The Machine Age

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This week, I learned the importance of taking my time and going about things in a methodical way while I am completing a task that is new to me or to others helping me. A few days ago, my boss and I went to go take wheels off and replace the flat tires on the semi truck and the semi trailer that holds water. It was critical we got this done soon because the truck is needed to take water to cows in a pasture on the mountain that doesn’t have a natural water source.

We started by taking the wheels off the driver’s side of the truck, which has left-handed threads. Once we got all the wheels off on the driver’s side, we then moved to the passenger side and started trying to take off the wheels as if they had left-handed threads on the bolts as well. What we did not notice and did not take the time to think about is that the passenger side has right-handed threads, the opposite of the driver side. After spending about 30 minutes cranking on these nuts, trying to get them loose, I finally noticed that the bolt had a right handed thread. After that, we were able to easily take the wheel off. This all might sound obvious, but to me it was a clear moment that I told myself I needed to slow down and look at what I was doing.

Something I would probably challenge this week is the concept that ranchers use [a] good chunk of mechanical equipment, such as four wheelers, dirt bikes, tractors, trucks, and water pumps, to check cows, move water, get stock from point A to point B, irrigate, maintain and get around [the] property. It seems to me is that a lot ranchers do not have a great working knowledge of the equipment they use and how they should fix and maintain it. I think it would be profitable and also beneficial to be able to maintain and fix equipment, seeing that mechanical equipment is used more now than it was in the past.

The question I have is would it be better to use less mechanical equipment and spend more time doing things using man and animal power, which would possibly [save] saving money and time? Because it often seems that machines and equipment are not always in good working order or are not [in] working order at all, do to owners not knowing how to maintain and or fix problems that occur, [cause] causing a loss of time and money.

I planned to research this idea and also try and learn more about different engines and machines so I can be able to maintain and fix equipment in the future because the industry is trying to go in a direction that uses more machinery.

Submitted by: Titus Schadegg
Edited by: GrowinG Internship Team