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

[porsche930dude]

I put another muffler on the cj5. The old one rusted out all around the back cap. The new used one is stainless from a honda maybe itll last a little longer. Its the 4th muffler its had since 08

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by Baz

Bugs! Wow - once again you have confirmed your status as THE gold standard of this thread.

This time not by the usual well written and photographed exploits. Oh no. This time because you took care of Mom and Dad! I'm really proud of you, my brother. Much respect!

It really looks great and I know Mom and Dad are proud as can be.

That palm is a Canary Island Date Palm and absolutely quite ferocious if not handled properly. The entire Date Palm Family has very sharp spikes at the base of their fronds and some of them have such sharp tipped leaflets I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy!

I'll post a photo below of the same Cordyline australis at Mom's - as your folks have. I planted these in small 3 gallon pots along the side just to give some vertical accent in a very narrow bed and they've done great. Interesting because around here they aren't used that much - probably much more in CA.
Adding the lighting was a nice touch. A way of enjoying the gardens after dark in a way that provides a completely different & unique experience. Especially the last couple days with the full moon we've had - it's been just off the graph!

Thank you very much Baz! Very kind of you to say that and I am humbled. Thanks for the intel on the death palm, my gawd that thing is wicked vicious. My right ankle still looks like I was hit by a big arse rattlesnake and feels like it too. And for the info on the Cordeline Austrailis, I will pass all of that on. As we were working on them, I mentioned how I knew someone(you) who deals with these things on a weekly basis and would have information about them. The parents liked the lights so much that I installed some newer solar spot lights.



I am planning on installing some newer pathway lights as well as a few motion lights that will illuminate the darker areas if they need to access the area. At 80 and 78, I don’t want to get a call of yet another fall and trip to the ER.
I installed the same pathway lights at our place so I know they will accent the dark side of their house.



Even put up a holloween decoration

Im also in the process of charging up all the solar light batteries so that they will start out at 100%, even though we have progressed into the fall rotation and are now in more shade than sun.




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[bugstrider]

Since I was digging around in the holiday decorations, I remembered that the inflatable Bumble we picked up at HD at the end of the season needed some TLC. Because it was a display and highly discounted, was a bit weak in the illumination department. Was on display since before Halloween and just plumb tired.

Picked up some new LED’s and Klein butt connectors and went to work.

This what the original LED looked like and there were only two and it was on when I took the pic. Weak sauce!!!!! At the very best.
Cut wires and spliced in the new LEDs, easypeezy.


Replace two LEDs with two plates of three, and then added one more in the feet just because.

Now Bumble is running strong for the 2023 season.


No, Bumble is “NOT” going up till after Thanksgiving, but he is ready to rock!!


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[bugstrider]

Multi directional “fixin” day….

Step-1:
Finished up the wiring in the Honda Pioneer 700 for the big battery upgrade. Only thing left is to install the battery, hook up the primary cables and pray it doesn’t explode in a great shower of sparks.







Everything is completely reversible if I ever need to remove things.

Step-2:
Honed up the starting procedures after the GRT avionics upgrade in a friends LongEZ. Also working on the computer programming so the sensors all talk to each other. With that being said, we are continually being vexed by no RPM indication on the display…..





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[A930Rocket]

Replaced the fuel pump and fuel pump driver module on the F150 this afternoon.

The fuel tank had about an eighth of a tank left of gas before I reinstalled it, I drained a gallon or so out. That said, it’s amazing what a couple gallons of gas slashing back-and-forth wii do to make it more difficult to reinstall.

Next weekend, I’ll change the fuel filter and replace the spark plugs.


I think you can hide a body in the gas tank, it’s so big. Only 26 gallons though.





Fuel pump driver module.

[HobieMarty]

I found that the lighter was missing a small metal part that goes under the striker wheel and allows for the striker wheel to snap quickly against the flint to cause a spark, so I found a parts lighter on ebay, (lighter #2), that had the part that I needed for lighter #1 and I have replaced a couple of things. I put the mechanism together and installed it in the the body of lighter #2 and checked the operation and it works great and produces a spark!!! Yay!!!
I polished the handle chrome piece from lighter #2 and the barrel as they looked better than the ones from lighter #1 and have everything ready to be put back together now. Getting closer to being finished.

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[HobieMarty]

Finished for now. It is sparking very well, just need to add some fluid now to make some fire!!!

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[Baz]

Originally Posted by bugstrider

-snip-
Even put up a Halloween decoration
-snip-

LOL....funny I was thinking earlier today about putting something up on my flagpole....like a hanged person or skeleton. Well done Trevor...especially the dog!

On your lights....are you using any solars that are motion activated for your folk's place? I have a couple here in addition to the main low-voltage system and they really are nice just to provide temporary light.

Got mine on Amazon: CLICK

Looks like they've gone down in price around $6. since I bought mine in Feb. '22. They really work great!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

Finished for now. -snip-

Always impressed with your work and attention to detail, Marty! Thanks as always for sharing. Your photos are impressive too! Very inspirational!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Replaced the fuel pump and fuel pump driver module on the F150 this afternoon.-snip-

Rocket - was this work done after or before you broke down?

Sorry I didn't go back and check. Just curious...

On my Silverado, when changing out the fuel pump, you can either drop the tank like you did on your F150, or lift the bed for access from the top. I prefer the latter method and have done it 3 times over 18 years or ownership.

I only take out one side of bolts and loosen the other side then prop it up with a jack and 2x4's.

I messed up the sending unit the last time so just rest my trip odometer to keep track of when I need to re-fill the tank. Hopefully will get that resolved the next time I do this job.

The last time went a lot quicker after using my Ryobi cordless impact wrench on those bed/frame bolts!

[Baz]

Been busy here - too many things to mention. One thing that went real well was cleaning the gunk off two of my portable fuel containers. I used outdoor bleach - just spray it on...waited 5 minutes....and rinsed it off. No brushing needed!











These will get non-ethanol fuel for use in my small engines and motorcycles. We're in the middle of hurricane season right now too so I want to keep my spare fuel containers topped up. I have others that are already full. I always add Star Tron enzyme fuel treatment.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by Baz

Rocket - was this work done after or before you broke down?

Sorry I didn't go back and check. Just curious...

After I broke down. I had time to kill while waiting and looked up potential solutions. So come Sunday, I bought the need a parts and install them.

After driving 200 miles the last two days, I’m feeling better about it.

Knock on wood…

[Baz]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

After I broke down. I had time to kill while waiting and looked up potential solutions. So come Sunday, I bought the need a parts and install them.

After driving 200 miles the last two days, I’m feeling better about it.

Knock on wood…

OK thanks....good idea!

(now you got me thinking I should probably do that too...lol...)

Hey did you ever find the culprit on that breakdown?

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by Baz

Always impressed with your work and attention to detail, Marty! Thanks as always for sharing. Your photos are impressive too! Very inspirational!

Thanks so much, I truly appreciate the kind words, gives me the confidence to do what I do. Some people think I am crazy to put such time and effort into something such as this lighter, but I've had it for so many years and just thought I could make it look nice again.
By the way, I like how you cleaned up those fuel tanks, I have a few that I am going to clean up now. Lol.

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[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by Baz

OK thanks....good idea!

(now you got me thinking I should probably do that too...lol...)

Hey did you ever find the culprit on that breakdown?

I never did get it diagnosed by a dealer or anyone else, but I’m hoping the fuel pump and fuel pump driver module that I replaced, were the issue. Time will tell.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Baz

just spray it on...waited 5 minutes....and rinsed it off.

What brand of spray bottle for bleach are you using? I bought several ZEP bottles in a row in which the pump failed.
They 'improved' it to last longer. Now the attachment caps break with little torque because it's made too thin.

Cast iron egg pan was rough.


A little bit of grinder and roll-lock sander to smooth the edges, wash, heat, lard, back on the stove low-medium 30 minutes, with re-application and paper towel wipe, until enough smoke has been created and the pores sealed. Should improve with use.

[HobieMarty]

It works!!! Yay!!! We have fire!!!

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[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by Baz

LOL....funny I was thinking earlier today about putting something up on my flagpole....like a hanged person or skeleton. Well done Trevor...especially the dog!

On your lights....are you using any solars that are motion activated for your folk's place? I have a couple here in addition to the main low-voltage system and they really are nice just to provide temporary light.

Got mine on Amazon: CLICK

Looks like they've gone down in price around $6. since I bought mine in Feb. '22. They really work great!

Thanks Baz,
I am still having a hard time not pulling the trigger on that blasted 13’ Jack at HD….

And yup, on Tuesday after work, I installed some pathway LED’s on their dark side of the house in addition to three linked Westinghouse motion activated LED’s I picked up at Sam’s Club. They really light up nicely and have good range. I then installed the last one on a fence that will light up another dark area above an ankle killing pool pump. All in hopes of preventing any unplanned trips. Pop’s only has a few “get out of jail/ER” passes left and can’t afford any more head strikes. Unfortunately I did not snap any pics of the lights cuz they hit me up for replacing two led ceiling lights. Apparently you cannot repair these things and have to replace the entire fixture. So much for being eco-friendly!!!! Let’s add another light fixture to the landfill rather than replace a simple bulb or element. political agendas are comical at best. Anyway, I ended up replacing two of their four with a pair of nicer Hampton Bay 11” LED dome fixtures by doing a last minute run to HD before they closed and was able to make the repair night of the request. I’ll replace the remaining two after my next work day.

Old crappy fixture. I do like how the new ones claim they will last up to 45 years. This batch, lasted only 5 years being manufactured in 3/2018. I suspect that the led driver started to fail, causing a slight flicker which plays havoc with eyes north of 80 years old.

This is the new light I replaced everything with.

Today at home, I was able to replace a wireless SimpliSafe outdoor camera, a ground down car-trailer tongue jack that I had to cut off because it was drug by the previous owner, and mount some LED solar step lights on the hot-tub pad. Ordered several more boxes to continue around the perimeter and steps. Good thing it was Amazon Prime Day still…..

night mode on the camera makes it look brighter than what it does in person.

Cheers


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[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

It works!!! Yay!!! We have fire!!!

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Impressive!!!! Well done!



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[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by Baz

Been busy here - too many things to mention. One thing that went real well was cleaning the gunk off two of my portable fuel containers. I used outdoor bleach - just spray it on...waited 5 minutes....and rinsed it off. No brushing needed!











These will get non-ethanol fuel for use in my small engines and motorcycles. We're in the middle of hurricane season right now too so I want to keep my spare fuel containers topped up. I have others that are already full. I always add Star Tron enzyme fuel treatment.

Wow Baz, that looks really nice. Know anybody with access to a local airport? Might be able to bag a few gallons of 100LL aviation fuel for those small engines. As long as they don’t have a catalytic converter……


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