So I Borrowed My Neighbors Wheelbarrow and Look What Happened…

[M.D. Holloway]

I needed to move a bunch of logs and didn’t have a wheelbarrow so I did what all cheap arse people do who don’t want to drop $50 on one, I borrowed from a neighbor.

They had this old one against his house for at least two years, never been used let alone moved. So our Boy and I mosey on over and ask if we can borrow it. He wasn’t even sure he had it still.

“Ya you do, I can see it from my bedroom window.” Our son said. Our neighbor got a real kick out of that.

It was in rough shape. I put our Son in it and tried to go home but the wheel was deflated. No problemo, I have an air compressor and inflate it in seconds. Nope. Nada. No Gots. Rhe seal was spent and the rubber cracked.

So our Son says “Dad, why don’t we just go to Lowes and buy a new wheel?” I like the way this kid thinks. Well, like most of our projects, sometimes things just get out of hand. We figured that a new wheel was nice but if we were gonna put a new wheel on then the tub needed some work. So we applied some rust converter, primer than a flat black topcoat to it. The handles needed love as well. After all, you can’t have a new wheel and a freshly painted tub and have your handles look shabby now can you? Well, the other hardware was in need of love as well so we took the whole mess apart and cleaned her up. I didn't like the way the legs sat or the position of the brace so I adjusted as I saw fit.

Our Boy was so pleased he said “Dad, Mr. Lloyd is really gonna like his wheelbarrow. I can’t wait to give it to him. Do you think he will like it?”

“I’m sure he will.” So that night Lloyd and his wife came over for a few libations. He took one look at the wheelbarrow and couldn't believe it was his. “Wow! So if I let you barrow my truck will you rebuild the engine?”

“Just one proviso – I get to borrow it when ever I need it?” I said. His wife chirped in and said “Mike, truth is we didn’t even remember it was on that side of the house and really if we did we would have thrown it out. It was a piece of crap. It’s yours now. Really.”

“Well, OK…but you can use it anytime you want OK?”

We didn’t rebuild it to get it; we just had some fun is all. It did turn out pretty good for an afternoons worth of time with the Boy though…

[artplumber]

Didya actually move the logs? Probably would have been cheaper (in time and money) to just buy a new one. I know, I know, bonding and all that.

[M.D. Holloway]

Ya, funny thing about that. The time we spent monkeying with the darn wheelbarrow we could have carried them to Fort Worth! Of course my Wife made sure I relized that as well. Another stmbling block was the latest chainsaw fiasco - see other thread. The log thing is on hold untill I get the saw thing figuered out.

It is cool how much fun it can be to do something like this with your kid even though it is competely ecomonically silly. That is why I got the Porsche...so he (and maybe she) could mess with it for the next 10 to 15 years or so.

[pwd72s]

Now you have a concours wheelbarrow. Don't worry, we'll never tell the judges that the wheel & tire aren't factory original...

[Joeaksa]

You can borrow my old Jag... please?

[notfarnow]

Great lesson for your son! Too many kids see there folks just throwing stuff away and buying new when a little care & maintenance would do wonders. Sure, it's just a wheelbarrow, but he's in training for maintaining & appreciating an older car!

[Grady Clay]

Mike,

Wonderful story. I hope your wife got pictures of you and your son doing this, the results are great – both technically and emotionally.


My son and I had a similar treat. When we bought this house there was a big old rickety (and abandoned) picnic table. It was relegated to leaning against the side of the house, out of sight, out of mind while we used our newer table.

At some point there was a need for a larger table so Chris (6) and I brought the table “in from the cold” so to speak. It was so floppy I was surprised it didn’t fall apart from hauling it to the porch.

As you can imagine; lots of work, replacing the braces and cross ties and well over 100 carriage bolts, washers and loc-nuts the table was strong enough for many more years of use and abuse. With four benches and two chairs it comfortably seats 10. It has been the out of doors work bench, painting place, race kart stand, and dinner table. It has extra drill holes, a little over-spray, and a few transmission oil stains.

Now 15 years later it is as good as it was when rescued from firewood fate and revived. It has sufficient fun memories that it is commemorated with a miniature replica on our centerpiece Christmas tree (another story).

Best,
Grady

PS; Be sure you and your son sign and date the underside.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77

Wow, a genuine True Temper wheel barrow, made in the USA. It's a collectors item, if you don't renovate it.

Just kidding, good accidental score. There's always a use for a good wheel barrow.

[id10t]

When you are done borrowing Joe's Jag, I've got a 356...

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Now you can use that wheelbarrow to move that stump couch thing.

[Hugh R]

I borrowed my brothers wheelbarrow and it needed a new tube and tire, I figured out pretty quick why the sell the whole wheel/tire assembly, a pain in the ass to change the tire due to the small diameter.

[rouxroux]

Great story! Sounds like your boy is learning some great (priceless) lessons there. I'm sure that will be one that turns into the "Dad, remember when..." stories. Thanks for the smile today!

[xlr8]

http://www.carefreetire.com/

[M.D. Holloway]

The only downside is that our Son will now search for all sorts of stuff to fix-up. This might be fun but also serve as an important lesson in sweat ecomonics - but at some point a problem can be solved by throwing some money at it rather than toiling with it for a weekend (but not until other opinions have been explored).

[red-beard]

He asked you to fix his engine, but has he seen the Exxon Valdez in your garage?

[azasadny]

Mike,

Good lesson for your son, you're an excellent father!!

[tabs]

Many Many Trips around the sun ago I saw an old Bag Boy Golf Bag Cart from the 50s in a Thrift Store. I stopped and looked at it and marveled at how many cast Alumium parts it had...23... So I bought it for $7.00 and took it home, disassembled it , cleaned it and put it back together. Whenever I play Golf I still use it.

It weighs a ton, but was made in an era when things were made to last forever. Maybe someone can chart the decline of American Mfg to when they started to build things to fall apart after X number of years.

[nesslar]

Enjoyed your story! Funny that I read this today, as later this afternoon I will be picking up some rounds of wood at my sister-in-laws and I'll chop 'em up for the fireplace. I'll be using an old wheelbarrow I "collected" from a vacant house years ago. It has only needed air in the very cracked tire a few times. Haven't addressed the rust yet, however. Great price for sure. I moved 26 yards of rock for the gardens around the house three years ago with that thing, back-breaking work but it got me into better shape. I can hardly believe the old 'barrow held up to that! Must be a German model.
Wouldn't the logs fit into the front part of the white car I see there? No engine up there in the way, right?

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by red-beard
He asked you to fix his engine, but has he seen the Exxon Valdez in your garage?

Ya Ya, she drips a little too much when rode hard but I still really dig her rearend.

Oh, your talking about my Targa...

[widebody911]

she drips a little too much

They have shots for that, you know...