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madison069
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Just called and they will have both in tomorrow morning for $13. I didn’t think it was too bad for dealer prices.
Cody's 33'x62' Garage
- Thread starter madison069
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madison069
Well-known member
Got up this morning and started on the forester’s spark plug. When they built this car, they made the engine and frame close together. Then they proceeded to line the spark plugs with the frame. So, this requires some creativity and thinner tools. In comes the special tone ratchet and special 14mm spark plug socket.
Talk about tight, each piece had to go in one at a time when assembling the socket, extension and ratchet setup.
The rear driver side was the tightest. When disconnecting the ratchet, you only have 1/8” of wiggle room but it’s just enough with the thin ratchet.
For 80,000 miles the plugs don’t look bad. Subaru recommends a 60,000 miles interval.
Once all the spark plugs was back in and coils back in place, I focused on the serpentine belt, tensioner, and idler pulley.
For 80,000 miles the belt looks good but you can see the wear. Old is left and new is right.
New tensioner and idler pulley installed.
Then the new belt went in. This was the easiest belt I’ve installed in a long time. Lots of room and easy to route the belt.
Then I went to the dealership to pick up the radiator gasket and drain plug. $15 with the tax included for these two little pieces.
Drained the blue coolant, got roughly a gallon and half.
Oh, I had to remove the under panel to access the radiator drain plug. Again not hard, just 6 push clips and 4 bolts.
After putting the new gasket and plug in the radiator, I started the burping process.
Took some time to get the heater to start warming up as the air worked itself out. But eventually the core bleed itself of air and became hot.
Got the radiator topped off and the tank topped off and then set the forester back on all 4 tires to torque the lug nuts.
Took the forester for a short trip and after 40 miles it’s running good. I even think it’s idling smoother with all of the work done. Hopefully the forester is good for awhile. Other then oil changes, I just have to do a drain and fill of the CVT in 20,000 miles.
It does need a bath.
Talk about tight, each piece had to go in one at a time when assembling the socket, extension and ratchet setup.
The rear driver side was the tightest. When disconnecting the ratchet, you only have 1/8” of wiggle room but it’s just enough with the thin ratchet.
For 80,000 miles the plugs don’t look bad. Subaru recommends a 60,000 miles interval.
Once all the spark plugs was back in and coils back in place, I focused on the serpentine belt, tensioner, and idler pulley.
For 80,000 miles the belt looks good but you can see the wear. Old is left and new is right.
New tensioner and idler pulley installed.
Then the new belt went in. This was the easiest belt I’ve installed in a long time. Lots of room and easy to route the belt.
Then I went to the dealership to pick up the radiator gasket and drain plug. $15 with the tax included for these two little pieces.
Drained the blue coolant, got roughly a gallon and half.
Oh, I had to remove the under panel to access the radiator drain plug. Again not hard, just 6 push clips and 4 bolts.
After putting the new gasket and plug in the radiator, I started the burping process.
Took some time to get the heater to start warming up as the air worked itself out. But eventually the core bleed itself of air and became hot.
Got the radiator topped off and the tank topped off and then set the forester back on all 4 tires to torque the lug nuts.
Took the forester for a short trip and after 40 miles it’s running good. I even think it’s idling smoother with all of the work done. Hopefully the forester is good for awhile. Other then oil changes, I just have to do a drain and fill of the CVT in 20,000 miles.
It does need a bath.
I used to use a 1/4 ratchet with a 3/8 adapter as it was thinner than a 3/8 to do plugs on those cars. I also bought a set of gearwrench spark plug swivel sockets with built in extensions which were nice until Subaru switched to a 14mm plug instead of the normal 5/8 plug. Nice work on the tune up!
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madison069
Well-known member
It’s sad when doing something simple as plugs require an extensive amount of one off type tools. I fear a 1/4” ratchet would have broke due to how tight these plug were during removal. I was afraid that they were stripping the threads out of the heads but luckily they didn’t.
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madison069
Well-known member
So, three weeks ago, my wife went to the Dominican Republic to visit the Pittsburgh Pirate baseball academy and work with the academy professors and meet her online students in person. Me, the youngest, and the oldest took a trip to Punta Cana to a resort to meet up with my wife to have a short vacation before she came back to the US. Overall it was a good weekend trip of relaxing and drinking.
Here is a photo of the resort and it's lazy river pool.
The beach on the first day,
The sunset
The swim up bar that I frequent during the stay.
Beach time on another day,
Some homemade Mamajuana that one of the bartender had brought in. It's a mixture of rum, red wine, tree bark, and other herbs. It was really good and flavorful.
This is the manufactured version,
The kids got to para sail, and they were able to see 5 sea turtles while up there.
This was the last day's sunrise, the only day I got up early enough to catch it and it was raining in the distant.
Overall, it was a good trip but after 3 days of that stuff I get restless and ready to go home.
Here is a photo of the resort and it's lazy river pool.
The beach on the first day,
The sunset
The swim up bar that I frequent during the stay.
Beach time on another day,
Some homemade Mamajuana that one of the bartender had brought in. It's a mixture of rum, red wine, tree bark, and other herbs. It was really good and flavorful.
This is the manufactured version,
The kids got to para sail, and they were able to see 5 sea turtles while up there.
This was the last day's sunrise, the only day I got up early enough to catch it and it was raining in the distant.
Overall, it was a good trip but after 3 days of that stuff I get restless and ready to go home.
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zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
For the Subaru's I have found my modified 1/4" flex head that I machined to accept the 3/8" anvil and internals work perfect for these pancake engines being able to get the plugs out between the head and the inside edge of formed frame.
I have also found that my old MAC flexible spark plug tool works great to remove them once they are broken loose as well as to start them back into the head. A piece of rubber fuel line works just as good though.
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madison069
Well-known member
I need one of those long handle ratchet setup. The 3/8" mini ratchet I used did the job, but I could of used a little more leverage. Might have to get a 1/4" Flex head ratchet and do the same modification.For the Subaru's I have found my modified 1/4" flex head that I machined to accept the 3/8" anvil and internals work perfect for these pancake engines being able to get the plugs out between the head and the inside edge of formed frame.
I have also found that my old MAC flexible spark plug tool works great to remove them once they are broken loose as well as to start them back into the head. A piece of rubber fuel line works just as good though.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yes, you will have to. That small 1/4" bodied head works great and I have found other places where it has worked well too. It's not something I use a lot, but when the job calls for it I am glad I took the time to modify it.
I use a long handled snap on 1/4 drive ratchet. Breaks them free pretty easily. Mike, that Mac spark plug tool was one of the first real tool truck tools I was given at 18 when I graduated high school. A guy at church gave me that and a Mac tools pick. I still have both all these years later and still use them especially the pick tool which is great for getting hoses loose.
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Cody, happy to see you had some time off in Punta Cana. We spent a week at the Club Med there in 1986. The road from the airport was a collection of potholes connected by asphalt. There was free box wine with lunch and dinner and cocktails could be purchased with pop beads. It has been fancied up over the last 39 years but like your resort it's location, location, location. A small freighter ran aground in front of the Club med and there were lots of free activities, like water skiing and windsurfing. We also competed in the Punta Cana Olympics which involved pool polo and a tug of war. Best part of the stay was finding a spot on the beach to recover.
Glad to see someone else using the Tone miniature head ratchet. I bought all three and compared to my ancient Craftsman ratchets they fit into really tight places. I'm tempted to get their 3/8" drive 15" flex head ratchet. At an inch wide, the head isn't as compact but it's still smaller than my smallest Craftsman.
Glad to see someone else using the Tone miniature head ratchet. I bought all three and compared to my ancient Craftsman ratchets they fit into really tight places. I'm tempted to get their 3/8" drive 15" flex head ratchet. At an inch wide, the head isn't as compact but it's still smaller than my smallest Craftsman.
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madison069
Well-known member
Cody, happy to see you had some time off in Punta Cana. We spent a week at the Club Med there in 1986. The road from the airport was a collection of potholes connected by asphalt. There was free box wine with lunch and dinner and cocktails could be purchased with pop beads. It has been fancied up over the last 39 years but like your resort it's it's location, location, location. A small freighter ran aground in front of the Club med and there were lots of free activities, like water skiing and windsurfing. We also competed in the Punta Cana Olympics which involved pool polo and a tug of war. Best part of the stay was finding a spot on the beach to recover.
Glad to see someone else using the Tone miniature head ratchet. I bought all three and compared to my ancient Craftsman ratchets they fit into really tight places. I'm tempted to get their 3/8" drive 15" flex head ratchet. At an inch wide, the head isn't as compact but it's still smaller than my smallest Craftsman.
We stayed at the Dream Royal beach Punta Cana, which is a family all inclusive resort. Was very nice for sure. Luckily my southwest credit card points got the flight tickets for free, and my wife had a credit with this travel agent from canceling a past trip that was going to expire soon. So, for a little money out of pocket we got to take the trip. I don’t think we would have gone if I couldn’t get the flights for free. Southwest has been really good with the point deal. Used to be how I paid for all of my flight to Texas. I got the points from my past employment when traveling and I got to travel for free when it’s personal.
Regarding the ratchet you posted, **sigh, click** I’ll let you know what I think when the jungle site delivers it. I do like the tone ratchet, but a longer handle would have been nice in this position. For me it was the shallow profile head that saved my day, it being thin gave me just enough room to squeeze between the frame and extension.
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madison069
Well-known member
So, a church member brought his zero turn to the garage for an intermediate issue where the mower would die suddenly. He was dealing with it to the point where it would shut off 30 times while cutting his grass before he finished cutting.
So as I was testing the mower in the front yard, it would never shut off for me but just as I was going to have him drive it, the engine started ticking. So, I shut it off and we pushed it to the garage.
When it cooled off, I started doing the investigation and after eliminating exterior parts as the culprit I started inspecting the internal. I bore scoped the inside of the engine block thru the oil dipstick but didn’t see anything abnormal. Then I inspected the piston and that when I found this shiny spot on the left cylinder piston.
Since it looked like a small screw, I looked at the carb and saw the missing screw on the choke plate.
Luckily with the bore scope I was able to remove the correct cylinder head and low and behold, here is the culprit.
Where the screw kissed the piston.
Here is the zero turn.
Here is the bore scope if anyone is interested
The link on Amazon, it’s on sell right now!
I’m going to file down the high spots since the cylinder walls isn’t scarred and no serious damage was seen on inspection. Once the gaskets come in the mail, I’ll put it all back together.
So as I was testing the mower in the front yard, it would never shut off for me but just as I was going to have him drive it, the engine started ticking. So, I shut it off and we pushed it to the garage.
When it cooled off, I started doing the investigation and after eliminating exterior parts as the culprit I started inspecting the internal. I bore scoped the inside of the engine block thru the oil dipstick but didn’t see anything abnormal. Then I inspected the piston and that when I found this shiny spot on the left cylinder piston.
Since it looked like a small screw, I looked at the carb and saw the missing screw on the choke plate.
Luckily with the bore scope I was able to remove the correct cylinder head and low and behold, here is the culprit.
Where the screw kissed the piston.
Here is the zero turn.
Here is the bore scope if anyone is interested
The link on Amazon, it’s on sell right now!
I’m going to file down the high spots since the cylinder walls isn’t scarred and no serious damage was seen on inspection. Once the gaskets come in the mail, I’ll put it all back together.
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madison069
Well-known member
From 10am to 7pm, then you had to be out of the pool. Luckily the other side of the swim up bar was a normal bar and close to the entertainment of the night. Bartenders got to know me well. They never had someone order ****** Mary with olives and olive juice, plus a presidente beer to nurse with the ****** Mary. They kept a gallon jug of olives for me after the first day.
So fear not folks, I got my veggie every day!
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madison069
Well-known member
So, I got the mower back together and when i first started it, there was a slow crank and kind of a dead head feeling like the starter couldn't get past the cylinder pressure.
Looked it over and what do you know, the negative cable was loose on the battery and wasn't making a good contact. Once I tightened the cable the engine spun over and once the carburetor got primed it fired up. Sounds really good and it starts really fast now compared to how it was acting before. I wonder if the loose negative cable was the culprit of the random shutting off of the mower that initially brought the mower my way?
While torquing the head bolts of the mower, I started questioning my torque wrenches. My little 3/8" drive torque wrench seems to be working properly, but the bigger 1/2" drive torque wrench didn't seem to be working right. The 3/8" drive went up to 25 ft/lbs fine, but trying to get the next torque sequence of 40 ft/lbs I just didn't trust the feel of the bigger one. the smaller 1/2" drive seems to be working correctly at the lower setting, but I just don't know. I think I will be getting new torque wrenches since these have to be over 20 years old. Been trying to decide what brand i want to gamble on next.
Any suggestions?
Looked it over and what do you know, the negative cable was loose on the battery and wasn't making a good contact. Once I tightened the cable the engine spun over and once the carburetor got primed it fired up. Sounds really good and it starts really fast now compared to how it was acting before. I wonder if the loose negative cable was the culprit of the random shutting off of the mower that initially brought the mower my way?
While torquing the head bolts of the mower, I started questioning my torque wrenches. My little 3/8" drive torque wrench seems to be working properly, but the bigger 1/2" drive torque wrench didn't seem to be working right. The 3/8" drive went up to 25 ft/lbs fine, but trying to get the next torque sequence of 40 ft/lbs I just didn't trust the feel of the bigger one. the smaller 1/2" drive seems to be working correctly at the lower setting, but I just don't know. I think I will be getting new torque wrenches since these have to be over 20 years old. Been trying to decide what brand i want to gamble on next.
Any suggestions?
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OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
I've got the Icons in 1/2"(flex head) and 3/8". Zero issues with either.
I ran the Pittsburg cheapies for years.
I ran the Pittsburg cheapies for years.
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madison069
Well-known member
What style did yall get? Looking at them and there’s two designs I believe.
Both 3/8s for me got the 40/200 straight head and the 5/75 flex. I had an old craftsman dial indicator that kve used since I was in my 20's.....
I didnt the 2nd one was a flex head till I got home hahah. It doesn't flex much? Unless its got ratchets i didnt push hard enough it only moves about 20 degrees?
I like them plus the straight one was super on sale when I picked it up
I didnt the 2nd one was a flex head till I got home hahah. It doesn't flex much? Unless its got ratchets i didnt push hard enough it only moves about 20 degrees?
I like them plus the straight one was super on sale when I picked it up
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
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madison069
Well-known member
I see that there is a 35% off coupon for those torque wrenches. Guess I will be going to the store today to get one of them. Maybe I can go back tomorrow to get the other one?
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madison069
Well-known member
My new 3/8” flex head tone ratchet came in the mail. It’s not as small as the little tone ratchet I have, but it’s smaller than my other 3/8” ratchet of similar size.
Then driving to work I saw this sitting in a trash pile. A brand new RTIC ultra tough soft side 20 can cooler! Can’t believe somebody would throw away a cooler like this. A $120 cooler if bought at the store.
It’s even floatable so it would be perfect for the boat.
Then driving to work I saw this sitting in a trash pile. A brand new RTIC ultra tough soft side 20 can cooler! Can’t believe somebody would throw away a cooler like this. A $120 cooler if bought at the store.
It’s even floatable so it would be perfect for the boat.
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madison069
Well-known member
Been busy with stuff around the house and taking the middle daughter to the West Virginia University to move into the dorm. I did get the oil changed on the 2012 F250.
Along with a few other small stuff, but I didn’t get any photos.
I started playing with ChatGPT and one of the photos I came up with was this one of the camaro.
I guess ChatGPT thinks the Camaro is an AWD!
Along with a few other small stuff, but I didn’t get any photos.
I started playing with ChatGPT and one of the photos I came up with was this one of the camaro.
I guess ChatGPT thinks the Camaro is an AWD!
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madison069
Well-known member
I have to check that out
Yeah it was like a YouTube short talking about how customisers use it. Said it could do simple circuits and generate the links where to purchase the pieces?
That got my attention.....
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
https://ceautoelectricsupply.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqB9FOCJ4vdRp_5jdKkfONLcHloSv1J4pjcXbaasPwv_vh9iGYT
If you can't find it here...you don't need it!
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madison069
Well-known member
I’ll be, I asked to add headlight relay to a 1979 Camaro and show where I can order all of the pieces. Here’s the result,
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madison069
Well-known member
The wiring diagram 
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
https://ceautoelectricsupply.com/headlight-relay-kits/h4-sealed-beam-headlight-relay-kits/
The relayed harness I built for my Z28 had all the big components from CE Auto. The harness in the Suburban is also from CE.
The relayed harness I built for my Z28 had all the big components from CE Auto. The harness in the Suburban is also from CE.
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madison069
Well-known member
That’s a pretty good price for a ready to go wiring harness!https://ceautoelectricsupply.com/headlight-relay-kits/h4-sealed-beam-headlight-relay-kits/
The relayed harness I built for my Z28 had all the big components from CE Auto. The harness in the Suburban is also from CE.
The ChatGPT results got me to thinking though. I wonder if it would help layout wiring for the garage more efficiently and lighting results?
Gonna have to play with it some more. But it’s cool how it does the thinking for you, it also ***** cause it does the thinking for you so your brain processing could become slower. Don’t use it, you lose it, kind of thought.
Well how about that!!!
I do agree about the downfall of letting it do it all for you..... there was a study id read recently about impact on brain function and reliance on Ai. It wad a study on college paper being generated compared to a group who did the research and wrote the papers over a 6 month period.
Ill give you a guess on what the results showed....
Im very intrigued by AI given what I do for a living (engineer in the automotive realm) its ability to accelerate certain processes is fascinating. But like any super powerful tool a healthy dose of fear goes a long way.
I do agree about the downfall of letting it do it all for you..... there was a study id read recently about impact on brain function and reliance on Ai. It wad a study on college paper being generated compared to a group who did the research and wrote the papers over a 6 month period.
Ill give you a guess on what the results showed....
Im very intrigued by AI given what I do for a living (engineer in the automotive realm) its ability to accelerate certain processes is fascinating. But like any super powerful tool a healthy dose of fear goes a long way.
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madison069
Well-known member
Took a weekend trip to see a young cousin of mine that I haven’t seen in a long time. He’s stationed at the navy base here and he will be on his boat soon. So I figured I’d see him before he gets on the boat and it will become difficult to meet up with him again.
Does anyone know where we are without the help of google?
Does anyone know where we are without the help of google?
SilverJimmy
Well-known member
I’m thinking Groton?!
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madison069
Well-known member
Hmm, not exactly. But I did see on the map there was a town called Groton about an hour or two from this place.
gearhead1960
ALLIANCE MEMBER
@madison069 ...been there many times and had my pic taken just like you... VA Beach boardwalk.
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madison069
Well-known member
Correct! VA Beach.
gearhead1960
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Night shot....
kj_mustang
Well-known member
Be about 10 blocks from there at the new Dome next week for a concert. Watched the Blue Angels blast over that statue once. Lynnhaven area on the Bay is my favorite part of the Beach area.
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madison069
Well-known member
So this weekend was a day at the park in Altoona, Pa to watch the Altoona Curve play! The pitcher my wife teaches Spanish advanced from the grasshopper to the Curve for the Pirates, so of course we had to go watch them play. We got seats behind the home plate and got to meet some interesting folks.
Then we went on the field to meet some of the players and of course our pitcher!
Then this morning was a car show where it was all Chevy.
Last but not least we drove to the Iron Furnace in New Florence, Pa where I’ve always enjoyed using the furnace as a back ground.
Other then dinner with the in law tonight, it will be just yard work tomorrow and maybe work in the garage some.
Then we went on the field to meet some of the players and of course our pitcher!
Then this morning was a car show where it was all Chevy.
Last but not least we drove to the Iron Furnace in New Florence, Pa where I’ve always enjoyed using the furnace as a back ground.
Other then dinner with the in law tonight, it will be just yard work tomorrow and maybe work in the garage some.