View of the day-Al & Marilyn with the new rig.
Well, we really had to get up early this morning to make sure we were at the CNH plant before 7:30am. Once again Charlene and Lew, our tour guide, were waiting for us to go out onto the floor and see some of the final stages of our combine being built.
We got there one station away from the fluid fill and start up station. We watched as they added a few more parts before moving to the next station where Al got to go up into the cab and turn the key for the first time…and second time…and third time…it wouldn’t start. Air in the lines or a fuel filter problem, they weren’t sure at that time but there were a pile of guys that converged on the machine to figure out exactly what the issue was. They did get it running and decided they would be able to get to the bottom of it further down the line when they did the more intense testing.
We watched as they added the auger…a lot easier than how we have had to do it in the field from time to time. Watching as the side panels finally went on and then the decals, we could see the combine really starting to take shape. We stopped for a lunch break before getting to the final station where the tires went on and more testing was done. The tires they put on the front are just temporary ones, the real ones will get put on at the dealership.
We got our picture taken in front of the combine before Al was able to get back into the cab and drive it off the line, out the door and on to the lot. There would be another thorough check of the machine and all it’s workings before it gets the stamp of approval and is ready to be shipped. We are having the combine picked up by the CaseIH dealership in Great Bend, KS and that is where we will load it up on our way back south to Davidson, OK.
After we got back into the building, we were presented with a lovely framed photo of us in front of our combine by the Plant Operations Manager, thanking us for our purchase. The photo had an engraved plate on the bottom that had our names, the date and serial number of our combine…a very special gift. Just before we left, Marilyn had to do a bit of shopping in the Case store for a few mementos of the experience, Al took advantage of the store as well...surprise, surprise…no toys! He did however, add to his belt buckle collection.
We left Grand Island around 3:30pm and started back north. After a lengthy discussion on our plans for the drive…the road had been decided but where we would be stopping was up for grabs. Should we just go as far as Gettysburg, SD quit early and get up extra early to get home, or should we drop the hammer and go as far as Bismarck which would cut down on the driving time tomorrow. We chose ‘B’ and forged to Bismarck. By the time we got there the snow was falling and had collected quite a bit…we must have hit the winter storm that had been predicted.
We stopped at one hotel…they were all booked up and as far as the clerk knew, there were no rooms within a 60 mile radius. Now, how hard is it to take a black marker, a piece of paper and a piece of tape to stick a ‘No Vacancy’ sign on the window? Why do these places make you get out of your vehicle to find out they don’t have any room? Well, apparently this guy must have been talking in ‘baby miles’ or something, because we drove two blocks and found a room…one of the last ones they had…but it was a room…and we were beat.
Well, we really had to get up early this morning to make sure we were at the CNH plant before 7:30am. Once again Charlene and Lew, our tour guide, were waiting for us to go out onto the floor and see some of the final stages of our combine being built.
We got there one station away from the fluid fill and start up station. We watched as they added a few more parts before moving to the next station where Al got to go up into the cab and turn the key for the first time…and second time…and third time…it wouldn’t start. Air in the lines or a fuel filter problem, they weren’t sure at that time but there were a pile of guys that converged on the machine to figure out exactly what the issue was. They did get it running and decided they would be able to get to the bottom of it further down the line when they did the more intense testing.
We watched as they added the auger…a lot easier than how we have had to do it in the field from time to time. Watching as the side panels finally went on and then the decals, we could see the combine really starting to take shape. We stopped for a lunch break before getting to the final station where the tires went on and more testing was done. The tires they put on the front are just temporary ones, the real ones will get put on at the dealership.
We got our picture taken in front of the combine before Al was able to get back into the cab and drive it off the line, out the door and on to the lot. There would be another thorough check of the machine and all it’s workings before it gets the stamp of approval and is ready to be shipped. We are having the combine picked up by the CaseIH dealership in Great Bend, KS and that is where we will load it up on our way back south to Davidson, OK.
After we got back into the building, we were presented with a lovely framed photo of us in front of our combine by the Plant Operations Manager, thanking us for our purchase. The photo had an engraved plate on the bottom that had our names, the date and serial number of our combine…a very special gift. Just before we left, Marilyn had to do a bit of shopping in the Case store for a few mementos of the experience, Al took advantage of the store as well...surprise, surprise…no toys! He did however, add to his belt buckle collection.
We left Grand Island around 3:30pm and started back north. After a lengthy discussion on our plans for the drive…the road had been decided but where we would be stopping was up for grabs. Should we just go as far as Gettysburg, SD quit early and get up extra early to get home, or should we drop the hammer and go as far as Bismarck which would cut down on the driving time tomorrow. We chose ‘B’ and forged to Bismarck. By the time we got there the snow was falling and had collected quite a bit…we must have hit the winter storm that had been predicted.
We stopped at one hotel…they were all booked up and as far as the clerk knew, there were no rooms within a 60 mile radius. Now, how hard is it to take a black marker, a piece of paper and a piece of tape to stick a ‘No Vacancy’ sign on the window? Why do these places make you get out of your vehicle to find out they don’t have any room? Well, apparently this guy must have been talking in ‘baby miles’ or something, because we drove two blocks and found a room…one of the last ones they had…but it was a room…and we were beat.
We covered 547 miles…the biggest day so far and the latest start…not something we would really like to do again too soon.
Lots of snow…it is May, right?
Lots of snow…it is May, right?
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