Steph: Moonlighting Mechanics

Gilliland, TX – Statistically, I don’t think I want to know how many hours of my life I’ve spent driving. If someone were to insert the total hours of my life into some magical stat machine, I would bet 75% or more of those hours have been spent behind a steering wheel of assorted vehicles, trucks and machinery. I was once told that I drive a combine so casually it’s as if I’m driving a car. But, it’s what I love, so I wouldn’t want it any other way.

We spent all of Sunday working on equipment — a true harvester Sunday fun-day. It wasn’t on purpose though. We started off the day with good intentions; but when it smells like there’s a bonfire in your cab, something is certainly wrong. We came to find we had a bearing go out on the re-thrasher that needed to be replaced. Not only that, but we also had to made a phone call to the MacDon Harvest Support guys to come and calibrate/check our header. It was the best time for it to happen if there ever was one.

It’s funny how a simple service call can turn into a full-blown overhaul really quickly. The MacDon guys found a bushing out on one of the arms, a crack in the frame under the draper and everything that could be adjusted was out of adjustment. The MacDon guys definitely got more than they bargained for but they were in great spirits the whole time. They told me it was better than their run-of-the-mill type service calls — they were able to fix and work on portions of the header they don’t often get to.

Well, that one day didn’t set us back too far. Anderson Harvesting along with C&K Harvesting out of Cuba, Kansas worked together to finish up Farmer Glen before the rains came. The forecast shows an average of 70 percent chance of rain for the next five days so couldn’t have finished up at a better time! And just like that — stop #1 on the harvest run is complete.

Quote of the Day – “Either you have a mullet or you’re wrong.”

Stuff Harvesters Do – If you don’t wake up in the morning, we will head to the field without you. When you show up later in the day… we call that the Harvester’s Walk of Shame.

MacDon comes to save the day.

MacDon comes to save the day.

John fixing a tailing bearing.

John fixing the re-thrasher bearing.

Workin' hard.

Workin’ hard. MacDon Harvest Support will drive out to your field and fix on your header, free of charge. You only have to pay for any parts you need. And they are AWESOME at what they do. Thanks again, guys!

Found a bushing out on the header.

Found a bushing out on the header.

Dusk mechanics.

Dusk mechanics.

Found a crack in the frame and had to weld her up.

Found a crack in the frame and had to weld her up.

These guys were awesome help!! We appreciate you.

These guys were awesome help! We really appreciate the service MacDon offers to custom harvesters. This is Evan and Eric, doing what they do best.

Farmer Glen! I don't know about you but this seems pretty frameworthy.

Farmer Glen! I don’t know about you but this seems pretty frame-worthy.

Johnner.

Gazing off into the distance… ha ha!

By the light of the moon.

By the light of the moon… and the yard lights.

Travaled through a scene in the Jungle Book to get to our last field for Farmer Glen.

Travaled through a scene in the Jungle Book to get to our last field for Farmer Glen.

Anderson Harvesting teams up with C&K Harvesting! Such a fun time to get to know and cut alongside these guys.

Anderson Harvesting teams up with C&K Harvesting! Such a fun time to get to know and cut alongside these guys. From left to right; Taylor, Karly, Billy, Chris, Amber, Jaden, Brandon, Tyler, Matt (of C&K), Matt (of Anderson), Steph and John.

All Aboard Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and John Deere. You can contact Steph at stephanie@allaboardharvest.com.

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