What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[Snip's]

Blow torched off my surprisingly not-that-rusty brake rotors. I've heard that the japanese companies use some kind of alloy combination in their rotors/hubs that causes corrosion no matter what the environmental conditions (this car has been in snow literally one time in its life). Anybody else heard that one?

I always add a thin coat of anti-seize on the raised lip by the axle nut...
I believe there is a snug fit that centers the disc on the hub carrier...
It doesn't take much rust in that fit between the two to cause problems with removal...

 

[barks]

Soy-based insulation. Not sure what imbecile came up with the idea of using food for wire insulation...

The lunatic who said using food to make ethanol fuel is his older brother.

 

[micromind]

Impeller installed, lower oil changed, and zerks greased. Ready to test run tomorrow.

Make sure the impeller has continuous water to it, that kind of a pump burns up quickly if run dry.

 

[kaymccampbell]

It's actually more in the soffit. I have just painted plywood soffits, and these bastards find a hole (usually created by carpenter bees), and they'll make a nest a short distance away from the hole, inside the soffit. Usually upside-down on the OSB roof sheeting. I can spray the hole to death and it usually won't hit the nest.

Ugh, I'm just not having a good mental-health day, and little irritating **** like this is feeling a lot more overwhelming than it should.

I was mauled by a swarm of wasps as a kid too, so I am a little more triggered by them than I should be. So there's that too, lol.

I did my soffits n eaves over in either steel or PVC wood. No more damned blees chasing me around. The only thing I have now is the occasional nest under the decks, and they're easy.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Cleaned, going, put away. Swept the floors. Rehabilitated the but of the metal bench that some spilled chlorine caused flash rust on. Unwrapped a Happy Jungle box. Held a zoom meeting. Lectured aholes.

 

[Snapped-off]

Make sure the impeller has continuous water to it, that kind of a pump burns up quickly if run dry.

It's going in the garbage can. The old one actually primed pretty quick considering it only had 2 lobes. It was just a real weak stream.

 

[Outlawmws]

Lectured aholes.

Sometimes describes my work life...

6 months and a week or so to go!

 

[GrayFlattop]

Blow torched off my surprisingly not-that-rusty brake rotors. I've heard that the japanese companies use some kind of alloy combination in their rotors/hubs that causes corrosion no matter what the environmental conditions (this car has been in snow literally one time in its life). Anybody else heard that one?

Special alloy used to cause corrosion? IMO, that’s pretty far fetched. I’m not going to dispute what you have observed, but the root cause is likely something else. The mating surfaces have been machined, so the raw metal has no protection beyond a light coating of cutting fluid with an RP. Plating is typically not used by the OEM, and they aren’t going to apply a light film of anti-seize at the factory as a skilled mechanic might while doing service.

One other observation I can share after 35+ years as a components supplier to the automotive industry; the Japanese manufacturers are very particular about specifying tightly controlled surface finishes where a domestic platform may not. Add to that, really tight GD&T requirements and you end up with surfaces that don’t take much to stick together after exposure to the environment.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Sometimes describes my work life...

6 months and a week or so to go!

It was my work life. Then I retired. Then several years in I made the mistake of accepting the nomination for NWA President. Aholes are coming out of the woodwork. Stupid high school games. Thought I'd got away from this. The whole pack were overdue for a reaming. I obliged them.

 

[GrayFlattop]

My garage today, not much. Put a few things away, swept up some spilled bird seed and locked the door. The weather channel said we had a heat index of 115 this afternoon, so it was a better day to work in the basement workshop - cleaning up and putting things away.

I think they exaggerate a bit on the weather channel. Oh it was hot, swampy and thick outside, but to me, the heat index felt more like 112.

 

[mikegt4]

Adding more Ferrari content to Imatk's recent post, nice work BTW.

Installed the cams in my 308 engine, they are quite different than typical cams found in most engines. The cams are hollow and oil moves through them and exits at strategic locations to keep the valve train well lubed. Note the axial slot from under the cam bearing cap out to the lobe. If you look closely at the cam lobe there is a very small hole just before the ramp part of the lobe. These are the type of features that allow a Ferrari to run at 8K rpm all day and why they cost so much.

 

[GrayFlattop]

It was my work life. Then I retired. Then several years in I made the mistake of accepting the nomination for NWA President. Aholes are coming out of the woodwork. Stupid high school games. Thought I'd got away from this. The whole pack were overdue for a reaming. I obliged them.

No good deed goes unpunished…

So far, the best part about retirement is reduced exposure to sphincters. I miss the work, but half of the people caused 99% of the grief.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Adding more Ferrari content to Imatk's recent post, nice work BTW.

Installed the cams in my 308 engine, they are quite different than typical cams found in most engines. The cams are hollow and oil moves through them and exits at strategic locations to keep the valve train well lubed. Note the axial slot from under the cam bearing cap out to the lobe. If you look closely at the cam lobe there is a very small hole just before the ramp part of the lobe. These are the type of features that allow a Ferrari to run at 8K rpm all day and why they cost so much.

I’ve heard horror stories about the cost of Ferrari cam service. What would the typical service interval be for your 308?

 

[bulletpruf]

Adding more Ferrari content to Imatk's recent post, nice work BTW.

Installed the cams in my 308 engine, they are quite different than typical cams found in most engines. The cams are hollow and oil moves through them and exits at strategic locations to keep the valve train well lubed. Note the axial slot from under the cam bearing cap out to the lobe. If you look closely at the cam lobe there is a very small hole just before the ramp part of the lobe. These are the type of features that allow a Ferrari to run at 8K rpm all day and why they cost so much.

Jealous. I was hoping to find an affordable 308 when I was stationed in Italy from 2015-2018, but no such luck.

Ended up with an Alfa instead.

 

[bulletpruf]

Sharpened the chain on my Milwaukee M18 chainsaw.

 

[rd65]

We loaded my wife's motorcycle on to a trailer & towed it to the guy she knows who does motorcycle repairs. I tried several times to bleed the front master cylinder of air & could not gt it to bleed out. The repair guy who has done work on her bike before says the front master cylinders are a PITA to bleed the air out.

If the line rises over master cylinder (dirt bike) remove the master cylinder from the handlebar and hang it up high so that it is a straight line from master to caliper. You can also pull the lever in and let it snap back out, this will jolt air out of the line and get it moving up to the master. You can remove cap to see but just watch for geyser when pulling in the lever.

 

[rd65]

Moved things out of the way of the water heaters, they are getting replaced tomorrow. Drained the leaker. Will shut off gas for the working unit tomorrow morning before going to work. Will drain that one when I get home. Getting off at lunch to meet plumber at the house. Next up will be getting septic pumped and then house paint in the next couple of years. House was last painted in 2012.

 

[budo55]

It was my work life. Then I retired. Then several years in I made the mistake of accepting the nomination for NWA President. Aholes are coming out of the woodwork. Stupid high school games. Thought I'd got away from this. The whole pack were overdue for a reaming. I obliged them.

I see what you did there....woodworking association....coming out of the woodwork

 

[kaymccampbell]

I see what you did there....woodworking association....coming out of the woodwork

I try.

 

[mikegt4]

Jealous. I was hoping to find an affordable 308 when I was stationed in Italy from 2015-2018, but no such luck.

Ended up with an Alfa instead.

Absolutely nothing wrong with an Alfa, I had a 1966 Duetto back in the early 1970's. It was one of the first 200 built and had the Dunlop brake system on it. The rear brakes were Jaguar parking brake calipers operated by clutch slave cylinders mounted on the axle tube and mechanical push rods. They quickly went to the ATE brakes for good reason. It was dark blue with a dark red interior and covered headlights, a truely beautiful car. One of those cars I regret selling.

I had a couple of friends with Giuliettas and one with a 2600 Spyder, a great boulevard cruiser.

 

[mikegt4]

I’ve heard horror stories about the cost of Ferrari cam service. What would the typical service interval be for your 308?

Cam belt service interval is opening up a hornet's nest in the Ferrari world. The 365 BB (Boxer) and the 308 GT4, both introduced at the 1973 Paris Auto Show, were the first Ferrari engines utilizing timing belts. Ferrari went very conservative and recommended belt changes at 3 years. Some people swear by that, others go by longer intervals. The problem is most Ferrari's are driven under 1000 miles a year and age comes into play. If the belt breaks the valves and pistons meet with horrific results.

On the 308/328 engines changing the belts is not hard, a Saturday afternoon at best but it often gets rolled into other services such as valve clearance adjustment, tune-up, water pump and total fluid changes "while we are in there" so the bill can add up to staggering levels if you pay someone to do the work. I do all my own work so for me it's just parts cost and since Ferrari often uses off the shelf parts also used on other brands the cost can be moderate with a little knowledge of what/where to obtain parts. The timing belt set (2 belts) was under $40 (Dayco) even though they are Ferrari specific, the dealer probably charges twice that or more.

The 308/328 engine placement is lateral, starting with the 348 the engines have been longitudinal which places the belts up against the bulkhead behind the seats. The 348 requires the engine to be pulled to access the belts. To their credit Ferrari made the engine/transmission and rear suspension as a modual that drops out with the use of a 2 post lift. Latter models had a access panel in the bulkhead to reach the belts.

 

[JSGAuto]

Cam belt service interval is opening up a hornet's nest in the Ferrari world.

Nice to see some Ferrari service posts! I think most people are scared off by them. Everything about that engine is just beautiful to look at.

I did the belts on my 360 last winter. Wasn't so bad!

I'm on the fence which one to try next, early carb'd 308 for the classic feel, or 550 while the prices are still low(er).

 

[budo55]

My 2009 Stihl FS55R string trimmer was getting harder and harder to start; then wouldn't. New plug, air filter, plug....had spark but was flooding even though no choke. Ready to get rid of it and go battery powered, I said hold my beer My online shop manual (YouTube) suggested it could be the fuel metering diaphragm on the Zama carb located just under the primer bulb. Over the years they can become stiff instead of flexing. $9 later and after reassembling, choked it once, took off the choke and 1 pull resulted in success. Went back to my regularly scheduled programming...

 

[Magnum440d100]

Empty metric drill index showed up.



Time to start sorting the drill drawer again and start loading it up


After this, all that “should” be left in the drawer “should” be fractional. Except a couple I cannot read. I’ll have to mic those.


Then gotta arrange the garage so the indexes are near the press.

Not that I’m going to be doing any serious drilling or fabbing, but I “MIGHT”!!!! lol

 

[ZRX61]

Yesterday I ground out the last of the stress cracks & damage to the running boards on the F350.

Today I mixed up the filler goop & set to work filling the cracks etc...

During which I noticed some cracks I completely ******** missed yesterday. Didn't have time to grind them out before the filler kicked off.

FFS.

Edit:
Update... removed the rubber step cover doodads from the right side, ground out ALL the remaining cracks etc.
Odd observation:
The running boards are just gelcoat, no paint... EXCEPT under the rubber step doodads where there was white paint.. which just peeled right off, but only where the rubber was in contact.




And the cracks I missed yesterday:

 

[CoogarXR]

Repaired some cold solder joints in an expensive old equalizer. Got it all working, shut off my AC so I could shoot a video of it without the background noise. With the AC off I could hear it passing a 60hz buzz. Damnit, now I need to recap the power supply too. I wish I would have heard that before I put it all back together...

Oh and I get bonus points for making an arc that killed my bench PC. I was probing the EQ's power supply and accidentally dislodged the tiny circuit board containing the power switch, knocking it into the chassis, grounding it with a "pop". All the electronics on my bench rebooted, except my PC. It's dead now. Crazy.

 

[esben57]

Jealous. I was hoping to find an affordable 308 when I was stationed in Italy from 2015-2018, but no such luck.

Ended up with an Alfa instead.

A stunner.
Had Alfa Alfetta GTVs myself. Went to northern Alfa day, perhaps 1990ish, a U.S service man had one of these /\ . I earwigged a conversation he was having with an elderly English Alfisti.
Said he was stationed in Italy and took his 105 to a local Alfa specialist for a tune up. Watched him at work and asked 'no feeler gauge?'
Specialist went Italian postal, cursing (in Italian) waving arms etc and kicking the garage around until he found a rusty set of gauges.
Sarcastically he offered these to your man who embarrassingly declined the offer.
The feelers were then launched to the garage depths, Alfa ran as sweet as.
Your man took the car to Germany with his next posting. Well you know how technic they are and he had it checked again.
Bang on it was.
Love older Alfas. Memsahib is waiting with the rolling pin for me to come home with another.

 

[bulletpruf]

A stunner.
Had Alfa Alfetta GTVs myself. Went to northern Alfa day, perhaps 1990ish, a U.S service man had one of these /\ . I earwigged a conversation he was having with an elderly English Alfisti.
Said he was stationed in Italy and took his 105 to a local Alfa specialist for a tune up. Watched him at work and asked 'no feeler gauge?'
Specialist went Italian postal, cursing (in Italian) waving arms etc and kicking the garage around until he found a rusty set of gauges.
Sarcastically he offered these to your man who embarrassingly declined the offer.
The feelers were then launched to the garage depths, Alfa ran as sweet as.
Your man took the car to Germany with his next posting. Well you know how technic they are and he had it checked again.
Bang on it was.
Love older Alfas. Memsahib is waiting with the rolling pin for me to come home with another.

I had some work done on the car by a local shop in a very small town not far from where I was living in Naples - Santa Maria Capua Vetere. The owner was in his 70's and had been in business for 50+ years. The shop had two bays but they were usually filled with vintage Alfas, vintage Porsche 911's, and the occasional Maserati, Ferrari, or Mercedes. They did really, really good work and the owner and his long-time employees were really colorful characters, too.

 

[Mr.zippy]

I had this larger hydraulic cooler from Hydrosplus for my little tractor almost a year. Decided to install it today. It's huge compared to the factory cooler. Install went well and so far no leaks! Photo shows the new cooler installed with the factory cooler leaning against the battery for size reference. New cooler is also 3 times as wide. It should keep hydraulic temps lower. Since I upgraded the pump to much larger, I think this is a good upgrade as well!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Pulled some prints off the printer. Pulled the old lawn tractor into the shop.

 

[bulletpruf]

Pulled some prints off the printer. Pulled the old lawn tractor into the shop.

Pics or it didn't happen!

 

[Outlawmws]

All the electronics on my bench rebooted, except my PC. It's dead now

UPS, sensitive electronics protection... Even my L-top has a UPS. Heck, my Internet network gear does.

 

[Fixr]

They use that yummy ethylene glycol in the insulation that mice love.

Is that what it is? I had only heard about soy, and there doesn't seem to be a consensus about whether that really attracts the mousies..

 

[Wrench97]

Special alloy used to cause corrosion? IMO, that’s pretty far fetched. I’m not going to dispute what you have observed, but the root cause is likely something else. The mating surfaces have been machined, so the raw metal has no protection beyond a light coating of cutting fluid with an RP. Plating is typically not used by the OEM, and they aren’t going to apply a light film of anti-seize at the factory as a skilled mechanic might while doing service.

One other observation I can share after 35+ years as a components supplier to the automotive industry; the Japanese manufacturers are very particular about specifying tightly controlled surface finishes where a domestic platform may not. Add to that, really tight GD&T requirements and you end up with surfaces that don’t take much to stick together after exposure to the environment.

They are hub centered, the rotor and hub are a very tight fit usually but not always the rotors have threaded holes in the hat section to push them off with either 8mm or 10mm bolts.
Rattling them a few times with a good air hammer works also.

 

[CoogarXR]

UPS, sensitive electronics protection... Even my L-top has a UPS. Heck, my Internet network gear does.

Yeah, the 'good stuff' in the house has UPS(s), but not the garage.

 

[Fixr]

Both in front of the trooper but I can stand the book part but I have a hard time talking to people especially a cop lol.

Greg's pretty ok. Ask him about the Covid ants.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Greg's pretty ok. Ask him about the Covid ants.

He is a good guy, just in uniform makes me nervous lol. I have had a few conversations with him. I think it’s cool he used to be a tech and is now in charge of state inspections.

 

[Outlawmws]

Messing with Nickle plating prep stuff, but found some garage humor:

 

[stonesfan68]

Soy-based insulation. Not sure what imbecile came up with the idea of using food for wire insulation...

Welcome to the new world of "sustainability" - whatever the heck that word means. The insulation is biodegradable which means the consumer gets to buy new parts more often, the manufacturer gets to make more money, the environment gets damaged from the copper mining process and the atmosphere gets polluted from diesel fuel from the mining, all of which is now done twice because the insulation is biodegradable...

 

[dwasifar]

Made an oak frame out of a stick of firewood, at my wife's request, to frame a drawing my wife's granddaughter made for her.







The artwork depicts our kitchen, with my wife pictured as a rabbit carrying a cake, and me (also as a rabbit) awaiting the cake with a rather strange expression.