Feels like I am cheating

My tractor went from being a 'fun hobby' to a 'critical necessity' -according to my wife.

I was having fun working out how I am going to do some of the bigger repairs, for which I have few specialized tools to complete. So, this was a bit of a fun puzzle for me.

My wife said, (and I am paraphrasing) "My friends husband works on tractors. He has a shop. I have things for you to do, so here is his contact info. Your tractor is no longer a hobby, it is now a mission-critical tool."

...And just like that, a roll back came on Friday and took my tractor away.

There will still be work for me to do on it. I want to refurbish my 'rest-o-ride' seat and I still need to return it to its original paint scheme. I even want to make some modifications to the front grill to accommodate lights, yet it still feels like I am going to be on the 'side lines'.

I am saying this because it feels like I am cheating by paying a more experienced and knowledgeable person with a properly equipped shop to do the work I wanted to do, and so it better. But please understand, I am just doing what my wife told me to do. That's good, I guess...

Drive over and help a couple of hours. Sure he will understand and you will
feel much better. Problem solved.

Now being a critical necessity since it is broken down you NEED to go buy another for a spare !

Just kidding, but someone said on here not long ago that his wife was fussing about his tractor hobby.
He told her that she was beginning to sound like his first wife.
She said "You have never been married before".
He said "You are correct".
Again, just kidding.
Richard

Thanks Jeffcat,

I like how you are thinking, but I don't think my boss is going to see things the way I do on this one. He's still expecting me to be on the job. That's just how he is.

Funny you should say that, I think I found a 'derelict' light industrial 4000, like mine, sitting out in a field, not far from my home. It appears to be a diesel, which is different from mine, but it is yellow and blue like mine should be.

I have been tempted to see who owns it and find out if there is a way I can take it off his hands.

That will also require spousal approval. Maybe she'll go for the "His and Hers" angle... Then maybe she can help get some of the mission-critical work done too!

Buy the tractor and put it behind the
building for a year or so. Bring it out
and start playing. When she asks tell her
you had it a long time doesn't she
remember?

Forgiveness is much easier than
permission!

Hi Richard G,

That's funny, and my wife might even get a kick out of it, but I'll probably keep that one to my self. No need for me to push my luck!

I am truly blessed that my wife agreed to marry me - despite all of my friends trying to help her make a better decision.

Regardless, I am picking up what you are laying down, and it is funny!

Take my wife, to steal a phrase, she would gladly call a rollback to start picking the dozen tractors in the back yard. If she had her way they would never come back. Don't get me wrong Dixie is a good wife but city gals think different about tractors for the most part.

My former mother-in-law always referred to me as her daughter's first husband.

She has been correct for the past 31 years.

My Wife told me about a month ago , There's like 7 tractors in your Tractor Shed?!!! I said you can't count because there's 9......

Don't be so hard on yourself. Pa always said "let the carpenter do the building, let the plumber do the plumbing, let the mechanic fix the tractors. I'm a farmer so let me do the
farming. That way we can all make a living"

Dick L that sounds like my city wife also. Ron MN

When I got permission to buy first tractor, I came home with TWO A Farmall's. She said you bought two? I said you don't think I would buy me one and not buy you one do ya? Has worked so far!

My storage space for tractors is full (10 tractors) now I have to convince my wife that I need a new building, that may be
hard for her to swallow.

She is going to see this post and have the shop install a new seat, paint it, put on a new grill and lights, and you will be in for a surprise (and big bill)!!

well I think my wife lost track around 6 or 7, I have 15 now and as long as I don't park them all in the same place at one time and keep them either red or white she don't know the difference.

"Forgiveness is much easier than permission!"

Sooooooooo true. I learned that many years ago and used it in the work place too. Ask permission and all the receiver can do is see how many ways to object. Do it and if caught, since it's already done, and usually for the better, pointing out the benefits helps the benevolence in swaying the receivers indulgence........besides it's already done!!!!!!!!!

Ask her if she'd rather have you out in the garage working on a tractor or in town sitting at the bar? Wouldn't she rather have you at home
and know where you are? Yes tractors cost money and sometimes a lot of money and you may or may not get your investment back but gambling or
drinking is also an investment that goes down the toilet, with no return on investment, see which she'd rather you be doing using this
argument I think it'll turn out in your favor.

So, I have had my tractor back from the shop for a few weeks now and there are some noticeable improvements to its performance. I clearly made the right choice to have a professional work on it.

In other posts I was looking for advice for why I was having problems with things like climbing hills and moving things and other tasks that should be "nothing" for a tractor to handle. The repairs that were needed I think have explained the troubles.

The attached photo, shows the rear end exposing where the ring gear fits. The ring gear had a significant chunk missing and the pilot bearing was broken off the pinion. Also, the splines on the pinions were broken to a point where they would barely engage to good teeth on the ring.

The mechanic says the screws holding the pinion in place backed out causing the pinion to slide and the slam into the ring gear. This is how the damage happened.

The bottom line is that it was a very expensive repair that went out of the scope of my abilities.

So, generally speaking, it s in good condition, however, I am a bit upset, for a couple reasons.

First, my tractor was this well seasoned mechanics last job; I am told that the corporation that purchased the business where he worked has apparently has applied policies so offensive to the existing staff, the business is losing all the folks that made the company what it once was.

Second, and this may sound like it will contradict the first, but the tractor was returned to me with a power steering problem. It is now leaking from the line that screws into the steering column. This was not happening before it went into the shop.

Oh well, maybe I can fix this one myself.

So now you need to have a heart to heart with the wife. If having that tractor is so critical you should have 2 tractors at least in case the first one breaks down. That way "mission critical" tasks can still be accomplished.

Rick