Don't let your Cub sit too long!

[Barnyard]

Went to get one of the Cubs ready to hook up to the manure spreader and found that it had been claimed by somebody else. Oh well...I'm sure there's another around here I can use.

[tinnerjohn]

several years ago I started my wife's 8N after it had set all winter. Let it idle while I did something else. I smelled smoke, turned around and saw it was coming from under the hood. There was a nest on the head and manifolds starting to burn! No harm done to tractor and the nest was empty, but it could have been disaster. I've had one on the 8N toolbox twice, but I found them when I was checking the gas and battery. John

[Dale Finch]

Last year, I decided to run my '48 Super A that I was selling, and same as above...after idling for a few minutes, I saw smoke coming from under the hood. I grabbed the fire extinguisher that I had mounted in the tractor shed. However, when I pulled the trigger, nothing happened!

I ran and grabbed another one in my storage shed, and it sputtered a bit, but not very effective. I then grabbed the 3rd one in the cabin, and this one finally worked, spitting that white mess everywhere. At least the fire was put out. But the truth is, it probably went out on its own!! After what ended up being a bird's nest was consumed, there was very little to burn. Fortunately, the tractor was exceptionally clean (since it was for sale) so not much else there...except, of course, for the gas tank!!

Three lessons were learned here:
1. Always check (more carefully!) for evidence of bird nests, and with the SA that is more difficult with the extended hood and less access visually than a cub.
2. Have more and larger fire extinguishers! The one that finally worked barely put out the fire, which had probably already burned itself out.
3. There had been a MASSIVE recall on certain fire extinguishers...Kidde and First Alert among them. Although ALL my fire extinguishers were in the green zone on the gauges, 2 of the 3 failed to function. Between my farm and home, I returned 5 fire extinguishers.

So check any fire extinguishers you have for being on the recall list...it's free, (goes back to the 70's I think) and they can even be discharged. They send you a new one, then you put your old one in the box and send it back pre-paid by them.

Also, replace them with more and larger extinguishers than you think you need! If this fire had involved oil or gas, or anything more flammable than that small bird's nest, it could have been disastrous!

[RonT]

Same story here - I used my Kubota to mow for the first time and smelled a slight burning smell. Here is what I found. Note - the blue thing in the center is a valve cover bolt - no eggs or shells found.

Ron

[Eugene]

Thanks for the reminder. I'm about ready to start up a couple tractors that have been sitting over the winter. I usually find mice nests.

[Jim Becker]

. . . However, when I pulled the trigger, nothing happened!

I ran and grabbed another one in my storage shed, and it sputtered a bit, but not very effective. I then grabbed the 3rd one in the cabin, and this one finally worked, spitting that white mess everywhere. . . .

Somebody, I think a traveling fire extinguisher salesman, described a fire extinguisher maintenance task to me. When you go around periodically to check them, don't just look at the gauge. The dry powder in the extinguisher settles down and gets tighter over time. So periodically invert the extinguisher and shake the powder loose. He suggested smacking the bottom like you would a bottle of catsup. I prefer smacking the extinguisher downward against the palm of my hand like a bottle of catsup. I've found that if I do it close to my ear I can hear it when the powder breaks loose.

[Cub-Bud]

Every year, I find a bird's nest in the front of my B Farmall between the grille and radiator.

[Waif]

Last year, I decided to run my '48 Super A that I was selling, and same as above...after idling for a few minutes, I saw smoke coming from under the hood. I grabbed the fire extinguisher that I had mounted in the tractor shed. However, when I pulled the trigger, nothing happened!

I ran and grabbed another one in my storage shed, and it sputtered a bit, but not very effective. I then grabbed the 3rd one in the cabin, and this one finally worked, spitting that white mess everywhere. At least the fire was put out. But the truth is, it probably went out on its own!! After what ended up being a bird's nest was consumed, there was very little to burn. Fortunately, the tractor was exceptionally clean (since it was for sale) so not much else there...except, of course, for the gas tank!!

Three lessons were learned here:
1. Always check (more carefully!) for evidence of bird nests, and with the SA that is more difficult with the extended hood and less access visually than a cub.
2. Have more and larger fire extinguishers! The one that finally worked barely put out the fire, which had probably already burned itself out.
3. There had been a MASSIVE recall on certain fire extinguishers...Kidde and First Alert among them. Although ALL my fire extinguishers were in the green zone on the gauges, 2 of the 3 failed to function. Between my farm and home, I returned 5 fire extinguishers.

So check any fire extinguishers you have for being on the recall list...it's free, (goes back to the 70's I think) and they can even be discharged. They send you a new one, then you put your old one in the box and send it back pre-paid by them.

Also, replace them with more and larger extinguishers than you think you need! If this fire had involved oil or gas, or anything more flammable than that small bird's nest, it could have been disastrous!

I had been keeping a soap bottle with soap and water in the tool box. Yes , it freezes in winter.

My answer to "what do you want for Christmas?" was , fire extinguishers for the Cubs.

Ya , look em over good before firing one up.
Not a tractor , but the neighbors cat had a rough time when I started the truck midwinter one day.
Sounded like a busted belt so I shut it down.
Cat got lucky ,that time...

[Nelson 634]

Jim Becker wrote
Somebody, I think a traveling fire extinguisher salesman, described a fire extinguisher maintenance task to me. When you go around periodically to check them, don't just look at the gauge. The dry powder in the extinguisher settles down and gets tighter over time. So periodically invert the extinguisher and shake the powder loose. He suggested smacking the bottom like you would a bottle of catsup. I prefer smacking the extinguisher downward against the palm of my hand like a bottle of catsup. I've found that if I do it close to my ear I can hear it when the powder breaks loose.

Its called fluffing a fire extinguisher. I use to use a rubber mallet when I did biyearly inspection of the plant's fire extinguishers. Turn them upside down give'm a couple of smacks then shake vigorously. "Smacking the bottom like you would a bottle of catsup" was not an option, over 50 of them to do, my hand would have long since given out. And by the way fire extinguishers have an expiration date. Walter

Robins nest, haven't ever seen one that low before least not in Virginia. Nice picture of spring though. Thanks, Walter

[fordhead1983]

Haven't had one on the tractors yet, but recently discovered the reason I get scolded out of the shed by a couple robins. The have made a nest on our hay rake, and there's 2 little eggs in there. Hope they hatch and fly away by first cutting time.

[Slim140]

Happens in small engines as well

[DickB]

We've chased robins out of the barn for years. They always win, though. Latest was a nest starting where not wanted and so I placed a rubber snake there. The robins built a new nest right on top of the "snake." Got rid of that nest ...and here's why they always win--they finally picked a place...a crotch of a brace to a column and built a nest there...Good To Go, Robins