[AT] Tractor and truck parts replacement

[Grant Brians]

On 6/4/2015 3:18 AM, Stephen Offiler wrote:
> Agreed, Charlie.  I found the 150,000,000 rotation number pretty fascinating on its own, before the dollar value entered the picture.
>
> I’ve been wondering… is there a reason you only did one side when the first hub failed a couple years ago?  In matters like this I always tend to do both sides at once, things like brakes, ball joints, etc etc.  I figure if one failed the other must be pretty close, and, I’m already there with the truck in the air and the tools all spread out.
>
> SO
>
Stephen Offiler's post about parts replacement made me think about an 
experience this week here on the farm. Saturday, we were spraying 
Organic bacterial fungicide and soap (surfactant) on the Spinach. This 
is necessary now as the Downy Mildew has overcome the genetic resistance 
of the Spinach variety we use and there are no remaining resistant 
varieties available in the world as a result. Our spray rig is a nearly 
antique tractor with mounted tanks, pumps and 40' boom - an 
Allis-Chalmers 185 from 1974. I bought the tractor from another local 
farmer who no longer grows vegetables, now only Apricots. This 41 year 
old tractor is in good shape, but nearly at the end of the spraying for 
the day, one of the front wheels literally dropped off the tractor! This 
is not good.
      The tractor had clearly not been greased on the wheel bearings in 
many years and we had missed that fact when readying it for service 
after I purchased it. We had replaced all of the hoses and any parts 
other than tires that showed wear, serviced all lubricants, cooling 
system, battery, etc. But we missed this problem and my driver had not 
seen the problem until 200' before the components completed their total 
failure.
      I decided immediately, that as soon as I inspected the issue we 
would purchase all new bearings and seals as well as the damaged hub. In 
addition I asked the parts suppliers to make sure that we got the parts 
for both sides and it will be back in service this morning when the 
parts installation is completed.
      As it has gotten harder to get many parts from local stock for 
nearly all machinery, trucks, cars etc., I no longer take a chance 
unless there is a severe parts shortage with not replacing possible to 
fail parts like the other side on this front end like I would have as a 
teenager back in the 70's. I simply cannot afford the downtime or the 
additional cost of repairs being done the equivalent of a second time 
any more. Does this mean I never avoid replacing something that is a 
judgement call? Of course not. But I like to think that I have learned 
something in these decades and am now able to decide to perform a repair 
once rather than more than one time because of having learned how to 
make a more informed choice.
      Just my thoughts and as always where machinery is not used for 
making a living or travelling down the highway, the equation changes.... 
For me as a commercial farmer, I no longer have that leeway most of the 
time.
                Grant Brians - Hollister,California farmer of specialty 
vegetables, herbs and orchard
                       And seed seller www.gourmetseed.com