Just not very accurate and I cant pull any real conclusions from it...

 

Your wish has been granted!

I really like the Optima - I saw a big difference too...







"Clicking off" the stud nuts to check torque is usually fine, but for a proper (OCD) re-torque the nuts must be backed off and bearing surfaces must be re-lubed... that's the 100% way to establish correct clamp load after heat cycling has allowed the studs to stretch.

Anything less and there's a risk of compromising HG seal integrity at higher power levels; the stud/HG(O-ring) clamp relationship is important - have to match torque to O-ring protrusion, so the clamp load can be balanced between the HG's fire ring for cylinder pressure and the steel shim for coolant/oil sealing.

 

Everything is relative.
I can fill my CTd up for $2.75 also. (if I only drive 25 miles between fuel stops!!)

RJ

 

Yes.......and i honestly hate to give them up...but now i see how bad they were.....one of those "How to correctly boil a frog in water" scenarios

 

Dang boy! Was you a little heavy?

 

That was the only cutting of hay we made from one of our meadows this year and it was a little short in places (thus the shaggy bales).

I was actually heavier in this picture.



These were some hay grazer bales that we bought that were rolled a little green and very heavy. Didn't realize how heavy because someone else loaded, but you could tell it with the truck when rolling out of the field. Then I could really tell when I unloaded because it would lift the back wheels of the tractor if I wasn't careful when backing up.

 

does anyone know if there is a chapter neard el paso tx

 

There aren't any TX chapters out that way. So far TX has us, Houston, San Antonio and Stephenville.

You might want to check with the New Mexico chapter, not sure how far they are from you.

 

Those rear 285 D's don't even look like they are 'squating' much? Surprised they don't blow out??
How far did you have to haul that load?

RJ

 

The Ranch is only 680 miles from El Paso. Come on over and join us sometime.

Albuquerque is a little closer at 267 miles.

 

That was mostly all backroads, probably about 15 miles. But plenty of nice "little" hills to keep it interesting.

I checked fully expecting to see it on the bump stops, but it was still riding the overloads with some room to travel. Also, where I was parked in that picture isn't the most level ground. I had a pic from an earlier load that made the whole thing look MUCH worse.

Whenever I do that, I make sure the rears are up to max pressure to carry the weight. Although a friend of mine used to run about that same load with his 33x12.50 MTs and only put about 45psi in them. He'd take the load down the highway 150-200 miles and never once had a tire issue (on the truck).

 

Justin....how much does a round bale like those weigh on average?
I was wondering what the weight would be if you rolled over some scales. Any guess on pin weight too?

..

 

Usually depends on who baled them. We like our bales dense and around 5.5'. I would think they run somewhere around 1300lbs each (maybe up to 1500lb depending on grass condition).

The hay grazer load was full 6' bales because it was a tight fit to get 6 on the bottom with a 35' trailer. Those bales were also rolled up a little on the green side to beat some rain, so they may have weighed in closer to 1700-1800. I just know they were enough to cause the rear wheels on the tractor (which are filled with water) to lift slightly if you came off the clutch too fast when backing up.

As for pin weight, not quite sure. But I'm guessing it's on the heavier side considering the distribution of the load on the trailer. Usually, if I have one or two less than a full load, I'll skip the front bales on the top and keep more weight toward the rear. I much prefer running this load with a dually, but it works with mine.

I used to think they were at the 2K mark, but we got some large alfalfa squares in one year that were weighed out at 2K each. The tractor absolutely hated those. You could get them up, but it was pushing hard to do it. Since I was able to work a little easier with those hay grazer bales, I'm figuring they have to be a few hundred pounds lighter.

I'll have to check with a couple of friends from home. There is one guy they haul for that only buys hay by weight, so they have to run all of their loads across the scale in town before heading to his place. Those loads are usually only 5 at a time on a hay wagon, but we can figure bale weight from there.

 

After 3 years and 5 months, the brushes in my FASS finally bit the dust. It happened fast....running, parked it, then no start. Used my replacement brushes from under the back seat and was back on the road.

I had noticed a little lack of power for a few days, but the pressure was still at about 19 down the road. Now, the power is back and it seems to idle better.

 

Everyone up here claims the 'big' round bails are 2,000 lbs?? I never actually picked one up and put it on a scale myself!

RJ