The Year Is Nearly Over, What Have You Had To Fix???
 

I know there are people on this site that can fix most anything such as James and 914 transmisons, ETC, ETC. So, looking back this year I am glad I am retired since I have been pretty busy. Here's a list:
- Replaced the 3 speed switches in 3 ceiling fans.
- Replaced the light switches in 2 ceiling fans.
- Had to repair the lock on one of my muzzle loading rifles.
- Had to repair a cracked stock fore end on one of my muzzle loading rifles.
- Had to troubleshoot the loud banging noise in my late daughters 2014 Ford Escape, found it was due to oil level switch sealer drying up and the sensor nearly falling out! More oil did stop the noise so I had our general auto repair shop look at it, replaced the engine with a newly rebuilt one! Yikes!!
- Replaced the right side rear brake/turn signal bulb since the rear right side of my Chevy HHR got hit by a man who ran a red light. His insurance was happy to pay for the body work. The shop that fixed it had body men and women that had worked in Tijuana at one time!!! They even polished all the road rash from all 4 wheels!
-Finally, I hope, I bought one of the Fender acoustic guitars at Costco but its finish was terrible sooooo I rubbed it with 4.0 steel wool and the have put on 6 coats of Tru-Oil wood finish, way prettier now.
Whew, what have you done (except Tim and his coach!)
John

I don't remember the exact ones.....but the breakdowns always seem to come in threes.
Why is that?

We have 4 Land Rovers. I could leave it there but I really like them and don't subscribe to the notion that they leave one stranded. That said:

'99 Disco 2 - Head gaskets, front ball joints and steering linkages and box, 4 Hubs, shocks, and assorted coolant hoses, rotors and pads, front and rear Diff fluid, trans fluid and filter. Just got the truck in May and that all needed attention before my daughter drove it.

2000 Disco 2 - Water pump, power steering HP hose, A/C fan power

2001 Range Rover - 4 shocks, 4 airbags for suspension, a bunch of seals for air suspension Edit: battery, heater core, radiator ... the heater core is not something I want to do again but now the passenger side floor isn't wet and doesn't stink

2010 LR4 aka Disco 4 - Brake rotors and pads, front air suspension struts

'02 996 - still working on the AOS. What a PITA!!!!!

The '04 BMW 325i needed some attention: Cooling system work (radiator, expansion tank, thermostat, hoses).
Front struts, strut mounts, control arm bushings, rear shocks. Front and rear sway bar bushings.
Oil pan gasket had been leaking for years but until recently was very minor. The gasket itself was simple but the front suspension subframe had to be dropped - Ugh.

Right now I have 3 furnaces that do not work . No heat at my parents, ( needs new furnace , its 70 years old )
Shop furnace went out , just needs pilot orfice, and home oil furnace crapped out last week . I still cannot get it lit, but believe it is bad fuel , our tank is old, and we had similar problems last year . FML right now

49 page thread right here:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1023147-continuing-thread-what-you-fix-iting-today.html

Just finished my biggest investment since I bought my home.
Installed a new TPO membrane roof with 5 inches of insulation.
Exceeds Title 24 California energy efficiency standards which means I can deduct 26% of cost from both Fed & state
Next up is the solar panels. All the pieces together makes it be considered a solar roof system.

Saab 99 turbo needed a new brake master cylinder

944 turbo had a warped rotor and got new rubber brake lines and motor mounts.

John Deere 445 got new head gaskets-twice, had to run tap down the head bolt bores to clean the gunk out, no troubles since.

Still need to swap out a dimmer switch in the hall bathroom. It’s either full on or off.

Built 23 wood storm windows to replace the ugly aluminum triple tracks that had been on the 1811 part of the house since we moved in. Made a huge improvement in the curb appeal and noise level.

Fixed some water leaks on the basement and got the overflow on the boiler to stop burping out hot water (replaced expansion tank)

There have been some posts by another Xterra owner that spurred me into looking into my heating system since it was only blowing hot air under load.

I bought a special funnel set and burped my cooling system which seems to have fixed the issue. Any cold air in the car this time of year gets my wife a little grumpy.

Let me see, in March I bought an 11 foot sail and rowing boat and did necessary repairs. In April I built a small dock so we could access the tidal river in front of our home.
In July a bracket broke on the hay mower and the drums needed to be rebuilt, so they went to a machine shop. I think it was October when our last old cat passed and the wife announced it was time to replace damaged woodwork in the house. I also bought a '89 VW Cabriolet and the first thing I did wss pull the windshield and repair some rust on the cowl. I will re-cover the seats and repair the hood before Spring.
In there somewhere there were repairs to fences and gates, setting up a small backyard rink in January and a small pool in May. Some locksets got changed from knobs to levers. New eavestrough and a 200 liter rain barrel on the north side. Repairs to gyproc in the basement to repair water damage.
Just the usual.
Just about forgot the cabinets I built for a friend.
Best
Les

Timely thread.

In the past month I had to fix my ice maker in the fridge, the control board in my hot tub and the clutch bearing in my washer.

All 3 we're fairly straight forward and turned out great so far, which makes them my favorite kind of fixes. It's the ones where the issue is clear, the fix is clear and the darn things still don't work that drive me crazy!

I own a 1985 911 and a 1986 El Camino with a combined 552,000 miles. I can go to the garage at any time and tinker and find something to fix or work on. Recently the lever for the turn signals on the Elky broke at the switch.

That one lever is a Rube Goldberg contraption that controls the turn signals, high beam-low beam, cruise control, and the windshield wipers. All separate switches and controls cobbled together.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1637682408.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1637682408.jpg

There is a weird spring that has to be in just the right position to get the ignition key lock back in place. It only took me a couple of days to do it all, but I am the slowest mechanic around. And finding a pro mechanic to do it is pretty much impossible. No one works on 80s GM cars anymore.

I have had the range of typical household things to fix. One of my wife's friends is a widow. She laments not having a husband around to fix little things. I suggested she do it herself, men don't have some innate knowledge, we just dive in, and figure it out.

New bearings for the buffer

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1637685383.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1637685383.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1637685383.jpg


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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1637685383.jpg

Nice job, I have a grinder/buffer I have had since 1977, still works great.
John

The list of what doesn't need fixing is far smaller...………...so small I cannot think of what it is.

Thanks, it was a fun job. This Baldor is from the 90s, it worked fine when I got it but the custom buffs I had made for it, they drilled the holes too large and they spun slightly out of round, enough to cook one of the bearings pretty quickly. Ended up having to wrap foil tape and stickyback 320 sandpaper around the mandrel to keep the buffs spinning properly.

I’m going to have to think long and hard to come up with the full list lol.

Built a new shed in our yard
Built a hydraponic tower garden
Repaired a ruined Porta-bote
Replaced the oil cooler seals and water pump on the dodge diesel
Revived a $75 outboard engine for the aforementioned boat
Rescued a $600 Jetta. Repaired coolant leaks and a misfire
New heater core, evap core and blend doors in the dodge diesel
Power steering pump rebuild on the Porsche
Repaired a second porta-bote for some local people and documented the whole process on video
Built a small temporary greenhouse to protect the plumeria from frost


I’m sure there’s more. I still need to do a timing belt service on the Porsche, a transmission service on the Jetta, and replace the shocks on our Ford Escape. 🤣

Just fixed the dryer. Didn't cost a cent because there was a YouTube video on how to reset a non resettable thermostat. Worked like a charm.

Those are great fixes. Our dryer was making a good awful clunk one time. The mrs was convinced that it was time for a replacement. I opened it up and found a loose screw in the drum that was smacking the side. Easy, free, 10 minute fix.


Now if anyone knows how to get a smell out of a washer, I’m all ears. We’ve tried pretty much everything. Bleach, vinegar, commercial washing machine cleaners. Machine smells fine if you stick your head in it, but the clothes still come out smelling sour. I’ve reached the door gasket even and no good. The only thing that seems to work is putting Lysol laundry sanitizer in every load.

Bought a house.
Built 25 homes at work

Work done on the BMW 330 Ci:
E46 Active Autowerke Headers
Magnaflo Spec E46 Exhaust/muffler
Spark plugs and cops
Rebuilt vanos

Install new timing chains, ramps, harmonic balancer, timing chain tensioners, lifters, safety wire oil pump nut.

Install high flow water pump, pulleys and idlers, all cooling system hoses with expansion tank, serpentine belts.


Install Apex 18x8.5 wheels (new Apex 18x8.5 with race tires in garage)
Install 92 MM wheel studs
TC KLINE front struts
TC Kline Front 500 lb springs
Vorshlag camber plates
TC Kline Rear shock mounts
TC KLINE rear spring height adjusters
TC KLINE rear shocks
TC Kline 600 LH rear springs
Front sway bar end links
Front control arms
Front control arm bushings
Install M3 front sway bar with urethane bushings
Install adjustable rear camber arms
Rear shock tower reinforcement
Front shock tower reinforcement
Alignment and corner weight

Install MOMO steering wheel w/ adapter
Fabricate front seat mounts
Install Kirkey road race seat
Install Corbeau road race seat
Install five point harnesses
Modify shifter
Center console delete
Strip interior

Secure front bumper
Replace gas tank door spring

Work done on the BMW M3:
Replace guibo
Replace all cooling hoses, serpentine belts, pulleys and idler‘s, and water pump.

My head. I quit my job and started another. First day was Monday. WOW do I feel better in life.

By far the most important project anyone can undertake.

I fixed our refrigerator, which did not defrost anymore. It was an easy fix, once I figured it out: the drain line was gunked up, so water could not escape and ice accumulated inside.
I also fixed the heat in my 911, there was a big leak in one of the hoses. And I fixed the squeak and rattles in the Targa top: a pin was missing and a pin receiver was pushed back too far.
I also fixed the Wi-Fi in my basement, with a $25 coaxial secondary cable router (simple Wi-Fi repeater didn’t work).


I have saved thousands and thousands of dollars fixing things, and there is no greater satisfaction than finding the exact root cause of problems and addressing them.