Dan Anderson

Latest Stories
Planting has been running smoothly, but you notice a few rows are consistently planting a higher or lower population. Here are things to check.
Modern, high-tech planters can produce “picket fence” stands of corn with seedlings so uniform they look like they’ve been photocopied. But does precise planting pay?
Don’t let kinked or damaged hoses hamper spring fieldwork.
My father’s rule was, “Never walk past a grease zerk without greasing it.”
I’ve had opportunities lately to talk with chemical engineers and mechanical engineers about greases and lubrication. Here are some tidbits that caught my interest.
What is the most useful tool you own? Not the most expensive tool, not the coolest tool, but the tool you couldn’t get along without?
Two service calls to malfunctioning planters 30-plus years ago remind mechanic Dan Anderson of how far pre-season preparation and maintenance has come.
A new generation of metal cutting tools span the divide between hacksaw simplicity/economy to plasma cutter precision/price.
Sometimes engine oil, transmission or fuel filters resist removal. As the frustration level rises, there is a succession of alternate tools to try.
Few would consider a brush a mechanic’s tool, but most professional mechanics have a range of brushes to help with unique cleaning needs.