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

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

I have the same weedwacker. I need to replace the lines myself. I think I've already replaced the carb assembly. Non etoh the way to go!

Yep all I run in my lawn equipment is 90 octane ethanol free fuel. I have another trimmer that was my Dad's. It is a Poulan Pro Link and it is a 2 stroke. I mix the oil with the same 90 octane ethanol free gas and the thing sounds like a chainsaw and revs to the moon, it is very powerful!!!

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[bugstrider]

Got home from work this morning at 0530 and then promptly awoke at 1000 thinking about all the crud I needed to get started during my next three days off.

Busted out the borrowed jackhammer and started throwing it around on the gunite that was shot on the side of the house 20 years ago so I can build a set of steps and start prepping the pad site for Mrs. Bugs new hot tub that will be delivered in six weeks. The gunite was 8-10” in spots and I was hand loading it in the bed of our GMC K1500 in sections. At the end of the day of six hours running the J-hammer and then loading, our truck is grossly overloaded with a few thousand pounds of gunite chunks. All to be drivin to the dump and off loaded in the morning.

For the record, I am sore AF and would like to know where I can get a 5# aspirin. Anyone?, Anyone?, Bueller? Bueller?

Amazing how her great new idea morphs into a ton of work for me In her defense, she did mow the yard and trimmed some of her flowers today. Although, I keep telling her all of our local wildlife will do all of that for her. The deer are more than happy to trim all of her flowers down to the soil.








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[john70t]

Bug- alternate idea a little late:
Use the concrete chunks to ring beds, filler for ditches and behind retaining walls, erosion control.
Make lemonade.

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by john70t

Bug- alternate idea a little late:
Use the concrete chunks to ring beds, filler for ditches and behind retaining walls, erosion control.
Make lemonade.

Never too late, load two…..

Thanks for the option.




Oh yeah, proved my insanity/stupidity today. Placed an order for 13 pallets of 60# legacy retaining wall block. A job that me, myself and I will be throwing here in the near future. Insert your imagination of what a person could do with 13 pallets of that stuff.

Gawd I need a life……


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[rsrguy]

Building a dock for a buddies float plane opps.

[HobieMarty]

Been trying to chase down a coolant leak in the RX350. I have a pressure kit and have used it to find a couple of drips that I think are coming from a coolant bypass pipe that is under the intake manifold. I took the upper plenum off and still couldn't tell exactly where the drips were coming from so on to the next step, removal of the lower intake manifold. Next step, pour gasoline on the vehicle and set on fire!!!

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[Baz]

Some very impresive projects going on here.

Trev, you have my respect man. That's a very labor intensive job!

And Guy, I like the design of your dock! Interesting and will enjoy seeing the finished product!

And FWIW Marty, when my Silverado was losing coolant, after a fair amount of looking I couldn't find the leak, and ultimately concluded it was the water pump, which I changed out and the problem went away. Good luck and please keep us posted.

[HobieMarty]

Success!!! I removed the lower intake manifold today, pressurized the system once more and confirmed that the leak(s) were coming from the failed O rings at each end of the bypass pipe. After confirming this I then drained the system, removed the thermostat housing on one end and the heater hose fittings at the other end and then removed the pipe. The O rings were flat and very brittle. I will replace the O rings and a few hoses and clamps as, I don't like the way some of them look, out with the old. It's definitely been a process and I'm not done yet, but I feel I made some really good progress today. Yay!!!

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[bugstrider]

Ok fellas, a DIY tool topic for the DIY brain trust.

As many of you have noticed, I’ve been blowing up the thread with an upcoming big project. Since I am a solo operator on this, I’ve been thinking/kicking around the idea of finding a used tamper and or vibraplate. There have been several times I have rented them for the weekend and called it a day. Since I will be primarily working before my work shift of 1630-0300, so if I include my commute it is more like 1515-0420. I want to make the most of my time so I don’t want to worry about returning equipment during my available times.

Here are some file photos of the equipment I am looking at.

These are just pics and not necessarily the exact brands I’m considering. My thought is that if I can find these in good used condition, I can use them freely depending upon my schedule. When I am done with this project, I could even work a side hustle and rent them out on the weekends. My oldest does this with a log splitter. Now this idea is all great and good, however I have no idea what to look for and issues to be aware of as I look at potential items. I know there are much wiser and knowledgeable folks on this thread than me, so I am willing to take any sound advise relating these two types of tools.

The hopper/tamper and vibraplate is something that isn’t used often but sure nice to have when you need it. I also understand that there are significant differences between occasional weekend warrior work and professional quality requiring something able to take the abuse of all day usage. I grew up in a civil engineering household, and although I am not an engineer, I learned from one and understand the points of proper soil compaction.

Thanks guys

Todays brief pre-work project, utilizing the busted up gunite as rip rap in an area where a 12” culvert pipe empties out. As “John70t”suggested.

Step one: clean out the leaves
Step two: obtain weed cloth to place under the stones.
Step three: empty the bed of the truck of the manageable gunite chunks and stack accordingly.


Cheers
Trevor aka Bugs


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[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by Baz

Some very impresive projects going on here.

Trev, you have my respect man. That's a very labor intensive job!

Thanks Baz,

I’m questioning my sanity…….

Back in 2013, the airport had a fence contractor drill through a 8” water main directly above our property. Without going deep into the weeds, a lot of hillside damage occurred. After 5 years in court fighting for damages and after paying attorney fees, we didn’t have enough to pay a contractor to do the job. Besides, prices substantially increased between 13 and 2018, not to mention now.

So this has come down to me, myself and I in getting it done. I guess it’s my personality and the way I roll. If it fails, then I only can blame myself. Kinda why our complete HVAC removal and replace took so long a couple years ago. I had a friend help me and I was able to do a quality job the I know a commercial operation could not since time is money. Besides, I ended up fixing so many issues with the house. I now know what it means to be “drinking buddies” with the city building inspector, literally…. The builder/contractor was good friends with the BI, and the house should have never pasted final.

Cheers



More drainage culvert work with the “mistress”
Even some house work done by the locals.


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[rsrguy]

Finally got the crack fixed...

[ted]

Didn't want to be that guy with 2 engines in the engine room.
Soon to be 650hp 23 degree for the 10 and the 750hp 18 degree for the 5.

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by rsrguy

Finally got the crack fixed...

Nice spot on the crack and nice looking repair!


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[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by rsrguy

Finally got the crack fixed...

Impressive. Is that left unpainted until an inspector can sign off on the work? You probably know a certified inspector who can just walk over and sign off, don't you!

[john70t]

The walkway pavers were sinking under mulch and the path a bit overgrown. Felt like getting to the weeds was a chore in itself. I put them directly on stage-1 paver base and added the 4x4 as a slight retainer and it also widens the drive slightly in feel. I like moving through this space now.

[rsrguy]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Impressive. Is that left unpainted until an inspector can sign off on the work? You probably know a certified inspector who can just walk over and sign off, don't you!

The IA was standing right there... the welder is certified and works at a well known aerospace outfit, missiles etc... really talented guy.

[rsrguy]

Prepped and painted, ready for cover.

[john70t]

The hand-in-blender me asks "If it broke before, why won't it do it again?"
Would a couple gussets or plates strengthen that area?

[herr_oberst]

I'll bet the sleeve they installed goes all the way to the end of the new tube. Twice as thick.

But Guy will set us straight.

[rsrguy]

The model citizen nailed it. It's not an uncommon repair but it isn't exactly common. This ac was used as an ag plane for a time, so it's likely just wear and tear and landing heavy... the sleeve continues up appropriately 8", which is plenty.

The repair gained the ac weight in the worst place gussets, etc would have added to much weight. As it is the next annual will require a new w&b.

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