Idle Chatter: Hot Rod Farmer

You often pay the price for inexpensive parts. Success on the farm or ranch requires efficient machinery. I am Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer from New Jersey, and I want to help you maximize the reliability of your equipment. Please join me every Saturday at 11:00 am Eastern for Farm Machinery Digest Radio, where steel and soil meet, on Rural Radio, Sirius/XM Channel 147, with a replay Sunday at 6:00 pm Eastern. But if you miss an episode or you want to hear it again, you will find them here. Thank you for listening and never forget… agriculture runs on machinery but profits on reliability!

This week I juxtapose how important the early life of an engine is against a bread ad from the 1960’s.

Originally published 11/17/2021. This episode of Idle Chatter aired in the early days of the podcast. The introduction and audio are a little different from what I use today. The information is timeless, foundational, and just as relevant to your success. Agriculture runs on machinery… but profits on reliability! Thanks for listening, Ray Bohacz… the Hot Rod Farmer The lure of more power and fuel economy and no longer dealing with DEF and regeneration of the DPF can be alluring. But these gains come with a cost that many do not recognize until  it is too late. Be an educated consumer and learn all the facts before you decide to tamper with your diesel pick-up truck’s engine.

JCB just kills it at Speed Week! Success on the farm or ranch requires efficient machinery. I am Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer from New Jersey, and I want to help you maximize the reliability of your equipment. Please join me every Saturday at 11:00 am Eastern for Farm Machinery Digest Radio, where steel and soil meet, on Rural Radio, Sirius/XM Channel 147, with a replay Sunday at 6:00 pm Eastern. But if you miss an episode or you want to hear it again, you will find them here. Thank you for listening and never forget… agriculture runs on machinery but profits on reliability!

You can’t learn if you don’t understand the terms.

Originally published 11/10/2021. This episode of Idle Chatter aired in the early days of the podcast. The introduction and audio are a little different from what I use today. The information is timeless, foundational, and just as relevant to your success. Agriculture runs on machinery… but profits on reliability! Thanks for listening, Ray Bohacz… the Hot Rod Farmer The term high-performance is often misunderstood. In engineering parlance it is a design that is more efficient than the part that is normally employed. When replacing a worn or failed part, it is prudent to explore if a high-performance version is offered. In some applications the performance gain may be in fuel efficiency or longevity and not horsepower, but will be a worthwhile investment.

The same can happen to your farm machinery. Success on the farm or ranch requires efficient machinery. I am Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer from New Jersey, and I want to help you maximize the reliability of your equipment. Please join me every Saturday at 11:00 am Eastern for Farm Machinery Digest Radio, where steel and soil meet, on Rural Radio, Sirius/XM Channel 147, with a replay Sunday at 6:00 pm Eastern. But if you miss an episode or you want to hear it again, you will find them here. Thank you for listening and never forget… agriculture runs on machinery but profits on reliability!

You can’t diagnose it if you do not understand it!

Originally published 11/3/2021. This episode of Idle Chatter aired in the early days of the podcast. The introduction and audio are a little different from what I use today. The information is timeless, foundational, and just as relevant to your success. Agriculture runs on machinery… but profits on reliability! Thanks for listening, Ray Bohacz… the Hot Rod Farmer Almost everywhere you look on the farm or ranch you are interacting with the theory of fluid dynamics. A fluid is identified as a liquid, plasma, or gas (rarefied form). By having a basic understanding of this subdiscipline of fluid mechanics, you will be able to become a better diagnostician and  make more informed purchasing decisions of the equipment that is used in your operation. For further reading on fluid dynamics: https://farmmachinerydigest.com/fluid-dynamics-a-discussion-on-hydraulic-motors/ https://farmmachinerydigest.com/fluid-dynamics-understanding-working-fluids/

How to eliminate thermal stress.  Success on the farm or ranch requires efficient machinery. I am Ray Bohacz, the Hot Rod Farmer from New Jersey, and I want to help you maximize the reliability of your equipment. Please join me every Saturday at 11:00 am Eastern for Farm Machinery Digest Radio, where steel and soil meet, on Rural Radio, Sirius/XM Channel 147, with a replay Sunday at 6:00 pm Eastern. But if you miss an episode or you want to hear it again, you will find them here. Thank you for listening and never forget… agriculture runs on machinery but profits on reliability!

As machinologists we need to determine if it is the engineers talking or the lawyers.

Originally published 10/27/2021. When diagnosing an electronic device or the replacement unit does not perform properly,  it may be the result of tolerance and drift. Learn what it is and how to identify it.

Understanding what causes it.

Fuel economy is impacted by more than your driving style.

Originally published 10/20/2021. Starting an engine when it is at or near ambient temperature requires recognition of not only the dynamics that are involved, but knowledge of the system that is evoked. Following the proper protocols is essential for quick-starting regardless of the weather conditions.

Today seeing and hearing often means little.

We walk through many different rites of passage in life.

Originally published 10/13/2021. In years past most if not all chemicals that claimed to work on a certain engine or transmission problem were false. Today’s modern engines bring a host of new aliments that can be treated effectively with advanced chemistry, and in some instances, is the only way.

There is no easy fix.

Does racing truly improve the breed?

Originally published 10/6/2021. The torque converter does more to define the performance of an engine than the automatic transmission. This fluid connection between the engine and the driveline will impact how well the vehicle drives and will move a load. A must-listen before a shop rebuilds any of your automatic transmissions.

Little changes reap the largest dividend!

My beloved nation turns 250 years old!

Originally published 9/29/2021. Commonly used in the automotive industry, there is either a push or pull protocol in how production is related to consumer demand. By modifying this concept for it to apply to farm machinery maintenance, huge gains in reliability with a reduction in expenses can be achieved.

The worst type of oil leak!

A casual conversation about many different topics.

Originally published 9/22/2021. If the cylinder head needs to be taken off the engine, it is imperative that all necessary service procedures are followed.

Happy machinery…happy farmer!

Looks are often deceiving.

Originally published 9/15/2021. The Next Generation of Fuel Act will allow the auto industry to redesign many aspects of the internal combustion engine. The fuel will be designed for the engine and not the engine for the fuel. It will result in huge gains in fuel economy and a further reduction in emissions.

Understanding is knowing.

This week Ray answers two listener’s questions while living in the woods.

Originally published 9/8/2021. If a repair or service procedure fails, you need to look at it forensically. The true cause must be identified to rectify the situation and not repeat the results.

How does the liquid remove heat from the engine?

Things today are more different than they first appear.

Originally published 9/1/21. Almost everyone was exposed to Ohm’s Law during their school years. This basic and often overlooked law is the foundation of everything that works on electricity, regardless if it is an AC or DC circuit. It is important when diagnosing or adding electrical or electronic equipment to farm machinery to recognize the basic tenant of Ohm’s Law,  volts X amps = watts.

How long it takes for an engine to start is a clue.

Checking the hydraulic pressure in a braking system.

Originally published 8/25/2021. During the intake stroke the cylinder can be filled in a chaotic way or an orderly manner. Which occurs is by design of the cylinder head and predominantly the intake port. The cylinder fill pattern will impact every aspect of how an engine runs and it is important to understand this effect.

Let’s turn back time.

What does a new John Deere lawn tractor and health insurance have in common?

Originally published 8/18/2021. Machinery is inanimate and does not have feelings and emotions as living things do. Yet, their operation is influenced by other internal systems that appear unrelated. In that way they do have a low level of feelings and emotions. The medical community identifies the symptoms of a disease or aliment using the term, presents. When it comes to machinery, I have found that you need to recognize this phenomena. An issue in one area often presents as a malady in another, leading your diagnostics down the wrong path.

Ray helps an arborist with his woodchipper.

There is more to the story than just pulse width.

Originally published 8/11/2021. Engines are getting smaller and yet their horsepower is increasing even when they are not turbocharged. The industry is accomplishing this by optimizing cylinder fill through manipulation of the camshaft’s phase and the length of the induction path.

Building better boost.

Does anyone today know what a female fitting is?

Originally published 8/4/2021. Advanced control systems are employed all around the farm. Be it either a grain bin, sprayer, planter, or anything else. The controls decisions are made using an algorithm. It is important to understand the basics of how this logic works. It all will make sense once you listen to this episode.

Wastegates.

The demand on the coil is transient.