<br>
Since you have talked to your cable company and can't get a response, try the electric company that owns the route. If the cable company has rights to occupy the pole space then they should be able to also attach a guy wire to the power company's anchor. If the power company's anchor is a double or triple eye, its easy to tell by the grooves in the eye of the anchor, the cable company could relocate to this anchor. A simple process that would take longer to drive to the site than do the work.<br>
<br>
If this failed to work, then I would contact the state or local government agency that regulates the cable company. It maybe different than that of the electric company as cable companies are not considered a utility unless they also provide telephone. Be sure that you have documented your attempts to contact the cable company.<br>
<br>
In some instances we will refuse to make an adjustment to a guy wire, but this is rare. We do charge the customer but unless a new pole is involved these charges are only a few hunderd dollars. If a pole is involved this can quickly grow to a few thousand.<br>
<br>
There is the possibility that the cable company doesn't have rights to attach to the power company poles. If this is the case the power company should deal with the situation.<br>
<br>
Hope this helps, Dave

utility pole guy wires
Parts and Repair
Replies 43 Post by kyvette

SG8NUC,
Thanks for the advice, hopefully, I have this covered. I took a house plan found on the internet and have modified it to better fit our needs. I am profficent with autocad, so it wasn't to big of a job, just time consuming. I can keep my builder up to date with any changes by printing new drawings.

I have known my builder for quite sometime and we can work together. So far he has been very corporative in making adjustments. Some of the items that have already come up are lighting, motion detectors, dimmers, etc. He has told me to purchase what I want and his electrician will install them.

One can only hope that this continues. Dave

New house construction
Home Improvement
Replies 6 Post by kyvette

Its about 70 here and cloudy also very windy with a tornado watch. Saturday is suppose to be sunny and mid 70's. I am hoping to be able to continue work on a new driveway I started last fall, picture 14.

Tree buds are getting fat and March flowers have sprouted, it won't be long until grass cutting time.

I am starting a new house in a couple of weeks, its going to be a very busy spring and summer.

Spring Fever
Just For Fun Off Topic
Replies 15 Post by kyvette