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A good day spent at Brogdale near Faversham in Kent. It was the second day of their National Apple Festival weekend, thanks to Kev Castle for organising the display Here's some photos...

Joseph and I managed to get a small amount of tractor time today. The battery on the Estate Keeper is dead and we either had the time to go and buy a replacement or bodge a different battery in and have some seat time. We spend most of our time correcting bodges but the prospect of some seat time won the day. I recently replaced the battery in our house alarm and the old one is still good even though it is tiny and only 7aH. The EK7 starts really well so worth a go. The old battery Modifications to a bit of firewood Job done Despite being a horrible bodge it works well. It started well despite not being used since August and Joseph cut some grass with the tractor. He let me have a go too and I realised that it is the first time I have driven this tractor. If the battery holds up we will make a proper frame for it. Iain

Various ideas were tried out for the seat using bits and pieces lying around and then discarded. A visit to a local upholstery shop with measurements resulted in a lottery win quote. Back to head scratching mode. I had already spent hours looking for something suitable on the internet without luck, trying various search word combinations. Then I spotted some cheap-ish scooter ( Lambretta / Vespa ) back rests. Not exactly what I wanted but worth a try. A pair were bought and after initial, not sure thoughts, the end result was better than expected. The fill in piece behind the seat cushion, made from plastic, still needs finishing off with padding. The first mock up from ply. The alloy frame, ex green house, just cleared the top of the gearbox. Fixing brackets were bolted on. Sheet steel was bent up for the base and back rest. There were two short threaded studs already fitted which made mounting easy. A length of U shaped trim finished off the steel plate and a similar section was fitted to the fuel tank. I finally managed to get my Great grandson Henry to try the tractor for size. Even though he is only 7 : 1/2 months he loved it. Mummy said she had never seen him so excited, squealing and swinging the steering wheel. We had to hold him though as mummy refused to let me cable tie him on.

Just a few pickys of the new hitch point with the three different widths and the tow point on the lower arms

My plan was to put the Onan generator on the Ariens GT14H with the 54 inch front plow (removing the plow of course) and Brinly tandem disc, but the front crankshaft had been previously damaged somehow and the electric PTO clutch would not operate correctly and I feared it might ruin the clutch. Since the Onan generator was made for an Ariens front mount I removed the 48" front shaft drive snow blower from my other Ariens GT14H, not a difficult task and I tested it out and I am ready for any power outages. In all fairness the odds of me needing a 48" shaft drive Snow Blower here in Oklahoma are very slim and I have at least 4 other tractors that have front snow plows on them now and I can outfit 8-10 more. My next project is to hook up a disconnect and power outlet to run the 240 volts from the generator into the electrical panel. I'm going to have a real certified licensed electrician do this as I have already been electrocuted too many times, not fun, But in the mean time we can run a few extension cords in emergency to power the essentials, refrigerator, freezer, coffee pot, TV, computer and phone chargers. We have a fireplace and 14" thick walls we don't need to turn the heat on very often anyway

Hi all This is my new attempt at making my plough work The problem with my Gutbrod plough is the mouldboard is not long enough for competition match ploughing although I have great success with it .Think it is time for a change the photos are of a mock up of how I would like the plough to look. I will have nine inches more beam giving me space for a disc and a skimmer, the mould board is 12 inches longer and should make a nicer furrow only time will tell once I am happy with settings it will all be welded up

Found this in the shed today and wondered what it's from. the frame is green and blade red, its 36" wide and has wheels that swivel and its fully adjustable

good mix of stuff, looks like a good day out

I have just had the chance to read your build post. It is a fascinating read and not spoiled by the snippets you have shared with me. I am pleased I was able to provide a small contribution with a few measurements. Fantastic workmanship. Your great grandson looks at home on the tractor, you will have to build another one for him Iain

You can't beat starting 'em young, Alan.

The Kubota would do me nicely. Bit big to hide though.

A little more progress. Found a 1/2" x 6" bolt and the threaded remains of a couple long (once} 5/8" bolts. Turned the 5/8" down to 1/2" and that gave me three pieces of 1/2" bar. Drilled the spindles where they were welded to the securing plates, welded in the replacement spindles and the result is below. Old spindles included for comparison. Fitted to the shell and lift arm refitted as it should be. I found the bore of the double drive pulley to be 30 thou bigger than the blade spindle. Didn't look worn and neither is the spindle. PO bodge? Pulley off a different deck? I bored the pulley out to 1" ID, then turned up a sleeve a tight fit, tight as knocked in with a hammer, and will be tack welded. When that's done I'll finish the bore to 3/4" to suit the spindle. I'll have to get the key way cut, but I know a man who has the gear..