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Wish I would have done more.....

2K views 24 replies 13 participants last post by  kyyada 
#1 ·
I probably wont get any replies on this but at least I got it off my chest but sitting here twittering my thumbs with it in the high 20's outside I wish I would have done more to my Gravely in the summer when I felt it was "to darn hot" to go out and do something unless I had to like mow. So I plan on just buying parts for it during the winter and put them on as soon as warm weather starts,if everything would stop falling apart that is, been hit w/roof leaks and sick pets i.e. vet bills and now a pawn shop closing B4 my tax refund could possibly get here that I have a $500 gun in incidentally. But heck w/my $ probs I just wish I could work on my Gravely, I can change the $ issues but I cant change the weather. Wish I had a inside shop, now that would be great ! Im afraid of getting to bored like I have polished the exterior/outside of my carb to where it looks like its chrome plated but man is it gonna look sharp when it goes back on. Im thinking about bringing my handle bars inside and taking a roll of plumbers cloth to them and sand them bare for prime n paint, I can vacume up the dust I guess. I just wanna do something to it !:tango_face_crying:
 
#2 ·
Don't feel bad. I also am wishing that I had done more during the warmer weather. I have a MA210 snow cannon that just needs to have the discharge chute put back together the rest of the way and casters mounted for it to slide on, and I'm looking at snow tomorrow night.
Not to mention that I spent today running the piping for a new fuel oil tank (copper isn't cheap, and black iron takes a lot more work with the threading).

For your workspace situation, would a car port be an option? Add a salamder(just remember to feed it kerosene, not diesel) to it and you'll be able to work out there.

My personnal view on money is that it will sort itself out. Take care of the essentials, and the rest will fall into place.


P.S. I do wonder what a fully polished machine might look like. You know, high gloss, mirror smooth paint as well as polished magneto, carb, and crankcase. Sad part though, after polishing like that, would you even want to use it.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
 
#4 ·
I think you'll find most gravelyiers wish they had a heated shop. I am fortunate to have a building that can be heated, but rarely do. If I really need to do something i'll haul it to work in the winter and go from there usually.

But i know I too have an almost done 44 inch snow blower for a rider just needing the auger bolts tightened and the shoot finished installed with a new rubber flap.
Then need a lift rod yet and blah blah countless other projects never started ect that I'd love to work on. But cold tends to take the fun out of it.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Oh I have a car port and thats my work space so to speak but its just a car port meaning its under roof only, or well the sides are covered down about two feet from the top. I wanna enclose it all the way around because all the stuff looks like to me is metal roofing wich is what I see on a bunch of them that are covered in various stages. It looks like you can just screw and fit in the channel them together like metal roofing but in horizontal fashion and I dont think that stuff is very expensive either, Im sure its not exactly dirt cheap but not real expensive unless I totally wrong. But it would be a cold SOB but thats what salamanders are for, loud and hot but they do put out the heat. Ive seen the ports like mine enclosed in many diff ways with doors on them and all. Heck it should be easy because the frame is already there so all I would need is some sheets of the metal and a bunch of the self tapping screws w/the metal and rubber washers wich I used to have some, and something to cut the metal good and straight. I gotta check into that. Oh yea all I have polished up is the outside of my carb and as far as the tractor itself (1966 L model) its just gonna be good and clean and nice looking as far as cosmetics goes as in all rust sanded/stripped & can -painted w/same on wheels and 4 new tires, Ive got a ton of new parts to put on it that will bring the "looks" out of it like new pepper pot muffler and a real nice looking new billitt looking flange and nipple for it, new grips for hndle bars and small levers, new gas cap, plug. wire , new air filter & cleaned-up housing, new fan bearings, new shaft and new blades (yet to order the blade) cleaned and painted head and its all apart like the gas tank and tank brackets (round steel/metal rings that go around tank that holds it to the fan housing) and all of that is cleaned and ready to paint, new carb kit and pretty much everything really, gonna look and run nice...well hopefully anyway. My deck is pretty fugly but Im grinding on it and gonna paint it as well, its solid tho.
 
#6 ·
I just wish I could work on any of mine. Two weeks ago yesterday I was in the hospital ER. Arrived at 1645 and into a room in the ER at 2000. No doctor to handle my case. 2000 they make me feel like an octopus with wires all over. An EKG before a CT scan. IV in the hand for blood samples and to inject pain killers. BP way too high. Midnight CT scan then back to the room. 0330 in to get an MRI. 0430 back in the same room. 0530 moved to a observation room in the hospital proper. Drugged all day Sunday with doctors in and out all day long. Monday IM doctor in with results of the scans. Same as normal, pinched nerve in the neck. Also looks at a growth on my left arm. Orders a Biopsy on it. Tuesday Dermatologist removed samples, still in pain so still more pain killers. Pain Management PA comes in. Scheduled for a spinal epidural on Wednesday. So moved down to pre-op/post-op. Wednesday after being knocked out for the SE, got some relief and some sleep. Held over till Thursday to make sure no problems. Thursday, get final IV pain killer after getting them every 4 hours for the past 4 days 1 hour before departing hospital. Still no report on the biopsy. Get home and after about one hour, get a call from the Dermatologist. How soon can I be in for surgery? Monday Dec 12 they will take out however much of the skin and below to remove all of the cancer. And at least 3 more areas for biopsies. If any of them are found to be cancerous, they will do the same in those areas. Mean time, no working on anything.
 
#13 ·
Mean time, no working on anything.
Geeze, Don, that's a heck of a story. Take good care. You know MTFers are all pulling for you.
 
#7 ·
Wow Fla Don hope your alright, somehow I dont feel like complaining anymore. I need to go to doc but scared to, afraid of what I will find out and they would never let me out. Anyhow sure hope you feel better, getting home finally after being prodded like a pin cushion and then getting a call asking when you can come back for surgery is a real bummer. Keep us posted on how it goes when you can. And those pain killers can be a disease on theirown, believe me I know. Good luck and we'll pray for you.
 
#15 ·
Do not put off going to the doctor. That is why what you are about to hear took place today.

Left home at 1130 for a 1330 appt. Got there at 1230. A little after 1300 went into one of the operating rooms. 1330 they started numbing the left arm. 1400 started the operation and finished it at 1430.Cancer growth sent off to lab. And then the wait began. 1630, back in because the report was back. Not good. sample showed that there was still more to be removed. Another shot and back to cutting. 1730, back in the room. This time all of the cancer cells had been removed. So clean up of the cut area and and begin stitching it up. Both internal stitches and about 20 external stitches. Final size of the area removed was 2.8"X1"X.375" deep. Takes a 4"X4" bandage to cover the area.

Then another small one was removed on the right arm and a suspected one on the forehead just past the right eyebrow toward the right ear. Finally left the office at 1800. Thursday they will remove the external stitches.
 
#8 ·
Holy cow, Don! I'm so sorry to hear about all your recent trials.

Please get well soon. The projects can wait. I'm thinking good thoughts in your direction.
 
#10 ·
Gerrard--Home Depot in my area just started stocking metal roofing--its the wavy corrugated stuff that looks just like the plastic or fiberglass panels they sell--a 10 foot by 30" piece sells for about 18 bucks...its real thin gauge though,not something you'd want to put on a home,or walk on..good for sheds,carports,garages,etc..

FlaDon--sounds like you've been through a lot!--wishing all the best for you for a speedy recovery,so you can go back to tinkering on your tractors..
--and I thought I was having a bad night because I had to nix going to a Christmas concert and see Suzy Bogguss 75 miles away ,because its supposed to snow 3-5" up in that area,among other reasons,like having only a 34 year old rusted hulk of a truck that may not have made it there and back to go there in..

I can relate to Gerrard's comment about being scared to go to the doctor,I have the same fears,they'll find something serious wrong and I'll end up in a hospital,and maybe not come home--and I have an appointment Tuesday to see my doctor ! ..:eek:..
--and Poncho's comment about being old and lazy,well,that applies to me too lately,chronic pain in my back and legs and stomach troubles have made the couch and recliner look much more appealing than a cold garage..
 
#14 · (Edited)
I can relate to Gerrard's comment about being scared to go to the doctor,I have the same fears,they'll find something serious wrong and I'll end up in a hospital,and maybe not come home--and I have an appointment Tuesday to see my doctor ! ..:eek:..
--and Poncho's comment about being old and lazy,well,that applies to me too lately,chronic pain in my back and legs and stomach troubles have made the couch and recliner look much more appealing than a cold garage..
Keep ignoring symptoms and instead of being alive, you will be dead or worse. Find a good doc that will take good care of you and you will be happy. There are many diseases for which there is no cure, however the doc can help minimize or eliminate the symptoms. In the end it is your choice. Live in misery and die early from a treatable disease, or be happy and active and play with the grandkids. I would not be here if I had ignored those little symptoms. I would be dead from a stroke or heart attack or have lost my eyesight, etc. Nothing hurts worse than a heart attack.

Misery is being blind, crippled, or having a stroke that takes out one side of your body.

If you are 50 or older, there are some basic things that you can do to see if you need to see a doc ASAP.

Go to the grocery store or pharmacy and take your blood pressure. If it is larger number is 175 or higher, see a doc next week. If it is 200 or more, see a doc yesterday. High blood pressure == stroke.

Find a diabetic and check you blood sugars. If you blood sugars are high, go see a doc asap. The pills to take care of that are cheap. Untreated, Diabetes leads to blindness, kidney failure, foot amputation, and possibly death.

Stomach problems can lead to ulcers. Get a perforated ulcer and you can die from internal bleeding. My father nearly died from a perforated ulcer. Found out the ulcer was caused by an infection. Took some antibiotics and recovered fully in a few weeks. Then he could eat anything he wanted without heartburn.

Don't be one of those people that wind up dead because they don't see a doc. If you don't have a doc, find a nice female doc. I went to see a woman doc and when she walked in she instantly asked how long I have had that enlarged right thyroid. I didn't see it, but she did. I had it removed before it turned cancerous. Now I take one tiny pill every day to compensate. If it had not been spotted early, things would have turned ugly. I could go on and on.

If you are 60 and haven't seen a doc, go see a doc and have him or her give you the once over. What you don't know can, and usually will, kill you... or worse.

I can't tell you how many docs have said "If you had come to see me when these symptoms first appeared....."

It is like ignoring a rod knock. Ignore it long enough and it will kill the engine. Same with your body. Don't ignore it because "It is just a little rod knock" The doc is there to help you live as long as possible and be active, happy and healthy. Get that little rod knock taken care of asap.

In the end, the choice is yours. Die early from being purposely and willfully stupid, or live a happy long life.

rich
 
#11 ·
Wow Don! All I can say is take it easy and get well soon!
 
#12 ·
Looks like everyone's praying for ya Fla Don so hope you get better ASAP. And about not getting things done anymore its the same for me, Im getting old er (almost 57 ) and have lived a much to exiting life as far as destroying myself and non-health conscious goes. To put it bluntly Ive been a total dumb a** most of my life, been shot, stabbed, cut, had the stuffing beat outta me a cpl times, stomped on by a mad horse after the fat girl that it bucked-off landed on top of me (riding double), hit by a car and have had my face run thru a car windshield both from the inside out and from the outside in and two knee surgeries and thats just off the top of my head ! But anyhow I just cant do as much as I used to be able to do and when I get home from work believe me I am DONE FOR THE DAY ! And have to sit for an hr. to get up again and get something to eat , so all in all the old model L is just gonna take a little longer to get finished. And again get well soon Fla Don ! Because all of us spent old Gravelyites are rooting for ya....and prolly not far behind! lol. (instead of crying out loud)
 
#17 ·
Sorry folks but the affects of the syringes full of anesthetics ( at least 4 but lost count ) and the Vicodin 5 caught up with me. The reason I did not trust myself to drive to the appointment.

First off, thanks to Gerrard and the rest who wished me well. We are all brothers under the skin who feel for any who have medical problems. As Richard-TX said, do not put off going to a doctor if you think that you may have something that may be wrong. If left to go too long, it could be worse in treatment than if taken care of early. Some problems can be cured if caught early but deadly if left go. I have to take that advice myself as both my father and grandfather are victims of cancer and I have been exposed to known cancer causing chemicals that normally kill in doses the size I came in contact with. Even something as simple as a treatable Basal Cell Carcinomas ( what these so far have been ) if left untreated can turn from bad to worse. As a result of today's doctor visit, I have the doctor's cell phone number and an admonition to call if any more of these show up. BCCs can spread to the Lymph Nodes if not checked in some cases.

As for Richard's comment on BP, he is spot on. I have been monitoring mine for better than 10 years now. It had stayed below about 160 without medications until this last pain episode. Was over 200 when I got to the hospital. Much of that was caused by the pain but still not a good thing to let go. I'm 61 so I am the only member of the family that made it past 60 without the BP meds. If you have that problem, do not let it go. Mine was 133/81 Saturday after just going out to the mail box and climbing back up the stairs without any wait for it to drop. While my heart is still in good shape, I have seen what happens when someone has a stroke. Mom had one in the early 70s that nearly crippled her for life. BP medications brought that risk of happening again way down. But hers crept back up. Back in Sept she failed an EKG. Now it is back under control but she will forever be on blood thinners that even after insurance cost $90 a month. So with the blood thinners and BP meds, she will get a few more years hopefully. She out lived all of her brothers and sisters because she did go to the doctors. Some of them did not.
 
#23 ·
I wish you well Fla Don and am praying for ya to. Let me caution you about something from experience and that is when they cut you off the pain mead (assuming they are opiates) expect to feel like you have the flu x 10 but fight it with everything you have, or get off them slowly because they can wreck ones life. Ive seen it and a person doesnt have to be a hippie that just wants to have fun to get hooked on them either. Good luck man.
 
#25 ·
" Some problems can be cured if caught early but deadly if left go. I have to take that advice myself as both my father and grandfather are victims of cancer and I have been exposed to known cancer causing chemicals that normally kill in doses the size I came in contact with."


They found a 4cm gist on my small intestine by accident on the operating table. The pathology report said cancer but non aggressive and slow growing, CT scan came back OK. It also said they couldn't determine the margin = They didn't remove enough. So back in for round two, I got out last Thursday evening. Going to the doctor tomorrow. The Oncologist told me that 5 out of 100 has a reoccurrence in five years and 80-90% never has problems again which was good news to me. I thank the Lord! I started thinking about classmates and friends that is already gone....


I look forward to my garden and fruit trees this year and will spend more time with the family.
 
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