Skid Tracks & Poly Tunnel Power | Off Grid Water System

[@harryiv6107]

I’m sure you have figured it out by now but save those original tracks they are not in bad shape at all. I believe your problem was the bent roller. Thank you for sharing all you guys do there is just something so peaceful and satisfying about your videos.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yep - as soon as I realised it was the wheel and the tracks are only rubber coated. But I have a spare set for both machines now as they are the same size 😀

[@chrishrabe4617]

That’s a nice little slice of heaven you’ve got there!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thanks Chris - we love it here in the foothills..... can't wait until we can do this full time. (when we are old 🤣)

[@rjung_ch]

Hi guys. Tyson is losing his winter coat. He's a hair one alright. 👍💪✌

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

A grey winter coat.....like Ian 🤣 J.

[@fama5736]

You’ll drop the 14lbs before you know it, I usually have a smaller lunch and dinner for several weeks or a month and stay away from mixing fats and sugar during my meals for a while, a nice satisfying pasta for dinner and a sandwich for lunch usually is a good idea or soups great as well, you have a wonderful grandchild there to pass on the cycling lifestyle, that track I would just double check all the wheels as I’ve had the same problem on my car with the pulleys one was damaged and would constantly damage the whole belt I suspect that might still be happening with your tracks Continued Success and All The Best Fabrizio

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I have done it before, just so hard when you're hungry after building all day.... back at it though on the bike.

[@TheSmudgley]

If you put a piece of copper into the horse's water it will stop algae growing 😊

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

A good idea, I will try that. It may supercharge him too as he is getting a little old 🤣

[@fama5736]

Your current home looks absolutely lovely, having your guests under that awning on the new decking I think they would love just sitting with a coffee or drink and soaking up the atmosphere possibly in the morning or evening, possibly with a charcoal bbq going, I know in Italia it’s not an everyday thing to do a bbq like in North America so might be the same for you in France, even just simple sausages and buns with a lovely tomato and feta salad I think would be enjoyable or wonderful French cured sausage and bread All The Best Fabrizio

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

We do like it here, but just too big when it comes to retirement - great for guests (7 rooms) but for just the two of us....we build a smaller one 😀

[@chriswilliams8170]

Those tracks will fit your mini ex I’d keep the old ones as spares mate

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yes, I checked out the sizing and it is exactly the same - I now have a spare pair for both machines 👍🏻

[@jeffreycurrie3640]

The outside bracket is bent inwards, you probably want some spacers in there when putting back together.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yes, the shaft is not long enough for the frame - I put in a spacer for the one I took off but it is the same the other side. Next time I will add the spacers to square it all off.

[@georgewest2096]

Thanks for the track tread information.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I was pleasantly surprised when I found those markings....same on the mini digger too so I have a spare set now for both 👍🏻

[@garrygrant2827]

Hi ian an julie . The rear wheel on the skid steer being stiff like that is a common fault and a large rock can easily put pressure on the bolts and knock it out . I said a few months ago to you that these tracks can wear out and or stretch and it would be good to order replacement tracks . Now you have experienced this type of damage you now know how to fix it . The big machines and big tracked diggers do get same issues. The price for a pair of replacement tracks is good and free shipping cant complain with that . This little machine is so good to have as it can do lots of work easily and once you start using it you then rely on it so much

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It was more to do with this wheel than the tracks it seems. But I have spare set for both the skid and the digger now (same size)

[@rogerday6184]

Sad that track failed after so few hours…. Some assistance from the rocks lol. Glad you got the new ones…. Hopefully you get many hours on those tracks!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Hi Roger, I am thinking the tracks are OK now after finding the bent wheel which must have been throwing the track off at the slightest issue. But now I have spare set for this machine and the mini digger (same size)

[@noelmaher2301]

Lucky wt the weather, here in ireland terrible weather. It would depress depression.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

We are just below all your made swirly storms.... today though the wind picked up and brought down a lot of trees and tonnes of Saharan sand.

[@liammcgothigan2094]

Hello ian an julie 👋

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Hi Liam 👍🏻

[@briansweeney2291]

Another great video ian and Julie , the tracks on the skidsteer was not the bad changing ian just shows you what damage a few stones do to the tracks ,i was wondering timber frame inside the tracks stop the stones from entering the tracks ian might help this happen again,

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I am just being really careful now and if I hear a clunk, I stop and not force it through.

[@billyohara239]

Great work

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Cheers Billy

[@TreeChangeFarmer]

Hello Ian and Julie. I think the wear on the centre guides of the tracks is probably normal wear. On my mini digger it did the same almost straight away. The guides are rubber coated but the drive sprocket, rollers and guides are metal so pretty sure the new ones will wear the same way. I don't think it is a real problem though. Maybe overtime it will get noisier but it should still operate OK. Cheers Dave.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

You are spot on - once I found the rear wheel off centre I realised the tracks were all good and it was this small wheel growing it off at the first stress put on it. But at least these tracks fit the digger too - they are the same size so I have them stored as spares now. The company in China is coming to visit us this month. Should ask them to bring a container of spare parts 🤣

[@rolandleusden]

For the solar charge controller I would go for Victron, the SmartSolar MPPT series for example. Not the cheapest but they last for years from my own experience . Service and support are also good.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Thanks Roland - I am going to move my larger PV panel so will upgrade the Charge Controller too, I have always been keen on the Victron brand. 👍🏻

[@inseiin]

Nice work!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Cheers 👍🏻

[@robertjames8909]

Great video as usual, not being a horse person I am probably asking a stupid question but why does Tyson have a head cover on?

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

For the flies 🪰🪰

[@Brennor21]

Those new tracks look to be directional, might want to check and see. Looks like they are on backwards.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

They look the right way, chevrons pointing forward for grip. They sort of match the old ones.🤔

[@philwhitehead8706]

Go victron with the solar charge controller... the best

[@philwhitehead8706]

Oh also be careful if the battery has a low temperature sensor. Lifepo 4 are damaged if charged in low temperature s

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Am looking into these, cheers 👍🏻

[@spazzattack1188]

Ian, you might need to get a different solar charge controller. The more basic type of charge controllers only work with Lead Acid / GEL / or AGM batteries and do not have the correct type of charge specifications for a LiFePO4 battery. Just thought I would give you a head up.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yes, looking now, thanks - the battery does have a built in BMS too, which I failed to mention. But that little blue controller is the cheapest of the cheap for sure 😬

[@brucecotnoir9135]

why the mini digger have so much blue smoke IAN i thought thay was fairly new

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I noticed that, but it had not been started for a very long time so after it warmed up it was fine.

[@larrysowada9905]

Is there anyway to put a grease nipel on that rear seal bearing for that small wheel? Larry

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

I put in a teflon spray grease in the end - I don't think they are supposed to be greased as there is a lot of dirt down there - the rocks that got stuck jammed in there and bent the wheel out of alignment - probably means my old tracks were fine, but you live and learn 😀

[@Handleyman]

What ever charge controller you get make sure it’s an MPPT not PWM. PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) are cheaper but don’t work as well MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking). All things being equal, MPPT is a newer technology that harvests more energy. However, the advantages of MPPT over PWM controllers come at a cost, so sometimes a less expensive PWM controller can be the right choice, especially with smaller systems and in warm climates where the MPPT boost is not as significant.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Cheers - yes looking at MPPT for use with Lithium batteries.

[@jeffreycurrie3640]

😎

[@inseiin]

Why not use the minidigger's wide bucket for turf remoaval?

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Much easier with the Skid, plus the digger travels at around snail pace - 20kph...... I would be there all day 🤣

[@solarfunction1847]

Buy yourself a Epever Duoracer 10-30A MPPT Dual Battery Solar Controller Regulator Lifepo SLA

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Looking at them now, means I can put on my spare 360watt PV panel if I got to that one.

[@solarfunction1847]

@@HomesteadingUncontained These Epever brand are legit MPPT, they weigh 1.5 to 2.5kg not like that one you have which is a bogus MPPT.

[@Mr19chuck49]

😊😊

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

👍🏻

[@highrx]

Believe me on this point. Never trust jacks and the machine Hydro’s to keep the machine off the ground when working under it. Always use wide wood cribbing to hold the load. I’m just a paramedic that has tried to save the life of 2 different people at 2 different situations that would be still alive today if they have just used just some cribbing while working on heavy machinery. Gravity is no joke.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

Yes, I did put wood blocks under but on the muddy grass it was a little difficult - I know what your saying though 👍🏻

[@crisislord00]

I am a bit concern about the fire safety of the battery

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It will be OK, the battery has a built in BMS and various safety features.

[@DavHill77]

Often you will see that farmers drop in a couple of goldfish in the horse water trough to eat the algae and mosquito larvae 😮

[@Handleyman]

Until the birds find them and eat them!

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

haha, yes, it is not to green. We will wash it out a few times a year.

[@andymora5595]

Be careful with this solar controller. It measures the voltage wrong and overcharges batteries. I have same model. I set the max. battery voltage a little bit lower to protect the battery.

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

The battery says it has an in built BMS also so that should protect it but I want to put on a bigger solar panel so will change out the controller to do this.

[@billyhill101]

First

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

🏆 Cheers Billy.

[@ryangibney8072]

Can't beat bridges and sttraton

[@HomesteadingUncontained]

It is a really powerful bit of kit, which I had that motor in the digger.

[@ryangibney8072]

Yeah I have the same one in my mower