Sno Cat Repair

There isn't a lot of snow in the Big Horns, but enough that you need the Sno Cat to get in and out of the cabin. Dad brought it up a couple weeks ago, but right away it showed some problems. So we set out today to fix them.

This guy is trustworthy. But after 50+ years of service, anything is liable to breakdown. After the first trip into the cabin, Dad noticed the fuel pump leaking. It has shown some troubles before, so he just ordered a new one. After putting it on, the carburetor started leaking and the engine began to miss. So he brought the carburetor home, but found no real issues with it. 

Having a troubleshooting game plan, we headed up to Deer Haven where the cat is parked. Beyond beautiful day.

The engine is a simple flathead Chrysler. In general, it has always ran good for us. 

Our basic thought was that the new fuel pump was putting out too much pressure, overriding the float in the carburetor. We learned that this can be a scenario with new fuel pumps on old engines. This speculation was further confirmed by the liquid gasoline in the intake manifold. All fuel that comes through the carburetor should be gasified. 

The ultimate test was going to be through testing the actual fuel pressure. For this we got a low pressure fuel gage tester. 

So Dad held it tight on the line and I cranked it over good. There was at least 5 lbs of pressure, which is on the higher side but not off the charts. 

Wanting to lower the pressure, we installed a regulator that Dad had purchased. With the pressure gage, we were able to turn the pressure down to 3 lbs. 

Then put the carburetor back on and hooked everything back up. 

Ran like a champ with no leaks. 

So to make sure we had enough pressure for the job, we ran the cat into the cabin. 

It's always fun to cut new tracks. 

Looks like winter up here. 

No one has really spent any time up here yet.

So we cleared the deck and went in. 

It has been real warm, but up here it was about normal.

So we kicked up our feet and stayed awhile.

Good stuff. I'm thankful for old equipment. When it breaks down, it teaches you something about mechanics. There's always more to learn. Good way to close out 2025. It's been a fast and fun year. Now we're on to the next one!

Grandpa's Gates

We saved the best for last. On Grandpa's old corral network, he had several rusty red gates that led him and his critters in and out. Though they didn't work for us on the main part of the cattle corral, they did us just fine on our horse pen. 

This 12'er was the main gate into the old corrals. If there's any gate that needed to be rehung, it was this guy.

But all these gates were too short for our new horse pen. Beings we ran a top rail around, we needed a pretty solid 5' gate. The old red gates were just above 4'. 

So with a couple old gates that weren't useable hanging around, we sought to extend our three good gates. 

Basically we just added 8" to the bottom of the gates. Though some took a bit more and other's needed to be narrowed as well, the end product was acceptable. 

First gate out was this guy. Probably the most useable gate, as this will be the main place to drop off a horse and pick him up for work. I like the way the gate hung.  

This 10'er opens good either way. We don't plan to drive in here because inside is where our septic tank and leach field reside. I expect some good use come this summer. 

This guy was the toughest to get right. Residing on a hillside with a crooked pivot post, we just made do with what we had. I'm content. Likely, it won't get used much. Though, it has a good 180 degree of travel.

Here's the one we had been waiting for. Easy, straight forward fit. 

Because of the hill, it doesn't open much to the inside.

But the outside is free and clear. Should work well for the horses to go in and out to pasture, and also if we need to back something up to the barn. 

Here's to you, Grandps.

This was our last gate to hang. The first to take off and the last to be put back up. The ole' Circle Eight was Grandpa's brand. Though he's gone, his memory remains eternal. I know he's tickled about our new corrals. Grandpa had colts in this pen when he died. There's no use in letting the weeds take over, let's grab some critters and get to ranching! 

Gate Latch

The next best thing to a properly hung gate, is a good gate latch. They come in many shapes and sizes, depending on the application. For our gates in the corrals, I find the chain and slot method to be the most effective. 

Having a good eight gates or so get fixed up, we measured them all out at once. 

For the slots, we just made one pass with the chop saw and then made a second right next to it. 

Then cut out the triangles with the torch. 

Should work

Of course we're not going to buy new chain, so we cut up some old tire chains that we are never going to use. 

Money. 

Each gate is unique, but this is the basic set up. 

Ideally you don't just drop the chain in the slot, though there is a time and place for that. It works best if you come up under the rung with the bracket and then drop it in the slot. That way there is always down pressure on the chain to stay put. 

Another pet peeve of mine is latching the gate too tight. Then when you come up to it, you have to use both hands to get some slack to pull the chain out of the slot. Leave a few links of slop when latching. Then when you come to open up, it's a one hand job. Ranching smarter. 

Dad's Gate

Jesus is the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14). Words contain meaning. So in a sense, Jesus is Meaning made flesh. That's why meaning is meaningful to us. We like it, it speaks to our hearts. I'm fairly convinced, that when we encounter meaningful things in this world, we encounter Christ. 

I'm a meaning guy. If an action isn't meaningful to some degree, I pretty well avoid it. On the contrary, when a task is meaningful, I run to it. Little is more meaningful to all parties than sons working with their father. 

Having a few days off during the Christmas Octave, I worked ahead of time to be able to finish one big gateway into our pasture at the ranch. Making a sign to hang from it was the first step. This 2x8 came off of Grandpa's old corrals. 

Finding a little free time, I ran it over to Dave's and routered in it GREG LUNGREN & SONS, along with a couple of family brands. Though this is not an official business title, it sums up a lot of the work that Dad does in our 25 acre irrigated field. 

Then I painted in the letters. The routered lumber looks cool, but wouldn't stand the test of time without paint. 

Meanwhile, I had a couple gates to build before heading home. Plan your work and work your plan. I knew the dimensions we needed, so I cut all the pipes to length. 

For some of the smaller stuff, I tried a new way of saddling pipe with a chop saw. 

You basically take about a 30 degree angle out of each side of a pipe. 

Fits great. No grinding slag off from the cutting touch. 

Done x 2. Dad worked in oil and gas production all my growing up. Consequently, 2 3/8" tubing was a common material for him to work with. Over the years we have gathered a little stock pile of pipe that needed to be removed from locations. This string of wobbly 2 3/8" came from the Hay Barn field, 20 miles south of Shoshoni. 

Once Christmas liturgies were over in the parish, I took gates and sign back home to be put to work. Like most things I build, the gates were heavy. The hinge style I planned to use was plenty strong when the gate was closed. However, when cranked to the side, it had a lot of leverage against the welds. We had this gate tacked up pretty strong, but when we went to open it, she broke the welds. 

So we reinforced them when we welded everything up on the final pass. Overall, the hinge step up works. Just a little 2 7/8" sleeved over the 2 3/8" with a welded cap on top. Should hold up. 

To mount the sign, we bolted two straps together, sandwiching the board tight. Then welded a strap to connect the two. A little easier than trying to bend a strap around just right. When welding near the wood, we made sure and hit it with water right away so it didn't char the lumber. 

Then welded it up high. 

Giddy up. 

Hopefully, it works as good as it looks. Simple, strong, and ordered to his boys, just like Dad. Sometimes words can convey the right meaning. Other times, gates do a better job. Let's ranch.

Incarnation in Us

God took on our flesh to be close to us.

           https://youtu.be/0ri_-_hMkzU         

Base Camp

Prophecies take time to come true.

             https://youtu.be/Br5zfrDbznA           

Reverential Reception

Receive and move forward in faith.

             https://youtu.be/-FfGPFsteT8           

Mary's Sign

And she proclaims!

             https://youtu.be/XGSoJQiiSko           

Supernatural Signs

 There's many.

             https://youtu.be/XUrNSXT06xg           

Tractor Time

After our tree harvest was complete, we needed to find a more permanent home for the logs. Knowing nothing we had would budge them, we turned to Jim Borgialli and his selection of tractors. 

Given the option, I am always going to choose green. Probably because I am more familiar with them, but also cause they are flat out cool. The John Deere 7410 was our model of choice. 

Don't tempt me with a good time. Jim's place is about three miles outside of town. We just ran her down the highway and into the church. 

Here lie our four logs for drying. We want to keep them on this lot, but in a more concealed place. 

So we moved the logs around and started setting the big ones in first.

Then the smaller, longer ones.

Just right.

I think this will be a good location for these logs while they dry. Out of the way and a bit more inconspicuous. They probably won't be ready for any use for a good two years. Someday a prophet will come by and know what to do with them. In the meantime, set and dry. Thanks Jim for the tractor, that made my day. Farm on!