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Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

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Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#781
post #606

Earlier quoted context omitted.

His tone I did not like either, but his point was that city life is not without mortal dangers either, which I think is fair.

Perhaps one difference is that it seems to be considered good/normal parenting to expose your farm kids to mortal dangers, but it's definitely not considered good parenting to expose your city kids to mortal dangers (despite the city having no lack of mortal dangers).

I believe in the country, one chooses the dangers and has some control. In the city, the danger is mostly out of control.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#782
post #660

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> US is because it's functionally illegal for it to exist. This feels like one of those 'burying the lede' situations. Can you explain what's functionally illegal (and I admit that I'm mildly curious about the distinction of functional illegality and non-functional illegality) about this existing? I'm as breathless as you are, after reading that second paragraph, but I nonetheless remain ignorant about the nuances of…

Basically every diesel engine after the early 2010s needed to have several emissions systems (EGR, DPF + DEF). You can do some reading on them if you're curious, but they basically all reduce reliability, efficiency (DPFs choke exhaust, and airflow is critical to a diesel running well), and power from the same engine without them. In terms of legality, it means manufactures need to include all of those systems and th…

> Basically every diesel engine after the early 2010s needed to have several emissions systems (EGR, DPF + DEF)

Not true at all.

Every diesel engine sold after the early 2010s is not permitted to emit a certain amount of soot particles of certain sizes, and not permitted to emit certain concentrations of certain gases.

Manufacturers don’t have to use a DPF or EGR or DEF to achieve that. They can do it however they want.

Having lived around Africa for three years and in Latin America for two, I’m extremely happy the EPA doesn’t let vehicles belch black smoke into the air.

FWIW I’m a car nut, currently own a diesel with all those systems. Have also owned a 6BT 12 and 24 valve. I do not want to stand, or have my kid stand near the exhaust.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#783

We need a 'Framework (as in laptop maker) for physical devices'. Basically most of this physical tech can be relatively easily recreated with current tech and 3D printing. In fact probably better done with electric motors and batteries. There is definitly a moat there to be disrupted.

We need EVs with standardised modular battery packs, designed to be replced/upgraded without replacing the entire car.

But instead, we're getting EVs that are built more like smartphones.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#784
It's ironic we're at a point where having repairability & no tech innovation is seen as appealing for a modern piece of equipment. That John Deere lawsuit is perfect marketing as to why you don't need modern utility equipment that you cannot service yourself. All the quality of life features and technologies seen in modern farming equipment is only going to get you so far until something breaks & you're having a certified John Deere technician driving 6 hours to your farm.

While not the same, I also feel similarly with a lot of IoT "smart" devices too, if my 1995 washing machine breaks beyond the point of repair, you bet I'm going to be trying to find another old reliable washer to replace it with. Plenty of things are just simply not built to last and IoT is more of just a trojan horse for implementing planned obsolescence for more household items.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#785

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Rural kids are put into situations where they are expected to rely fully on themselves, with life-or-death consequences, from a young age. come to the city, farm boy, and we'll give you a corner you can sling the brown from and we see how you do. we find something fo yo daughters to do too* *i have absolutely no street smarts, country or city, but I do watch Law & Order and know how to pound a nail and know what to…

Ah yes, encouraging people into shitty situations, the hallmarks of city life.

Poe's Law whoosh

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#788
post #563

Up until a year ago I was regularly using a Massy Fergusson 135 [0] (Perkins Diesel version), made sometime in the 1970s. It was wonderful! So amazing to drive and use. Clunky and heavy, but you really really felt like you were using a machine. In low gears, if you put you foot down on the accelerator the engine would roar, and your speed would barely change! And there was no fancy technology in it at all. If I was i…

> Up until a year ago I was regularly using a Massy Fergusson 135 There is a tradition in several European countries named Affouage : If you live in a rural area, you can get very cheap (or even free) wood at the condition that you go to cut it yourself in the close-by forest. Many many people who are doing this practice are still using today Massy Fergusson 135, Renault R98/461, Ford 3000-4000 series, SOMECA or simi…

The first motorized thing I've ever driven was a Massey Ferguson 37 I think. I still hope to have my own some day !

At the moment my little brother and my father, who are living in a rural area, have started a collection of vintage tractors by buying everything they can and fixing it up, help that my dad's a mechanic. I'm frankly jealous.

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#789

Up until a year ago I was regularly using a Massy Fergusson 135 [0] (Perkins Diesel version), made sometime in the 1970s. It was wonderful! So amazing to drive and use. Clunky and heavy, but you really really felt like you were using a machine. In low gears, if you put you foot down on the accelerator the engine would roar, and your speed would barely change! And there was no fancy technology in it at all. If I was i…

Hey, we have the exact same model and it's still in use. Those things were built like tanks. We have an even older one from the 1940s that also still fires up and works just fine. The main thing the modern tractor buys at this point is simply a cabin with AC (which, TBH, is a VERY nice feature). Otherwise there's not much reason not to use the older farm equipment even today. We'll still use the old massy for tilling…

> Those things were built like tanks

In the late 40s, a lot of them were built from tanks !

Re: Alberta startup sells no-tech tractors for half price

#790

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would like this in a new car company. Low tech, simple to operate, repair, etc. the tech is what goes out of style and I don’t know how (or don’t care) to use half of tech cars have to offer aside from the automatic safety stuff.

The problem with making a low-tech car is that a lot of high tech stuff is mandatory for the car to be road legal.

In most US states, if you're willing to build it yourself, you have a lot more leeway. It was part of the formula that allowed Local Motors to exist (sadly they aren't around now).

YMMV of course, but worth checking into if you have the mechanical and welding skills.

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