What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[Jgaz]

Really rough day today in the garage at work. Just typical non sense I guess. I done a used car end of April and they sold it 5 days ago but it’s had 900 miles put on it from being used as a lot shuttle and customer test drives and all of that. Well comes in with bad ball joints and I got my tail chewed because they are saying the ball joints were bad when I done the car in April because they are like it’s impossible for a ball joint to just go bad and if it does go bad it’s not going to be instant it’s going to be a few hundred miles that it goes bad over sometimes thousands of miles. So I got written up and am being back flagged over it. I went up to my coworker who is a very seasoned tech and I’m like hey so a ball joint can it go bad like right away because I mean you hit a pothole or something too hard and it can go bad or just go bad from getting weak right? He’s like absolutely and then I told him about the whole debacle and he is like that’s some bs man. I also got blamed from the sway bar having a slit cut in it but I’m like there’s no way I did that either because I didn’t touch the sway bar and also the cut was fresh and not any surface rust or anything looks like it was just done today. But nope it’s my fault. That really made me angry especially because I’m being back flagged over it. They are going to take time for two ball joints and the sway bar. My bigger question was like well why didn’t you bring it back to me for if there was a concern about it and they couldn’t answer that question.

So a ball joint could go bad instantly right or especially over 900 something miles. Am I crazy for thinking that or what.

And then the Tacoma with the steering rack and power steering pump is back saying it’s leaking again I’m like great Toyota and their reman warranty **** we have to install is going to screw me again.

I’m just so over the drama and non sense like that. Hopefully it will pass but I guess it’s an all the time thing in this field. My one coworker who trained me I asked him and he’s like no a ball joint won’t go bad right away and that I should face the fact it was bad then I’m like that’s not the answer I expected from him but ok. I disagree with him on that for sure. But I can understand his frustration too as he is also getting back flagged because he makes money off of me. Not my fault though. I honestly think with all the problems everyone been having recently that we have someone tampering with cars on the lot but they refuse to listen to us when we ask them to look at the one or two cameras they actually have.

So I guess the main question I’d like to know from the wisdom of GJ is can ball joints go bad instantly? I’m pretty dang sure they can. I’ve had them bad out of the box before even.

Okay, let me get this straight. They will chew your *** when they think you missed something on a used car inspection. You were written up and some how charged $ ?

But this is the same management team that lets your lube tech get away with missing drain plugs etc!?! WTF!
Something doesn’t make sense. Are you an easy mark for them? A dog they think they can kick?
It sounds like your dealership is about a dysfunctional mess.

I agree. You need to be at least keeping your eyes open for other options.

 

[Vwpower]

I made some pink carpet runners lol

 

[PhantomEB]

1.5 days of screwing around with brakes. Found a couple fittings missed during tightening.

went back to the old bleeder jar and finally got fluid out the back. Will be doing a few cycles over the next week or two but me happy now I can move onto transmission and transfer case linkages now. Kinda hoping to be able to back it out of the garage for a good power washing this weekend.

 

[TurnipTruck]

Blake:
A slit was cut in THE SWAYBAR? You would think hitting something hard enough to GOUGE A SWAYBAR would certainly whack a ball joint out of alignment.

The wife just sent me a series of TikToks where some poor mechanic has something fwd on a hoist and he is prying a full size cast iron manhole cover out of the oil pan/****** tunnel/suspension and his four foot pry bar is not enough to budge it.

 

[Beerhippie]

I don't think $60 is that bad. Buy once, cry once, it's not like they are going to wear out

There are two kinds of Colemanaholics: ********* collectors and collector/users--like myself.

The hard-core bunch will spend anything to complete a collection of shelf-queens.

The collector/users hunt "in the wild" looking for bargains--again, like myself--and don't like to open the wallet much--but occasionally (or regularly) actually use their gear.

Which group needs non-original manufacture windscreens?

 

[DGersic]

Drivers side reassembled.



Upper and lower pivot bolts are snug, but not torqued yet. Got most of the passenger side reassembled too, have to put the spring in tomorrow.

 

[oldman_pottering]

But... I want a CNC laser/plasma cutter! I need one

LOL, after buying new tools etc and my wife says that I didn't need it I tell her not to confuse need with greed

 

[KwikFab]

But... I want a CNC laser/plasma cutter! I need one!

Just buy one!

I'm on my 3rd table

My first -



My second -



And my current -



The trick is to let the table make you your money back and then some to buy a larger (and better) setup.

 

[Prospecter]

A lot can happen in 900mi. and several months. Being blamed for that is BS. That would piss me off enough to start the hunt for something else TBH, you dont need that **** in your day to day.

 

[Jay__Dub]

Really rough day today in the garage at work. Just typical non sense I guess. I done a used car end of April and they sold it 5 days ago but it’s had 900 miles put on it from being used as a lot shuttle and customer test drives and all of that. Well comes in with bad ball joints and I got my tail chewed because they are saying the ball joints were bad when I done the car in April because they are like it’s impossible for a ball joint to just go bad and if it does go bad it’s not going to be instant it’s going to be a few hundred miles that it goes bad over sometimes thousands of miles. So I got written up and am being back flagged over it. I went up to my coworker who is a very seasoned tech and I’m like hey so a ball joint can it go bad like right away because I mean you hit a pothole or something too hard and it can go bad or just go bad from getting weak right? He’s like absolutely and then I told him about the whole debacle and he is like that’s some bs man. I also got blamed from the sway bar having a slit cut in it but I’m like there’s no way I did that either because I didn’t touch the sway bar and also the cut was fresh and not any surface rust or anything looks like it was just done today. But nope it’s my fault. That really made me angry especially because I’m being back flagged over it. They are going to take time for two ball joints and the sway bar. My bigger question was like well why didn’t you bring it back to me for if there was a concern about it and they couldn’t answer that question.

So a ball joint could go bad instantly right or especially over 900 something miles. Am I crazy for thinking that or what.

And then the Tacoma with the steering rack and power steering pump is back saying it’s leaking again I’m like great Toyota and their reman warranty **** we have to install is going to screw me again.

I’m just so over the drama and non sense like that. Hopefully it will pass but I guess it’s an all the time thing in this field. My one coworker who trained me I asked him and he’s like no a ball joint won’t go bad right away and that I should face the fact it was bad then I’m like that’s not the answer I expected from him but ok. I disagree with him on that for sure. But I can understand his frustration too as he is also getting back flagged because he makes money off of me. Not my fault though. I honestly think with all the problems everyone been having recently that we have someone tampering with cars on the lot but they refuse to listen to us when we ask them to look at the one or two cameras they actually have.

So I guess the main question I’d like to know from the wisdom of GJ is can ball joints go bad instantly? I’m pretty dang sure they can. I’ve had them bad out of the box before even.

I'd be keeping my eyes and ears open for something else. Seems they must think your name is Mark.

Some mental giant made an emotional decision regarding a logical problem. You never want to see that in management, although it happens too often.

Good luck.

 

[rd65]

Typical Sales Dept response to anything, start pointing fingers. Never mind how many times you save their asses, they always have a fall guy in Service Dept employees. In powersports shops I have worked in Sales people are treated like gods; no training, no personal investment, no exposure to lawsuits, only busy when a body walks in the door. Then you have Service personel; tons of training, $$$ in tools, exposure to suits, treated like ****, work ALL day.

 

[nadogail]

Looked for the electrical bits and pieces, didn’t find them. They may be buried somewhere in the back of the car that is all locked up.

 

[oldman_pottering]

Headed into the shed early this morning before work and grabbed some glue to try and refit this trim on a pantry shelf but that was unsuccessful
I'll need to buy a roll of the trim / edging although I was wondering if a shelf made from MDF with some sort of epoxy / sealing paint might be better than this chipboard garbage ?

 

[oldman_pottering]

Really rough day today in the garage at work. Just typical non sense I guess. I done a used car end of April and they sold it 5 days ago but it’s had 900 miles put on it from being used as a lot shuttle and customer test drives and all of that. Well comes in with bad ball joints and I got my tail chewed because they are saying the ball joints were bad when I done the car in April because they are like it’s impossible for a ball joint to just go bad and if it does go bad it’s not going to be instant it’s going to be a few hundred miles that it goes bad over sometimes thousands of miles. So I got written up and am being back flagged over it. I went up to my coworker who is a very seasoned tech and I’m like hey so a ball joint can it go bad like right away because I mean you hit a pothole or something too hard and it can go bad or just go bad from getting weak right? He’s like absolutely and then I told him about the whole debacle and he is like that’s some bs man. I also got blamed from the sway bar having a slit cut in it but I’m like there’s no way I did that either because I didn’t touch the sway bar and also the cut was fresh and not any surface rust or anything looks like it was just done today. But nope it’s my fault. That really made me angry especially because I’m being back flagged over it. They are going to take time for two ball joints and the sway bar. My bigger question was like well why didn’t you bring it back to me for if there was a concern about it and they couldn’t answer that question.

So a ball joint could go bad instantly right or especially over 900 something miles. Am I crazy for thinking that or what.

And then the Tacoma with the steering rack and power steering pump is back saying it’s leaking again I’m like great Toyota and their reman warranty **** we have to install is going to screw me again.

I’m just so over the drama and non sense like that. Hopefully it will pass but I guess it’s an all the time thing in this field. My one coworker who trained me I asked him and he’s like no a ball joint won’t go bad right away and that I should face the fact it was bad then I’m like that’s not the answer I expected from him but ok. I disagree with him on that for sure. But I can understand his frustration too as he is also getting back flagged because he makes money off of me. Not my fault though. I honestly think with all the problems everyone been having recently that we have someone tampering with cars on the lot but they refuse to listen to us when we ask them to look at the one or two cameras they actually have.

So I guess the main question I’d like to know from the wisdom of GJ is can ball joints go bad instantly? I’m pretty dang sure they can. I’ve had them bad out of the box before even.

Shame you don't live here Blake, our technicians / mechanics get away with anything, there's never any discipline in our workshop.
I don't understand how you guys are paid there though, our techs are paid on an hourly rate and they get that whether they screw up / take excessive time or not

 

[Wrench97]

Okay, let me get this straight. They will chew your *** when they think you missed something on a used car inspection. You were written up and some how charged $ ?

But this is the same management team that lets your lube tech get away with missing drain plugs etc!?! WTF!
Something doesn’t make sense. Are you an easy mark for them? A dog they think they can kick?
It sounds like your dealership is about a dysfunctional mess.

I agree. You need to be at least keeping your eyes open for other options.

Yep dealership missed the opportunity to include the price of repairs in the sales price.
Usually only done with full piece work guys which I don't believe Blake is so someone in the chain is playing CYA on a car they sold too cheap in the upper managements opinion.

Back in the 1986 a buddy bought a used 84 Corvette from a Chevy dealer in Delaware.
Week later it started banging like a rod knock...called but the paperwork said AS-IS I just looked at him and said dummy...
Pulled the oil pan found #7 rod bearing shimmed under the top shell installed new bearing, new/more shims started no noise loaded it up on the roll off and about 2 block up hill from their other location (Pontiac Dealer) drove it in and traded it for a new Grand Prix........dealer called him a week later to complain about fraud and he told them I don't know what you mean I bought it from you guys over at the Chevy dealer never heard from them again......

 

[kaymccampbell]

Headed into the shed early this morning before work and grabbed some glue to try and refit this trim on a pantry shelf but that was unsuccessful
I'll need to buy a roll of the trim / edging although I was wondering if a shelf made from MDF with some sort of epoxy / sealing paint might be better that this chipboard garbage ?

If your MDF is better than the Chinese cardboard that they try to pass for MDF around here, then I'd try it. Honestly, I'd smear some construction adhesive on the chip board and stick it back together.

 

[Prospecter]

Headed into the shed early this morning before work and grabbed some glue to try and refit this trim on a pantry shelf but that was unsuccessful
I'll need to buy a roll of the trim / edging although I was wondering if a shelf made from MDF with some sort of epoxy / sealing paint might be better that this chipboard garbage ?

I like hot glue sticks for something like that.

 

[oldman_pottering]

If your MDF is better than the Chinese cardboard that they try to pass for MDF around here, then I'd try it. Honestly, I'd smear some construction adhesive on the chip board and stick it back together.

I didn't give construction adhesive a thought honestly, I tried Titebond ( smeared a coating on first to allow for some soak)
I think I'll try the construction stuff, thanks

 

[69charged]

Not too much today. Just put one board up. 119 boards left to go!!
It’s a little more brown than I wanted. But I’ll also experiment on other boards as I go. Not trying to make them match.

 

[oldman_pottering]

I like hot glue sticks for something like that.

never even gave that a thought either !

 

[JEFFREYWisconsin]

Took the Bronco and got a car wash, then brought it home and tried out the Blower turned dryer with the addition of a silicone covered stubby attachment. Works great to blow out the water hiding in all the moldings etc.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'll need to buy a roll of the trim / edging although I was wondering if a shelf made from MDF with some sort of epoxy / sealing paint might be better than this chipboard garbage ?

I like hot glue sticks for something like that.

never even gave that a thought either !

I've never seen the strips sold without hot glue pre-applied. if I get then coming loose, I iron them back on...

That curve is the trick, can you made a metal roller that you can heat with a torch?

 

[niget2002]

Glued the new footpeg mounts into the kayak. Just need to wait another hour and then I can do the second fill coat to fill in the weave. Then wait 24 hours to sand and apply some varnish to protect everything. Hoping to have everything done to take the boat out again on Saturday with my son.

 

[oldman_pottering]

I've never seen the strips sold without hot glue pre-applied. if I get then coming loose, I iron them back on...

That curve is the trick, can you made a metal roller that you can heat with a torch?

I sure could fabricobble something, I didn't realise reheating the old strip would work, thanks

 

[Outlawmws]

Been cleaning and de-rusting old vintage wrenches to make up a period correct specific set for working on old lanterns. Most of this work requires open end wrenches, and I wanted a set with some style.

Also working on a modified (bent, ground, and cut) 9/16ths combo for an difficult access nut on one model series of Coleman (220/228). that one is done:


Bends needed




very thin nut si the back chamfur had to go:




Made the "flat"side of the box end flat and opened the box and its a captive nut as well; also had to thin the walls. Good thing thsi is not a high torque nut!:





Yep it fits:



Doing the open end as well but I noticed the depth of the opening also needs better clearance:





So I shortened the jaws to fit the flats:











the rest of the wrenches should be about done with rust removal...

 

[partsguy5768]

Adding a 52 inch masticating head to one of the excavators. Needed to build hardline for the return hydraulics... 3 lengths of 1" dom. 2 bends on 2 of them. ( easy) 7 bends on the other ( 14 foot long lots of fun) we hit all our marks meaning using the factory brackets .tomorrow cut to final lengths tig weld the ends on, pressure check and paint. Saved a couple of grand using the tubing bender vs ordering factory hard lines.. Did have to work out in the sun as I didn't want the excavator on my concrete and asphalt around the shop.

 

[rd65]

Typical Sales Dept response to anything, start pointing fingers. Never mind how many times you save their asses, they always have a fall guy in Service Dept employees. In powersports shops I have worked in Sales people are treated like gods; no training, no personal investment, no exposure to lawsuits, only busy when a body walks in the door. Then you have Service personel; tons of training, $$$ in tools, exposure to suits, treated like ****, work ALL day.

BUT I would take a job in the right bike shop any day. Nothing like a good bike shop. Had my best work days in motorcycle shops. Miss it.

 

[Beerhippie]

I sure could fabricobble something, I didn't realise reheating the old strip would work, thanks

Now that you've applied the Tight Bond, I'm skeptical it will--but worth a shot.

Been cleaning and de-rusting old vintage wrenches to make up a period correct specific set for working on old lanterns. Most of this work requires open end wrenches, and I wanted a set with some style.

Also working on a modified (bent, ground, and cut) 9/16ths combo for an difficult access nut on one model series of Coleman (220/228). that one is done:


Bends needed




very thin nut si the back chamfur had to go:




Made the "flat"side of the box end flat and opened the box and its a captive nut as well; also had to thin the walls. Good thing thsi is not a high torque nut!:





Yep it fits:



Doing the open end as well but I noticed the depth of the opening also needs better clearance:





So I shortened the jaws to fit the flats:











the rest of the wrenches should be about done with rust removal...

Whoah! Going a little overboard there! I just bent the open end on a cheap **** combo wrench and called it good. Once it's broken loose, I can use my fingers.

Have you ever figured out what size the damned nut is on a 275?

 

[rd65]

Unboxed the Amazon carb for the Craftsman mower. Looks like decent fuel line, air filter is correct. Might be a decent kit. Will likely install Thursday, holiday for us public works types.

 

[aaustins14]

Unboxed the Amazon carb for the Craftsman mower. Looks like decent fuel line, air filter is correct. Might be a decent kit. Will likely install Thursday, holiday for us public works types.

I hope you are right and it runs good for you. Might have better luck on the lawn mower because it’s a fixed rpm.

I have had such a bad experience with Amazon carbs that I have 100% swore them off. Tried ATVs, chainsaws, brush cutters, string trimmers. Nothing but headaches. I would get excited cause I can get a carb + tune up kit for cheap… now I just tear em down, throw em in the ultrasonic and buy a gasket +jet kit.

 

[Outlawmws]

Whoah! Going a little overboard there!

Of course! I'm making a dedicated set for the lantern work,and I want them right.

Have you ever figured out what size the damned nut is on a 275?

If you are talking about the frame nut under the genny nut - 11/16. my SO 11/16 fits perfect. The Barcalo Buffalo I'm planning for the dedicated set is sprung which threw me off and wondering...

The one on the air tube is 3/4

 

[Beerhippie]

Of course! I'm making a dedicated set for the lantern work,and I want them right.



If you are talkning aboutt he frame nut under the genny nut - 11/16. my SO 11/16 fits perfect. The Barcalo Buffalo I'm planning for the dedicated set is sprung which threw me off and wondering...

The one on the air tube is 3/4

I thought I tried 11/16 and it didn't fit... fortunately, I don't work on too many 275s, mostly 'cause I just don't like 'em.

 

[Outlawmws]

Here is potentially where I'm at for the lantern wrench set a couple yet ro go for specialty, but that's another day. I'm also trying to sort out a small box for these,

I DID fix the sprung 11/16th open. 3 passes with the Parker vise and a couple whacks with a brass hammer and it's good again - which tells me these are fairly soft wrenches! These are all low torque fasteners so I don't see any issues:


-

 

[DGersic]

Bought new bearings and seals, packed bearings, and reassembled the rotors on the spindles



Then spent a bunch of time with the support guy for the M2 to GM rotors kit finding out that they now recommend a different seal. So, I now need to find a local source for the other seal, then pull the rotors again.

 

[Beerhippie]

Here is potentially where I'm at for the lantern wrench set a couple yet ro go for specialty, but that's another day. I'm also trying to sort out a small box for these,

I DID fix the sprung 11/16th open. 3 passes with the Parker vise and a couple whacks with a brass hammer and it's good again - which tells me these are fairly soft wrenches! These are all low torque fasteners so I don't see any issues:


-

Missed some:

T55, ground flat for removing older 220-style burner caps:



Shortened 5/16" for the gen nut of QuikLites:



5/32 for gen tips:



11/32 for 500/500A stove grate nuts:



Always handy piece of 5/32 wire rope for cleaning things that aren't straight:







Oil filter wrench for those pesky 502 burner bowls:



Which, I guess, is why my Coleman tool box is large.





That was a few years ago. I must have twice as much **** crammed in there now.

 

[rd65]

I hope you are right and it runs good for you. Might have better luck on the lawn mower because it’s a fixed rpm.

I have had such a bad experience with Amazon carbs that I have 100% swore them off. Tried ATVs, chainsaws, brush cutters, string trimmers. Nothing but headaches. I would get excited cause I can get a carb + tune up kit for cheap… now I just tear em down, throw em in the ultrasonic and buy a gasket +jet kit.

For work I go with oem carbs. This was a free mower that is going to my daughter for use at a rental they just moved in to. I have zero knowledge of this mower, so will start with low budget fixes and go from there.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have some of those as its in progress. The short 5/16 square on the 327/427 stuff is also needed, and i found one more of the barcalos in 5/6 X 3/8 stuck with a couple others in my SG bucket 30 min ago - so those are in the de-rusto solution/USC

@Beerhippie - Timm my QL and 427 both have 5/6 square genny nuts? were there 2 sizes? I'm also showing 2-1/2" to clear the frame support bars from the gullet of the wrench.

I have 2 of the T55's setup for this, so good to go there.

11/32 and 5/32 is easy.

I'm still deciding which wrench gets cut for the shorty's but a 5/16 X 3/8 DOE besides the Barcalo Z/Geometric seems a good possible candidate. I need to dig in the pile again

 

[Roger M]

I sealed the seams and painted the floorpan over the weekend. Today I got some sound deadening put in. If the carpet shows up this weekend, I'll put down some jute pad and install the carpet.

 

[bugnut]

Between errands, laundry, phone calls and rain, many trips back and forth. Fired up the 2, 3d printers, ran to town to get meds, banking and buy a box. Filled up boxes with wrapped freshly painted beetle parts to ship to engine builder, 2 boxes. Then stopped for a minute. Phone call from powder coater, parts are done ready for pickup, please pickup tonight as we hope to leave on vacation, dinner delayed. Restarted the 3d printers, ran to drop off boxes at UPS. Visited the neighbors place, trash to the curb, gather mail, fed & watered the menagerie. Back home, couple minutes before I need to be on the road to pu parts. Refilled the hummingbird and oriole feeders. Off to pu parts, stopped and ordered a pizza for dinner, 9pm the bursar & I sitting down to pizza. Full day, but lots accomplished.

 

[Old Man Roger]

BUT I would take a job in the right bike shop any day. Nothing like a good bike shop. Had my best work days in motorcycle shops. Miss it.

You can never go back.