Modernization

     How many retired English teachers does it take to place a tank on a trailer?

     Answer:  One, if he has 8 or 9 hours to do it. 

      The move was necessitated by an accident that may have far-reaching and tragic consequences.  It was last Fall, maybe late October or early November, soon after we returned from our Italy trip.

      It hadn’t rained for months. I had watered the trees just before we left, but they were getting dry.  I loaded up the 150-gallon tank at the windmill and was headed back to water the trees. I hit a badger hole in the trail. The tank ruptured and dumped all 150 gallons before I could stop.

       I had to use the golf cart, a 5-gallon bucket, and a couple of 2-gallon jugs to water the trees.  It may not have been enough.

  

       Without too many detractions (no barbershop, no eating out, no family gatherings) I had time to look for a new tank online.  I found the kind I wanted for about $250—shipping $280!  The local stores had tanks, but not what I wanted because I would have to alter the trailer.

      Given enough time, my brain once in a while comes up with a good idea.  The problem is sorting out the good one or two from all the bad ones that spring eternal.

      Granny had her own personal gas tank by the northwest corner of the garage she used to fuel her little GMC pickups and the white Oldsmobile once in a while.  It was mounted on a stand and had 300-gallon capacity.

        When the tank emptied for the last time, I took the stand to use for a farm tank.  Her tank stood on end tucked under the tree by the garage for a lot of years.  I could never add it to the two farm tanks, unless I built a berm, earth or cement, around the tank stands to contain a possible spill,  EPA rules. 

      I’m not sure what the cutoff point is, but with 800 gallons of capacity (300-gallon and 500-gallon tanks) I am exempt.  Add any more capacity and I have to build a berm.  So, the tank stood on end in the shade of a tree.  Small lengths of 2” lumber kept the tank off the ground and out of rust territory.

      Why not convert that tank to water hauling? asked my brain.  The trees are dry.  With the loss of three bigger trees already, I needed to water.  I did water twice using golf cart and jugs.  Not enough.

     Necessity is the mother of invention.  I rolled the tank out of its shelter and began trying to get it up on the trailer.  The tank probably weighs 100—to150 pounds, not heavy but exceedingly bulky. 

      The first attempt resulted in a mini disaster.  With jack, 55-gallon barrels, blocks and 2 X 4’s I attempted to elevate the tank enough to slide it onto the trailer.  At a critical point, the tank decided to roll off the makeshift platform.

     The drain spout suffered, not once but twice.  After the first accident, I hooked it up out of the way.  A second attempt to roll the tank up a couple of 2 X 4’s failed and the tank rolled again.  It rolled up to the garage and lodged against the drain spout, again.  There was little if any additional damage.

      The addition of saw horses created a little more elevation and a lot more stability.  At this point, I was tired and it was time to quit for the day.

       It took another two hours on the next day to finish the job.

        All this time, the thought that if the Farmhand was in service, this whole job might take 45 minutes to an hour.  However, the G has a ruptured rear tire.  The  Farmhand rests on blocks.  The G sits idle.

      Brain functions again.  Good idea?  Maybe, maybe not.  But it happened.

      Too much time on the internet led us eventually to Deertrail, which led to a pickup and trailer sitting in the farmyard.  And a 1965 4010 sitting in the farmyard.  Pickup and trailer left.  So did $9000.  4010 stayed.

      The tractor has been around the block a time or two.  The tach shows 85 hours, with three zeros in front of it, so who knows the actual hours?  It has been repainted, but a few dents testify to its experience.

       Even the Goodwife says it sounds good when it starts and runs.

      I was prepared to road the tractor home, but Jim insisted that he could deliver it.  His son and family have the pickup and the trailer.  The move was a family project.

     Well, there the 4010 sits, looking as if alive.  Next on the docket is finding a place to get it out of the weather.