I have another string to my bow
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381837)
Rockingham, Australia
June 28, 2020 3:51am CST
Have you heard that expression? It means I have learnt a new skill.
It’s winter here and Vince has been wanting to hook the blade on to the tractor to clear some of the drains on our gravel road down to the gate. So today was the day. The blade is a sod of a thing to attach and just as hard to detach. It is my least favourite job. However, we got it on and off he went.
When he had finished, we detached the blade then, once the tractor was almost to the shed, it ran out of fuel. This means, as well as adding fuel, you have to bleed the lines. Please don’t ask me to explain. Any men will probably know what that means. Then the little starter button wouldn’t work.
In the end, I had to hold the starter button and hold a screwdriver across two contact points. If I didn’t do it just right, it would spark at me. To cut a long story short, we eventually got it to go and it’s now back in the shed. Another job for Vince to do.
And now, apparently, I know how to hot-wire a tractor. However, I’m not sure there will be much call for my services. Once again, one job has created another but that’s okay.
26 people like this
25 responses
@TheHorse (238275)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Jun 20
Don't do tractors? You know I have secret plans for you. Up on the roof of my cabin in Montana, filling in the gaps with roof tar, while your hubby and I drink Lucky Lager on my picnic table and tell stories. Do they still make Lucky Lager? OK. Pabst Blue Ribbon. Or Olympia. Yes, you can wear gloves. 
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Jun 20
It's a nice skill to have Judy. I've hot-wired a few vehicles in my time!
One of the difficulties of living on a farm or owning lots of property, is there is always more to do, even when you think you're caught up. And that's just under normal circumstances. Add in maintenance and repair and the work never ends! But it keeps you busy and keeps you out of trouble (for the most part). haha
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Jun 20
@JudyEv Maybe you can invent a better (and easier) way to do it! Necessity is the mother of all invention!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Jun 20
@JimBo452020 Hey, I've never been caught stealing a vehicle yet!
2 people like this
@rebelann (117204)
• El Paso, Texas
28 Jun 20
You mean there is not fuel gauge on that tractor so he would know when to add more fuel?
My dad was a mechanic so I learned what bleeding the lines meant, it mostly applied to brakes but also other thing like plumbing in the house as well.
2 people like this
@rebelann (117204)
• El Paso, Texas
28 Jun 20
Perhaps he could find a suitable stick to use to gauge the fuel, @JudyEv dad used to do that to his old Plymouth when he had trouble with it. I'm not sure what he used but I recall him telling mom that he had to use something that was very clean and would not leave splinters in the fuel. I think he used some kind of metal rod but I wasn't paying close attention back then.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
28 Jun 20
Sorry about all the tractor problems. How much land do you have? Do you have any animals?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jun 20
@LindaOHio They were very entertaining while we had them and I like to think they had a good life. This is Oscar showing off. Do you have a lot of garden on your block?
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222285)
• United States
29 Jun 20
@JudyEv Sorry to hear about the sheep. 18 acres is a lot of land. We have 1.25 acres.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
28 Jun 20
well if there is a rash of missing tractors in your area we know who suspect number one will be!
i remember draining fuels lines on the old tractor my dad had!
3 people like this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
28 Jun 20
@JudyEv i remember i was staying at my folks over the holidays. They were in Hawaii, i was stuck in the snow.
the tractor wouldn't start. it was -15 below and the garage was unwanted. So, freezing I bled the line. Finally got it started and plowed the driveway. I won't say the language used for that activity of bleeding that line.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jun 20
@DocAndersen Vince turns the fuel off when he has finished with the tractor and half the time he forgets to turn it on next time he uses it. If that happens, then of course he has to bleed it. Needless to say, he is now an expert in bleeding the lines.
2 people like this
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
28 Jun 20
Yes, I now about the fuel hose or pump that has air in there so the fuel will not flow.
2 people like this
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
28 Jun 20
@JudyEv when it dries of fuel you have to manually pump it to remove the air. Even in the water pipes inside the home that is using water tank, that happens when the tank dries. Water will not flow unless we open all the faucets to let the air out.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jun 20
@Alexandoy That sometimes happens in the house if we've been away for some weeks.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208770)
• United States
28 Jun 20
Oh goodness what a dreary task..At least there were two of you working on it.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jun 20
It's done now - hopefully till next winter and knows where we'll be by then.
@jobelbojel (36791)
• Philippines
29 Jun 20
I have another string to my bow, I learned something else today. Added to my vocabulary.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jun 20
There are so many of these idiomatic phrases, aren't there? I hope you're going well.
@wolfgirl569 (135601)
• Marion, Ohio
28 Jun 20
Hope you didnt get shocked. But you do know how to steal a tractor now
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23978)
• United Kingdom
28 Jun 20
OH we will have to call you hotwire Evans. Next you will be telling us hot to rob banks! 
2 people like this
