[AT] Thanks! Re: Question

[Greg Hass]

I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to reply to my question on 
tarps, as well as those who
may still reply.  One thing that intrigued me was the reply about wrapping 
a rope around the machine
to help keep the tarp from blowing in high winds.  This would be especially 
valuable with a machine as
tall as a combine.

The idea of used poles is also good.  We used to get them free or for very 
little cost from the utility
companies.  We used them for a few small buildings as well as electric 
poles on the farm.  About
15 years ago, however, (about the time lawyers started breaking our 
country) an electric coop a 100
miles or so from us was sued by someone who had gotten poles either free or 
for $5 apiece.  He had
built some kind of building with them and something happened. (I don't know 
what that was.)  He WON
a huge judgement against the electric company.  Now no utility in the area 
will let you have any poles at
any price, and the few poles which they do remove and abandon are cut into 
fence post lengths before they leave.
It's just too bad something good for many people was spoiled by one bad apple.

It appears that if I go with the tarp idea it is a short-term 
solution.  One thing that has already been touched
by someone is ventilation, which has concerned me to some extent.  A few 
years ago I mentioned to a mechanic
that I was going to cover a big piece of machinery I could not get indoors 
with a piece of heavy-gauge plastic.
To keep the wind from blowing it I was going to seal the edges with a layer 
of dirt.  I thought the mechanic was
going to have a heart attack.  He said that a couple of years earlier a 
neighbor of his had stored a machine
using this same method.  When he uncovered it to use it the next year, all 
that was left was a pile of rust!

Although not the ideal situation, I don't really mind leaving things like 
harrows, cultivators and plows outdoors.
Other than the paint fading, the weather does not seem to hurt 
them.  Things like planters, combines and balers
have too much sheet metal, and too many bearings and belts to stand up very 
well to the weather.

Thanks again to everyone.

Greg Hass
Michigan