Above 1200 Sq/FT Plugger Workshop

[Prospecter]

Most of our baby birds have fledged. Wrens, swallows, bluebirds, robins.

Still trying to catch this one.


Slowly working my way through axle replacement. Both axles are the same standard size, but the new one is 3/8" shorter. I hope I can take up some slack in the fittings to make it work.

 

[drivesitfar]

Too bad everything isn’t a standard size. Hopefully you can make up the adjustments cause it looks great so far.

Cute critter pics too.

Good luck on the upcoming catch and release.

 

[Prospecter]

I was able to finish up the boat trailer axle project today. I loosened all the bolts on both springs, after which the second slipper spring went right into position. Then I tightened up all the bolts. Wheels are on. Rollers and bunks are adjusted,

Between new tires, new springs, and adjusted rollers/bunks, the boat now rides at least 3.5" lower, which should help a lot with launch and retrieval. Hoping that's all I need. I might be able to get a little more adjustment out of the rollers and bunks, but anything more than another 1/2" would involve tire replacement again. I would rather not go there.

 

[Prospecter]

In other news, the groundhog tripped the trap without getting caught. We reset the trap.

 

[kaymccampbell]

In other news, the groundhog tripped the trap without getting caught. We reset the trap.

They're wily when it comes to traps. Plant Dutch clover. They'll come out and mow the flowers. Mine do it and leave the garden alone.

 

[Prospecter]

They do like the clover, and it kept this one out of the garden for several weeks. Hoping your luck holds!

 

[madison069]

Seems like nothing can be standard, every manufacturer has to have their twist on things.

 

[Prospecter]

I thought I was finished with this project. After I "finished" the axle just did not look right to me. I installed it based on the customer rep's advice that the pictures on the web site were wrong, and the axle is attached underneath the springs. Went back to do more research. Every photo and video on the site and one in the paperwork shows the axle ABOVE the springs. One video says a feature of the axle is that the axle mounts on top of the spring to place the trailer lower for easy launching.

Oh well. I generally do the right thing, after I've tried everything else. So I guess I will try following the pictures instead of the oral directions.

Turkey mamas like the mowed paths in the field. Keeps the babies in line, easy walking, and snacks along both sides.

 

[Prospecter]

Fourth of July Lilies. First bloomed on the 4th! First nasturtium.

 

[drivesitfar]

Sorry you have to re do the axle install especially cause I’m guessing the boat is on the trailer while you’re doing all the work but I think you’re correct it looks a bit off.

I’ve never seen lillies that color cause most of the ones I recognize are white that I recall them being called Easter lillies.

Enjoy your weekend.

 

[Prospecter]

Sorry you have to re do the axle install especially cause I’m guessing the boat is on the trailer while you’re doing all the work but I think you’re correct it looks a bit off.

I’ve never seen lillies that color cause most of the ones I recognize are white that I recall them being called Easter lillies.

Enjoy your weekend.

Drives- the boat is on the trailer. Not bad to work on though.

 

[Prospecter]

Thanks for the validation. The nice thing is that placing the axle on top of the springs will lower the trailer a little more, which will make launching easier.

Easter lillies I think are a little different. These are day lillies. Very easy to grow, and low / no maintenance. The orange ones are very common. Also come in white, pale to vibrant yellow, red, and even a pale purple.

Even though every day is Saturday, I especially like the Saturdays that fall on Saturday. I am easy to please. Happy weekend to you.

 

[Prospecter]

Seems like nothing can be standard, every manufacturer has to have their twist on things.

I guess that's right. Oh, well. It worked out.

 

[Prospecter]

**
The day lilies are some less common colors. The milkweed is in bloom. Few Monarchs, but the aroma is amazing. And a view of the Chaos Garden.

 

[Prospecter]

As projects go sometimes. . . After additional research, I dropped the axle, and reinserted it above the leaf springs. I also installed some bushings I had on hand as spacers for the spring eyes. Much better. And the trailer is even a few inches lower. (Low Rider) The trailer performed well on a short test run, except the tires were rubbing on the fenders. Fenders removed pending modification.

 

[Prospecter]

I also needed to adapt the hitch for the new, lower trailer height. I was able to flip the hitch over to turn a small rise into a small drop, and reinstalled the ball. I used the impact wrench, which made life very easy.

Our experimental Myers Lemon Tree.

My tree pruning crew has been busy. This works well at helping to keep the orchard branches out of my way while mowing.

My Harbor Freight sit down weeding cart in action. Very helpful. (Thank you, Kay for the suggestion.) Everything is weeded except the lettuce, which I will get to this morning. I also need to pick potato bugs this morning, and then I can finish the mowing I started yesterday.

Someone on the gardening crew turkeys thinned the carrots and beets a bit more than necessary. (The two faint rows to the right of the potatoes.) Looks like it will work out ok though.
That crew of turkeys has also been taking dust baths next to the potatoes.

 

[Prospecter]

Just for fun.

 

[drivesitfar]

I’ve had to turn my hitch or opt for different hitches when I changed trailers or rented the 6x12 Uhaul for $30 if I needed to haul something long or really heavy too. That said sometimes when I’ve had no other option other than removing the ball (I’m assuming that’s what you did) to change the drop to a rise some hitches are definitely easier than others. I think my crescent wrench behind my seat might be 2 foot long which helps too.

You’re one of the most positive guys on GJ so even though I know you look for the positive it’s easy to fall into the negative BS mode if you let it get you.

Good luck with your fender mods and best of luck growing some quality eats on your land for you and your bride ( and of course the critters get their share).

 

[Prospecter]

I’ve had to turn my hitch or opt for different hitches when I changed trailers or rented the 6x12 Uhaul for $30 if I needed to haul something long or really heavy too. That said sometimes when I’ve had no other option other than removing the ball (I’m assuming that’s what you did) to change the drop to a rise some hitches are definitely easier than others. I think my crescent wrench behind my seat might be 2 foot long which helps too.

You’re one of the most positive guys on GJ so even though I know you look for the positive it’s easy to fall into the negative BS mode if you let it get you.

Good luck with your fender mods and best of luck growing some quality eats on your land for you and your bride ( and of course the critters get their share).

That wicked big Crescent wrench would surely do the job! Yes, I removed the ball, flipped the hitch over, and reinstalled the ball.

I need to get after those fenders, and pack up the boat. The axle thing set me back a little, so I will have a little more time this week to putter, and maybe get in the water next week.

Today was the second in a row of fog and 70d. temps. Perfect for finishing the mowing. Perfect for finishing the weeding and picking potato bugs. Enough bugs to be worth my while, but I am also pleased at the results from just being the alpha predator. I squished a few egg clusters, which wipes out maybe 100 at a time when I find them. I found a few tiny larvae stage. Any I missed will get larger and easier to find next time. I did see any adult beetles, which are the egg layers. All in all, much better results than spraying, and probably no more time than I would have spent spraying.

A great day to be on the dirt. Yesterday I saw one tiny squash blossom. Today 6-12 blossoms. The broccoli and carrots perked right up after yesterday's weeding. Corn looks like it grew 6" overnight. We're very dry, but the chips and cow manure I worked in last fall are holding the moisture just below the top dust layer.


And yes. Easy to flip to the dark side unless one is cautious.

 

[madison069]

Regarding the trailer axle placement, it all depends on your needs at the launch area. With the axle on the bottom of the spring, it can accommodate the steeper launch area and prevents the trailer/boat from bottoming out when the trailer goes over the crest of the launch point. While with the axle on top of the spring will allow the boat to float quicker on the water instead of having to drive further into the water compared to if the trailer was higher.

Pros and cons to both setup!

 

[Prospecter]

Regarding the trailer axle placement, it all depends on your needs at the launch area. With the axle on the bottom of the spring, it can accommodate the steeper launch area and prevents the trailer/boat from bottoming out when the trailer goes over the crest of the launch point. While with the axle on top of the spring will allow the boat to float quicker on the water instead of having to drive further into the water compared to if the trailer was higher.

Pros and cons to both setup!

Thanks Madison. I had not thought about the bottoming out geometry. I guess we'll see how it all works out. Thanks for stopping by.

 

[Jacko264]

Will you need a bump stop between the axel and chassis

loving all you are doing please keep the photos coming
Graham

 

[Prospecter]

Will you need a bump stop between the axel and chassis

loving all you are doing please keep the photos coming
Graham

Not sure. I'll load up everything today. Next step is a shakedown cruise. Hopefully that will not reveal too many needs. If so. . .

Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing–absolutely nothing–half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.

Thanks for checking in.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

OMG you are an industrious character. Kudos to you.

 

[Prospecter]

OMG you are an industrious character. Kudos to you.

Well, I took the monthly recycling out, sat under the ceiling fans on the porch for a while, and took a nap today! 90d. knocks the stuffing out of me! Thanks for checking in!

 

[Jacko264]

Well don’t you over do to And have as many naps as you want
🫣

 

[Prospecter]

Assorted Chaos Garden pictures.
I managed to get stuck mowing the ditch in the same spot I got stuck the week before.

 

[Prospecter]

A hot day was a good day to head to the big city to get some errands done. AC in car. AC in stores. Too hot to do much outside today.

 

[jon72vega]

That is a very cool picture!

 

[Prospecter]

That is a very cool picture!

I will pass that on to Mrs. Prospector, who is the photographer, bird watcher, and flower Gardener. I am on bird house management, flower garden support, mowing, and debris removal. Thanks for checking in.

 

[Prospecter]

Booty from yesterday. Hardware for the trailer fenders, water filters from Lowes. Locking pliers, pick up magnet, bit organizer from Harbor Freight. I really like these Bremen pliers over even my old Vicegrips. Some of my tools have been distributed to the boat and elsewhere, so I needed to replenish.

 

[Prospecter]

With recent hot weather, I've been looking for things to accomplish in the air conditioned workshop. Used several free cans of gray spray paint to refurbish some 30 year old trash cans. The dust collection drum lid has not fit correctly since I cut it down 15 years ago. I took two inches off the lip which made the lid fit, and used up some red spray paint.

The Chaos Garden does not mind the heat.

The boat is all packed up and ready to go, except for putting the mast on top.

The shop is "mostly" picked up. I relocated one of the drill presses, and consolidated a tool chest, which also freed up some bench space.

 

[Prospecter]

Another shot of the picked up shop.

The front garden.

Adaptive brackets for the boat trailer fenders so they will clear the new tires and axle. The material is some beefy aluminum from a salvaged boat track. I had to cut off some bolts to clear the trailer frame.

The vegetable garden is also enjoying the heat, although a little rain would be welcome. Fortunately, last year's soil amendments are holding the moisture pretty well, so the plants are coping.

 

[Prospecter]

A few more garden photos. The plants appear to double in size overnight. The tall skinny leaved gladiolas have perked up.

We put grape jelly out to attrack orioles. Not much luck at that, but the cow birds like it. And this year, we are attracting bumblebees. They do not seem to bother the humming birds.

 

[Bob Heine]

Currently up North to help out with the mowing. Finished up most of the wiring. Reduced load on some circuits, relocated those connections inside boxes, and got covers on boxes that were left uncovered by the previous owner. Misjudged the need to check a wire to see if it was live. I saw a bright light, but avoided a free perm.

@Prospecter, when we bought our first home in 1966 (3 bedroom 1 bath ranch) I was shocked to discover the insulation in the attic was about 1-inch thick rockwool with kraft paper encapsulating it. My $110 a week salary allowed me to buy a bag of R19 fiberglass each week. Mid-way through the main section of the house I came across a large wire that went nowhere so I flicked it aside. The bare end of one of the wires touched my arm and I had that same white light experience. It was a 240V cable that had been fed down through the soffit above the dining room window and used to power a window air conditioner. When the previous owner took the A-C unit with him, rather than leave the wire dangling outside, pulled it into the attic. That family paid $14,500 for the house when it was built in 1952 and they moved to a larger home in 1965. Carrying two mortgages was probably difficult with 5 kids so he lowered the asking price from $16,900 to $15,900 after a year of no offers. He accepted our $14,500 offer but I suspect the live disconnected circuit was his way of expressing his displeasure for having to sell the house for a break-even amount. Or, maybe he was just an *******.

We sold the house 9 years later for $32,900. Fifty years later that 73 year old house has a market value of ~$500,000 but it has an additional 4th bedroom (but still only a single bath).

 

[Bob Heine]

I have the Pittsburgs, which convinced me I like ratcheting wrenches, but the Pittsburgs don't have the reversing levers, the tooling is not as nice, and the direction on the ratchets is inconsistent.

@Prospecter, I thought ratcheting box end wrenches were so much better than sliceed bread I bough a small Craftsman set right after dinosaurs went extinct. The set came with both SAE and metric sizes but they needed more space than plain box end wrenches. I bought a more compact no-name set of SAE wrenches but like the Craftsman set they had no reversing levers. When my vehicles began requiring metric wrenches I bought a Gearwrench set but couldn't justify the price of the reversing lever model.

Ratcheting box end wrenches that don't have reversing levers should come with a warning label for stupid people. I gleefully put one on an A-C compressor mouunting bolt on the Corvette and proceeded to back the bolt out. I completely miscalculated how far the bolt had to come out and when the bolt head contacted the compressor line where it could go no further. I slid the wrench over to the smooth shaft of the bolt and tightened the bolt with an open end wrench until it contacted the ratchet head but that wasn't far enough to get the ratchet wrench off. I ended up cutting the bolt head off and special ordering a new $8 bolt. This photo is a re-creation of the scene of the crime. I spent an unusual amount of time calculating options, like cutting the wrench, disconnecting the A-C lines and just leaving the wrench hanging there since the compressor was still attached. That $8 stainless steel socket head bolt was the cheapest option.

Instead of investing in reversing box end ratchets, I avoid using these sliced bread wonders.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I managed to get stuck mowing the ditch in the same spot I got stuck the week before.

They have always said practice makes perfect.

 

[Jacko264]

What can I say but
you are a hero in all you do

 

[drivesitfar]

Looks like the bees are happy which usually means your plants will be happy so hopefully the hummingbirds find some good flowered plants while the bees are drinking your mix.

I hope your trailer repair turns out ok and I’m positive it’s better now that you did the repairs it needed.

Bob always has a story and he can send anyone down the journey with him that is always entertaining.

Your shop looks great and one of these days I’ll have a small one that I can breath in while I’m working so dust collection will be near the top of the list.

Stay cool!!

 

[Prospecter]

Bob: Love those stories. Those of us of a certain age can relate to those old housing situations, and current housing prices. I only saw the bright light without actually making contact. Did you get the free perm?

I had not considered the trouble I could get into without a reverse on a ratcheting wrench. Guess I lucked out on that one!

Pontiacs: Yessah! I've pretty much mastered the getting stuck business. Some folks go the easy route. Deep snow, deep mud,. . . Not me. I was able to get stuck in dry conditions with good traction. Reminds me of a story. . . In college, a buddy had one of those new fangled Suburu 4wd station wagons. He wanted to test the 4wd. Started over a snow bank in the parking lot. Got stuck halfway over the bank with all four wheels in the air.

Jacko: Always good to be a hero!

Drives: The boat trailer seems to be all set. The repairs pushed me into waiting for launch due to other commitments. Next chance is a few weeks off, but we are ready! I do love Bob's stories. Puttering in the shop with AC was a nice way to spend some days when I did not feel like doing much of anything. Very encouraging to get things picked up.

I know you are looking forward to building that shop. I am looking forward to following along.

Thank you all for following along.