1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
You have given me an idea with the hot water service xtremek, I have an old one but the only issue I have is that I have to get it down out of my roof space.
Regards
Regards
Between 705 & 1200 SQ/FT A trip back from the edge.
- Thread starter xtremek
- Start date
Workspaces between 705 and 1200 squarefeet.
It was a fun (read very busy) weekend. Friday night was spent watching my daughter marching at the high school football game. Saturday was spent getting rear tires on the Exploder, then rushing home. My dad arrived around 10am and we headed down the road about 1 ½ miles down the road. I got permission to remove the tin roof from this corn crib (the crib is leaning against the building next to it). The plan is to put the tin on the ceiling in the barn. After about 3-4hrs of work (called it quits on account of rain), we’d removed the ridge cap and the easy quarter of it (Dad could stand on the roof of the other building). I’ve found another building that I can pull the roof off, so I should have enough to do the entire ceiling of the barn and maybe all of the Duck house. Also, I finally got the compressor put in place in its cabinet on the wall. This allowed me to get the barn put back together. Well almost. I still have to wire and plumb the compressor. And it looks like this next week is going to be a mad rush as well. Between car repairs, volleyball, soccer, Bible Quizzing, and Girl Scout ceremony, I don’t know if I’ll have time to catch my breath.
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The past week was a blur, but also productive. Not much done at the beginning of the week. Thursday evening I was able to replace the left side lower ball joint, outer tie rod end and wheel bearing. Friday evening I got the right side torn down, though I didn’t have to replace the wheel bearing. As I was removing the axle nut, it bound up, destroying the end of the half shaft. That meant not being able to finish it until Saturday. Saturday morning was nothing but running, from Bible quizzing to soccer game to part store, finally getting home around 2:30. After mowing the grass, I was able to finally able to get around to finishing the Exploder.
Sunday was morning more of the same, church, then Girl Scouts. When I got home, I loaded up the trailer and finished pulling the tin off the first side of the old crib, 2 hours. I hope to finish this building next weekend. Then I’ll move to the next building. Hopefully between the two of them, I’ll have enough to do the ceiling in my barn.
Sunday was morning more of the same, church, then Girl Scouts. When I got home, I loaded up the trailer and finished pulling the tin off the first side of the old crib, 2 hours. I hope to finish this building next weekend. Then I’ll move to the next building. Hopefully between the two of them, I’ll have enough to do the ceiling in my barn.
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Beachguy
Member
Wow Xtremek I just sat down with my morning coffee and read this thread! When I got to the end I went back and looked at some of the before/in progress pics! All I can say is great job!! Thanks for posting your ideas on re-purposing things. I consider myself handy but many times I struggle with start more than the implementation.
It also made me realize I need to learn to weld!!
It also made me realize I need to learn to weld!!
Beachguy, thanks for dropping by and your compliments. Do you already have a welder? If not, I can tell you that my first MIG was a cheapy and lasted 25 years. My new one is also a cheapy, and I'm using it a ton. Get one that uses gas, the welds turn out better. Remember small consistent circles and run the regulator high enough that you don't see pockets in your weld. Pull the trigger and go.
jb3
Well-known member
I love the re purposing of material in your thread! Ceiling should look good. I think I enjoy the most is the 9N being repaired and put to work. I feel like I want to find a tractor of about that size, you have got a lot done with it, and it can do more than I thought it could.
I have a number of stumps about the size of the one you pulled
I have a number of stumps about the size of the one you pulled
jb3, thanks for checking out my thread. I've found pulling stumps is highly dependent on the tree and soil type. The big ones needed to bulldozer to pop them out. I just used the Old Mule to drag them down the driveway because the Mule moved faster. And a word of warning. When pulling stumps, the front end will probably come off the ground. If you're not ready and careful, you will end up dead. I grew up respecting the carnage that farm equipment can inflict. The little diesels have more power and versatility than the Old Mule, but the price on the Old Mule was just what I could afford.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Just checking on your progress xtremek , I cant wait to see how your ceiling comes up, it should look fantastic.
Regards
Regards
It was a crappy week, at least the beginning and the end. The start of the week was colonoscopy on Tuesday, so prep on Monday. My eating habits are such that I eat 8-9 times a day, so not getting a “real” meal was a big deal to me. Think Betty White/Robin Williams Snickers commercial. Thursday night I finished wiring and temp plumbing the new-to-me compressor. 165psi and holding. Then Friday HIT me, literally. On my way from my supplier meeting to the Tech Center, I totaled my car. A little old lady was travelling west when she decided to turn left using the left east bound lane. I hit her head on doing 45-50mph.The poor Squirt is dead unofficially, as I’m still waiting to hear from the adjuster. I woke up a little sore Saturday morning, but I got to work. The new compressor is quite a bit bigger, so I had to make some adjustments to the compressor closet. I also finished the last two stock brackets and started building a tire rack to help reclaim floor space. After discussing this with the Old Man. I realized this would mean I have to finish the north wall using the reclaimed barn siding. That means everything has to come down off that wall and then I have to move the trusses for the Duck Haus off the pile of siding. Sigh, one of these days I’ll get everything set up.
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bazzateer
Well-known member
Sorry to hear about the smash but glad you're OK.
Look at it as an excuse to treat yourself to some new wheels sometime soon.
Look at it as an excuse to treat yourself to some new wheels sometime soon.
Jo Diesel
Well-known member
Sounds like you drive a lot. One of our sales Ladies drives a Diesel Cruise and she loves it. Gets over 50mpg and leaves it run when it is cold out.
Started reading this as it sounds like you live about 5 miles from me. Your barn is cool and that tin will look awesome on the ceiling.
I have a Bells taste on a Bush budget so I brew my own with home grown hops. Plan on building my own malter [barrel turner] this winter.
Started reading this as it sounds like you live about 5 miles from me. Your barn is cool and that tin will look awesome on the ceiling.
I have a Bells taste on a Bush budget so I brew my own with home grown hops. Plan on building my own malter [barrel turner] this winter.
Thanks for your concern Baz. As soon as we find out the disposition of the Squirt, we'll be shopping for a new ride
Jo D, the Cruze would be my first choice, but they don't sell a stick shift, and I'm not going back to a slush box if I can help it. Roughly where are you at? Are you interested in beer and wine making equipment cheap? The late FiL had all the stuff to make both, and no one in the family wants the stuff. Let me know if you do, we can talk about price.
sublime68charger
Well-known member
jb3
Well-known member
Now is the perfect time to pick up a vw cheat diesel on the cheap if you want the diesel economy with manual. Without the recall running yet they are down on price. We have a pair of them ( i run a much older than the scandal 2000 TDI and its a great notchy 6 speed thats easy to drive. Shame the squirt was damaged, though it looks like if might be fixable to me. It might live on!
jon72vega
Well-known member
xtremek,
Glad you're ok, but take it easy for awhile.
I took a nasty hit a few years ago. A guy ran a red light & t-boned me. I got cracked ribs from the accident, & was sore for about 6 months.
Glad you're ok, but take it easy for awhile.
I took a nasty hit a few years ago. A guy ran a red light & t-boned me. I got cracked ribs from the accident, & was sore for about 6 months.
Folks, thanks for your concern and wishes.
jb3, as a engineer working at GM, it'll probably be another Sonic. I grew up on VW's but they seem more complicated to repair than the domestic automakers.
Vieux You're so right. I'm fione and GM builds a few hundred of the Sonics every day. And the do it right down the road from where I work. (ok so it's 45minutes from work, but you know what I'm getting at)
Jo Diesel
Well-known member
My son is going to graduate from Kettering in March with his ME and has a job offer at Valieo in Rochester hills. He plans on buying a house in Rochester Hills and renting rooms to help pay for it. There is an endless supply of Co-OP students.
We live on Taft Rd 1 Mi W of Old US-27.
I am looking for fermenters, Fruit Press, Corker Etc. I do not need beer bottles as I keg my beer.
The Cruze has 11Hp and 44 Ft Lb of torque more than the VW and gets 50Mpg. You might not miss the stick.
We live on Taft Rd 1 Mi W of Old US-27.
I am looking for fermenters, Fruit Press, Corker Etc. I do not need beer bottles as I keg my beer.
The Cruze has 11Hp and 44 Ft Lb of torque more than the VW and gets 50Mpg. You might not miss the stick.
Grumblebum
Well-known member
Ouch! You certainly didn't need that on a Friday. Glad you are ok.
Sit down and have a couple of beers
Cheers Grumblebum
Sit down and have a couple of beers
Cheers Grumblebum
Arkansas COB
Well-known member
For the last 2 days i have read this thread from begining to end. Yep its a boring week here at work.
Mr xtremek--my hats off to you. It takes a real man to step into what you took on. I dont know many men that would of took up with a woman with 4 kids. Nice Job !
You put you shoulder to the grind stone to make things better for your new family and you have kept it there. It will be 2 yrs tomorrow when you started this thread. Through all the ups and downs you never gave up. Your outlook stayed positive and you always pushed forward. The improvements you have made on the homestead and the quality of life for you family is fantastic.
Again my hats off to you. Great Job and i look forward to keeping up with this thread. I know you say not a beer drinker so pretend the mugs are tea
Mr xtremek--my hats off to you. It takes a real man to step into what you took on. I dont know many men that would of took up with a woman with 4 kids. Nice Job !
You put you shoulder to the grind stone to make things better for your new family and you have kept it there. It will be 2 yrs tomorrow when you started this thread. Through all the ups and downs you never gave up. Your outlook stayed positive and you always pushed forward. The improvements you have made on the homestead and the quality of life for you family is fantastic.
Again my hats off to you. Great Job and i look forward to keeping up with this thread.
I know you say not a beer drinker so pretend the mugs are tea Ark.COB thanks for the compliments. I'll admit that it's been a big adjustment, for everyone. But the wife and our girls are worth it. FYI, I'm jealous of your bike, just because it runs. Thanks again for dropping by. And if you're ever in our neck of the woods, drop on by, I'll have a cold one waiting for you.
fergus
Well-known member
Well glad you're all right man. Hopefully some good comes out of it...maybe like a generous adjustment for the damage? At any rate, take it easy for a little bit. But not too long...
That one made me laugh out loud! Glad to hear you're OK from the accident.
Arkansas COB
Well-known member
Hey xtremek
you still kicking ? Last we heard you totaled your car. You said you was ok but havent heard from you since.
you still kicking ? Last we heard you totaled your car. You said you was ok but havent heard from you since.
Burger, thanks for dropping by. I love the fact you're a Peter Egan. I've always been a big fan.
Ark COB, I'm fine, thanks for asking. The fun didn't stop after the wreck. We spent the next week scrambling to get the disposition of the "Lil Squirt" finalized and the new Squirt **2 (squared) delivered. We also bought the middle daughter a used Cruze, she has now been relagated to the #1 sister hauler so the wife doesn't have to rush back and forth across the state to get the girls home from school. So after all that craziness, the next Sunday we all pile into the old Exploder and head to church. THe trans has been slipping a little, but if you let it warm up, it did ok. Not that Sunday. We were able to creep back home, (we never did make it to church) and that's the last the old girl has moved on its own. Lucky for us, I had reprocured a '91 Saturn SL1 (a very long story) with very low miles. The vehicle had sat for roughly 20 years. Some one had hacked the wiper motor and related wiring, removed the radiator fan, ecu and battery, and lost the keys. The tires were badly dry rotted. I picked up a wrecked organ donor for $180. We bought a new battery and ecu. I took the starter, tires, and locks off of the organ donor and I'm almost done installing the locks. We also bought the "Orphan" some new tunes so the girls can listen to their Iphone/pads/pods/Droids in the car. For a grand total of $890, my wife will end up with very nice car that should last her another 7-8 years (at the rate of 30-35k miles a year). Needless to say, I've been very busy.
Now aren't you glad you asked?
Next week I hope to get back to the barn and house,..... I hope.
Ark COB, I'm fine, thanks for asking. The fun didn't stop after the wreck. We spent the next week scrambling to get the disposition of the "Lil Squirt" finalized and the new Squirt **2 (squared) delivered. We also bought the middle daughter a used Cruze, she has now been relagated to the #1 sister hauler so the wife doesn't have to rush back and forth across the state to get the girls home from school. So after all that craziness, the next Sunday we all pile into the old Exploder and head to church. THe trans has been slipping a little, but if you let it warm up, it did ok. Not that Sunday. We were able to creep back home, (we never did make it to church) and that's the last the old girl has moved on its own. Lucky for us, I had reprocured a '91 Saturn SL1 (a very long story) with very low miles. The vehicle had sat for roughly 20 years. Some one had hacked the wiper motor and related wiring, removed the radiator fan, ecu and battery, and lost the keys. The tires were badly dry rotted. I picked up a wrecked organ donor for $180. We bought a new battery and ecu. I took the starter, tires, and locks off of the organ donor and I'm almost done installing the locks. We also bought the "Orphan" some new tunes so the girls can listen to their Iphone/pads/pods/Droids in the car. For a grand total of $890, my wife will end up with very nice car that should last her another 7-8 years (at the rate of 30-35k miles a year). Needless to say, I've been very busy.
Now aren't you glad you asked?
Next week I hope to get back to the barn and house,..... I hope.
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Arkansas COB
Well-known member
Hey man
Glad you are ok and doing your thing. Your like a rubber ball. Life knocks you down and you bounce right back up. I used to bounce but now i seem to crawl.
Hang tough. You seem to have things figured out.
Mark
Glad you are ok and doing your thing. Your like a rubber ball. Life knocks you down and you bounce right back up. I used to bounce but now i seem to crawl.
Hang tough. You seem to have things figured out.
Mark
GDPossehl
Well-known member
Did your wife ever get around to planting those Lilacs? Was she propagating cuttings? I was thinking about options for a strip of road near my house that my neighbors are trying to fix up. A hedgerow of Lilacs were on the list, but I haven't found any convincing inspiration.
Mark, I sure don't bounce like I used to. Btw, do you have any pics of your bike? I need a vicarious fix.
GD. I didn't get her area cleared out yet. It seemed the summer was spent fixing cars and prepping the garden and adjacent area for expansion and the duck house. I hope to have it ready for planting early next spring. If I say early spring, maybe it'll happen mid summer. That seems how my luck goes.
Arkansas COB
Well-known member
Always glad to share pics of the bikes
MY 83 flhtc. She now has the fairing and a trunk attached. have no pics of her all dressed up
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=498037&stc=1&d=1448040852
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=498039&stc=1&d=1448041088
MY 80 fxwg thats in my sig.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=498040&stc=1&d=1448041165
MY 83 flhtc. She now has the fairing and a trunk attached. have no pics of her all dressed up
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=498037&stc=1&d=1448040852
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=498039&stc=1&d=1448041088
MY 80 fxwg thats in my sig.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=498040&stc=1&d=1448041165
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So I was off last week (GM furloughed all white collar contract workers) and I chipped away at a few things. Our poor neglected dog has finally gotten all his shots and a thorough grooming. His hair was so matted, they gave him a buzz cut. He looks a lot different all cleaned up.
The wife’s Exploder finally let go of its trans at 250k. So I started working heavy on the ’91 Saturn SL1. It’s sat for almost all of its life, having less than 10k on the odometer. Someone had hacked part of the wiring, it had an AM/FM radio, was missing the cooling fan, ecu, wiper motor, and keys, and the tires were dry rotted beyond belief. An organ donor was located and the door and ignition locks, wiper motor and related wiring, and tires were transferred to the Orphan. A cooling fan was located and installed. Since this will end up being the wife’s car, I upgraded the radio to something that kids could plug their I-pod, I-pad, I-phone, Android into. Also, to make kids life better, I added a second power point and remote USB link into the rear of the center console. Stay tuned for more progress on the Orphan.
The wife’s Exploder finally let go of its trans at 250k. So I started working heavy on the ’91 Saturn SL1. It’s sat for almost all of its life, having less than 10k on the odometer. Someone had hacked part of the wiring, it had an AM/FM radio, was missing the cooling fan, ecu, wiper motor, and keys, and the tires were dry rotted beyond belief. An organ donor was located and the door and ignition locks, wiper motor and related wiring, and tires were transferred to the Orphan. A cooling fan was located and installed. Since this will end up being the wife’s car, I upgraded the radio to something that kids could plug their I-pod, I-pad, I-phone, Android into. Also, to make kids life better, I added a second power point and remote USB link into the rear of the center console. Stay tuned for more progress on the Orphan.
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1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Its amazing what you can achieve with a few days off. Your dog looks great.
Looking forward to see how you progress on the orphan.
Regards
Looking forward to see how you progress on the orphan.
Regards
Another project I finished was adding a new parking space for me. I’d already dumped some busted concrete chunks into the spot to provide a solid base. I borrowed my Dad’s truck and got 2yds. of crushed concrete to dump into the pot holes and top off the new space. The driveway isn’t done, but it’s good enough to make it through the winter,….I hope. I finally was able to clear all of the lawn furniture off of the deck and rearrange those items, the mower and the generator in the shed. I was also able to install a new door to our bedroom. We’re buying new doors for the house, one at a time. The wife finished this one about a month ago, and I finally got around to putting it up. The sill to the entry door of the barn rotted off last year. I dropped by Menards and picked up the gasket that you put on the bottom of the overhead garage door. I cut that to length twice, and then cut some plumbers strap. Take those and two handfuls of sheetmetal screws and I’ve got the draft cured. All that and getting the pennies unjammed from the garbage disposal completed the house repairs for the time off.
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For the holiday, the house was packed. All 5 daughters were home. The BiL and my parents showed up. And to make it a little more packed and somewhat diverse, my wife volunteered us to host some foreign U of M-Flint students for the day. We were the lucky hosts to two young women, one from Saudi Arabi and one from Syria. They were fun ladies, and we learned a little more about life outside of the US. After stuffing ourselves, my dad and BiL helped me strip 5 more sheets of roofing from the first shed. Two more sheets and I’m on to the next building. I sure did sleep well that night.
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Thanks for dropping in gents, I'm very honored that you two have visited my thread.
I figured since the car had so few miles, I wanted to get a radio that the wife and girls would be able to enjoy for a long time. The Saturns are known for their durability and ease of repair.
I have to take care of the poor guy, he's the only other male in the house, even the new kitten is female. Us guys have to stick together.
I figured since the car had so few miles, I wanted to get a radio that the wife and girls would be able to enjoy for a long time. The Saturns are known for their durability and ease of repair.
Its amazing what you can achieve with a few days off. Your dog looks great.
Looking forward to see how you progress on the orphan.
Regards
I have to take care of the poor guy, he's the only other male in the house, even the new kitten is female. Us guys have to stick together.
Been a busy couple of nights. The oldest daughter’s ’12 Escape has needed some minor attention for a while. While I was off, I dropped by the dealership to order some parts. So the last two nights have been about getting her ride back in shape. The wiper arm literally fell off her vehicle in the first year and I told her to take in under warranty, but I think the dealership intimidated her. She’s also had a pulley squeal for a few months, so I used the parts gun approach since the two idler pulley are like $25 for the pair. She also needed an oil change.
But the most frustrating part, is that the hinges for her back glass are completely corroded, to the point I was afraid her back glass would fall off. I’m kind of miffed about this. Back in the day I was a diehard Blue Oval boy. I’ve owned a ton of Ford trucks and Fiesta (Mk1) and love how much abuse they could take. Then I bought my first new truck in ’03. After 16 months and 77k on the odo, the #3 spark plug blew out of the cylinder head. I took it to a Ford dealership and they told me it was out of warranty and it would take $3700 to repair it. I understand every brand has its issues, but I would hope that the OEM would stand behind their product. I guess I’m stupid that way. That was the beginning of the end. Those of you who follow along know that the wife and I do pretty much all our own repairs. I seems every repair I have to make on her Exploder (an ’07) is overly complicated. The Escape doesn’t seem to suffer that characteristic as badly. But for the hinges to be this bad on a vehicle that’s just over 3 years old, even if it does have 65k on the clock, seems ridiculous. Really Ford? “Quality is Job 1”? I’m very disappointed. Sorry, rant over.
But the most frustrating part, is that the hinges for her back glass are completely corroded, to the point I was afraid her back glass would fall off. I’m kind of miffed about this. Back in the day I was a diehard Blue Oval boy. I’ve owned a ton of Ford trucks and Fiesta (Mk1) and love how much abuse they could take. Then I bought my first new truck in ’03. After 16 months and 77k on the odo, the #3 spark plug blew out of the cylinder head. I took it to a Ford dealership and they told me it was out of warranty and it would take $3700 to repair it. I understand every brand has its issues, but I would hope that the OEM would stand behind their product. I guess I’m stupid that way. That was the beginning of the end. Those of you who follow along know that the wife and I do pretty much all our own repairs. I seems every repair I have to make on her Exploder (an ’07) is overly complicated. The Escape doesn’t seem to suffer that characteristic as badly. But for the hinges to be this bad on a vehicle that’s just over 3 years old, even if it does have 65k on the clock, seems ridiculous. Really Ford? “Quality is Job 1”? I’m very disappointed. Sorry, rant over.
