Tuesday, February 28, 2017

It’s raining today, with a little thunder now and then.  That makes it a good day to be in the shop, working on equipment.  The grain deliveries are ‘caught up’ until Monday, so Brandon and John are working together.  The main project now is to repair the JD 2510H toolbar and prepare it for the soon-coming NH3 application season.  We use this implement along with an older, blue DMI 15-shank bar to put down our corn crop’s nitrogen needs ahead of the corn planter.  The DMI had to go to Montgomery Welding for some welding repairs, but it got home yesterday and it is now hooked up and ready.  This JD task will take a couple days.  We are also adding a new technology package to its Capstan N-Ject system, called “N-Vision”.  This new system will simplify the plumbing and make the metering system even more accurate.  We have had some difficulty with the N-Ject system’s accuracy, but this should solve that problem.

John works on replacing some of the row unit ‘scrapers’… I’d call them ‘boots’. These operate on the back side of the opener disks, and make the opposite side of the trench for in injection of the NH3. These seem to be a high-wear item.

Brandon also works on replacing a scraper. Soon, they’ll install the N-Vision components.

The last time we replaced these scrapers was in March of 2014.  See the post for that day to review the how and why this must be done.

Our shop is too small to unfold this implement inside.  Therefore, we must use ladders to access the parts we cannot reach from the floor.  It’s okay, it sure makes this task possible on a rainy day like today… at least it’s warm and dry!

Pat and I are traveling to Purdue tonight to cheer on our Boilermakers v the arch-rival Indiana Hoosiers.  It won’t be easy, but we’re hopeful for a Purdue victory!  That would clinch at least a share of the Big Ten championship.  Go Boilers!

#Plant17 inches closer and closer with each passing day!