Howard Tractor

Fortunately, the differential lock can override the essence of the differential, locking the two wheels together so that they are forced to spin as one, as if connected by a common axle.

With the possible exception of a barn, nothing says “farm” quite like a tractor, and for good reason: They're hard-working, powerful machines critical for many serious farm tasks.

With special attachments, tractors can even handle digging stumps and drilling fencepost holes—and don't forget the convenience a tractor can add to even simple farm chores. Some even come with four-wheel drive and cabs, making them the perfect option...

Cultivating Plows, disks, seed drills and cultivators are available for every size tractor, so you can work a plot of land as intensively as you want and maybe expand your hobby to a small truck farm.

Reversing the handles takes a few minutes, depending on the tractor model, and the swiveling handlebars can also lock in position 15 degrees off-center in either mode, allowing you to walk off to one side of a tilled bed, out of a thorn-patch you are...

As we approach the end of the year, it's natural to look back at the past year. If you are heading west out of Spokane, Wash., on Highway 2 the last weekend in August, watch for old combines working in fields on the north side of the road.

It's easy to recall this fable when using a typical riding lawn mower , as throttle controls are often marked with illustrations of a turtle (for low throttle) and a rabbit (for full throttle).

“This helps divert runoff into the side drainage ditches.” Use the tractor bucket on the front-end loader to move dirt from side ditches into the middle of the road and the box blade to drag and smooth it, raising the road bed and cleaning out the...

For hobby farmers, mowing can be a particularly time-consuming task because the amount of grass that needs mowing on a farm can be extensive. This will discharge the clippings toward the middle of the mowing area, which is much more desirable than discharging...

When speaking with Italian farmers who own Lamborghini tractors, I find they are often either amused or contemptuous of the legendary status of the sports cars. I toured the Lamborghini tractor factory in Treviglio, Italy, (a half an hour east of Milan)...

Take, for example, attaching implements to a tractor using the three-point hitch. But for all its strengths, the three-point hitch hasn't always been a standardized feature for tractors.

After confirming no leaks, shut down the motor and wait a few minutes, then check the oil level on the dipstick. With a shop towel handy, remove the filter, paying attention to any o-rings or rubber gaskets that might be present; these will be replaced.

Anyone with a gravel driveway is probably familiar with the way that potholes can form over time, attracting water during rainstorms to form mud puddles that gradually grow larger until your driveway is quite uneven and bumpy.

If you blow a sidewall—the tall side of the tire—there's not much you can do to save the tire except for tubing it. Whether you collect old tractors , inherited grandpa's trusty Minneapolis Moline, or are a vegetable farmer and can't see life without...

Depending on the number of helpers and the number of balers you run simultaneously, (probably just one if you're a hobby farmer), it could take hours to produce and stack a couple of hundred bales of hay.

This applies not only to hand tools but to machines as well; in fact, a couple of years back I expounded on the virtues of old tractors, including “Little Mo,” the John Deere Model 40 that has been faithfully serving my farm for more than 60 years.

While this works well in many cases, the three-point hitch can be stronger, and there is always the risk that the rear end of your tractor will lift off the ground, which can obviously be dangerous.

One of the main benefits is that it doesn't require you to lift your heavy loads—you don't even have to slide them up a ramp because the “wagon” lies flat on the ground. Two perfect examples are tree stumps and large rocks—they're very heavy and...

Working Season Don't get so involved in your summertime work that you forget to check on your machines from time to time. Lorain Ebbett-Rideout Clean the Machine: To save yourself a mess in the spring, banish all those mud bits, dust, dried grass and...

Here a simple to-do list to help you get started. As winter approaches, it's time for hobby farmers to prepare their equipment and tools for cold weather. That said, even the best portable generator won't do you any good if it lacks fuel or is buried...

Wait until the tractor engine has cooled. “However, if you put on fewer hours, as most hobby farmers are likely to do, with the exception of coolants, you should change most fluids and filters at least once a year.” Warm up the engine and run hydraulics...

Whatever it is, the guide below will help you make the best equipment decisions for the work that lays before you. Think about the task ahead and the tools you need to get the job done.

Help motorists see your horse when riding at dusk with a reflective collar that won't cause hair loss or rubbing. Picking Apron The Picker's Apron assists in picking the last fruits and veggies of the season.

Imagine you're trying to clear a field for one of your farming projects. There are also safety concerns, because stump grinders are powerful and throw out plenty of wood chips while they work.

Of course, removing these rocks can also be troublesome, and if you want rock-free fields you need the appropriate rock-removing tools on hand. Tractor Attachments If you need to remove lots of smaller rocks, a variety of tractor attachments are available...

Living in the country, you might have a neighbor can turn to for tractor-maintenance advice and counsel, but your tractor owner's manual can give you most of the answers you're looking for.

If your tractor cab is equipped with air conditioning, take a minute to check the condenser, and remove any debris built up around it, as well. As a final step in daily tractor lubrication, grease joints.