This is a video of a John Deere 4020 loading half-ton bales onto a wagon being pulled by a John Deere 4230 on August 1, 2012.
This is a video of a John Deere 4020 loading half-ton bales onto a wagon being pulled by a John Deere 4230 on August 1, 2012.
I took a nice little stroll to the beef cows that are currently on the dry farm on the 1939 John Deere Model A. I’ve been working on the tractor most of the winter, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to warm the motor up a bit and let it stretch its legs. It was so pretty that I decided to film it. Since I’m just holding my camera, it’s a little bumpy. The video shows the beautiful west hills in Freedom, Wyoming (which is actually in Idaho) on the Robert Weber farm.
John Deere BW Muffler Replacement Preview–incomplete. This is a section of a video I’m putting together of a muffler replacement on a 1949 John Deere Model B. It’s the first time I’ve had this hood off, so I ran into a few snags. I’ll have to finish it another day. When I do, I’ll make up a better video with commentary of how to get the hood off to replace a muffler. Unfortunately Deere made something that should be very simple far too complicated. Keep a close eye out for my pup–he makes a few quick appearances.
It’s hard to believe that we are coming up on one year since we burned down the “Old House”. This house was on our farm from about 1914 to March 16th, 2011. The home was built by my grat-grandfather Lawrence Weber and his siblings for their mother, my great-great grandmother Verena Weber, whom was born in Switzerland and came and settled as an LDS immigrant. She lived in the house for only 2-3 years before she died (according to the information I have received). I suppose it was about that time that Lawrence Weber took over what is currently the Weber Farm, where he ended up raising his family and living until his death in January of 1949. My grandfather, Rex, lived in this house until marrying my grandmother and building their own home, which was built next to this house.
This house was a very beautiful building in its time. It had some lavishing woodwork on the outer trim and other parts of the exterior. I’d even go as far as to say that it was one of the most beautiful homes in the valley at the time it was built. Unfortunately though, it fell into disrepair as it became a storage place for old car junk and other items. After this started happening it became clear that no one was ever going to fix it up, and in the past few years it had started to become a dangerous place to be around.
After the house finished burning down, it left some interesting traces of how it was constructed. It was built on a rock foundation, which was capped in the early 40s. It also had two brick chimneys and one cinderblock chimney, which I believe was added later when they made the edition to the kitchen. We have since collected all of the bricks and rocks.
Although this video and photos probably doesn’t seem very interesting to random people, to those that have a connection to it (especially us that still live on the farm), watching it burn was a very emotional time and experience. If the video seems a little overly dramatic for you, I apologize. I tried to capture it how it felt to us.
I spent a little more time on the A, and decided to take her for a test drive. She did okay, but still needs some work. I don’t know if it is the timings or carb but the RPMs just wouldn’t go up, making it have no power. Eventually I’ll get there…
My summer project has been restoring the ’47 A that has been sitting on our farm for as long as I can remember. I’m not sure exactly how long long it’s been there, but I don’t remember it NOT being there. I’m not completely done with it, but it’s definitely made progress!
To this:
UPDATE: I have tinkered with it a bit more (weather permitting), and it now runs a little better.
After doing some research and finding out the the first tractor we had on our farm was a 1949 John Deere Model A, I decided to keep an eye online and see if I could find one. At first I wanted to see if I could track down the original machine, but after realizing that was not going to be possible I decided to look for someone selling one of the same year. I found this tractor, which is a pretty machine so I’m happy with it. I know it’s not our original, but it gives me a sense of what my grandfather would have seen. I can only imagine how it would have felt going from farming with horses to using this tractor!
I know the farming season will start very soon, and I have spent the entire week working for the school district. So what better thing to do then get out and enjoy the beauty of Star Valley (Freedom). So that’s what I did. This is a collection of some of the photos I took on the 25th and the 26th of April, 2009. Another reason why I wanted so much to get out and take photos is because of my Fathers Utah siblings whom have come up with a plan to “support” my grandparents–but in reality it’s selling off most of the dry farm to pay for a luxurious retirement for themselves… I have to enjoy it while I can, and pray for the best.