In my last post I talked about the scale of some of today’s largest farm machines and what the future may—or may not—have in store for them. As technology advances, however, the question is becoming how much longer will we see very large scale equipment at work on broad-acre farms. The reason I say that […] Read more
Doing the robot math
How the 2016 pickup trucks stack up
Grainews helped out with the judging at the 2016 Canadian Truck King Challenge
When it’s time to bring home a new farm pickup truck, there are a lot of things to consider. For example, every new pickup on a dealer lot has a window sticker showing Transport Canada fuel mileage ratings. Trouble is, those mileage figures may not really reflect what a truck’s actual consumption will be on […] Read more
Finding the source when you have engine problems
If an engine that has been sitting for several months fails to start, don’t automatically assume the carb is the problem. There are some other basic checks to make before tearing into a rebuild. Some old mechanics used to say “most carb problems are electrical.” What they meant was what people often assume is a […] Read more
How to overhaul your own carburetor
In this instalment of Shop Class, we get back to the basics of carburetors
In the mid 1980s, carburetors quickly gave way to fuel injection systems in new cars and trucks. But it’s likely there are still a few carbureted engines on machines in nearly every Prairie farmyard. That handy ATV and small grain auger engine are probably two places they can be found. And, of course, there is […] Read more
How to pick a replacement carb
Occasionally when working on older machines, it’s common to come across a carburetor that is no longer serviceable. But finding an exact replacement can sometimes be very difficult, or prohibitively expensive. If a new OEM replacement isn’t an option and a search for a used part isn’t working out, there is little choice but to […] Read more
Carburetion. It’s all about the air to fuel ratio
There are three basic types of carbs: updraft, downdraft and sidedraft. Those terms refer to the direction of airflow through the carb’s air horn. A downdraft, the most common automotive type, mounts on top of the intake manifold and air flows down through the barrel and into the engine. And updraft, as you’d expect, mounts […] Read more
PHOTOS: PHOTO GALLERY: A look back at pickup trucks
How manufacturers tried to convince farmers to buy trucks in the ’60s
Stacked! Built!” are the first two words in the body of this Mercury Trucks advertisement from the early 1960s. Clearly, they have that nudge-nudge-wink-wink feel to them. I’m pretty sure those terms had the same double entendre meaning back then that they do today. No current marketing manager would ever let that kind of ad […] Read more
Ford unveils the 2017 Super Duty
Trailer towing capability is a priority for the brand’s new Super Duty trucks
Most of the new vehicle introductions in this country have typically taken place at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto. But Ford didn’t choose to use that venue to unveil its 2017 line of Super Duty trucks. Instead, the brand picked the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina last November to show potential buyers what […] Read more
Are today’s mammoths headed for early extinction?
The dynamics in the ag machinery industry in recent years have been pretty interesting. Until this year, new, very high capacity machines sold in record numbers. Traditionally, new machines have eventually trickled down to that group of farmers who rely primarily on used equipment. But the size of some new machines on the market now […] Read more
A new face for the Silverado 1500
GM gives its Silverado truck a facelift and some digital updates for 2016
The 2016 Silverado that GM sent to the Canadian Truck King Challenge in October was a preproduction model, so the event judges were among the first Canadians to get behind the wheel of one. Unfortunately because it was a preproduction model, it will soon be crushed; it can’t be sold. That’s a real shame, because […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
