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

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

Like I've said before, I have a "glacial white," elastomeric coating on my roof. Underneath is a black, flash down, bituminous membrane. After about 10 AM, the membrane would register mid to high 170's. After the elastomeric coating it registered 100F to 110F. The coating wears enough after a few years to need a cleaning and recoating. I also get up on the roof periodically and hose the dirt off. I have the same attachment for my pressure washer, I might give it a try next time I recoat it, although warm water with Dove, a scrub brush and rinse off has worked fine in the past.

Good to know, Marv. That little surface cleaner device is fantastic so for sure, give her a try next time.

I got my first 5 gallons of coating down - using a roller. It's not going as far as I thought but if it helps do a better job then I'm OK with it. Will pick up another bucket from Lowes tomorrow and try to finish before we get rain again.

Thought I'd get the perimeter done first and then work my way inside. Might try a longer nap roller this next go around.

[Evans, Marv]

I think the silicone coating is supposed to be a step up from elastomeric and more expensive. I have 4K+ s.f. to coat and add a coat about every 4 or 5 years. Do a before and after temp comparison & let us know how it turns out.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I think the silicone coating is supposed to be a step up from elastomeric and more expensive. I have 4K+ s.f. to coat and add a coat about every 4 or 5 years. Do a before and after temp comparison & let us know how it turns out.

Hey Marv......thanks for your post.

Unfortunately, I've never had a recording thermometer inside my garage during the hottest part of the year here....so can't provide exact numbers.

Even without comparison numbers though, I can tell the difference just by walking inside.

So far - it is really making a huge difference.

And since I do now have a recording thermometer in there, I will post those numbers. Today it never got higher than 79, even though outside temps were in the upper 80's.

There are a few downsides to this though. Water doesn't evaporate as fast off the roof so leaving standing water helps trap debris and potentially I may have some algae to deal with. Dunno - we'll see. Also it reflects the light like crazy into my living room so I will be looking into some different window treatments now.

You know what they say...everything in life is a trade off....

[Baz]

Forgot the pic.....

[Baz]

A while back I posted about the new home under construction behind me.

They are about to put the pool in, which will be right behind my back property line, which is only about 18 feet from the back of my house!

Good thing I have my bamboo up.

They dropped off a skid steer loader which I think they will use to transport the excavated soil from the back to the front and either haul off or blend into the existing grade. I'm guessing it will be the second option.

They will probably bring the excavator tomorrow.

See the two form boards left lying prone? That's where the excavator will enter, I bet.

[Baz]

As predicted they brought in the excavator today for the pool dig while the loader is running the excavated soil out to the front of the property and distributing it...

[red-beard]

After one of the storms on Wednesday, I was on the "Utility" side of the house, switching on the pool boost pump and cleaner. Something smelled bad. I looked at the house main panel and the upstairs AC unit breaker was tripped. I switched it on and then checked the unit. No fan. I tried to get the fan moving (which means capacitor). No joy. Motor burned out.

As I drove to Dallas on Thursday, I ordered a new motor and new fan capacitor. Mrs. Beard picked them up from the supply house.

Pulled the motor and it was leaking oily crap. The "replacement" is a generic model.

[Ayles]

Been working on my Xterra. Finally had to do an idle relearn procedure.
What a pain! Took about 10 tries to nail it.

Idle Air volume learning procedure

1) Drive the car to "warm up" temperature. Make sure your idle is close to 700 rpm.
2) Ensure any battery draining devices are off. Like the headlights, interior dome lights, HVAC, stereo.
3) Turn the car ignition key to "OFF"
4) Wait ten seconds
5) Turn the key to "ON" (not start)
6) Wait three seconds.
7) Perform the following five times in five seconds or less. Fully press the gas pedal and release.
8) Wait seven seconds from last of the five releases.
9) Fully press the gas pedal and hold down. Within ten seconds the "Service Engine Soon" light should begin to blink.
10) Wait another ten seconds (while still holding the gas pedal) and the "Service Engine Soon" light should stop blinking.
11) As soon as it stops blinking, release the pedal, start the car and check the idle (should still be around 700 rpm)
12) Let the car idle at 700 rpm or so for about 25 seconds, rev the engine a few times and then let it return to idle.
13) Shut the car down.

[red-beard]

Draining the pool to remove excessive stabilizer.





Remembered I had a second submersible pump







Refilling



Full



A day later super clean!



Drain and refill in a bit over 24 hours. 24,500 gallons.

[john70t]

Here is what I am NOT fixin' today: A 3-5 year old Whirlpool washer which suddenly started making noise.

Tenants can't do laundry. My business has been compromised.

I am so done with Whirlpool...a Michigan company.
Fking livid.




Behind that bearing in the center drive shaft, through that spring/shock floating plastic housing drum, there is an aluminum "spider gear" which turns the stainless steel drum within.

It turns out that part corrodes and breaks quite easily.
When that goes the plastic housing and seals or other parts can go.

Everything should have been under "lifetime warrantee". The drum and the gear have the same part number, and some lucky few have gotten a $400-500 drum for free from the company, but that took several hours of arguing with idiots. Most got the jerk around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qysdsFHNAZo
https://www.applianceblog.com/mainforums/threads/ghw9150pw0-whirlpool-duet-broken-spider-arm.30568/
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=whirlpool+washer+drum+issue&ru=%2fsearch%3fform%3dMOZTSB%26pc%3dMOZI%26q%3dwhi rlpool%2bwasher%2bdrum%2bissue&view=detail&mid=FFB9D2B0EC7086313758FFB9D2B0EC7086313758&&mmscn=vwrc&FORM=VDRVRV
-------------------------------------------

It reminds me of the two months I spent living out of styrofoam boxes and ice, with the complaining girlfriend, and so much expensive delivery food, when my 3 year old Whirlpool fridge cracked a paper-thin copper line.

That fridge should have been solidly under warrantee.
Parts + Labor.
Two sets of technicians per their very own website were sent out but did nothing.
They claimed their own website was not 'updated', and those techs were not 'certified'.
I got the jerk. And not in a good way.

Final estimate they gave me was almost the same cost as the refrigerator after rejecting their own written warrantee.
---------------------------------------

I'm beginning to think Whirlpool designs expensive time bombs into their beautifully-looking products.

FU Whirlpool/Amana. Go ahead and sue me for slander. See what happens next.

[Baz]

The Silverado's idle has had the funk for the past week or so. Dropped down after starting and then engine stall.

This morning I cleaned both the MAFS and the TB with this cleaner kit from CRC.

Neither one was super dirty but did have a light layer of soot.

So far so good. Engine idles as it should.

I also dumped some fuel additive in the tank while I was at it.













I just set an insect fogger off inside because I was starting to get a few roaches.

[A930Rocket]

Installed two LED lights to replace the old incandescent lights in the garage.

Finally got the correct drawers for my Matco box, installed them and reorganized the tools. A lot more useable space now, albeit very expensive space.

New


Old

[Baz]

Finally got the correct tailgate bed liner for my truck.

I still don't know what the one they first gave me fits. It has a raised lip on the top side. The two holes for the latch are a tad narrower than the dimensions on my tailgate, which tipped me off right away it wasn't the right one.

Kudos to my vendor who got this resolved for me.

[Baz]

Building a little gate for my gate. Will put the bamboo pieces on it tomorrow. I used fence pickets for the frame so it would be light in weight.

Will update with pics tomorrow when finished.

Looks like I could use one more cross brace...so will do that tomorrow.

[slow&rusty]

What I have been doing for the past 5 months:


Last week:

[1990C4S]

^^^ Nice work....

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by john70t

Here is what I am NOT fixin' today: A 3-5 year old Whirlpool washer which suddenly started making noise.

Tenants can't do laundry. My business has been compromised.

I am so done with Whirlpool...a Michigan company.
Fking livid.

My tenants get used top load washing machines. I pay $200 max and they last at least five years. I would never buy a front loader for a tenant. Or a new machine.

[porsche930dude]

I made a sign like the one on the old MG factory. Today painted it and put it on the wall

[john70t]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

I would never buy a front loader for a tenant. Or a new machine.

My tenants get the deelux treatment (not really). I'm their worker boy. Good thing my boss is such a lazy idiot.
"Maintain it like you live in it" I've been told.
It helps smooth over the occasional edges and improves property value for the long run. Suggestions are considered inspiration.
It also makes it easily re-rentable. Tenants subconsciously understand that as well.

Got a newer washer. The drier is 10+ years and ready to get changed. Two weeks waiting on Lowes lazy delivery mucks.

What a difference a little floor color and carpet makes. Now it feels like home.
I built the sort table for a little function.

[john70t]

I'm grinding off the sharp edges of the Canadian Flagstone walkway.
It was the wrong choice in material and tends to split in layers when breathed upon.
Hastily done originally because I ran out of working weather after being jerked around by the local stone company all summer.

Large gaps of 1-4" plus a continuous rain of tree litter means that the weeds grow back regularly.


The 4.5" grinder with masonry wheel is very slow. Even with hustle I'm only able to do 4-8 per hour. About 80 more to go. Math.
There is a fan close by to blow the dust away. Dirty work.

So I bought a HF 7" to speed up the process. Second trip was to get grinding wheels instead of the ultra-thin(and dangerous) cutoff disks I accidentally grabbed. Third trip was to return everything. Another day wasted driving.

The 7" wheels they sell protrudes slightly past the guard. I want to keep my body intact thank you.
They didn't sell masonry wheels for their 9" angle grinder.
Oh well. Back to the grinding board.