Frustrations and satisfaction on the farm/homestead/ranch

[Alaskajohn]

Let's face it, stuff breaks and items are always needing fixing on the farm/homestead/ranch. Needed parts are often many hours away by vehicle or days away if you are lucky enough to source them online. Often times, what breaks is an odd piece of equipment where good parts or repair manuals are hard to find at best. In my parts, winters are brutal on man and equipment making in the field repairs challenging.

Being an extremely competitive person, it frustrates me to no end when a broken item has me stumped, but I also get great sense of satisfaction when I get it fixed. Most humbling is when you have to trailer a broken item back to civilization to get something fixed. I've had to do this more than once. There is a fellow old Alaskan homesteader residing near me who has a great knack for fixing oddball items, and he has been doing this for all his life. He has a great sense and a lifetime of experience allowing him to quickly diagnose and fix something using what he has available. Unfortunately, this isn't my gift. However, the wife and I have developed a nice little process that has allowed us to overcome challenges. This typically involves me working for a few hours trying to fix something, looking at manuals, etc. if available. When I am stumped, I get the wife and explain what isn't working and what I have tried. She will then offer her suggestion and I will then argue why her idea wouldn't work. We will then split a beer looking at the broken item, and more often than not, when we are done with the beer we've figured it out. Then, frustration turns into great satisfaction and pride. One of the biggest joys living this lifestyle is solving some big problem, and seeing project through from start to completion!

I have nothing but respect for those who were able to successfully homestead back in the days before Amazon prime, online manuals, or even roads that take you to a store. Today we have it easy compared to those who did it the hard way before road, amazon, etc. That said, the satisfaction you get from overcoming some huge challenge by yourself (with an occasional great assist from the wife), even with our modern resources, provides great deal of satisfaction!

Now that you know what brings me frustrations and joy on my little spread, what are the sources of your frustrations and joy on your place?

 

[elkhound]

i can tell you this....satan not only invented small combustible engine...he takes pride in keeping them from starting when needed and running properly !!


sometimes you gotta replace stuff with newer items even though you know the new item is not going to be as long lasting as the one you just used for 3 decades.

sidenote...nothing but non-ethanol goes in my gas jugs

 

[zoomzoom]

I'm a do-it-myself kind of person. Splitting a beer isn't part of my equation. Normally tipping a couple/few helps me come up with resolutions when I'm stumped from the get go. I have beer(s) and ponder alternatives. A well equipped shop provides me the tools and parts to repair most things.

In this day-and-age, I don't discount the internet for thoughts and advise. Just last week, I had 2 issues where I didn't know the solution and was considering calling in help.
1) My heat pump wouldn't shut off AT ALL unless I threw the breaker. After checking all the obvious things, a quick internet search pointed me to the problem. A $15 part and 30 minutes for installation, I had it up and running again. A lot cheaper than calling for an HVAC tech to come out.
2) My car was dumping out massive amounts of antifreeze. Radiator and hoses were good. An internet search pointed me to a plastic bolt that's known to go bad on the overflow tank. Ordered the $4 bolt, installed it and now it's all better.

 

[Meerkat]

Its always something and everywhere you look we se nother project. Right now the forest is coming in on us and trees are blocking the sun fro mhgreenhouse and hubby just isn't ble to cut down those in the way yet. I gave up using the chain saw about 6 yr ago. Not worried bout licking up the logs now though, they can lay where they fall.

But I do want greenhouse back. At least part of it closed in for winter.
Hubby left boat alonefor now and so far both old hehicles are running. I seiously need something to do like plants.

 

[Sourdough]

There is a reason that I own 16 chainsaws. I have never grasped how anyone could live this lifestyle in deep rural or remote location with only one chainsaw.

 

[Rebecca]

Frustrations come and go, many of mine are small and winter induced at the moment. While I certainly have cold, it was about 0F this morning, I don't have the huge amount of snow and really low temps some of you get. That said if I didn't get beyond irritable with myself trying to get the snow chains on the truck this morning. I am not good at this particular little exercise! There was much kneeling in snow, and swearing and mumbling about immigrating to Australia
But on the win side I got the more stubbon generator to run this morning with only changing the spark plug...yay!!
I love that feeling of a project coming together. Added a covered deck late summer, a first for me building that, I was ridiculously pleased.

 

[Meerkat]

I just now ordered greenhouse film, on phone not website. Talked to nice young lady at Farm Supply, Bless her heart she was patiant,since I kept giving her wrong CC # can't see the thing VERY good! Also not thinking too good these days. At least she laughed instead of got mean.
Shipping was EXPENSIVE~. $46.00 for &99.00 greenhouse film. But glad to get it if comes when ptomised .I called to make sure it wasn't going to be heree next summer like some things we ordred this year. or they didn't come at all. I'll just pray I did right.

 

[Spikedriver]

There is a reason that I own 16 chainsaws. I have never grasped how anyone could live this lifestyle in deep rural or remote location with only one chainsaw.

Yup. When it comes to chainsaws, two is one and one is none. I will say that nobody ever regrets buying a Stihl chainsaw. Compared to those cheap Poulan saws, it's money well spent...

 

[Alaskajohn]

There is a reason that I own 16 chainsaws. I have never grasped how anyone could live this lifestyle in deep rural or remote location with only one chainsaw.

I have only 7 chainsaws. Last week we had a wet snow storm knocking down about 20 trees and alders on my half mile driveway. Two of the chainsaws are new, a small professional grade Stihl for my wife and a big professional grade Husqvarna for me. Guess which ones wouldn't start at -3 degrees? Thank goodness for the old ones!!!

 

[Spikedriver]

@Rebecca snow chains suck. No doubt about it. I struggle getting a set onto a car in a blizzard outside of Tahoe once and swore I'd never do that again. But those things are a lifesaver when you need them...

 

[Meerkat]

There is a reason that I own 16 chainsaws. I have never grasped how anyone could live this lifestyle in deep rural or remote location with only one chainsaw.

Well I think I know which trees are blocking the sun now I looked when sun was shining and the ones shading the area. Hubby has a back full of metal cages rods,etc,etc,etc, aand it is not doing good this month,so not ssure when chain saw will be used. He doesn't ake anything for pain for years now and sometimes it lays him out. He will have a couple drinks now and then not for pain but for mental.

I am not about to use chain saw now.Don't have upper stenth I had a few years ago.

 

[Meerkat]

I have only 7 chainsaws. Last week we had a wet snow storm knocking down about 20 trees and alders on my half mile driveway. Two of the chainsaws are new, a small professional grade Stihl for my wife and a big professional grade Husqvarna for me. Guess which ones wouldn't start at -3 degrees? Thank goodness for the old ones!!!

I used a Poulan Pro but changed to a B*D electric last time .MrMeer didn't like me useing chainsaws at all,lol.I did use an axe but that was 20 yr ago and too much work .

 

[Meerkat]

Yup. When it comes to chainsaws, two is one and one is none. I will say that nobody ever regrets buying a Stihl chainsaw. Compared to those cheap Poulan saws, it's money well spent...

Hey watch it about Poulan,ours has worked good for years, remember that hugelkulture bed we built for some of the trees he cut down with it? Some of those logs were huge. One almost hit the house too when it fell.

 

[Spikedriver]

Hey watch it about Poulan,ours has worked good for years, remember that hugelkulture bed we built for some of the trees he cut down with it? Some of those logs were huge. One almost hit the house too when it fell.

We used to have Poulan chainsaws on the farm but about 10 years ago my brother upgraded and we've got 3 Stihl saws now. We never had anything but trouble with the Poulans. They were a pain to start and would just die in the middle of cutting. But back in the day they were the best Pops could afford...

 

[Meerkat]

We used to have Poulan chainsaws on the farm but about 10 years ago my brother upgraded and we've got 3 Stihl saws now. We never had anything but trouble with the Poulans. They were a pain to start and would just die in the middle of cutting. But back in the day they were the best Pops could afford...

Well Spike we have to work with what we get and so far one is ok. But of course I'd like to have the Cadilac of one,wouldn't mind having the Contimnental auto either, not one ofthe sawed off new ones though, Ilike the ones with the long front ends and plenty of room. Never know when you may need to camp out in one.

 

[Spikedriver]

About ten years ago I was working on a section gang in North Missouri. The tracks run through some heavily wooded areas and mudslides or wind would knock trees down on the tracks fairly often. We had a hydraulic chainsaw in the truck. Our trucks have 100 foot hydraulic lines and that saw would cut trees like they were hot butter. If you have a portable hydraulic power unit, a hydraulic saw is definitely the way to go. Dragging the hydraulic hoses around behind you sucks though...

 

[sonya123]

The thing that frustrates me the most when it comes to equipment is the never functioning weed eaters and mowers. I think we have about 10 of them in the shop now.
I blame them for my accident last year. I used a scythe instead. If we had functioning weed eaters, I would not have done that.

Thinking about spending way too much money on getting one of those tow behind an ATV mowers. There are always certain weeds that even the goats leave behind, and pretty soon the pasture is full of them and nothing else. We spent 3 years getting rid of cockleburs, and most of the thistles, now we have this small bushes not sure what they are growing everywhere taking up space where grass should be growing.

However , the most frustrating thing is getting good hay. Don't get me started on that

Oh and then there is the never ending horrible weather. Too much rain, not enough rain, too cold, too hot. This year, the hay got rained on, last year there was no second cutting because it was too dry. This year we are 1\4 of the way through our wood already and it's not even winter yet officially.

Chainsaws are the guy's department, usually son cuts down the trees , and I think we only have 2. One of them I can use if I have to, the other one is just too heavy for me ( and I am fairly strong for a woman)

 

[Neb]

Re: chainsaws and weed wacker

They one of subjects were my brother and I disagree. I dislocated my right shoulder as a teen. If an engine kicks back I can dislocate my shoulder again. Most pull starts are set-up for right handed use.

My brother loves internal combustion everything.

I solved all of my issues with starting my chainsaw and weed wacker. I added to my collection of Dewalt 20 volt tools a weed wacker and chainsaw. I never have trouble starting them.



Ben

 

[Weedygarden]

That said if I didn't get beyond irritable with myself trying to get the snow chains on the truck this morning. I am not good at this particular little exercise! There was much kneeling in snow, and swearing and mumbling about immigrating to Australia

@Rebecca snow chains suck. No doubt about it. I struggle getting a set onto a car in a blizzard outside of Tahoe once and swore I'd never do that again. But those things are a lifesaver when you need them...

Snow chains! Ugh! I had one experience with them, in Iowa one Thanksgiving. Such a pain to put on and then they are meant to be used in a limited way. Hopefully chains are better now, but I will never forget what a pain to have chains break while driving in a snow storm. I should have turned around and gone home, south.

Re: chainsaws and weed wacker

They one of subjects were my brother and I disagree. I dislocated my right shoulder as a teen. If an engine kicks back I can dislocate my shoulder again. Most pull starts are set-up for right handed use.

My brother loves internal combustion everything.

I solved all of my issues with starting my chainsaw and weed wacker. I added to my collection of Dewalt 20 volt tools a weed wacker and chainsaw. I never have trouble starting them.



Ben

Pull cord starting tools are the worst for me. How many times can you pull before it starts? How many pulls do you give before you throw it away? This is why all of the tools I buy are electrical: lawnmower, weed whacker, chain saw, more. I have yet to need one that is far enough away from an outlet.

 

[Spikedriver]

@Weedygarden when I had to use chains, a co-worker and I were driving from Iowa to Sacramento for work in early January 2016. We had already been through one blizzard in Wyoming so we were a day behind. Then we got stuck in Reno for two days because I-80 was closed for another storm at Donner Pass. The third day we set out to go south, around to Tahoe but it snowed more. We went back to Reno and got chains. Sure enough we had to stop near Carson City and chain up in freezing rain. The chains turned that Buick sedan into a mountain goat. Snow, ice, slush, muck...it didn't matter, we went straight through it. We could only go 20 mph but we got up and down the mountain. I've been a believer ever since. But I hate putting them on...

 

[Meerkat]

The thing that frustrates me the most when it comes to equipment is the never functioning weed eaters and mowers. I think we have about 10 of them in the shop now.
I blame them for my accident last year. I used a scythe instead. If we had functioning weed eaters, I would not have done that.

Thinking about spending way too much money on getting one of those tow behind an ATV mowers. There are always certain weeds that even the goats leave behind, and pretty soon the pasture is full of them and nothing else. We spent 3 years getting rid of cockleburs, and most of the thistles, now we have this small bushes not sure what they are growing everywhere taking up space where grass should be growing.

However , the most frustrating thing is getting good hay. Don't get me started on that

Oh and then there is the never ending horrible weather. Too much rain, not enough rain, too cold, too hot. This year, the hay got rained on, last year there was no second cutting because it was too dry. This year we are 1\4 of the way through our wood already and it's not even winter yet officially.

Chainsaws are the guy's department, usually son cuts down the trees , and I think we only have 2. One of them I can use if I have to, the other one is just too heavy for me ( and I am fairly strong for a woman)

LOL,hubby hates cockleburs.

 

[Spikedriver]

LOL,hubby hates cockleburs.

He ain't the only one...

Cockleburs...

 

[Meerkat]

He ain't the only one...

Cockleburs...

they get between the dogs paws, in the tires of lawn tractor, and very painful picking them off socks and shoes. He sees a plant in front and goes after it with a vengence. I told him he needs to work on that. He still cusses the neighbor who he said brought them here mowing the frontage.

 

[Bacpacker]

I've worked on whatever needs it since I was a kid on the farm. Has served me well over the years and into my career. I like being able to find info on you tube or the net to get up to speed on easier ways to do things, time savers.
Chain saws, Husky and Sthil are the way to go, but you still want more than one. Weed eaters I just hate, but still better than any alternative.
Frustration for me is plumbing. Seems I can't do any plumbing job with less than 3 trips to the supply store.

 

[SheepDog]

I keep a stockpile of plumbing items just in case. The remarkable part is that I normally have what I need and then I replace it in the stockpile.

 

[Spikedriver]

I've worked on whatever needs it since I was a kid on the farm. Has served me well over the years and into my career. I like being able to find info on you tube or the net to get up to speed on easier ways to do things, time savers.
Chain saws, Husky and Sthil are the way to go, but you still want more than one. Weed eaters I just hate, but still better than any alternative.
Frustration for me is plumbing. Seems I can't do any plumbing job with less than 3 trips to the supply store.

I've actually gone to using a Weed Whip instead of a weed whacker. It's a lot more work and doesn't look as nice when you're done, but it's pretty effective. Only problem is you still have to pull the weeds that are right up next to posts, trees, foundations, etc. I found out the hard way, what happens when you take a big swing and the tip of the weed whip catches a post. My back hurt for 3 days.

 

[Spikedriver]

I keep a stockpile of plumbing items just in case. The remarkable part is that I normally have what I need and then I replace it in the stockpile.

I used to have a stockpile too. It always had just about everything except what I actually needed.

I'm the world's worst plumber anyway so it didn't matter. It's cheaper for me to just hire it done in the first place, than for me to try and fix it and then have to hire a guy to come and unscrew everything that I screw up...

 

[Neb]

I keep a stockpile of plumbing items just in case. The remarkable part is that I normally have what I need and then I replace it in the stockpile.

Ditto that!

When you can do it buy X2 what you need. Organize the excess. Eventually you will be able to solve problems with out a trip to the hardware store.

Then you shine!

Ben

 

[randyt]

Infernal combustion engines are my frustation. The older ones are much simpler without all the electronic junk. It is best in my opinion to kerp things simple and streamlined

 

[Cascadian]

When I buy plumbing parts they smile and say see you in an hour. So I have a pretty good stock and sometimes have what I need. I have an old dresser with metal drawers that works well for organizing by size.