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

[rsrguy]

Originally Posted by Baz

Fascinating, Guy......I had to re-read that several times before understanding the overall process! Thank you for the explanation!

My pleasure. Composites in their most primitive form are not too dissimilar to the paper mache kids learn to build with in grade school. The more involved stuff like vacuum bagging or infusion bagging/molding are an exercise in hands on learning. You can read about this stuff forever but the real knowledge comes from slinging goo into fabric.

[A930Rocket]

Worked a little bit on the 911. The booster doesn’t seem to be giving any help with the brakes. I did a vacuum check on it and it held 15 in hg. Now I need to start backtracking to the engine, to see what I’ve got and if there’s enough vacuum generated.

Also, I worked on the E46, to get it ready for the track in a couple weeks. Checked all the fluids under the hood, bled the brakes, and rotated the tires.

[HobieMarty]

I got out there Saturday and spent a little time in the yard, so I guess you could say I fixed the grass.

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[Baz]

Looks great Marty! Love the Dogwoods!

[HobieMarty]

Thanks. When I got back from Korea, everything was blooming and growing like crazy. We had stormy weather on the way (Sunday, yesterday), so I got out there on Saturday and cleaned up the yard before the storms arrived.

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[rsrguy]

Gorgeous

[Baz]

Got a new bench grinder and wire wheel to go on it. Then I ordered a different wire wheel for it because this one is too coarse for my needs....

[oldE]

Whoo hoo! The last of the flooring in the basement is done. So am I.
What darned fool put the floor 'way down there?

Best
Les

[jyl]

Well, I have to fix my dishwasher. It won’t drain, and because of that gradually gets overfilled and leaks onto the floor. It sits in a steel drain pan fortunately.

It is a commercial Hobart LX30H. The repair info about these machines is not easily available to civilians, but the parts are pretty available. So I will have to figure out what the problem is.

I guess has to be
- hose from tub to drain pump blocked
- drain pump not working
- drain hose from pump blocked

Sigh, not what I want to spend my time doing. Unfortunately I haven’t found a commercial appliance service place that is interested in looking at it.

[MORE]

Ah I think I know what is happening. My machine is older, with no separate drain pump and no hose from tub to drain pump. I was going nuts looking for that stuff. Instead, the big-ass wash pump pumps water from the tub to either the wash arms or the drain hose, which is controlled by a solenoid valve. The valve must not be operating, which is why the motor/pump are operating but instead of draining, water is spraying from the wash arms back into the tub. So this weekend I need to figure out if the solenoid is not getting signal, is not working, or the valve is not operating. Of course everything is packed tightly in there and getting a tool on fasteners will be a pain. Hopefully the problem is not with the circuit board! The solenoid is almost $400, that’d be bad enough.

[slow&rusty]

I bought this non running car a few years ago...it was slated for the scrap yard and then probably crushed after it being picked apart. It is an '85 Euro model with 235-hp.

The original family that owned it called me and asked me to "save it", as they had heard through a mutual friend I was into these old Benzes.

The father that bought it new in Zurich had passed away, his wife was in ill health as well and there was $$ owing to an indy garage that had worked on it, so also a lien that I had to pay plus storage fees at a police impound.

I did not want another car project but after talking to the family and considering it...I went for it. I've been so busy working on other cars, that I just parked it in my shop for a few years and threw a cover on it.

I decided a few weeks ago, it was time to give it some love. It now runs extremely well.

The day I rescued it:

First bath in a few years:






And going through the engine.
Before and after:

[oldE]

Sometimes I am amazed at how dense I can be and still function.
Last evening my granddaughter advised me the hot water in the bathroom was slow, so I shut off the feed, removed the valve cartridge and gave it a clean and inspection. When I reassembled it, there was little change in flow rate, so I added new cartridges to my mental list. An hour or so later when I was brushing my teeth, I saw the cold water was also restricted. That's when the light bulb came on (very dim, mind you) and I took off the aerator and cleaned it.
Problem solved.
Memo to self: Keep it simple, Stupid.

Best
Les

[mthomas58]

Started milling the deck rail posts for a deck replacement project for a widow in the neighborhood. Replacing rotten PT Pine deck boards with TREX.

I mistakenly notched the bottom of all 7 posts forgetting that one was a corner post. Rather than waste the post I decided to correct my mistake by using scraps, deck screws and exterior wood glue. Had fun doing this. Just thought I'd share. The posts will be painted so my mistake will never be seen.

[wdfifteen]

^^
Part of craftsmanship is artfully covering up your mistakes.

[wdfifteen]

It's time to move the chickens out to the field for the summer, but their summer palace had a flat tire and a busted frame.



The 2X12 frame was split and the tire was flat.



First thing - drill some steel strap to make fishplates, squeeze the wood back together and bolt it in place.



New airless tire



Ready for another safe, secure summer.

[GH85Carrera]

Today was perfect weather. 67 degrees and clear sky.

Yesterday after a short errand, on the drive back to the house, I noticed my El Camino really pulling to the left. I got it in the garage, and sure enough, the front left tire was virtually flat.

I turned on the air compressor, and tried to air it up to find the leak. That was easy, it was the valve stem itself. I aired it enough to roll, and used some duct tape to hold the valve stem in the "least leaky" position and pulled it into the driveway, and got the scissor lift opened up, and put the Elky in the air. Remove the tire, and put it in the back of the Macan.

Today I took it to the tire shop I bought the tires from, and they fixed the tire for free while I waited 10 minutes. It is now back on the El Camino.

Then I got busy with a deep clean of the AC condenser coil for the house. I had not cleaned it since last spring. It was not horrible, but it is cleaner, and I feel better about it.

[oldE]

The wife wanted the clothes bars taken out of this little closet and shelves installed
I used left over flooring for the shelves, but they needed support.



Shelves are now in. One afternoon to cut all the little bits and rabbet or mortise where needed, another morning to throw it all into place.

Best
Les

[HobieMarty]

I found this Tootsietoy Armored Car in the backyard at the edge of the woods yesterday. It was buried, and the little wheels were barely above ground when I first noticed it. I grab a little shovel/spade and dug it up, washed it off, and now have started a bit of a restoration project on the little thing. There is no telling how long it had been buried. When I separated the body from the chassis, I could tell that it used to be red. I have the body soaking in some Citri-strip paint stripper and the white dirt stained plastic is soaking in some rubbing alcohol. If anyone knows a better way to clean up the stained plastic, please let me know. Anyhoo, hopefully, I can restore this little thing, and Zack can have fun with it.

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[oldE]

Finished.



Best
Les

[Baz]

Looks GREAT, Big Les!

[Baz]

Got a new battery for the tub and am going to build a holder for it. But first wanted to clean up some of the surface rust......











Ready for some paint now!