Above 1200 Sq/FT Harley Jim's place

[xtremek]

Sounds like a good day. Front end is looking good. Hope the Doc has a lot of good things to say.

 

[harley jim]

The Doc is happy! Said my bp was great. Changed one of my meds. He said see you in four months!

We have been hitting the drywall hard this week,

Got Jeff walking the plank!

Got Rebecca vacuuming dust.

Almost finished, would have finished today, but the carpenter showed up to line the closet with cedar, no way Im working around his work, so!

I went home and cut this crossmember off of the Mule, it has rust in it and the hitch dosnt work with all of my accessories.

I shortened the frame 2½"

Cleaned up this old hitch.

Welded it on and didnt like how low it was.

I cut it off and cut a hole in the front of the crossmember, then welded everything and painted it.
I may have a chance to finish the mud work in the morning, then Im thinking Ill load the muel and go to Jeds and get new tires and wheels.
Just depends on the carpenter!

 

[xtremek]

Good call on the hitch, totally agree.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Sanding drywall mud was the bane of my existence when I worked in the industry. I don’t miss it.

 

[harley jim]

I have that type of reciever on everything, even the zero turn. My winches, and weed sprayer, and everything else work on that system, so everything fits everything!

I installed a muffler on it last night, it is getting close to moving. I need to install the steering column, shifter and cable, and the master cylinder.
Then I can take it to Jeds and get new tires and wheels.

Roger, people say Im strange but I like mud work, its something that I can tune out the rest of the world when Im doing it.


Yesterday, I hung new curtains rods for Pat.

Were out at a turkey shoot this morning, trying to win Thanksgiving dinner!

 

[Old Man Roger]

Roger, people say Im strange but I like mud work, its something that I can tune out the rest of the world when Im doing it.

 

[xtremek]

Dude, I owe you a big one. Thanks for a good chuckle this morning.

 

[harley jim]

I got to mow the leaves today, they were piled higher than I thought, but there now a memory!

Went to the shop for a while. I worked on the muffler a bit more. The stock muffler has been discontinued, so I look in the warehouse and found this one the other day. It was off of a Chinese 4wheeler so nothing was right except the size of the inlet tube. I added some brackets today.

Then I went in search of something to make a heat shield with, I couldn't find anything in the scooter parts, so I grabbed this!

Made a couple cuts, hammered some flanges so I could riveted it.


I drilled the pilot holes and was going to dimple die them but can't find my set! New set will be here Tuesday.

The muffler had a large outlet, like a motercycle muffler so I welded in a washer and an elbow that I cut out of the 4 wheelers head pipe. I think it will be ok.
Sold another trike and trailer last week, the parts started coming in yesterday so hoping everything gets here this week and we can get them done. Time to go eat some supper.

 

[xtremek]

Will that much back pressure help your low, or cause issues?

 

[harley jim]

Behind the washer is the stock muffler tube its the same size as the tube I added. The inlet tube is 7/8" also. Im hoping it will be ok! I wanted the exhaust turned down instead of going straight out the side.


With the door shut its dark in there, so I fixed it!

At some point, someone shredded a drive belt and it cut through the case cover.

I made a couple of patches.

Pop riveted them on.

The one on the bottom was longer.

Its wet, but it is flat black so things don't show up to bad.

Its buried in the chassie so it won't be as obvious.
I had to go make some trike parts this morning, we sold two more frames, so I needed to make a couple of parts so we can get them done, Im hoping to get two frames and one trailer to powdercoat by Thursday. Parts should all be here by next week.
We talked about the trailer, it is going to get a remake, it needs to be convertible, and the handlebars need something!

 

[xtremek]

I like the convertible idea. I'm really interested in what you do for handlebars. Question, will the pop rivets dig into the belt?

 

[harley jim]

I flattened them with a ball peen on the inside, looks like about an inch of clearance.
Were thinking about the top half being attached with nutserts, allowing the top half, seat and handlebars to be removable, making a flatbed style frame allowing different box options, even a wheelbarrow body could be bolted on. The handlebars have got to change and I would like them to be removable.



I got a bit of time to work on the Mule,

I got the steering column back in.

And the dimple dies showed up today.
Not sure what will happen tomorrow!

 

[BuffettFan]

Yer keeping pretty busy, Jim!

I need to borrow the light idea.
My issue is when the door is open, it blocks the ceiling lights.

 

[Old Man Roger]

The handlebars have got to change and I would like them to be removable.

Since you want both the seat and handle bars to be removable, maybe a 1 piece seat and arm rest type?

 

[harley jim]

Terry, go for it, I got those from Amazon, Im going to add a cord reel to the top rail of the door track, Ill remove the ratchet so it won't lock. It should keep the cord up out of the way.

Roger, Yes, the whole top will unbolt. We have people that want a seat and some that want a wagon. Some folks want something like a bass boat seat!
The design of the handlebars has bothered me from day one.

 

[Mr.zippy]

Handlebars are sort of "Ben Hur-ish", but I'm not sure there is a better alternative?

 

[xtremek]

Folding arm rests? Stolen from a bucket seat. Like the Chevy Sonics have?

 

[jon72vega]

Folding arm rests? Stolen from a bucket seat. Like the Chevy Sonics have?

Good idea.

 

[bugnut]

My $.02

https://www.amazon.com/Retractable-Safety-Belt-Headrest-Armrest?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[xtremek]

^ I like that idea

 

[Old Man Roger]

The design of the handlebars has bothered me from day one

Reminded me of the rear seats in a suburu brat

 

[harley jim]

Mr zippy, I agree, I really don't like the curved tube, and I don't like making them.
Kirk, yes, but I have to be able to reproduce it indefinitely.
Roger, I thought the same thing.
Bugnut, thats what I wanted to do the first time, I have looked again and think were going this route.

Amazon.com: Jiabailie Tractor Seat, Lawn Mower Seat Seat with Armrests,Forklift Seat w/Adjustable Angle Back,Durable Universal Replacement Seat for Excavator,Backhoe,Dozer Tractors,Heavy Equipment (Yellow) : Automotive

Amazon.com: Jiabailie Tractor Seat, Lawn Mower Seat Seat with Armrests,Forklift Seat w/Adjustable Angle Back,Durable Universal Replacement Seat for Excavator,Backhoe,Dozer Tractors,Heavy Equipment (Yellow) : Automotive

a.co

 

[bugnut]

Jim, I'm liking your choice much more as it is, less bulky, much more minimalist and I can see seat covers to match. That wagon could be expanded to a 2 seater with a couple of those.
I was also noodling about a wheel barrow tub turned backwards with a couple cushions......image isn't exact, maybe something similar!

 

[68400BIRD]

How's the white truck coming along?? Have not seen any updates lately on it's restoration.

 

[xtremek]

I like that it has a track to adjust. Set your footrest and the customer can put the sett where they like it. Put Pat on it with the seat all the way up and make that where you put your footrest. Then put the seat all the way back and with you in it and make that your balance point.

 

[harley jim]

Bugnut I agree, we actually talked about a wheelbarrow!

Bird, its still here, just sitting waiting on me to have some time. I sent the headliner to a quilt shop, she has a long arm sewing machine, it will be after Thanksgiving before I get it back. We may work on it this weekend. I need to raise the rear about one inch.

Kirk, thats about spot on! We are going to wait til after new years to build stock back up and do some redesign work. We just got a new trailer, we outgrew the old one, so were going to be busier!


I burnt up my drill press about a month ago! I have been gathering parts to do a treadmill motor conversion on it. Today on marketplace a nice drill press came up!

So I went and got it, the old guy had it listed for $125.00, I didnt have the heart to ask him what his bottom dollar was, I just paid him. It has 12 speeds and is way heavier than my old one.

I cleaned it up oiled it good, and put my vise on it and Im back in business!
Ill decide which way Im going to go with my old one later.

He had this grinder also. I would love to have it but he was at $350.00 so I walked away. Its 220volts!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Bugnut I agree, we actually talked about a wheelbarrow!

Bird, its still here, just sitting waiting on me to have some time. I sent the headliner to a quilt shop, she has a long arm sewing machine, it will be after Thanksgiving before I get it back. We may work on it this weekend. I need to raise the rear about one inch.

Kirk, thats about spot on! We are going to wait til after new years to build stock back up and do some redesign work. We just got a new trailer, we outgrew the old one, so were going to be busier!


I burnt up my drill press about a month ago! I have been gathering parts to do a treadmill motor conversion on it. Today on marketplace a nice drill press came up!

So I went and got it, the old guy had it listed for $125.00, I didnt have the heart to ask him what his bottom dollar was, I just paid him. It has 12 speeds and is way heavier than my old one.

I cleaned it up oiled it good, and put my vise on it and Im back in business!
Ill decide which way Im going to go with my old one later.

He had this grinder also. I would love to have it but he was at $350.00 so I walked away. Its 220volts!

Around here, the base goes for $350. If the whole rig runs and ain't broke, it goes for $750 easy, and over $1K if it's prettied up.

 

[harley jim]

I would love to have it but I can't bite that big of a bite for a grinder!

Got another trike finished today, waiting on the new owner to come get it!

He ordered half of a trailer, he owns a custom built smoker business so we think it will be a smoker when he is done.

Matt black!

 

[harley jim]

I put in a lowball bid on the grinder, if its ment to be it will happen.

 

[zanyad]

if its ment to be it will happen

 

[harley jim]

He text me back and said someone was coming this afternoon, we'll its still listed at 9:20 tonight, I just hit him again!

Worked on the Mule today.

Installed the new master cylinder.
The brakes bled out nice, it feels like I have lots of brakes.

Mounted the shifter and new cable.
T
The PO tore up the shift tower so I made a cover to place over the damage.

Attached the cable to the transmission, the bracket that holds the cable is missing, so I hade to make one from some bad pics I found online!

I got it painted and will install it tomorrow.

I had to take a break and deliver a Christmas check to the Boys and Girls club in Polk county, Amanda has run the Benton location for nine years, she is a wonderful person, she and her girls will buy everything that the kids need plus git them a toy also. Amanda has basically raised half of the kids in Polk county!

 

[xtremek]

Looks like some good progress on the Mule, but the best is the last pic. I love it when people give back.

 

[bugnut]

Looks like some good progress on the Mule, but the best is the last pic. I love it when people give back.

 

[harley jim]

This is why we do the fall car show. It gives us enough money to operate the lodge for another year, which allows us to make a good Christmas for some kids. I spoke to Amanda about this, she said most donors specify that there money go to children, so that leaves the teens out, just when they really need to be validated. So we give our money with no conditions, I asked if this covered everyone, she said she thought it would but there are still two families in jeopardy, (its all politics), I told her if they didnt get covered, let me know and I would make it happen. No kid left behind on my watch. If we can't take care of them now, and show them that the system works for all, how can we expect them to be upstanding adults and respect the system.
Watch out y'all, Ill be passing the hat, I ain't proud!

 

[BuffettFan]

Let us know, Jim!

 

[manwithtools]

Agreed, let us know if we can contribute.

 

[harley jim]

Thank you, Brothers! I may do this next year if Ryan is ok with it!

 

[manwithtools]

Thank you, Brothers! I may do this next year if Ryan is ok with it!

I would love to help out some fellow Tennesseans!

 

[harley jim]

Got all of the trike stuff finished.


Were waiting on a seat for the blue trailer!
Went back to the mule this afternoon.
this is what the shift tower is supposed to look like!

This is what it will look like.
Im going a little overboard, but Im sure y'all are used to it by now.

Im going way closer to the seat than the stock unit did.

Ill add a guard below the diff lock, I don't want to knock it off!

I added a battery box cover.
Im not sure Ill get any time tomorrow, but Friday Ill start cutting steel and start welding it together.

 

[larry4406]

I gotta ask why you spray painted the cardboard mockup? An attempt to better visualize the finished product?