How to Put on a Tiller

When you buy a tractor, I would wager that many people have no idea what they are in for. 

Don't get me wrong the tractor is wonderful, it is the purchasing and putting on all the farm implements (post hole digger, grader, tiller) that is a pain the butt.  The tiller was our last purchase.  This was by far the most expensive implement to date.  I will not say how much here so as not to scare those who are thinking of purchasing one, but the ROI on this piece of equipment will take many years of planting a garden.  Actually I will be fully gray before any return on the investment is felt.  We will have to plant A LOT of tomatoes!!!

This weekend was about two things, getting the tiller on the tractor, tilling our first garden and cutting off the post on the barn.  We did accomplish everything but it was very interesting.

First the weatherman has NO IDEA what he is talking about.  Saturday was suppose to be high 60's during the day and the low 50's at night.  When we got there Friday night the weather was great.  By 3:00 AM the wind started blowing about 20 mph and the temperature was in the 40's ..... what the #$^%$.  We had no idea.  We did persevere, but not without a lot of shivers. 

John has really become a mechanical engineer.  Putting on farm equipment is not for the weak of heart or mind.  The first thing you should know is that most farm equipment comes with none or very little instructions.  And when you get the instructions and it says 'putting on the drive shaft will be the most difficult part'.  This is very disconcerting when you have already spend 3 hours connecting everything else.  (By the way, that statement was on the post hole digger). 

Now we come to the tiller.  It had an installation manual (yeah), but when it says you may have to 'cut' the PTO shaft because the distance between your tractor and the tiller may be shorter than average'.  Well when we have paid a fortune for something that says 'you may have to cut', I am usually not feeling well.

Of course, our tractor had a shorter distance and John indeed had to cut.  But he prevailed and was successful. He has plowed our first garden.

Here is John trying to get the PTO shaft to fit on our tractor.

This was a very proud moment.

Our next task was to cut the extra height off the barn posts.  We had to cut the extra 3' off of all 16 poles.  Another lesson learned is John is not very good with heights and but is great tractor driver, I am much better with heights, but my skills at driving a tractor not so good. 

We started with me driving the tractor around and John cutting.  We finally got smart and switched and it all went well.

Another first was that Tyke went with us this weekend.  He normally stays with Sr.  I will say he did wonderful. 

This is Tyke trying to get into John's bag.  Tyke has this thing about sitting on your bags so he doesn't get left, but unfortunately, he does that when he is already there!

Ok - do I not have the cutest dogs or what!!!!!!