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

[911boost]

My 12 year old Maytag electric dryer stopped making heat over the weekend. So off to YouTube I went!

Pulled out the multimeter and checked the usual culprits and I could not get continuity through the heating element. Pulled it out and sure enough it was broken in one spot. Not sure if the really cold weather was the culprit or age.

The Amazons had the cheap replacements but there is an appliance parts store in town that was only a couple dollars more for an Whirlpool/Maytag branded replacement compared to prices I saw online. Since the other one lasted a good amount of time and to support a local small business I went and picked up the part.

Got it all installed and have heat again! I will clean out the vent when it warms up some but i am pretty anal about cleaning the lint trap every time.

All in a pretty simple job, but one that saved hundreds instead of calling someone or just replacing it. I could see it being scary for a non DIY type, and just throwing parts it.

[rsrguy]

It's a treat when it all goes down that way!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Used Dawn industrial cleaner and pressure washed -snip-

OK....you inspired me to get a 2 pack....

Amazon 2 pack



Have not tried it yet.....will report back.......

[A930Rocket]

^^^ Ha! That’s exactly what I got on Amazon.

I used the 1st gallon, full strength, and part of the 2nd gallon 50-50

It worked well, with an electrical pressure washer, after I sprayed everything… engine, transmission, wheel wells, etc. The wheel wells really looked fantastic. It went from nasty to bright blue.

I took before pictures, but forgot to take the after pictures. Next time I take the wheels off, I’ll take pix and post them.

Edit: Use a 2-3 quart pump up sprayers to sprayer. Makes it so much easier, than one of those finger pump spray bottles. I bought one at Lowe’s.

[Baz]

OK thanks!

[A930Rocket]

[Baz]

I have a couple of these.......

1.35 Gallon/5L Battery Powered Sprayer, Electric Sprayer with USB Rechargeable Handle

[A930Rocket]

Even better! After I posted that, I figured you had something.

Edit: I just ordered one! 😂

[Baz]

Well thanks but I don't always have it "together" - but am always trying to learn more. Hence the purchase of the Dawn product.

I do a lot of spraying in my line of work so maybe that leads to more experimentation. I think you'll like this sprayer. Best!

[billybek]

Must have been dryer repair week...
One of the hinges on the old Whirlpool dryer broke last week. (hamper door)
Watched a YouTube vid on how to get the front off the machine.
After pulling the hinge found a couple of washers to weld over the worn out part.
Reassembled with a small bolt and double nutted it. Peened the inside so it wouldn't back off.
New hinge was $80 plus the time to pick it up. Think I am ahead on this one...

[911boost]

Heck yeah!!
Nice work!

[Evans, Marv]

I'll be cleaning up around my place starting tomorrow. We've had a nice wind event here and been without power from Monday to today. The local freeway was closed to tall vehicles like trucks and RVs two of those days. We've had trucks blown on their sides in the past. Trucks were parked everywhere down toward the local reservation - the side of the freeway, side roads, any place there was space. The wind blew off part of the roofing on my second largest shed. That will have to be fixed tomorrow, since we're supposed to have the possibility of some rain and maybe snow from tonmorrow into Monday, We're certainly glad to have the power back on and a semblence of normal life

[rsrguy]

Well... I finished all the paint repair and correction. What a pia.... looks way better.

[A930Rocket]

Replace the left front control arm on the BMW 330 today. I didn’t see any obvious bends on the old one. I’ll have to take it for a spin and see if it still pulls to the left. If it does pull to the left, I’m not sure what my options are.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by billybek

Must have been dryer repair week...
One of the hinges on the old Whirlpool dryer broke last week. (hamper door)
Watched a YouTube vid on how to get the front off the machine.
After pulling the hinge found a couple of washers to weld over the worn out part.
Reassembled with a small bolt and double nutted it. Peened the inside so it wouldn't back off.
New hinge was $80 plus the time to pick it up. Think I am ahead on this one...

I replaced the roller wheels, belt and idler pulley on our Maytag dryer this weekend. The thing sounded like it was ready to fall apart.

$20 for the parts kit and now it purrs like a kitten. Wife is very happy and I saved a few bucks.

[Baz]

Here's something a little different.

The last item left in Mom's house I want to move out is their old floor safe, that has been in the garage since day 1.....and was in their old house too before they moved here. It is vintage, for sure. Still works fine, although doubt the fire proofing is still as effective as it was when new. However - for me it has sentimental value so I want to keep it.

Today I removed the door and lubricated the caster wheels. Tomorrow I intend to borrow my mechanic's engine hoist and do the move. I have a small trailer I will use for the hoist while using my truck bed to carry the actual safe.

This thing is HEAVY! Should be interesting...stay tuned.....

[A930Rocket]

For laughs, you should fill it full of fake hundred dollar bills and have the door open, while you transport it! 😂

[herr_oberst]

Oh, wow! That safe is cool and the story adds about 1000% to the cool factor!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

For laughs, you should fill it full of fake hundred dollar bills and have the door open, while you transport it! 😂

Ha - that would be funny!

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Oh, wow! That safe is cool and the story adds about 1000% to the cool factor!

Thanks - adding to the story - while clearing out the contents of Mom's "office" desk, I would find handwritten copies of the combination. Must have been about a dozen in various locations. I also found a business card of a locksmith/safe/lock business up in Ormond Beach - with the combination on the back of the card. Obviously this was the last company to service the safe.

Here's the funny part. Somehow Mom had transcribed all the correct numbers of the combination - but reversed the orientation. Left was Right....Right was Left. I actually went off one of her versions and couldn't get the lock to work. Then later just for the heck of it tried again with the one from the business card and voila.

Mom was a smart lady but I guess also a mere mortal!

[herr_oberst]

Maybe that was her secret trick in case the bad guys found her slip of paper?