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

[Tobra]

Only planes I ever built I could hang from the ceiling with fishing line

[rsrguy]

I tried that for a few years as a teen... turns out they got shot down by axis powers... in my absence.
Brothers......

[herr_oberst]

You just needed bigger thread.

This X-15 is at Evergreen in McMinnville Oregon.

(Home of the Spruce Goose!)

[billybek]

After finishing a maintenance re-seal of the roof membrane I am almost finished re-caulking the travel trailer.
What a tedious mind numbing experience that was.
Most of the connection points needed the old caulking stripped out, cleaned, degreased, masked and finally new caulk...
Will try to renew more frequently in the future. Huge job to do it all at one time.

[rsrguy]

The viking.... wow, so i understand that if you have the older book for the polyfiber or ceconite covering systems you can shoot whichever PU top coat you want... it was less specific than now..
Anyway, I guess guys just didn't understand the long-term characteristics of imron when this plane was shot.... not a good match for a flexible substrate. Lots of cracking and lifting...
I bust the paint back to a reasonable anchor and stabilize the edges with super seam or p-tack, re-coat with plenty of dope or p-spray then I level it with flexible glazing putty. Some areas where there's damaged tape required oratex patches.
Lastly I prime it sand it and shoot, blending after I get full coverageover the patch. lots of fun..... not.
If you look closely you can see the halo on the soft edge transition, wet sanding through 3000 and a cut and but should bring it all together nicely.
These repairs aren't easily visible, from 5-10 feet... how long will they last ? Don't know, I've been doing it like this for close to 10 years and nothings come back.
The biggest issue here isn't the repair..... its the paint bond to the dacron substrate that won't last long, imron just keeps getting harder and the fabric just keeps flexing. The paint will inevitably fail in other places before it does on these repairs.
These kind of patches are like spinning plates on sticks, sooner or later you need to come to grips with the fact that your top coat bond is failing and you're going to have to recover the old gal. With labor alone on a full recover exceeding 30 amu, you may want to seriously consider selling after some touch up work if you don't love it enough to diy or pay someone to do it for you, pull the pin and pass it on.....lol

[rsrguy]

Originally Posted by rsrguy

I managed to get to what I call the stained glass stage of this job today... fairly rewarding stuff.

Finished the wing Saturday.... just need to do the flap and aileron now!

[herr_oberst]

A. Wow. That looks pretty terrific.

B. The space you have in that hangar to do work makes me jealous. I'm sure heating and cooling (and pest control, ha ha) is a never ending battle, but impressive nonetheless

[herr_oberst]

Guy Zindel, I saw this today, noticed it was at a hanger in SLC, wondered if you were close to the scene of the crime?

[rsrguy]

Saw the video within hours of the criminal retardation demonstration... it was at skypark an hour south of us. Heating isn't to bad, and the insulation keeps it bearable so long as I have a fan on in the summer.

[oldE]

It's not a big farm, so our tractor is a New Holland compact 30hp. We got it used in '08 and I have been very happy with it. However I think a stone hit the underside of a fender because a few years ago the paint started bubbling then the rust underneath collapsed leave a hole. So I cut out the rusty bit.


Then cut a patch to fill in


Then welded in the patch. I only burned through the fender near the edge.
And because I suck at welding, finished up with some fiberglass, primer and brushed on some New Holland blue.


From 50 yards you'd hardly notice. But hey, it's a farm tractor.

[HobieMarty]

Good job!!!

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[ted]

Originally Posted by ted

Today dropped off straight pipe and older headers for blasting and coating.
did not want to VHT spray bomb it.

It was $800 including sandblasting and a Tungsten ceramic finish on these old headers.
Better than $100+ for VHT paint and me prepping all these filthy old pipes.
I guess I am not a paint it black and put it back car guy after all lol.

[A930Rocket]

Drained the transmission fluid on my 2014 F150, replaced the filter and added 6.2 quarts of Meron LV. It’s been 130k since I last did it.

Then replaced the low oil pressure sensor. I was in stop and go traffic the other day and did not hear it “ding” but when I hit the gas pedal, it didn’t go anywhere. I realized the engine had shut off, so I put it in neutral, started it back up and fortunately, drove the half mile home on pins and needles. Makes me wonder what would happen if I was doing 70 on the highway. With 230k on the clock, hopefully that’s all it is…..

Next weekend: a new pair of leaf springs….

[Baz]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Drained the transmission fluid on my 2014 F150, replaced the filter and added 6.2 quarts of Meron LV. It’s been 130k since I last did it.

Then replaced the low oil pressure sensor. I was in stop and go traffic the other day and did not hear it “ding” but when I hit the gas pedal, it didn’t go anywhere. I realized the engine had shut off, so I put it in neutral, started it back up and fortunately, drove the half mile home on pins and needles. Makes me wonder what would happen if I was doing 70 on the highway. With 230k on the clock, hopefully that’s all it is…..

Next weekend: a new pair of leaf springs….

Mine's an '02 Silverado and probably wouldn't hurt to do a similar service on my tranny. Why tempt fate when you attain over 240K miles?

I did have the faulty driver side door latch replaced by my mechanic last week. The part was ~$26 and my mechanic asked for $150 for the job. I gave him $200, firmly shook his hand, and while looking him straight in the eye said "Thank you!".

Maybe I could have done the job - but there's quite a few control rods going in different directions with plastic pieces involved and with my large hands and tendency to force things too much sometimes I didn't want to risk it.

He's had my 914 for a couple months and I'm getting it back tomorrow. Nothing major done - check everything over, replace emergency brake cables, some fuel lines, beef up the battery shelf, and treat the undersides with some corrosion products I bought.

I had replaced the OEM fuel pump earlier this year with a modern one and it really made a difference. Sucker starts right up now and runs like a scalded cat!

I just ordered a "tune up" kit for my Echo SRM 225 weedwacker which should arrive tomorrow. I've had it for a few years and lately has been a little stubborn in starting up. This kit has a new carb, gaskets, fuel filter & lines, grommet, plug, (2) air filters, and (2) primer bulbs. All for $16! I was given a trimmer just like it that the owner couldn't get to run so I ordered two of these "tune up" kits hoping it's what the other one needs.

[Baz]

The deed has been done. Both trimmers running perfectly. The one that was given to me has a 2010 manuf. date on it. Mine 2019. They sure don't look 9 years apart in appearance!







You can just pull this whole piece off and replace with what the kit furnishes. Attach 2 lines to the carb and then finagle the rubber grommet into the tank, which is the hardest part!

[A930Rocket]

I bought a Craftsman weed wacker at Lowe’s to clean up a job site the ARB was complaining about. Ran great on the first tank of gas, but on the second tank, it started slowing down until it stopped. I tried every setting and wore a groove in the plastic from the starter cord. It’s going back to Lowe’s tomorrow. 🤬

I thought about electric, but I have a gas powered blower and HF $250 6” auger. I should have bought that auger 20 years ago. What a game changer!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I bought a Craftsman weed wacker at Lowe’s to clean up a job site the ARB was complaining about. Ran great on the first tank of gas, but on the second tank, it started slowing down until it stopped. I tried every setting and wore a groove in the plastic from the starter cord. It’s going back to Lowe’s tomorrow. ��

I thought about electric, but I have a gas powered blower and HF $250 6” auger. I should have bought that auger 20 years ago. What a game changer!

Can't tell you how many plants I have planted using an earth auger. I probably wore 4-5 of them out over the years. 4", 6", and 10" auger bits. Gets a little heavy with the 10" on it!

Have also used one for setting 4x4 posts.

On the weed wacker - I recommend the Echo SRM 225 - should be able to get it from your local HD. My store is showing 17 in stock:

HD

Best $250 you'll ever spend.

[A930Rocket]

Thanks. I see the HD in Bluffton has several in stock.

I was thinking about the Husqvarna. There’s another one that has a edger attachment for more money.

130L 28-cc 2-cycle 18-in Straight Shaft Gas String Trimmer https://www.lowes.com/pd/Husqvarna-130L-28-cc-2-cycle-18-in-Straight-Shaft-Gas-String-Trimmer/5014915689

[A930Rocket]

The new Husqvarna did good, but felt a little underpowered. The 12-18” grass didn’t help….

[70SATMan]

Well, it wasn’t really broken but, let’s say “underutilized”. Was home visiting my folks for several weeks, helping them with house projects.

This little beauty was in our second house growing up.



My dad converted a creepy coal room in the basement to a creepy, narrow workshop and this vise is from my earliest memories helping Dad on projects, pretending to build stuff,,,

He took it with us when we moved to the sticks and it’s been used as a doorstop since the early 70s since Dad prefers his old Craftsman 4” on his workbench. Since I busted my a$$ for three weeks cleaning gutters, building storage shelves in the basement, hanging several new ceiling fans and cleaning out the garage in mid 90s temps and typical Illinois humidity, I asked him if I could have it. A deal was arranged and I shipped it home.

Arrived yesterday so, today I tore it down, cleaned up the moving bits, re-greased and mounted it on my bench (first time in 55 years). It’s a 10/1946 built and in pretty good mechanical condition! Smooth as butter. It’s a 3” and goes nicely with my 70s 4” Wilton that’s mounted at the other end of my bench.