What Is That Crazy Connecticut Yankee Doing Now?

By Staff
Published on September 1, 1999
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Splitting log.
Splitting log.
2 / 4
Crowd cylinder.
Crowd cylinder.
3 / 4
Ma using controls.
Ma using controls.
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The whole setup.
The whole setup.

146 Shear Shop Road, Litchfield, Connecticut 06759

A few years ago I wrote about the welder I made from my 9N
tractor and a B-17 generator. A few of you wrote wanting directions
to make one. I wonder how you made out?

For you younger folks: the B-17 was the workhorse for our Air
Force during the second World War. I’d like to ask you: From
whom did the Russians and Americans learn about rockets and
jets?

I always wanted to have a log splitter but did not want to spend
$2,500 to buy one (we didn’t have the money), but one day I
stood looking at my 1948 8N Ford with the old Henry backhoe on
it.

The backhoe has the necessary hydraulics. At first I was going
to buy a cylinder, but decided to try the cylinder from the crowd
on the backhoe. I purchased a 5 x 5 square tube and the wedge and
attachment iron. Used several what-are-you-dragging-that-around-for
items such as a bed frame for the stand, an old PTO shaft and spare
stake for the horseshoe pit for an axle, and off we went. Works
great!

It is always interesting to me how many people become involved
in a simple project like this.

Bill Hubert harvested wood that left me slash. Seph, my son, and
his friend from nursery school, Major Marcel Schneider, helped pull
logs out of the woods. George and Pete of Cesco Steel helped with
welding supplies, Torrington Scrap with the steel. Cheryl, Ron,
George, Russ, Allen, Bob at Grunders Tractors helped with tractor
supplies. John claimed he’d taken his wife fishing. Northern
Hydraulics the wedge. You can see I’m enjoying retirement!.

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