kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Put tools away. Fiddled with the soon-to-be tub lighting. Made lists. Tuned the little pediment core. Cleaned. Dusted. Charged batteries. Hunted for and found plaster of Paris, not in the form I desired.
What did you do "IN" your garage today?
- Thread starter mayhemman
- Start date
3 nights ago our neighbour from farm showed up on doorstep and told my wife he needed some help. I got home late so went to his place in AM and he was broken down in middle of first cut of hay (feedlot with a LOT of hay to cut) because an axle mounting for a drive pulley had failed. I cut it apart but got stopped in my tracks when my right hand slipped and fed 2nd finger into the blade of vertical band. 3 stitches later I came home and made the component new parts and was done for the day. Got old cylindrical socket for shaft cleaned up, jigged and clamped to weld into base - tacked in 4 places, unclamped and mindlessly did final circumferential weld....but the start of that must have broken a tack and socket off square. Chucked up the base plate in 4 jaw and machined off most of the weld (some times a good root is a proper PITA!) then into the 20 ton press to brake it free. Back to 3 jaw to true it all up, back into the same jig and clamps but THIS time did 3 tacks and went back with socket in 3 jaw to check axial runout in base...and damned if it wasn't already 0.060" at 3/4" radius. Chose one tack as zero and cut/broke one closes in dimension to push to zero and re-tacked - rinse and repeat for #3. Within 0.030 radial runout so did final base circumf and back to press to flatten the (now 3/8 vs. original 1/4) base plate (about 4 x 6). Made 3 gussets and re flattened again so by end of day handed it over to a very happy friend (mower/conditioner old enough that zero parts available, but simple enough to be fixable).
No more drama today, just put 3500 into shop to find and fix what seems to be yet another 5.9 water pump failure (new last year).
No more drama today, just put 3500 into shop to find and fix what seems to be yet another 5.9 water pump failure (new last year).
Beelzeboss
Well-known member
I got some more DIY CNC machining done on the DIY CNC machine parts.
Just lots of manual drilling and tapping left.
Just lots of manual drilling and tapping left.
Magnum440d100
Well-known member
I have harnessed the power of multiplication!!!!
I’ve been buying parts for the Lincoln. A LOT of parts.
That means “extras”. Don’t ask me why I’m keeping old parts, when I’m replacing them because they’re no good…
Anyway, I had been getting by with one tote of extras. Then it broke, and critters got in.
So I went through, and separated everything from this tote, and recent purchases, into four totes. Exterior, interior, under hood, and under car.
Then shoved everything up into the rafters lmao.
Still have more to do, just ran out of time. But this should get me closer to organized.
Goal is to have less on the ground and more put away. Once I have concrete poured, I’ll organize a shelf system better. Just doin “for now”.
I’ve been buying parts for the Lincoln. A LOT of parts.
That means “extras”. Don’t ask me why I’m keeping old parts, when I’m replacing them because they’re no good…
Anyway, I had been getting by with one tote of extras. Then it broke, and critters got in.
So I went through, and separated everything from this tote, and recent purchases, into four totes. Exterior, interior, under hood, and under car.
Then shoved everything up into the rafters lmao.
Still have more to do, just ran out of time. But this should get me closer to organized.
Goal is to have less on the ground and more put away. Once I have concrete poured, I’ll organize a shelf system better. Just doin “for now”.
niget2002
Well-known member
Spent the afternoon working on the kayak didn't get as far as I'd like, but I got the rest of the tape cleaned off. Next up is more sanding.
driftpin
Well-known member
I have an old 8 ft fiberglass ladder, which had the rivets for the thinner legs at the top plate pull-out/rust-out. I used my old HFT side grinder (an orange case, probably 25 years old) to remove all the rivets holding all the fasteners for the fat (front) legs as well as the skinny (rear) legs to the top plate. A BFH and a center punch was helpful in punching out all those failing/failed rivets. The rivets were replaced with 5/16" X 1" SS hex head screws, flat washers, and nylok nuts. It's much stronger now.
I also replaced the folding A-arms holding the front/rear ladder legs together, using the same procedure and fasteners.
The ladder was a 'found on the side of the road' item, years ago. Still functional, after a bit of work.
The bad, rusted-out fasteners:
One SS hex head screw already in-place.
Seeing how-bad the rivets were, I wasn't going to use it without replacing them.
The SS hex head screws/nylok nuts are seen here.
I also replaced the folding A-arms holding the front/rear ladder legs together, using the same procedure and fasteners.
The ladder was a 'found on the side of the road' item, years ago. Still functional, after a bit of work.
The bad, rusted-out fasteners:
One SS hex head screw already in-place.
Seeing how-bad the rivets were, I wasn't going to use it without replacing them.
The SS hex head screws/nylok nuts are seen here.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
As much of a safety nut as you are, I can’t even believe you were using that ladder.lolI have an old 8 ft fiberglass ladder, which had the rivets for the thinner legs at the top plate pull-out/rust-out. I used my old HFT side grinder (an orange case, probably 25 years old) to remove all the rivets holding all the fasteners for the fat (front) legs as well as the skinny (rear) legs to the top plate. A BFH and a center punch was helpful in punching out all those failing/failed rivets. The rivets were replaced with 5/16" X 1" SS hex head screws, flat washers, and nylok nuts. It's much stronger now.
I also replaced the folding A-arms holding the front/rear ladder legs together, using the same procedure and fasteners.
The ladder was a 'found on the side of the road' item, years ago. Still functional, after a bit of work.
The bad, rusted-out fasteners:
One SS hex head screw already in-place.
Seeing how-bad the rivets were, I wasn't going to use it without replacing them.
The SS hex head screws/nylok nuts are seen here.
niget2002
Well-known member
I think those bolts are worth more than the rest of the ladder.I have an old 8 ft fiberglass ladder, which had the rivets for the thinner legs at the top plate pull-out/rust-out. I used my old HFT side grinder (an orange case, probably 25 years old) to remove all the rivets holding all the fasteners for the fat (front) legs as well as the skinny (rear) legs to the top plate. A BFH and a center punch was helpful in punching out all those failing/failed rivets. The rivets were replaced with 5/16" X 1" SS hex head screws, flat washers, and nylok nuts. It's much stronger now.
I also replaced the folding A-arms holding the front/rear ladder legs together, using the same procedure and fasteners.
The ladder was a 'found on the side of the road' item, years ago. Still functional, after a bit of work.
The bad, rusted-out fasteners:
One SS hex head screw already in-place.
Seeing how-bad the rivets were, I wasn't going to use it without replacing them.
The SS hex head screws/nylok nuts are seen here.
Magnum440d100
Well-known member
Been having to stay within 10’ of a toilet all day, so no work for me.
Been doin what I can in the main garage. Putting tools away that I didn’t have time to put away after using them because of time constraints, unboxing items and putting them on the shelves, going through and throwing trash away.
Stuff that should have been done in the moment, but as always “rush rush rush”.
I did order a carb for a flip mower yesterday that should be here tomorrow. Then install, oil change, tune up, etc, and that’ll be up for sale and hopefully OUT OF MY WAY! Lol
It’s been a moment since I was able to actually spend time in my main garage/shop. I forgot how peaceful it was.
Been doin what I can in the main garage. Putting tools away that I didn’t have time to put away after using them because of time constraints, unboxing items and putting them on the shelves, going through and throwing trash away.
Stuff that should have been done in the moment, but as always “rush rush rush”.
I did order a carb for a flip mower yesterday that should be here tomorrow. Then install, oil change, tune up, etc, and that’ll be up for sale and hopefully OUT OF MY WAY! Lol
It’s been a moment since I was able to actually spend time in my main garage/shop. I forgot how peaceful it was.
Motorman55
Well-known member
Starting to make some 'Special Catagory' trophies for our HOA's Car Show in late September. We buy new trophies for Top 10 or 20, Trustee's Award, etc which are voted on by the combined votes of the vehicle owners and spectators, but I like to make some special recognition awards like 'Oldest Stock Vehicle', 'Original Paint', 'Vintage Commercial Vehicle', basically real survivors vehicles.
So here's a couple pics of a few I just began to work on. These will be for the motorcycle catagory. I'm using real metal vintage trophy parts to create them. I'm just in the rough design/layout portion right now. For instance the round metal stamped discs will be used, but the small metal squares are just for size comparison. I will use larger square engraving panels. I used a couple different size hole saws in my drill press to make the circles.
Here's a couple pics. I will post more as i go along.
So here's a couple pics of a few I just began to work on. These will be for the motorcycle catagory. I'm using real metal vintage trophy parts to create them. I'm just in the rough design/layout portion right now. For instance the round metal stamped discs will be used, but the small metal squares are just for size comparison. I will use larger square engraving panels. I used a couple different size hole saws in my drill press to make the circles.
Here's a couple pics. I will post more as i go along.
scfoxman
Active member
Sounds productive! I finally tackled that pile of old bike parts and organized my tool shelf. I even found that socket set I thought I’d lost. Feels great to clear out some space. Got any big projects planned next?
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Philip, I'm the likely the least qualified safety adviser on the GJ but I'd shorten that ladder to something like four feet. A fall from 5 or 6 feet might leave a mark or put a body part in a cast. If that ladder was old when you got it, there's no way of knowing how much UV damage has been done to the fiberglass. The rivets you've replaced is a start but you don't put any weight on those. The rusty rivets that attach the steps to the rails look pretty rusted and those rivets hold your full weight. If a ladder step lets loose it will be a complete surprise and you'll be headed for the ground at a rapidly increasing rate.
Full Disclosure: I have made many mistakes when it comes to ladders. In 1968 (three years before OSHA was born) my tallest ladder was four feet high and had no safety warnings so I used all but the top step to paint our first house with a spray gun. The extension ladder would have been safer but holding a spray gun with a quart of latex paint with an outreached arm was too close to a torture technique my father used to prove how weak I was as a kid.
A decade later (47 years ago) I bought a super cheap 6-foot aluminum step ladder. The skinny leg eventually buckled on me and I landed on a sturdy hedge. No stitches or casts and using logic similar to yours I reinforced the part that buckled. As @niget2002 points out, stainless hardware would have exceeded the cost of the ladder.
I inherited a short stepladder from my mother-in-law and use it all the time. I suspect it's older than my 6-foot POS but I feel really secure standing on it.
It might be a post-OSHA ladder because the thing that looks like a step at the top is neatly engraved with reminders.
Your post triggered me so once again I visited Jeff's River of Stuff. Knowing how poorly my cheap-*** 6-foot aluminum ladder performed and how uncomfortable its narrow steps are on my bare feet, I looked for the most expensive 6-foot ladder Jeff offers. It appears to be very safe and only $232.97 a month for 12 months.
I'm not sure I'll be alive in 12 months and certainly don't want my widow to be stuck with installments (remember, we don't have a mortgage or car payments or credit card balances that include interest charges). I looked for the least expensive 6-foot ladder and rejected the first few for the first "Jeff's River Choice" at $11.67 a month for 12 months. It's on sale so I decided to pay the full price ($69.99 [22% off]) for the reason mentioned above.
I hesitated for a moment before placing my order because the page showed me a 6-step ladder for about double the price. The cheaper one isn't really a 6-foot ladder and it's not even a 6-step ladder. The 6-step that's on sale for just shy of twice the price caught my eye...
... but I immediately rejected this one because -- see first photo -- I would be standing on that 6th step with pneumatic nailer in hand and the box of nails between my feet. The company offering the 6-step ladder is also named WOA WOA (made me think twice).
Last edited:
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I generally despise aluminum and fiberglass ladders. All my folders are wood, and I have a similar one for painting as Bob posted.
Wood ladder is loose? most have screws going side to side all the way. tighten those up and Preto - its stable again!
For folders I have one 8 footer, 2-3 sixes, a really good 4 footer, and one 3 footer. I also have a really tall 12 ft? one I made for the garage storage wall 2X6 risers and 2X4 steps, rabbeted into the 2X6, and all-thread holding it all together. It's more like a steep set of stairs than a ladder...
I do have one Aluminum "extension" ladder; One of those extra wide MT-22 Werners, the can be a straight leaner or a Folder at half the height. It's often more trouble than it's worth... And one regular sliding extension I should just get rid of... I don't ever use it now that we eliminated the basket ball hops from the garage. The Xmas lights can be mounted with the 3 step painting ladder. (All remounted on 1X4 - We can put them up on the hooks at the peak of the garage from the ground. )
Wood ladder is loose? most have screws going side to side all the way. tighten those up and Preto - its stable again!
For folders I have one 8 footer, 2-3 sixes, a really good 4 footer, and one 3 footer. I also have a really tall 12 ft? one I made for the garage storage wall 2X6 risers and 2X4 steps, rabbeted into the 2X6, and all-thread holding it all together. It's more like a steep set of stairs than a ladder...
I do have one Aluminum "extension" ladder; One of those extra wide MT-22 Werners, the can be a straight leaner or a Folder at half the height. It's often more trouble than it's worth... And one regular sliding extension I should just get rid of... I don't ever use it now that we eliminated the basket ball hops from the garage. The Xmas lights can be mounted with the 3 step painting ladder. (All remounted on 1X4 - We can put them up on the hooks at the peak of the garage from the ground. )
welder4956
Well-known member
Pulled the steering rack off the Mustang to replace a torn bellows. Once I got it off I found both bellows were torn and one of the tie rod boots was torn. I had already ordered 2 new Moog bellows in case both were damaged, so no problem there. Since the tie rod ends have to come off anyway to replace the bellows, I ordered 2 new Moog tie rod ends. Then I degreased and pressure washed the steering rack and some of the engine parts, and sprayed a coat of black paint on the rack to dry overnight.
niget2002
Well-known member
Answered a phone call about my truck. They said they had to replace the starter and I can come pick it up. They said the bad starter cable they replaced last week damaged the starter.
Quick googling shows others have had to have the starter replaced too. Great. Hope this doesn't become "a thing". Truck is two years old and only 24k miles.
Quick googling shows others have had to have the starter replaced too. Great. Hope this doesn't become "a thing". Truck is two years old and only 24k miles.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
But did they replace the battery?
niget2002
Well-known member
No. Which is very confusing. I'll be asking lots of questions before I leave tomorrow with the truck.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Dropped some stuff for tub lights and forge repairs on the bench.
vwracer
Well-known member
What make and year is your truck niget?
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Chasing a long cold start issue on the 06 Silverado. Cleaned the throttle body, and wrapped a little Teflon tape around he grommet on the MAP sensor.
A cold start issue? In Florida?
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
The irony is not lost on me.lol
Starts and runs perfect for the rest of the day, even after sitting for 8 to 10 hours. But first thing in the morning, it can take three or four long long cranks to get it going. So long I’m concerned I’m getting the starter too hot.
It has good fuel pressure, good spark, no leaking fuel pressure regulator???
Ive read too much ethanol in the gas can cause it, or possibly a small vacuum leak that goes away once every thing warms up?
Which engine…I have an 06 as well…
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Slow leaking injectors, or leaking fuel rail pulse damper, causing a dry rail?
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
4.3
Starts fine after 8 or 10 hours of sitting during the day, just doesn’t like mornings, like me..lol
I get instant 65 psi of fuel pressure right at the turn of the key. I would think if the rail was draining it would take a second or three to build pressure?
I had the same issue on an 01 4.7 Dakota. It had one injector leaking down.
The problem was easy to diagnose once I pulled the plugs. The bad injector was fouling the spark plug on that cylinder.
Wiz02
Well-known member
Any codes set?
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Had a bad injector about a year ago, so I replaced the whole spider injector. And the fuel pressure is good, I would think if I had a leaking injector the pressure would drop off pretty quick.
A few months ago I had a no start, that was cured when I replaced the cam and crank sensor. I figured they both had the same mileage.
None, which really irritates me..lol
GrayFlattop
Well-known member
Temps moderated enough the last few days, so I spent the last three days cleaning up the garage. The typical litany of throwing stuff away, organizing, cleaning, etc.
Cut up a bunch of tubing and flat stock so I could fit it somewhere.
Bottom line, for the first time since January I’ve been able to park both cars in the garage. I was hoping to get this done a few months ago, but yard and garden work has consumed a lot of time this year.
Cut up a bunch of tubing and flat stock so I could fit it somewhere.
Bottom line, for the first time since January I’ve been able to park both cars in the garage. I was hoping to get this done a few months ago, but yard and garden work has consumed a lot of time this year.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Tried out my tumbler doodad. One washer, one nut, one bolt & Gene Winfield's lost screwdriver. All came out looking quite spiffy/shiny.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Not necessarily. My old leaking down car went to full pressure at the turn of the key. Are you reading the pressure with a mechanical gauge, or through the ECU? A lot of ECUs remember what they were doing when they shut down and put that data out for a second before generating a new snapshot on startup.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
I’m using a gauge at the fuel rail.
GrayFlattop
Well-known member
I can appreciate being frugal and repairing rather than throwing something away, but one minor failure and the cost of a new ladder will be tiny in comparison. I’ve fallen off a few sketchy ladders in my time, but that was when I was younger and dumber. I’ve stopped doing a few things when the potential recovery from injury outweighs the pennies saved.I have an old 8 ft fiberglass ladder, which had the rivets for the thinner legs at the top plate pull-out/rust-out. I used my old HFT side grinder (an orange case, probably 25 years old) to remove all the rivets holding all the fasteners for the fat (front) legs as well as the skinny (rear) legs to the top plate. A BFH and a center punch was helpful in punching out all those failing/failed rivets. The rivets were replaced with 5/16" X 1" SS hex head screws, flat washers, and nylok nuts. It's much stronger now.
I also replaced the folding A-arms holding the front/rear ladder legs together, using the same procedure and fasteners.
The ladder was a 'found on the side of the road' item, years ago. Still functional, after a bit of work.
The bad, rusted-out fasteners:
One SS hex head screw already in-place.
Seeing how-bad the rivets were, I wasn't going to use it without replacing them.
The SS hex head screws/nylok nuts are seen here.
One of the maintenance mechanics at my former employer was a frugal guy that drove me crazy by insisting that **** ladders were “good enough”. I pissed him off a few times by running over a sh!t ladder with a 15,000# lift truck to render it garbage.
Next time, in made him use a demo saw to chop one up into little pieces. He was one thick-headed SOB.
DAVE94LIGHTNING
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 24, 2024
- Messages
- 198
driftpin
Well-known member
Philip, I'm the likely the least qualified safety adviser on the GJ but I'd shorten that ladder to something like four feet. A fall from 5 or 6 feet might leave a mark or put a body part in a cast. If that ladder was old when you got it, there's no way of knowing how much UV damage has been done to the fiberglass. The rivets you've replaced is a start but you don't put any weight on those. The rusty rivets that attach the steps to the rails look pretty rusted and those rivets hold your full weight. If a ladder step lets loose it will be a complete surprise and you'll be headed for the ground at a rapidly increasing rate.
Full Disclosure: I have made many mistakes when it comes to ladders. In 1968 (three years before OSHA was born) my tallest ladder was four feet high and had no safety warnings so I used all but the top step to paint our first house with a spray gun. The extension ladder would have been safer but holding a spray gun with a quart of latex paint with an outreached arm was too close to a torture technique my father used to prove how weak I was as a kid.
A decade later (47 years ago) I bought a super cheap 6-foot aluminum step ladder. The skinny leg eventually buckled on me and I landed on a sturdy hedge. No stitches or casts and using logic similar to yours I reinforced the part that buckled. As @niget2002 points out, stainless hardware would have exceeded the cost of the ladder.
I inherited a short stepladder from my mother-in-law and use it all the time. I suspect it's older than my 6-foot POS but I feel really secure standing on it.
It might be a post-OSHA ladder because the thing that looks like a step at the top is neatly engraved with reminders.
Your post triggered me so once again I visited Jeff's River of Stuff. Knowing how poorly my cheap-*** 6-foot aluminum ladder performed and how uncomfortable its narrow steps are on my bare feet, I looked for the most expensive 6-foot ladder Jeff offers. It appears to be very safe and only $232.97 a month for 12 months.
I'm not sure I'll be alive in 12 months and certainly don't want my widow to be stuck with installments (remember, we don't have a mortgage or car payments or credit card balances that include interest charges). I looked for the least expensive 6-foot ladder and rejected the first few for the first "Jeff's River Choice" at $11.67 a month for 12 months. It's on sale so I decided to pay the full price ($69.99 [22% off]) for the reason mentioned above.
I hesitated for a moment before placing my order because the page showed me a 6-step ladder for about double the price. The cheaper one isn't really a 6-foot ladder and it's not even a 6-step ladder. The 6-step that's on sale for just shy of twice the price caught my eye...
... but I immediately rejected this one because -- see first photo -- I would be standing on that 6th step with pneumatic nailer in hand and the box of nails between my feet. The company offering the 6-step ladder is also named WOA WOA (made me think twice).
Thank-you to all the members who commented upon the ladder 'fix.' To be truthful, I don't use it much, and I probably could use it for an example of 'when do you retire a ladder?' I have others, which get the call to work. I checked the other rivets, and the ones which were in-need of replacement were all steel ones, the aluminum ones seem to be not showing signs of looseness, deterioration or in-need of replacement. I do store it out of direct sunlight, and as-mentioned, I rarely have used it. Maybe I need to take a second look with respect to its overall condition, despite the valuable SS fasteners.
