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

[pete3799]

Originally Posted by Baz

These washing machines....it's a miracle they don't break more often! I use mine every day. Sometimes twice a day, depending on time of year. I get a lot of clothes dirty.....and then there's the sweat towels!

I don't like leaving all the sweat and dirt on my stuff very long!

This used glass top Kenmore I bought a couple years ago has been a champ. $200 out the door!

Good luck with the repairs, Pete! Keep us posted, please.....

Springs came in Fri.
Washer back up and running as i type Baz.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by pete3799

Springs came in Fri.
Washer back up and running as I type Baz.

Good on ya, Pete!

I did a retrofit on the shade canopy after the new palms went in. Essentially doubled it up so now my truck cab gets more protection.

[john70t]

Tenant had a wall buckle in a rental unit suddenly on about a Monday.
Huge amounts of water all at once.
There was a vertical compression break from the ~120yo cast iron.

I called my three favorite plumbers. The third was scheduled for the first Friday but didn't show. They claimed they cancelled on Wednesday with a message. No message. I called a dozen others. There was no call back from the first two either which I'm on good terms with and they have secretaries. Lost all phone signal in a solid 4G area even at home and power-cycling after a night at the hospital with mom awaiting her call to pick her up. Bizarre timing.

Something screwy has been happening with the phone system recently.
After thinking about it a few times...that is my only conclusion.

Another week went by for the second plumber who thankfully went far out of his normal work zone. Using the old parts van even.
They had problems with storms and it would be more time. Whatever.
Into Week #3.
That dude was a bit off' that day, moving like a turtle, and overcharged me out the ass.
Half good and finally proving his engineering degree. Half idiot bad. Whatever.
At least he showed up.

He also cut the cast iron pipe at an extreme angle as well, which I fixed and told hm to check.
(yeah yeah I know that messing with another man's work is a serious no-no...but this one was well beyond FUBAR and would end in tears)
The shorty t-square showed over an inch variance to the pipe length when placed on the cut surface. WTF.
There was a tiny rocking 'ting' after using the angle grinder when tested with the flat side in all directions.
Enough for the rubber Fernco to take up the difference.

Plumber cut a stub to a horizontal Fernco too short. He compensated by angling it out past the drywall.
Minor mistake but again very not professional.



He pointed out the existing plumbing had a "T" instead of a "Y". Good point.
That while-you-are-in-there syndrome set me back a couple more days.
There were a few problems besides unglued joints which somehow hadn't leaked.


I also J-B welded some leaded joints, added some more strapping for the heavy cast iron stack above above, and a support brace clamp bolted to a 2x6 for the 5ft piece of cast iron which was only held in place by two rubber couplers bearing the full weight.


Some tips for PVC:
-Dry fit everything to ensure slope and full seating.
-Scuff and clean all fittings including new pipe which have casting ridges and shiny connection surfaces.
-Double-mark exact position and connection depth for all joints with a sharpy pen and unique lines.
-Draw arrows and/or or number the order of assembly. You need that 1/4 twist!!
(The gluing part actually goes very fast when you got it right.)
-Assemble from the critical places out to the adjustable joints.
-The 1/4 twist helps the glue mix and prevents a ridge inside..
-Primer inside, outside well past the line, inside. Glue outside, inside, outside. There are 5 seconds max assembly time!!!!
-You absolutely need to hold in place 40 sec + although they say 30.
-If something is off cut and add a female-female connector to adjust angle slightly but this shouldn't be needed.
-Consider total weight and add support strap on the joints of longer pipe runs, and even in the middle if necessary.

Changed it to this.


An 8hr, 10hr and then a 14hr day for this money-grubbing LL to at least seal it up by the promised time.

[Zeke]

Nice job!

[A930Rocket]

Looks much better. Lot wrong in that one picture.

[Rot 911]

Spent the morning trying to figure out why my 1965 BMW R60/2 motorcycle kept pinging on acceleration no matter how I adjusted the timing. Turned out my centrifugal advance unit is worn out. Damn thing only lasted 56 years! Fortunately, you can still order replacement parts for this bike!

[porsche930dude]

Working on a blown up yamaha warrior. The kid just bought it and rode it first time out locked up on him. The starter clutch was seized up. fixed that. Started for a few seconds and locked up on me. The connecting rod big end bearing is totally shot. He got a raw deal on this one

[Scott Douglas]

Bought a used Minolta SR-T 101 off of Goodwill the other day. Picked it up this morning. Wanted the lens as it looked like it had been used less than mine. Got it home and started in on cleaning it up.



The case was covered in dirt and such so it didn't even make it into the house.
The battery compartment looked like new and there was even a battery in it.



The lens was good to go after some cleaning off, but wait, where's the aperture blades?



I was really pissed that the lens didn't seem to even have an aperture in it.
So while I was sitting here thinking about how to solve this problem, I was furiously working the aperture ring...when all of a sudden the blades appeared!
They've been working ever since and only have a little oil on them.



I put the battery back in and put the lens on and the meter appears to be working just fine. I may keep this camera after all. The only thing I think it may need if it ever sees film again is a set of light seals.

[john70t]

Today was another spackle day at the rental. First day was filling in the big gaps which will have a lot of shrinkage. Second day was mudding in the mesh joint tape and smoothing a bit. Even if it's not done the first round, always leave a nice smooth surface for the next time. Any lumps should be shaved down or cut off before the next coat. Sanding dust sucks and good work will not even need it.

I used a 14" tray, 12" Blue Hawk knife which was rusty, and a 4" knife for mixing and cleaning pan/knife and corners. The E-Z Sand 45 compound (15-20min usable) dries too quickly for anything more than a small area at a time. A pain which takes much more time dinking around. I've yet to try the 90 version or other brands and probably will.

Pour the powder into the tray outside. Lots of dust and spillage is expected! Add water on the sides a little at a time in the sink. I add enough to get everything wet using very slow circular motions. Then drag down the center using friction to crush the lumps and fold the sides in. Then more water to get a nice smooth batter. There is a short working time and then a point of no return despite the extra water and stirring and cussing and praying. Scrape off that batch into the trash and start again. I pull from one side of the tray and wipe off the knife on the other side. Not a pro by any means but that method seems to work okay so far.



The ceiling was 1/2" drywall and the walls were 5/8". Dumb mistake but not a biggie because it blended by pulling in thick from the edges and then smoothing from bottom to top. Any compound on the outside of corners is very easy to remove. Just lightly push the 12"knife angled upwards while still wet. It leaves a nice crisp edge (obviously not shown in this pic tho).

[porsche930dude]

got that warrior engine rebuilt and running again. Also spruced up my old taotao 110 and sold it to the same guy for his kids. It needed a starter and a battery iv been push starting it for 5 years and alot of loose stuff bushings and ball joints needed tightening up. I cobbled all of that together. Also the back axle was bent so I straightened it with a jack and chain.

Today i got a hilti dsh700 concrete saw working after much tribulations. First I fixed the rubber intake boot it was torn and the kill switch. Still had trouble running I ended up getting a new carb and it seemed ok. The guy brought it back after cutting 10 feet it crapped out again. I pressure tested the case and the seals seemed good I looked in the exhaust and the piston was broke. The skirt wore down too much and it broke out. Replaced piston and still ran bad. There was a little hose i forgot to plug in so it had an air leak. Runs good now but iv got to test it more before I give it back.

The guy also brought me a stihl chainsaw so thats next on the bench. Im thinking carb or an air leak. I checked the piston already and it looks good

[dad911]

Sprayed 4 chairs for my daughter, used to be light oak.
Always amazed how well the $20 HF HVLP conversion gun works.



Finished breaking down 75 gallons of waste oil into 5 gallon and smaller containers so waste recycling will take it.

[pete3799]

Put a new steering rack in my neighbors Nissan Frontier.
Got it all unhooked and.......you can't get it out.
Have to drop the front diff. in order to get it out. Not a fun job.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Should've taken a before pic! Oh well. 10 year old Burgundy McCallisters, pimp stripped with acetone and starting to refinish. The high polish shine and the brass toe plates come in the mail this week, so, perhaps this is the "before". I'll straight lace them too. These puppies were trashed. Soon, Guido the killer pimp be' proud.

[Baz]

Working on my KHS 24 speed comfort bike. Replacing shifter cables, cleaning up rims, replacing axles and skewers, cleaning & adjusting derailleurs, new back tire and tube.

Feels good to finally get some long overdue maintenance done on this old faithful bike.....

[Baz]

Also mounted 3 oscillating fans in my canopy area where I keep my motorcycles.......



Power washed the boat.....



And an area rug!





Minor repair on the wheelbarrow......



Ceramic washed the tub.....



And halfway through putting new shelves in my pantry - (no pics yet).....

[A930Rocket]

Organized the garage and added shelving.

Rebuilt the DISA and installed the passenger seat in the 330ci.

Did a compression check and started the lifter replacement in the 330ci



I’m surprised how much sand/grit and oil is on the flapper. Maybe I need to work on the CCV?

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Nothing quite makes your day like pulling out an entire dash to find the rotting mouse deep in the climate control system. After extricating his "not so fresh" putrid carcass, I had an idea. Perhaps, like the squirrel trophy , a dedicated prize for the person who is voted as #1 in blowing up all "covid" threads for the last year and half. God knows you deserve a prize for all your effort.

[Baz]

Building a little palm seedling nursery. Trying to make it squirrel proof. Got most of it assembled. This stapler arrived today which will help. Direct shipment from HD. Got here a day early too!

[slow&rusty]

[944 S2]

A little painting. 19’ walls