Old age for the birds

I sure like the looks of the seat tank. In fact I converted the 5J myself, but it sure makes it a pain to hook up to the drawbar. The drawbar is way in under the seat and you can't easily see especially when you have a stiff neck that comes with old age. It seems like it always entails a little re-posititioning which means another trip on and off and foot entanglement etc. no wonder I get so tired at the end of the day.

I started farming with a 5U D2 with a fender tank. That gives you a nice cozy place to be. The tank is nice to lean on going one way across the side hill and the cap is good to hang on to going the other way. My grandfather was deathly afraid I would roll the Cat trying to work ground that was too steep. He had farmed with horses. I was always told if you got in trouble to jump off uphill. My number finally came up back in '83 when I rolled that 5U off a truck while loading. I jumped the wrong way and the Cat hit the ground on its side next to me and gently rolled over with the fender tank squashing me. A ratty chunk of mild steel grouser bar penetrated my leg just behind the knee. The infection finally healed and the neuropathy in my legs went away after 6 months or so. I got lucky and am still here.

I sure like the looks of the seat tank. In fact I converted the 5J myself, but it sure makes it a pain to hook up to the drawbar. The drawbar is way in under the seat and you can't easily see especially when you have a stiff neck that comes with old age. It seems like it always entails a little re-posititioning which means another trip on and off and foot entanglement etc. no wonder I get so tired at the end of the day.

I started farming with a 5U D2 with a fender tank. That gives you a nice cozy place to be. The tank is nice to lean on going one way across the side hill and the cap is good to hang on to going the other way. My grandfather was deathly afraid I would roll the Cat trying to work ground that was too steep. He had farmed with horses. I was always told if you got in trouble to jump off uphill. My number finally came up back in '83 when I rolled that 5U off a truck while loading. I jumped the wrong way and the Cat hit the ground on its side next to me and gently rolled over with the fender tank squashing me. A ratty chunk of mild steel grouser bar penetrated my leg just behind the knee. The infection finally healed and the neuropathy in my legs went away after 6 months or so. I got lucky and am still here.

The 7U was always a good starter but in recent times I have needed the pony starter to get it going. I think it just needs the points cleaned and set. Rather than mess with it I just leave it parked on a hill and roll start it. Yesterday it would not roll. I dug under it...still nothing. I thought I would try to start the 5J to give it a tug. It had been a hill sitter in the past but has been a one rope starter since I worked on the carb. It had been sitting with only a can on the stack all winter but it started with one pull on the rope. I gave the 7U a tug and was in business. I just left the 5J on the hill because I would need it the next day.