Giving Up

Tractor stopped turning left (again).

I gave a quick look and saw the gears on the shaft I replaced last year were shiny, so I ordered a new one.

After a few weeks of back order, it finally showed up.

When I went to replace it (i.e. removed the deck, crawled underneath for a closer look), I saw it wasn’t actually the gears on the shaft, but the gears (the left ones specifically) on the steering mechanism that were worn.

Doh!

Last year when this happened I had ordered both the shaft and mechanism to fix it. When I went to do the work, I decided the mechanism was fine and would save a few bucks by returning it.

Double Doh!

Doesn’t matter now.

I’m giving up wasting my time driving in circles (only to the right or right and left) for two hours to have the grass cut. We’re off-loading that job to a lawn service.

Yeah it costs money. Money I could save by doing it myself, but more importantly it buys more time with my kids – roughly a weeks worth of time each summer – over a years worth of time in 10 years.

Yes. I’ve done the math. Ain’t nothing whimsical figured around here (wait for the air compressor debate coming soon).

Still need the part. Still need the tractor to do things like this.

Because there’s still plenty of other work to be done and responsibility taught to the youngins.

Like laying rocks.

Abigail’s a great rock layer.

– b