Continuing Thread: What Are You Fix-It'ing Today?

[rsrguy]

That'll work!

[GH85Carrera]

I got up at dawn (oh goodie) to beat the heat and do a quick "10 minute" project on the pond.

We had a UV light in a contraption that allows the water of the Koi pond to pass over it, and that kills off excess alga growth and keeps the water clear, so we can see the bottom. Lots of alga still grow on the rocks, so the fish have lots to eat.

The pond starts to get hazy, we know the light needs to be replaced. I went to take a peek and noticed one of the fittings was split, but somehow not leaking water. When I got it off, it was split on three sides, it just gave up the battle and split.

Of course it is a goofy looking adapter, and I have no idea what they make it part of the system to drop the 1.25 pipe to 3/4 inch pipe, for the cap. Anyway, after my doctors visit, I stopped at the pond place. If the part was a PVC part for plumbing it would be 2 bucks. Since it a part that comes in a fancy plastic bag, it was 21 bucks.

Anyway that part was easy, but when I took the bulb out to replace it, I noticed the glass sleeve that keeps the bulb dry was cracked, and it fell apart. Crap, now I will "get" to go buy one of those. The glass tube that holds the light in place resides inside the large black tube. The people that put in the pond were really helpful and the glued every single part together. The first pump replacement was a real chore, as I had to gut the large PVC, and install some quick connects. For almost 20 years, I can put in a new pump in 30 minutes with the connectors I have.

So much for a 10 minute project today. To be continued. If the fix last 20 more years, it will not be my problem to fix.

[herr_oberst]

Not sure if this will work or not. I need to bend some oak just slightly, and since I don't have a steam box; I'm going to try and just boil water on the stove and put the wood in the path of the steam. it's about 5/16 x about 3/4".

Half an hour on each edge, then let it cool and dry naturally.

We'll see.

[rsrguy]

Probably going to work fine.

[rsrguy]

Working thrythe annual on my plane today... new no blo exhaust gaskets

[Baz]

Originally Posted by bugstrider

Your awesome Baz, your mum is blessed to have you for her son. Your always “doin the right thing” on so many levels. A true example for others to follow.

Wow - nice words, Bugs...but all credit to my parents who took care of business doing their most important job.

Originally Posted by TimT

I finished the planters for the girlfriends palms, and brought them to her place

Really nice job, Tim. And the Bismarcks look perfect - much better than Windmills....

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Good news! Usually best not to overthink things (easier said than done!)

Yeah - good think I actually noticed before going any further.....lol....

Originally Posted by bugstrider

Tonight, I replaced the crusty mirrors on our 95 GMC K1500.

Nice - almost like having a whole new truck! It's amazing how many replacements parts you can get for your truck these days! GM and Chevy especially!

Originally Posted by bugstrider

Lookin good there Baz!!

Thanks, Bugs!

Originally Posted by rsrguy

Started covering the empenage today. The ga equivalent of stained glass.

Lookin good there Guy!!

Originally Posted by oldE

Had a sidewall let go

Nice work, Les! Add a photo or two if you can - I always enjoy the 'visuals' of what ya'll are doin'!

Originally Posted by bugstrider

and spent the day working on a small VariEZ project.

Super nice work there, Bugs....wow!!!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I need to bend some oak just slightly, and since I don't have a steam box; I'm going to try and just boil water on the stove and put the wood in the path of the steam.

That's smart! I broke a plastic lighting cover last night trying to pull on it a bit so it would seat better. Right after it snapped I asked myself....why didn't you warm it up first? Duh. I couldn't have just microwaved it I bet.

[URY914]

After work today I found my truck had a flat RR tire. Luckly I was still in the parking garage and in the shade. But it was still 90+ degrees. PITA! Hope my old spare gets me through tomorrow so I can get it fixed on Sat.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by rsrguy

Probably going to work fine.

It's worked for me. I keep an old electric frying pan in the shop, Strips paint too.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by URY914

After work today I found my truck had a flat RR tire. Luckly I was still in the parking garage and in the shade. But it was still 90+ degrees. PITA! Hope my old spare gets me through tomorrow so I can get it fixed on Sat.

I hate flats and have found the best strategy is to get new tires way before what is considered a traditional time frame...

[bugstrider]

……

[Baz]

Topped up the freon for my Volvo wagon. Then decided to go ahead and prune the shortest of my 3 Cabbage Palms tonight.

I will do the others 1 per week so I don't overload the G-men.

Before:


After (you can see the 2nd one behind it - the tallest of the three):


This is the 3rd one that I will do next:

[porsche930dude]

I welded the diff in my tractor today. Made a big difference. But was messy i should have wore gloves! It would have been alot easier if i pulled the wheels off but i was too lazy to remove the weights. So I had to fight with the heavy wheels and axles flopping everywhere while i messed about getting them aligned and clamped in the housing to weld them straight. Anyway Im happy. Plus i got the brake adjusted up so i have a little brakes now.

[oldE]

Baz, sorry for the lack of photo documentation, but when I get stuck into a filthy job, the last thing on my mind is stripping off my gloves and digging out my phone to secure a reminder of how much I hated doing that.
(Filthy because of the mud on the outside of the tires and the stop leak liquid on the inside. )
Anyway it is in the past. The torrential rain went up the other side of the province so we were spared the flooding and mahem. I managed to get caught up on weed control and may mow a small field for hay this evening if the weather promises to hold for a few days.

Best
Les

[bugstrider]

Figuring the best path to get a proper seal on these brake fittings. Removed the nasty old Teflon tape.





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[Baz]

I do a lot of fertilizing and use both liquid and dry products.

Been using Miracle Grow's hose end applicator for quite a few years, many of which was the older style that involved the concentrated granules.

When they went to this "LiquaFeed" system it was a real game changer for me. But over time the cost kept going up to the point where I started trying to mix my own concentrate refills using their bottles/system.

It didn't work and until I did some more digging did I discover why. The concentrate contains some solids that will not dissolve enough for the LiquaFeed system to work.

To resolve this you have to filter the solids out.

I put together this little system that does just that using coffee filters to do the actual filtering. I first mix up a concentrated batch of fertilizer (10 Tbsp. per 16 oz.) Put a coffee filter into a plastic container with holes in the bottom that sits inside a styrafoam cup - then pour the mixture into it and wait for it to drain. Then pour that into an empty LiquaFeed bottle. You have to pry the top off and then push back into place when done.

Works fantastic!

I buy the concentrate - right now using 2 different analysis'....

[oldE]

This is for you, Baz. One of the new front tires on a wheel which got a splash of paint. Just off the hay field from shaking out the hay cut yesterday afternoon. The hay should be ready tomorrow in the late afternoon.

I think I have mentioned before the tractor is a New Holland TC 30 . I can run the mowing machine, tedder and baler with it. Unlike Unclebilly, who has a real farm and is doing round bales, we are just putting in about 600 small square bales (~40 lbs each) for the wife's horses. When we are baling, she operates the tractor which powers and pulls the baler. We hook a wagon behind the baler and I build the load as we go. When we get to the barn, she unloads the hay onto a hay elevator (basically a chain conveyer) which gets it into the hay mow where I stow it for winter feed.
Using this system we usually baled and stowed about 100 bales an hour. Since she had hip surgery, she hires a local kid to unload the wagon.

Best
Les

[Bugsinrugs]

New clutch should be here today. New shifter linkage bushing installed. Getting this tranny back in will be a challenge.

[herr_oberst]

A lifting mechanism I previously cobbled together from some ʇᴉɥs I found (and some rod ends I bought) needed a bob-weight; thinking it would take a half hour or so to create a bracket, I ended up with this - three hours later.

#hand_filed
#stop_me_please

[john70t]

Washed and waxed the truck.

Sprayed WD-40 Specialist Spray and Stay Gel on the hinges/locks, and now the doors shut like butter.
Love that stuff.
The Specialist and Frog Lube are supposed to prevent rust the longest on bare metal.

They say "strike while the iron is hot". I didn't. I'd found a same color decklid replacement for the damage caused in the last ice storm. Getting the yard dug up and Mom's surgeries got in the way. It was nearby and the price was great. Perfect. They called back and said the car had been scrapped last month. So bummed.