Something just clicked…..

[Strouty]

Working with family is always tough, sometimes it looks nice from a distance, but it usually is hard going most of the time.

As for tomorrow, I just got a call that a new customer schedule a site visit to do drawings and layout for the permitting process, so now I have to be there. I am not going to gripe to much as this is one I get 25% of the revenue from, for as long as they stay on the tower. So my guess is I will be at the shop around lunch time.

I spent the evening cutting two by ten boards with a hand saw. Some jackass forgot that the saw was not at the house, guess what I am buying next week. I all ready have a drill and a impact driver that stays at the house, so I figure a sawzall and a circular saw should probably be a permanent thing as well. I think I was more excited that I finally finished putting my bosch compound miter saw on the gravity rise stand, now when I need it, I can just grab it and go. Tomorrow I will try and get a few errands done and I need to order some parts, so I guess I will do that first thing.

 

[bczygan]

Bill, I am a control freak too, but most of the things I need help with now are just moving things around and help with assembling things, like the Lista Storage Wall. When it comes to organizing, I either need to make all the decisions or just leave and let someone else do it.

I also had a slight epiphany last night on the drive home. I use my ipod for music through my stereo and I was getting annoyed that I have several songs that I did not want to listen to, but every time I add more music I only remove one or two songs from the old playlist. I think I am afraid of the "what if", yet this is clearly the dumbest what if of all. Am I worried that I am going to run out of songs, or maybe listen to one of them more than once? It sounds silly, yet it totally relates to my stuff, I don't want to get rid of certain things, what if I need them? Yet I can't really enjoy the "new songs" (or new stuff) because all the old stuff is in the way. I love it when things click!

I still haven't got past that one.

I'm out in the yard today, uncovering tarp covered piles of boxes and bins, that have been out there for a year or two.

Am I sorting and tossing things?............NO!

I'm organizing and putting things away in the long shed (3x17).

No thought given as to whether I need any of it. It's almost all "What If?" items.

I was going to criticize some on this forum for hoarding fasteners, but there I am picking up a couple of spilled coffee cans of screws and nails, out of the dirt, one by one.

Well, I am going to consider this phase one, where I get things out of the weather and protected, and somewhat organized.

Second phase, maybe in the spring, is to sort and organize further, and decide on what to keep and what isn't necessary.

Like what you are doing.

I don't have a business to run at the same time, like you do, but do have a house that needs some fixing.

I've been pushing myself for the last few days, to just keep going outside and working for a bit. Then inside for a bit, then back out to do some more.

Persistence is getting me some progress, even with bouts of rain.

And your busy days are inspiration.

Bill

 

[Strouty]

Glad I can help in the motivation department. Keep at it, at some point things will click and you will have that moment of clarity. I get them from time to time, sometimes I need reminders and that is what this thread has been able to do.

 

[Thumper68]

My son was here helping today and he tossed a cloth bag up on the shelf, he knew it belongs to his sister and doesn't belong on the shelf. I told him my new philosophy, touch it once. When I pick something up, be it a tool, a part or trash it goes where it belongs. Not the nearest flat surface. Been doing it for the last few weeks and I can already see the difference. The shop is cleaner. My attitude is better and I am enjoying being in the shop more. To top it all off I'm getting way more done in less time.

 

[Strouty]

We all keep coming up with great ideas, one of us needs to write a book.

 

[Thumper68]

This thread is long enough to be a book.

 

[jrp458]

Strouty, you may have addressed this in a previous post, but what size compressor do you have in your shop?

 

[Strouty]

JRP, right now I have no real compressor. I still need to finish putting my quincy together. Not having air has been one of the biggest mistakes that I ever made, I sold my 7.5 HP ingersoll rand to motivate me into finishing the quincy, well it has been almost 2 years now.

I will end up having at least a 10HP quincy 350, hopefully I can get both of them working, then I will have the capability of around 60 CFM. The compressor is a duplex style, two pumps on one tank.

 

[Strouty]

This thread is long enough to be a book.

We are closing in on 100 pages and 2000 posts. or should it be

 

[Thumper68]

Just goes to show how much progress you have made.

 

[dlcwent]

Those are some awesome hose reels you've got there. What's on todays plate?

 

[Strouty]

Thumper, sometimes I need to go back through the thread to realize that. I can't stand it when you work for days and feel as though nothing was accomplished.

DLC, I have a sitewalk at one of our towers this morning, it is screwing up my entire day, but it is long term money so I can't miss the opportunity. After that I am just going to start chipping away at the list of things that need to be done. Hopefully I can find all the filters for the excavator, I want to change the engine oil and filter, fuel filter, air filter, and at least swap the hydraulic filter when I add new fluid. I am going to have the hydraulic oil sent out for testing.

As always my day is subject to change, for some reason no matter how hard I try, life gets in the way.

So what is DLC up to today?

 

[dlcwent]

Yard full. A couple of alignments, a dead chevy that the customer worked on and then had it towed in after he couldn't get it running. (love those). 49 chevy 3100 that needs a few things looked at. And several others that won't be getting any attention today as brother Rick is not showing up to help.

Are you concerned there is contamination in the hydraulic system?

 

[bczygan]

Thumper, sometimes I need to go back through the thread to realize that. I can't stand it when you work for days and feel as though nothing was accomplished.

DLC, I have a sitewalk at one of our towers this morning, it is screwing up my entire day, but it is long term money so I can't miss the opportunity. After that I am just going to start chipping away at the list of things that need to be done. Hopefully I can find all the filters for the excavator, I want to change the engine oil and filter, fuel filter, air filter, and at least swap the hydraulic filter when I add new fluid. I am going to have the hydraulic oil sent out for testing.

As always my day is subject to change, for some reason no matter how hard I try, life gets in the way.

So what is DLC up to today?

All you need to do, is page back through the thread and see where you were when things began.

I have the same feeling most days, but then I remember when I literally couldn't get into any of the rooms in my house, except the bathroom and one corner of the bedroom. And the entire yard was impassable. Things have sure changed. Still lots to do. More needs doing, than has already been done, but now I have the use of all the rooms except the basement, and the yard is passable.

The word that I always keep in mind, is persistence. No matter how much or little work, and progress you make in a day, it all counts.

Strouty, you do heaps of work every day. Way more than me. So your progress is quicker. You have big goals, big equipment, big plans. And you are getting there.

One thing I realized, is that this isn't a project with a beginning and an end. It is really a change in the way of living. Instead of just acquiring and piling up possessions, I am now involved with them, using them, taking care of them. It sure requires more work.

Bill

 

[Strouty]

DLC, the hydraulic oil was last change in 2009, but the machine only has a like 500 hours on it since then. It is pretty low right now, so I am going to check the spec, if it is close to what a change is I might as well do it now, I just don't know a lot about hydraulics yet.

Bill, the word you are looking for is tenacity, years ago when I was involved in an Outward Bound program, they defined that as "stick-to-it-tiveness", I always like that.

As I suspected I am at the shop about lunchtime, I found some filters for the excavator (a box of them from my Dad's shop), now I need to see if they are the right ones. If not I will have to go and procure me some. I am ordering some materials now and will be headed out to check over the crane as well. Snap On guy comes today and he says he has more green tools for me.

 

[Strouty]

The excavator takes 40 gallons of hydraulic oil, so I will do the test and figure I will just replace what is missing. Next year I will do a complete service to the machine, it will be good to know more about it and I always learn a lot when changing fluids and cleaning things up for the inspection.

The tower site visit went well, customer understands what needs to be done, I will be around for the construction process anyways, back to the control issues. Really it is so much easier if I am there to answer any questions and deal with things instantly, it is tough to redo things after they have been done wrong. I also have a new customer going on another tower across town, but that will be late October or early November.

 

[Strouty]

I started working on the crane and found the leak on the outrigger was just an o-ring on what I think is the check valve. I replaced it and no leaks, no settling, I even swung the boom around and let it sit there for a while so it had the weight over it. Now I am going to try and fix a step that was ripped off about 10 years ago and the piece has been floating around in the cab, it is time to get it back where it belongs.

 

[Strouty]

Well I am happy to say that my help (Ben) showed up today at the time he said he would. I have known him for a while, but do not really know him that well, so it is going to be a learning curve for both of us. He knows a lot about computers, but is eager to learn about manual skills as well. Being he is only 23, I think there is hope for him. He will be coming back tomorrow and I am looking forward to it.

Now I can say we got some things done, the excavator has fresh engine oil and filters, we got some angle iron that I needed down from long term storage, and we did a few other odds and ends. Overall I am happy with the day considering I lost the first half of it to a site walk.

Rich, I moved some of the Lista stuff today, tomorrow should be some real action though!

Trusty cook sent me a beautiful white hammer, it looks great with all the other ones. It is called a buddy blaster 52 and is not available to the general public, I will continue to buy hammers from them (even red ones) and vocally support them proudly.

 

[dlcwent]

Well LMAO. Sorry to say this, but I will anyway. Strouty found a kid. 23 years old.

WHAT'S UP WITH A WHITE HAMMER. I thought that white sneakers made you walk funny. What is going to happen when you us a white hammer? Keep your fingers out of the way.(just saying)

 

[dlcwent]

And I would agree with you that that looks like a relief valve.
Probably right.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I will be flying to California tomorrow, Will be there till Saturday. I will have my laptop with me, but most likely will not have much time to check in. I have hopes to be able to check early morning. 14 hrs days. So I will enjoy seeing the lista's once they are set up..Rich

 

[Strouty]

I will enjoy seeing them come together. I am going to set a goal of having them installed by Sunday, I am sure I will not have the final drawer/shelf configuration, but at least I can have it up and able to play with the configuration.

 

[dlcwent]

Congrats on making a thread that has gotten to page 100. It is a thread that has a lot of interest. And you have come a long way. I know I poke at you a lot, but you really have done a great job at dealing with your problems. Good job Justin. You have come a long way since this thread stated.

Oh and nice tags you added to the 1/4 million thread by the way.

 

[Strouty]

So far today has been slower going than I hoped, I think 4 am may just be too early for me. I am going to try 4:30 tomorrow and see if that helps.

I have changed the hydraulic return filter on the excavator, I pulled out the air filter and it needs to be changed, so I need to get one of those. I am going to vacuum out the housing in a little bit and temporarily reinstall the filter (assuming local NAPA won't have it) then I need to get the hydraulic oil added, I think I may need to get more of that as well. Anyways I am digging things out now, but I have Ben from about 3:45 on and I wanted to have the framework for the vidmar completed so we could load it up, that may have to be tomorrow, because even if I finish it, the paint won't be dry. Pictures are a bit of a waste now, so I am not taking any, when we get to the good stuff, I will snap some.

 

[North Run Grader]

If you have a long blow nozzle you can clean out your air filter for temporary use. Just clean it from the inside towards the outside. Also, blow it clean outdoors. They hold an amazing amount of dust. Our best air nozzle is made up of an old Milton blow nozzle and a 2' section of brake line. We just grabbed a blow gun on the shelf at our parts store and found the appropriate brake line that has the same threads. We cut it off at the 2' length, bent a short 90 at the end and filed the end smooth. We needed a long gun to clean between the radiator and the intercooler on our 160M Cat Motor Grader and no one had one in stock. Less then $20 and we can get an extra week out of our air filters.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Somehow lost track of this thread. Anxious to see what you've been up to, shop looks like it's come a long way since you first started this thread.

 

[Strouty]

North, that is a great setup (I am going to steal the idea). The filter seems to be harder to get, I guess I will be calling CAT if I can't find a generic replacement. I crossed all the other filters over, so they are not an issue. I guess the return filter on in the hydraulic tank may be a CAT item too, but I had a new one of those. I was looking at the specs for track tension and it seems way too loose, they say about 1.5" to 2.5" of droop between the main wheel and the first idler, well I only have one idler. I will play around with it a bit. I am greasing it now and of course there are some bad fittings. I also stupidly left a couple tubes of grease in the sun on their sides, now I am having air issues with the M12 grease gun. Time consuming ****, but it all needs to be done. I will say one thing, I need a rough terrain service cart, I am about 60' from the tools and I have been back and forth about 20 times this morning. I prefer one stop shopping, this *****.


Wanna, I have been pretty busy, so a lot has changed. I have tried to document things as best I could, it is nice for me to be able to look back and see it all. I would say that this thread has been and will continue to be therapeutic. If you check back next week you should see some Lista action, it looks like Friday is going to rain, so I may be able to get a bunch done then. Looks like I may be at a tower on Saturday, gotta pay for all this **** somehow.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: how about a golf cart? electric or gas whichever you think will work better and have less maintenance issues.

I agree with DLC that this thread is almost your TO DO list so just keep posting on here and taking pictures so when you don't think you've done anything it will be a reminder. also take more pictures of your work at the towers especially the views because they are amazing.

have a great day and i also like the brake line extension for blowing out big filters.

cheers

BCZ: keep up the great work you've been doing.

 

[bczygan]

Strouty: how about a golf cart? electric or gas whichever you think will work better and have less maintenance issues.

I agree with DLC that this thread is almost your TO DO list so just keep posting on here and taking pictures so when you don't think you've done anything it will be a reminder. also take more pictures of your work at the towers especially the views because they are amazing.

have a great day and i also like the brake line extension for blowing out big filters.

cheers

BCZ: keep up the great work you've been doing.

I feel a little bad about using STROUTY'S thread to post my progress. I think I will go to my "Great Little Garage" thread instead. Here's a link if anyone want's to go there and see my latest progress.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5175506&postcount=609

Bill

 

[Strouty]

Work has been essentially halted, I have an emergency job to do in the morning and now I have to get everything ready for that. The new antenna we installed a two weeks ago has an issue and is spinning free. The cables are twisting around the pole and things generally look bad. The new rotor that holds the mast has a different clamp style than the old one and it was decided that it did not need a through bolt to lock the mast in place, well in hindsight, it appears that is exactly what it needed. Hopefully the antenna's control boxes are not damaged, but who knows.

The main antenna boom is bolted with several u-bolts and was double nutted so I am guessing that it is not loose here, if it is, I have serious issues, because I personally tightened it.



I think it has loosened here, at the new rotor, and I am going to plan on drilling a hole all the way through the clamp and the mast and install a ½" bolt that will keep it from spinning should it ever come loose again. If this is not where the problem is, then we could have serious internal damage to the rotor itself.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: good luck and hopefully it's repairable now. good thing the crane is now working better. again best wishes

BCZ: I bet Strouty got some inspiration from your posts so unless he PM's you to cease and desist I liked seeing the progress you are making too while I'm checking on him.

 

[bczygan]

Work has been essentially halted, I have an emergency job to do in the morning and now I have to get everything ready for that. The new antenna we installed a two weeks ago has an issue and is spinning free. The cables are twisting around the pole and things generally look bad. The new rotor that holds the mast has a different clamp style than the old one and it was decided that it did not need a through bolt to lock the mast in place, well in hindsight, it appears that is exactly what it needed. Hopefully the antenna's control boxes are not damaged, but who knows.

The main antenna boom is bolted with several u-bolts and was double nutted so I am guessing that it is not loose here, if it is, I have serious issues, because I personally tightened it.



I think it has loosened here, at the new rotor, and I am going to plan on drilling a hole all the way through the clamp and the mast and install a ½" bolt that will keep it from spinning should it ever come loose again. If this is not where the problem is, then we could have serious internal damage to the rotor itself.

Wondering what the hole and slot is for. It's on the clamp, below where your red dot is.

Bill

 

[bczygan]

Strouty: good luck and hopefully it's repairable now. good thing the crane is now working better. again best wishes

BCZ: I bet Strouty got some inspiration from your posts so unless he PM's you to cease and desist I liked seeing the progress you are making too while I'm checking on him.

Well, here is the text of the first post over there:

Time to use this thread as a kind of TO DO list and daily journal of improvements and work done.

And instead of just focusing on the garage, it will be about the whole house and yard.

The reason for this, is that I have shop equipment and facilities and supplies in more than just the garage. I also have some sheds that are used for these activities, as you will see.

Later I will give an overview, with photos and put together a TODO list.

OK, time for today's post.

The last few days I have been uncovering piles of stuff in the yard, that I have covered with tarps. This stuff all came from purging rooms in the house.

To prepare for this work, I have emptied what I call the long shed. It is a shed that is 3x17 and 6' tall. The whole 17' length is open on the front, giving me room to access it. I actually have a number of sheds, for different purposes.

The first thing I did was to uncover a trailer that was full of stuff, including a set of cabinets for the kitchen. I brought most of them inside the house. A couple are still in the driveway, tarped.

With the trailer empty, I started emptying the long shed. It was full of lumber. Now the trailer is, and the shed is empty.

I'm simplifying here, as there was lots of other stuff in the trailer and shed to deal with including old carpet and a giant vise on an aluminum base. There were also 12 - 10' long by 3" diameter columns with brackets on top, from a commercial greenhouse I disassembled. This has all been done over the last couple of weeks, between thunderstorms and just regular life activities.

Next, I moved a kayak and canoe and uncovered a pile with 2 lateral files and 2 steel shelving units. These were full of old clothes, that I took into the house for sorting.

I put the shelving and files in the shed and also cut 4 pieces of 3/8" plywood to make doors out of.

Since then I have been filling the shed with stuff from other piles, and sort of sorting it. Stuff is coming from various locations and piles of stuff under tarps.

I don't have a lot of photos of this whole process, since I've just been diving in and doing it.

Every day I just get up and go out and work for a while. Then come in and take a break. Then go out and do some more. I have to keep things covered in case of rain.

Right now, I have 4 of those big 96 gallon trash cans, the city has us put at the curb for trash day, full to overflowing and ready for Thursday, which is our pickup day.

I'll get some photos for my next post.

Bill

 

[Richard Cranium]

Well I have a 7 hour lay over at SeaTac airport. Only flights that I could get to get to San anna Ca. I could of changed my connection here in SeaTac But they wanted 50.00 extra and it was only 30 min earlier. Rich
Bcy I enjoy seeing your progress also, So if Stroutly has a problem with it, I would rather it stayed here. Rich

 

[Richard Cranium]

Drives did you forget to order sunshine today? Rich

 

[bczygan]

Well I have a 7 hour lay over at SeaTac airport. Only flights that I could get to get to San anna Ca. I could of changed my connection here in SeaTac But they wanted 50.00 extra and it was only 30 min earlier. Rich
Bcy I enjoy seeing your progress also, So if Stroutly has a problem with it, I would rather it stayed here. Rich

Dang,
Not enough time to run in to the Pike Place Market and get some smoked salmon.....

Last time we were there, Julie and I got some smoked fish and some fresh fish and a bottle of wine.

We then drove south, over the flank of Mt. Rainier, and found a spot to camp, next to house sized boulders, alongside a rushing azure mountain stream.

Set up the tent and a hammock.

Grilled and ate fish and drank wine and used that hammock for a delightful and carnal evening. One of the best in memory.

I don't suppose you have time for all that.

Bill

 

[Strouty]

Bill and Rich, I don't have a problem with it, but I think if it were me, I would want it tied together in my own thread for the ease of referencing it. Someday I hope to start a new thread in the fancy garage gallery section.

As for that hole, it is there so the slit would not continue to tear all the way around, they would do that to stop cracks in steel as well.

 

[bczygan]

Bill and Rich, I don't have a problem with it, but I think if it were me, I would want it tied together in my own thread for the ease of referencing it. Someday I hope to start a new thread in the fancy garage gallery section.

As for that hole, it is there so the slit would not continue to tear all the way around, they would do that to stop cracks in steel as well.

Thanks STROUTY,

I will do just that.

I will post the detailed progress reports and photos in my own thread.

I will put a link in my signature line, so anyone can go there.

And sometimes I will come here, and when responding to STROUTY's progress, mention that I've made progress too, and say..."HEY, go look!"

Bill

 

[nine4gmc]

Oh man, what a height to have a problem!!

Hope you get it worked out well and can't wait to see the Lista's come up!

 

[Strouty]

I bought a few longer drill bits so I can get all the way through the rotor base and the mast in one shot. I think I have enough supplies to get things under control no matter what has happened. Hopefully nothing has been destroyed, but the picture I saw and the description I heard sounds really bad.

Bill, don't feel like you can't post info or pics in this thread, I just think you should post consistently in your thread so you have a nice record all in one place. You all ready have a great start and I look forward to seeing your progress too. Mutual motivation!