Old World Craftsmanship - Little Guzzi Content

[SIR REAL ED]

Those of you who regularly use "real" machine tools, might not appreciate the craftsmanship shown in the attached photos.

But those of us raised down on the farm with good tools no where to be seen..... know of pride of gettin it done with whatever you happen to have at hand.

Some Guzzi content, 90 degree V-Twin engine....

[Perazzimx14]

My FIL had a wheelbarrow with broken handles and him being a bit of a skinflint he ripped a pressure treated 2 x 4 in two and bolted the pieces on. IT was amazingly uncomfortable to try and move loaded as the square edges bit into your hands. After a few years of outside storage they warped and twisted make it an even better tool to try and operate and poke fun at. Every now and then when the FIL, BIL and wife are altogether someone will bring up the wheelbarrow and the laughter begins

[s1120]

I had a old mid 60's Gravely that I did something like that with the 30" deck on it. The old Gravely motor powered units were vary nose heavy and would dig in. I mounted a castor off the front of the deck, and that worked perfect for my use.

[SIR REAL ED]

My FIL had a wheelbarrow with broken handles and him being a bit of a skinflint he ripped a pressure treated 2 x 4 in two and bolted the pieces on. IT was amazingly uncomfortable to try and move loaded as the square edges bit into your hands. After a few years of outside storage they warped and twisted make it an even better tool to try and operate and poke fun at. Every now and then when the FIL, BIL and wife are altogether someone will bring up the wheelbarrow and the laughter begins

 

Your In-Laws and I may share some common DNA.  I have dozens of stories like that from close and extended family members.  Evidently, WWI, the Great Depression, and WWII did not force much evolutionary change in my family tree.

Only thing more fun than watching one of the Old Timers butcher a fix, is getting a few of them together to brainstorm the fix and then argue about whose idea is the best and whose idea is the dumbest!

Your In-Laws would not belong to that legendary tribe known as Pennsylvania Polocks by any chance, would they?

Tell your FIL he over-engineering that "fix."  Couple two inch diameter Locust saplings and some hose clamps would have done just fine. 

Tell your FIL he can call me next time he needs some help!   

[SIR REAL ED]

I had a old mid 60's Gravely that I did something like that with the 30" deck on it. The old Gravely motor powered units were vary nose heavy and would dig in. I mounted a castor off the front of the deck, and that worked perfect for my use.

The old Gravely's are super heavy duty.  Probably outweighs the DR by 200+ lbs.  Putting a caster on the front was probably a great improvement.

The DR is well balanced in my opinion.  I wanted the caster to increase ease of maneuvering in heavy grass.   Also to provide better transportation to ease transportation when not mowing.

Walk behind brush cutters walk a fine line between hand held brush cutters and a tractor or Bobcat with a bush hog.  Very easy to have too much or too little machine depending upon the job.

Next generation steel frame version may have hinged casters.