reengineering for second, third time??????
hung my deer feeder up about 10 ft between two trees on a cable and a boat crank. the boat crank is mounted/bolted to a tree and the cable goes straight up about 10ft then through a pulley across to the other tree. seems Mr bear tore the boat crank off the tree and the feeder fell straight down and smashed the spinner motor that throws the corn. It is mounted on 3 plastic legs just below a cone shaped funnell coming out of bottom of barrel. I brought it home and decided I could replace the plastic legs with 3" bolts, save me buying another. So I tore it apart and got to the bottom of the plastic housing and noticed the legs were right on the edge of the circular plastic housing so the head of the bolt wouldn't fit, neither would a nut if I reversed the bolts. No big deal I just drilled a new hole about 1/8 to a 1/4 inch inside where the old leg was.
got it all put back together and it worked fine, went back out to the cabin and hung it up and put bag of corn in it and tested it again..... fail, it jammed seems the bolts are to close to the little spinner now so pieces of corn jam between the spinner and the new bolts I put in. Just got back from cabin I had another thought that I would just move the bolts to the outside of the motor housing and duct tape them there there is not weight except the motor and 4 AAA batteries and duct tape could hold that. so went out and in the process of tearing down the housing to get to the 4 bolts I pulled the hot wire off the battery pack. !@#$%^%^ took it all down and threw it in the side by side and headed home. just got done soldering the wires back and taping the bolts to the outside of the motor housing and mounted it back on the barrell. put about 20lbs of corn in it and leaned it on the tailgate of the truck to test it out, duhhhhhh moment never thought about the corn being thrown all over the garage! but it didn't Jam and works fine now.
So I guess I get to make another trip out to the cabin about a 45 minute drive then up in the woods to hang the feeder back up. good thing I am retired or I don't know when I would have the time to fix my screwups, not to mention giving the garage a good sweeping out, I was afraid this time of year the corn would be a free housewarming gift to any mice around, so I moved everything I could and swept under all my junk to pick up about a pound of corn that threw into every knook and craney in the garage. Hope tommorow goes a little better I have two doctor visits and I pray they aren't as "clumsy" as me..........
Comments
It seems you have a bear problem, the feeder is just a victim.
Sorry couldn't help but laugh, hope your appointments go better, I have to go to VA clinic tomorrow for an appointment also.
I can so see myself in that story. I read your post to my wife and she said "you sure that's not about you".
If first you don't succeed ........... shoot the bear.
you got that right Bruce, have two different males and a mama and 4 cubs, don't much mind the males, but mama worries me that I might get between her and cubs or the dog get between them and bark at cubs, never know how mama is gonna react, and she is pretty big herself. I have pictures of the males standing on their hindlegs staring at the feeder, one of the reasons I mounted it out between two trees and about 10ft high. never figured they would tear the cable/winch off the tree.........
Be thankful that you have a cabin to go to where you can hunt..............and that you are able to spend your retirement time on "leisurely" gentleman's pursuits.
Some of us still live in apartments and work for a living in the city...........GREEN FONT ON.
Hope you get it working and enjoy a fine glass of whatever you like while relaxing at your property.
Glad you got er fixed and working hillbille! Those fancy do dad feeder gadgets sound like they may attract bears, and we all know bears just love to play with stuff.
I'm a bit more frugal which is a refined way of saying cheap along with lazy when it comes to feeding my deer and woodland critters. I just dump grain on the ground. Not specific as to who get the free eats (no signs put out) so all are welcome.
I hope the deer appreciate your efforts and not just the field mice.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
That Bear will be back. (and they break things)
Bears, racoons and squirrels like corn feeders.
and they're all delicious
Easy solution. When is bear season????