Notaviva Vineyards Blog

« Flat Tire / Klausen | Main | Tractor Fire... »

August 28, 2005

Sunday On The Tractor

Today was an easy day, albeit a little warm. Yesterday we picked up the new front tire from Browning Equipment, so obviously that was today's first order of business. A few turns of the wrench and I was back in business. Headed over to the vineyard to begin mowing the deer fence perimeter. Then the tractor caught on fire. Lovely. Can't I just have a normal day out here!?!?!?

Last week I had to remove the sprayer from the tractor bucket, and rather than remove the pump electrical wire from the battery I just left it attached and secured the end to the front-end loader. Well apparently as I was mowing and bouncing around somehow the wire must have either gotten cut or worn through and I think the hot lead grounded itself to the tractor frame. So at that point the battery is just shorted to the frame through this little wire, which got so hot the insulation just ignited. So there I am riding along enjoying the afternoon and all of a sudden "sniff...sniff... oh shit that doesn't smell good..." Then smoke. So I thought the engine was overheating but the temperature light wasn't on, so I hopped off the tractor to take a look and there was the wire, flames everywhere. Actually it burned itself out in about 10 seconds and there was a moment of excitement when I had to remove the bare wire from the battery, but it all turned out OK. Except for the fact that I now have to track down a new lead because I'll be needing the sprayer again soon. Good grief.

So after that short assinine interlude I was back in action, and spent the next three hours mowing the vineyard. It always looks so nice after mowing! Sorry no photos, but I've managed to somehow lose our digital camera, and I suspect that it just got mowed...

Posted by Stephen at August 28, 2005 8:34 PM