Old Age is Tough

Late this afternoon I decided to put new knives on the discbine, should take an hour. Got the wrenches and got down there and replaced two of twelve. Knees were killing me. Sat on the ground with feet under the header and replaced two more. Back was killing me. Replaced next two like I used to shear sheep; strain and pain all over. Fought the next two; figured with reading glasses and a trouble-light I should be finished the last four before dark. Could have thrown 5 or 600 bales of hay and be less sore than this hour-long job that took three hours.

Yep, that's the way it goes. It takes me two or three hours to sharpen the blades on my lawn tractor! I run it up on ramps and then lay down and remove the blades. Getting down isn't much of a problem, Getting back UP is the problem! I have to hold on to the brake pedal or the cutting height lever and pull myself up and it hurts like all get out! But when you stop to consider the alternatives, I'll endure what I have to. I'm sure I have said this before, but I tell people that I can still do a days work......It just takes most of the week to get it done!

WOLFMAN.
Tell me about it!I'm 80+ and suffer with debilitating pain now going throughout my body.I sit and try and help my son do work so he isn't self destructing at his age.Last week or so, we have been re working a lawn tractor we bought for my daughter so she won't have to use a push mower on her place. The lawn tractor is a Yard man with Hydrostatic transaxle. Grill is badly damaged as it looks like the older fellow we bought it from used it to do logging. side discharge was busted in 3 pieces,mower deck was patched mandrels,blades so bad a person wouldn't believe. Must have hit boulders of significant size. belt protectors completely off, allowing the belts to gather what ever they could, wearing them out beyond service. This is not the list of things that needed to be repaired,not bought. The neatest thing today was my son cut away the blade height adjuster stop,made a new one,rewelded it on the lift arm,painted and can't tell it from new.
Now all of this takes a great deal of stooping pulling lifting bending and all kinds of contortions that require stamina, which I have little.None of the above,but some stamina.The engine was packed with grass,grease in the air fins on the cylinder head, and the magneto was full of rust and dirt as was the alternator under the magneto. It isn't any more. The engine was full of dirty oil,and the filter was probably only changed once in its entire life. The engine oil is now so clean, it's hard to see on the dip stick,along with a new oil filter and cleaned the air filter, pre filter and paper filter. I don't think the previous owner cared about proper maintenance. The mandrel shaft on one of the mower deck mandrels was twisted at the top where the pulley attach's and the bottom star was chewed off because the blade wasn't tightened as it should have been. We strengthened the back hitch area,as the hole was worn out,lots of work, requiring tremendous amounts of movement and energy,which this old man doesn't have,but my son in his younger years presses on. So in all, I know exactly what you mean,because I'm there at my age,there's no calling back time.Success to you in your endeavors,but remember, SLOW IS THE ANSWER,TAKE YOUR TIME,REST IN BETWEEN PROBLEMS THAT REQUIRE ENERGY.
Warmest regards,
LOU

Yeah, getting old is not for sissies!

Should'a bought a new Kuhn. No wrenches needed to change knives. I turned the ones in mine,replaced a few a couple of weeks ago,took all of 15 minites. Could have done it way faster,but it was the first time it had been done,so no wear in them,so I had to knock some of them loose with a hammer.

Yesterday, at the truck shop the young man my son is in cahoots with needed the numbers off the PTO unit under a truck. He hurried up to the truck, flopped down on the ground, scooted under the truck, got the numbers, slid back out, lightly jumped to his feet and was gone in a flash. If that would have been me I would have been able to get under the truck OK, though slower, but I would have spent awhile shifting around under there while trying to get my head in the right position so I could use the right lenses in my trifocals, with my neck complaining fiercely. While squirming back out I would have banged my head on a crossmember and I would have needed something to grab onto to pull myself back up to my feet. Upon standing I would be staggering till I got my bearings back. Oh, to be agile again!

It is but it's better than the alternative.

Dean

I go swimming 5 days a week first thing in the morning at the high school pool. One of the harder daily things to do is putting my socks back on with slightly damp feet. Sitting on the bench, my knees just don't bend far enough to get the socks to slide on easily. Can't wait till I get old.

My back problems went away about ten years ago when the Dr. recommending doing sit-ups. I do 50 every morning when I start my day.

My knee problem went away when I got a knee replacement last Nov. I was laid up for about two weeks but was well worth it. I would have done it years ago if I would have known how well it worked out.

Just an FYI. I don't know if either would help you out.

I've become that old man with machines sitting in the weeds. It was not done intentionally and really would have been used and maintained my stuff because that's who I am. These days I move much slower but can still get work done. Due to lack of funds and a son who is severely handicapped, the bucket list is rotting. My joy is reading these message boards and watching for ag related video on Youtube.

It's frustrating for me because I'm only 57. Things started getting bad when I was 50. After a few years is was like a ton of bricks fell on me. Now I'm in worse shape than a lot of men a lot older than myself. When they say arthritis is a crippling disease they aren't just whistling dixy.

I'm 62 and a year ago had knee surgery. Six months ago. Some old school guys stopped by. Next thing you know some one pulls out a football. We ended up playing touch football. It wasn't till that evening, I really thought about what I had done and I realize how great I was feeling.
Two months ago. I had left my antique car (66 fastback mustang) sitting out in front yard all night. At about 2 in the morning I heard an engine roaring and thought some one was steeling my car. I somehow jumped up and cleared my bed. jumping all the way to the other side of my king size bed and ran to the window to see what was going on. To this day I don't know how I did that. The point is, I think the more you do the better you are. Just my two cents. To me it is just to hard getting time to do the stretching and exercise. I have too much work going on.

I wonder if one of those adjustable height roll around stools would help you for that job next time.

I've heard that one of the ways you know you're getting old is when you get down on the floor (or ground), you find yourself asking, "Is there anything else I can do while I'm down here...."

Hi, isn't tht funny! I have the same malady exactly. Ed will

Friend of mine told me once that old age is not bad .It's just all the added maintenance that comes with it. So true!

Have you a few Budwiesers while your under that machine and it ain't near as hard.