Excellent.

To me it looks like an great place to drink pina coladas.

Thank you guys. We really like to eat meals there and just enjoy the shade and breezes. Since I'll be turning 80 in a few weeks, I probably won't be doing a lot of things like it in the future. Wrestling the 4x8 sheets up to replace the lexan panels while dancing around on the 2x4, top structure was more dicey than when I made it originally some years ago.

I bought some second hand aluminum sheets about 1.2 meters X 2.4 meters. I found they are quite good for building structures like these as they don't need much framing as they are quite stiff and rigid, while light enough to handle.

I'd built a beautiful wood shed with them and proudly showed it off to GF who said "That's the most redneck shed I've ever seen." Ha, it just shows how lacking in sophistication and appreciation of the arts some females are.

Sheds are important. My wife calls me the "shed king." I had to remove the lexan roof panels and put up sloped supports before the 4x8 roof sheets. Now my wife comments the roof is too high. Can't please them.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658075477.jpg

Picked up the gasket set for the left hand cylinder of the B&S 21 hp twin in my lawn mower. Took about an hour to strip it down, do a bit of clean up ( lots of oil on that side) and reassemble with the new gaskets. It is so much quieter now and idles smoothly.
I call that a win.

Best
Les

"Can't please them"

Pretty much why I don't have one. :)

---------

Regarding roofs.......

If you look at the photos I posted, the roof panels I used were some I bought off Craigslist. Aluminum "pans" - 12' long and 12" wide. They interlock with each other due to the folded edges. I only had to provide a cross member - and 3 fasteners - to secure them on each end.

I've also purchased Galvalume panels in a 3' width, cut to my desired length, which also didn't require a lot of frame support. Certainly no plywood.

To each their own - every variation having it's advantages and disadvantages. My concern will always be storms and hurricanes. I've already conceived of an idea to use ratchet straps across the span of my roofs to help secure them in case of such storms.

Attached via eyebolts screwed into the 4x4 posts and 2x4 deck framing - I think that would go a long ways to hold them down.

Regarding the height of your roof there, Marv.....I lowered one of mine by simply cutting a section out of each 4x4 support one at a time and re-securing with metal plates (I think they were 3x3 with pre-drilled holes) I bought off Amazon.

I actually used a chainsaw to do the cutting and did the whole thing by myself. No catastrophes and worked like a charm.

Not ideal in terms of structure integrity - and also doesn't look as pretty now - but easier than starting over!

Baz, thanks for the info about lowering the roof, but I'm not inclined to lower it. I like it that highl, because it provides shade, protection from weather and is high enough to not feel intrusive. After putting the heavier, more traditional sort of roof on, I added some diagonals to sitffen it. The 4x4 posts are well anchored in concrete, & we don't get hurricanes here so it will be fine. A really nice place to spend time even on stormy days.

That's like the project I started last week. I have a large deck at my remote mountain cabin and I decided to build an open, outdoor kitchen in one corner. About 13x13 with tinted polycarbonate corrugated roofing to let light in. 9' high sloping to about 8 and a half.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658095943.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658095943.jpg
The new 100% solar powered high tech SunFrost fridge I'll be installinghttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658096064.jpg
Right next to this cute low tech 1920 gas range I refurbishedhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658096162.jpg
I'll fabricate these pecky Cedar slabs I milled up into live edge counter topshttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658096382.jpg
I'll use a large deep double sink I have (you can fill a 5 gal. bucket in the deeper side) and I'll build a 4'x4' butcher block island on locking wheels. No pic of that yet, one project at a time!http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658096624.jpg
Built for snow load. I'm confident the roof can handle mucho snow. That Poly is thin but incredibly strong

Woooow! Greg, that's going to be spectacular. One comment about the polycarbonate, corrugated roof. One reason I didn't like mine over a period of time was that although it had a mild slope, it collected leaves (oak), which needed to be cleaned off at least periodically. I put it on originally for the same reasons you are using it. The roof I put on now has more of a slope, which I hope will shed leaves more.

Yeah, I have conifers surrounding mine so needles will be piling up. I figure I'll hose them off from the ladder every now and then. I want a lot of light in the kitchen plus I'm attracted to the fact that the plastic roofing will never rot or rust. I used the same panels on my chicken run at home and it works great. It would be too hot in there with the non tinted.
I like your tall roof, it will give a feeling of openess to the great outdoors. Don't let your wife talk you into lowering it, the next thing you know she'll want walls!

I made a gas tank for my fc-150 jeep. The old sender was toast so i drilled a hole in the middle and use it for a flange to back the tank. with nuts welded on. I had another sender from a cj so i extended the float arm but when i welded it it messed up the sender so i had to take it apart and solder up the connection that went poof. Also drilled and tapped it for a fitting to run the line in and keep it all in one spot. The baffle in the middle made it very hard to get the last end cap on because the square box didnt want to tweek into shape very well. End result was good other than the laps dont quite line up on top but nobody is going to see that anyway. I used the old filler neck. Lots of welding and its galvanized sheet. I havnt pressure tested it yet im sure there are plenty of leaks but Ill work on that another day.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658190578.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658190578.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658190578.JPG

..... Ok, you're damned funny.

A reference book I use quite a bit was starting to pull apart so I drilled holes 1/16" diam, 1/4" apart down the spine and sewed it tight with some waxed thread.
Whoever settles my 'estate' is going to either laugh or cry when they examine my worldly possessions for distribution.

(Hopefully my wingman will take care of the embarrassing stuff as promised, but if not, oh well!)

Good of you.
Now do entire hand-spun lace dresses on a manual loom, or a pattern rug.

(yeah that old fashioned stuff is beyond me. some math involved.)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658585709.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658585709.jpg

More sprinkler system fun. After 22 years, more heads to raise up. We had a decent size Bradford Pear tree in our front yard. One of the few things that was planted by the builder, that was left. The big ice storm took care of it, so we had it cut down and tthe stump ground out. About 10 feet from where the tree was was this sprinkler head.

It had been sucked down into the ground and was just peeking up to ground level when it popped up. So I really needed to raise it up. I hit a ton of roots, and finally had to get the tree limb cutters with the long handles to cut the root. It had grown around the fitting that supplied water to the head. I had a heck of a time getting that head free. Once it was free of the alien like root, it was a snap to raise it back up to ground level. I had to go get my biggest flat blade screw driver to pry the root away from the head, or the head from the root, depending on how you look at it. It was attached like a parasite.

The spray head in the photo is an old one I need to just throw out, but I might need for parts it someday so......

Good job, Glen.

These come in real handy when I raise mine.......they come in 1/2" and 3/4"......

https://www.siteone.com/medias/sys_m...-300Wx300H.jpg

I use those as well, but the alien root was simply in the way of the connection. It was wrapped around the elbow for the funny pipe. No way to even rotate the head or fitting, that root was in the way. I was just happy the dang root did not grab me and suck me into the hole like in the horror movies!

I understand - just passing the info along. Great job! SmileWavy

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658686849.jpg

This caused a major cussing episode. The mower blade actually hit the top of it, sucked it right back out of the ground from the fix done yesterday, and then whacked it a second time to make all the parts fly out.

The home owner guy was really upset at the mowing guy and mowing guy was blaming the sprinkler repair guy. In 22 years of mowing that yard, this is the first sprinkler head destroyed. The sprinkler guy just left it a little too high and not below the turf level. The mower guy should have stopped and just stepped down a little on the head to make sure it was below the mower blade.

As one of my friends has often reminding me, there is no f***ing like a self f***ing. I refused to pay the sprinkler guy or the mower guy, and I just drank the home owners beer, and fixed it myself and quit changing hats from sprinkler guy to mower guy and homeowner guy.

The good news was the hole was dug just yesterday, so it was easy to pull the plug of grass back out, swap in a new head and new spray nozzle. A 5 minute fix. All the parts were on hand. It is for sure low enough now!

130 to 129
 

Shortened GT 3 rods. No picture just a video of the machining.

Wow that Ram is getting a lot of attention!
How did you remove the truck bed, lots of muscle to help?
Just the RV will take all the effort you can put into it. :)

Fixing a toilet.

Yesterday was over 4 hours fixing the valve cartridge on a moen shower knob from the early 70's. With superceeded part numbers for 50 years it was a real treat

I have lifted the 8' bed on my Silverado several times when replacing the fuel pump.

8 bolts - 4 on each side, IIRC. Plus fuel filler neck and rear light wiring.

To do the fuel pump, you only need to remove the 4 on the driver side and just loosen the other 4.

I never removed it all the way although it's light enough to slide off by myself. But would really need more help to avoid damaging stuff, probably.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658780799.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658780923.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658780923.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658780923.JPG

The finished rods, 1 mm shorter.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1658790729.jpg

My wife has some older mechanical sewing machines that she uses mainly for just the straight stitch they do. That and they are fast too, when she wants to hit the full go pedal [1200 stitches per minute].
The machines have a thread holder on them that allows the thread to come off the spool and not have an preload on it. It is held up by a collapsible rod similar to an antenna on a car. The piece that attaches the thread guide to the pole is plastic and with age it has hardened and broke.
I tried a zip tie but it ain't cuttin' it.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659120757.JPG

So I decided I needed to come up with another way of fixing it.
Settled on using some coupler nuts drilled out to slip onto the pole.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659120828.JPG

Drilled out on the drill press leaving a short amount at the end for the thread guide rod hole to go thru. I'll be able to get some short set screws to help hold that in as the coupler threads are still good to go.
All that's left is breaking the rest of the plastic off the thread guide rod. The only forseeable problem might be if the thread guide swivels too much now on the pole.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659121074.JPG

Install a CSF radiator and MSW mechanical thermostat on the 330 today. The good news is temperatures have gone down and the elusive fan is working. AC is ice cold too.

Next up is the non-operational keyless entry and windshield wipers. Both were working recently.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659147193.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659147193.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659147323.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659147323.jpg

Post of the year there.

I wish my landlord (The city @ $500/mo) would keep my place so tidy.
If it's green and higher than those bendy snappy things in the morning, I have to chop it all down.

My outdoor mini-kitchen is functionally complete. It's a steel frame with 316 stainless cladding - welded it myself, for better or for worse. I started with a used BBQ drop-in that I got cheap, and then ended up getting tired of messing with it and bought a newer version of the same unit. The grill is way bigger than I'll ever actually need, but that's what happens when you design things backwards like this.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659205286.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659205316.jpg

Looks great, IMHO! Is that an outdoor thermometer attached to the wall upper left?

Speaking of outdoor living, I replaced a small (24") flat screen on my front deck that had succumbed to weather, I'm guessing. Even though it sits under the canopy, rain still finds it's way under there when we get certain downpours. $118 at Walmart and we're good for another fall football season!

I'm also installed oscillating fans. I have one already mounted just above and behind where I sit and for now have the other one sitting atop this Tiki. To be honest, I just sat it there to run while I was working - but after looking at it - I actually like the whole appearance of a fan on top of a Tiki, so might leave it that way. Also having a fan sit upright seems to be more efficient at it's job than the ones I have hanging.

Right now the TV gets it's signal solely from a digital antenna. I still get a lot of different stations and it's true HD, but eventually I will stick a firestick in it and stream, once I get a wifi router.

Really enjoyed the program on this morning..."Marty Stouffer's Wild America" about Polar Bears on a station called Buzzer.

BTW, that palm is called a Dypsis pembana. It's planted in the ground as all of mine are around and inside the deck. Eventually as it grows it will provide a nice canopy above the aluminum pan canopy I installed, helping to cool and add personality. It's a clumping (multiple stem/trunk) palm too so I will always have foliage underneath to whatever extent I want.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659279008.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659279008.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659548152.jpg

This is my trusty old bladed edger. It's first time use was on July 4th, 1986. So, yea, I have had it a while. It was built back when really American made quality was important.

Each wheel has a grease zerk, as does the arm that lowers the blade. It has a large fuel tank, a fuel shut off, and the air filter intake it up high by the handlebars, away from dust and dirt. For the last 36 years it has started on the first pull, and made short work of the 1/4 mile of edging I have here. Just walk along at a normal pace, and done.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659548530.jpg

Of course I still have the owner's manual. The model line started with serial number 500001 and went up from there. Mine is serial number 5000131. When I went to edge the yard a few days ago, it fired right up as usual, but it would not stay running. It just acted like a carburetor issue of choking out, or running way too rich. Of course I tried to find a carb rebuild kit, and that is like finding a brand new 4 cam Porsche engine case.

So I took the carb apart with great care. There are a few gaskets that were all in good shape actually. Some surface dirt, and just a layer of dirt on the bottom of the float bowl. The float is made of brass, and has no leaks. I soaked the parts in my chem dip carb cleaner for a full 24 hours. I wiped down and inspected the jets, and all look OK.

It fires up and continues to run, but a little bit rich.

I have only ever used 100% real gasoline, no ethanol, but my yard equipment gas does all have Stabil in it. When I am done with it, I always shut the fuel off, and let it run out of gas in the carb. I change the oil evey couple of years.

I really need to pressure wash it to clean up the decades of oil oil and grease, but I think of it as patina and rust prevention! ;)

Nice setup Mr Wide!

That looks just like the McLean edger we had forever. It had a red engine with a yellow frame. We only got rid of it after 30 years, because we moved to a townhome.

I need to stay away from youtube "how to"
 

Anyway, what I really did was this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAIXiCDuEWI&ab_channel=HouseImprovements

But of course, it sure wasn't as easy for me as it was for the young and fit guy in the video...My unit not built at all like the one demonstrated. Had to remove the side coverings in order to remove the top piece & fan. Had to jury rig a resting place for said top piece. had to deal with rusty screws (Good old PB blaster). Had to kneel and lay on gravel to remove said screws...searching for a dropped screw. Thankful that all screws the same size, used a 1/4" nut driver. Actually, the shop vac, spray & rinse part went pretty easy...the reassembly not so much so, with holes not wanting to line up. With the aid of a straight pick, I got her done...only this time I had to lay and kneel on wet & muddy ground to install said screws. This while clearance hampered because of shrubs planted nearby. About 3 1/2 hours after I started, finally everything back together.

The bonus? When I plugged the power back in, the unit started working a TON quieter than it ever has. I didn't lubricate anything, the fan has a sealed bearing. Don't know why it's so much quieter, but it is. Only thing I can think of is maybe I (pure luck) lined the pieces up better than they were before.

I bought this nicely engineered lift to remove my Jeep hard top several years ago when it was only operated manually. They have since introduced a motorized kit that I've had my eye on. Pulled the trigger on it and installed it yesterday.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659805943.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659805943.jpg

In keeping with my project motto that "anything worth doing is worth overdoing" I modified the kits open top metal motorcycle battery box by enclosing it in a plastic battery box and added a green LED voltage meter and green LED on/off switch matching the color of the lift.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659805943.jpg

When not in use, the top can be stored on the lift suspended above the hood thereby taking up no additional floor space in the garage.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1659806241.jpg

I just placed an order for this product to use in treating some metal/wire hanging baskets I intend on using this week to plant some of my Bromeliads in.

There are about 8 baskets which I have had for many years in storage - overall in good nick - but do have some slight surface rust here and there.

I'm just trying to both treat the existing rust plus provide for some corrosion proofing long term.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1660397764.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1660397764.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1660397764.JPG

We’ll see how much I get done this weekend. I’ve got a new DME with a lot of electronics deleted and an oil cooler to install.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1660400903.jpg

In 2018 at Long Beach the snout broke off the crank on the 10 car.
Installed a New 23 degree 358 and everything possible refreshed and ready to race Wednesday at Laguna Seca Reunion.
8 new slicks and 30 period correct IMSA GTO cars to race for 4 days. :)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1660404793.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1660404817.jpg
This is what it sounds like when the snout breaks off and the engine spins and the valve train stop moving. ;)
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WIyTFkaD66Y?start=407" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Fixed my son's 2015 Subaru Forrester A/C. Clutch releasing after about 10 miles, service said he needed a new compressor. Found a youtube video that showed how to measure the clutch gap and adjust (remove) shim. Worked like a charm, and only took about 20 minutes.

Noice!

You Tube has saved my bacon more times than I can remember! :)