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Strouty

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Mar 21, 2010
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Southern Maine
I almost forgot to wish you all a happy solstice day! Tomorrow we get more daylight and that is better than anything else in my book.
 

xtremek

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Apr 13, 2012
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St. Johns, Mi
I can't remember if I wished you happy birthday or not, so belated Happy Birthday. And just so you feel like you're not alone, we have 5 in our family.
 
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Strouty

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Mar 21, 2010
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Southern Maine
I like sunlight. And turtles.



National Turtle day is May 23.

I tried some CBD oil last night, no help, woke up at 3:30 am with back pain, so I took a second dose and it made no difference. I did get the iso stuff as I really don’t want any THC in my system, but I may have to try the full spectrum stuff just to see. I am not giving up, the guy at the store told me to start with half a dropper, but he said I could take a full dropper of it.
 

xtremek

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Just be careful with any essential oil. According to my wife who has Phd in Bio-Chemistry, or genetics, or something like that, you can actually OD on them, even when just rubbed on your skin.
 

driftpin

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Dec 22, 2016
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Location
Miami-Dade/Broward Co. Florida
Just be careful with any essential oil. According to my wife who has Phd in Bio-Chemistry, or genetics, or something like that, you can actually OD on them, even when just rubbed on your skin.

You can always take a bit more-to the maximum dosage that your physician gives you, in the prescribed method of delivery.

xtremek, I see that St. Johns MI is along US 127/old US 27. Did you know US 27 begins in Miami-Dade County FL almost-to Biscayne Bay, off the Atlantic Ocean? One of the things I've considered doing now that I'm retired, is taking a trip the length of US 27, though I read that old US 27 has been decommissioned in MI.
 
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Strouty

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I figure you can overdo anything, but the guy that sells the stuff was very knowledgable, didn't seem like he wanted me to OD and never come back. I will be cautious for sure.

Today looks to be less rainy than they predicted and it is supposed to be warm (50s), so I am going to see what I can get done outside, been a few things that have gone neglected due to the snow setting in so early this year. I figure going to the shop and doing anything is better than the last couple days of really doing nothing. Sunday is supposed to be right back into the low 30s, hopefully the water will drain off so I don't have a skating rink out front, I hate it when that happens.
 

LXCam

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AZ
Happy belated B-day bud. I'm not sure if you've tried Celebrex yet but it has turned out to be the wonder drug for my back issues. I've tried damn near everything over the last couple years since my back has gotten to the point my only option is another discectomy and fusion L4/5. But after having a nerve test done a couple mouths ago my doc prescribed it. And all though it's not a cure it's made my life waaaaaaaay better.
 
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Strouty

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I used Celebrex back when my hands were messed up, definitely works, but my issue with my back is sleeping, it will be fine when I go to bed, but after 6 hours, it tightens up and freaks out. Pretty sure it is stress related, stretching helps, but nothing stops it. Originally thought it was the bed, bought a new one and same thing, if I sleep for 5 hours everything is fine, except I turn into a zombie after a week or so. It is pretty crappy when you can go to sleep with a good back and wake up in pain for no reason.


It is about 55 outside right now, so I am trying to shuffle trucks around and get things repositioned for the winter. Sounds dumb saying that since we have had a decent amount of snow for well over a month now, but technically winter started yesterday.

Of course the snow plow won’t start, it is fuel injected too. It just cranks, pretty sure it is the distributor, I have been having some hot start issues, but never no start, of course it is raining and has been for a day. My guess is moisture, but I need to investigate a bit, I really don’t want to do anything to it, I am not a ford fan.
 
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Strouty

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Southern Maine
Well no luck yet on the snow plow, but I almost have the excavator blade off, then I can get the blade welded back up and the two rams resealed. At least I will be able to use it again, it was leaking really badly and would make a huge puddle in minutes.

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Strouty

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Now I need to go and get some fittings, I don’t have the proper ones to keep the fluid in, these are just keeping the dirt out for now.

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Strouty

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Thanks again guys!

Today is a perfect example of why I like to keep lots of stock on hand, unfortunately I didn’t have much of what I needed. I spent the last two hours of my daylight running for parts. Now I am trying to beat the dark and it is get exponentially colder as the sun drops. I can see that there will be some bulk parts shopping in my future, I am also down to my last can of brake cleaner. :(

The snowplow still won’t start, it bucks, and tries every so often, but it is acting like it is flooded, never run across it before, Hope I can get it started, the dump body has inches of water in it and I wanted to let it drain out before it freezes.
 
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Strouty

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Awesome, now the snow plow’s starter spins without engaging! I am going to work on something else for a while. That truck may sit next to the shop for a while, I will have to disconnect the plow, then use Clark to push the truck inside the shop, except there is already a waiting list for the shop. :(

I need to concentrate on the maroon burb next, I need to have it running sooner rather than later, then the black burb can get wired up to the plow again, only so that later, when my parts arrive, I can re-wire the truck and plow again. This sounds like fun, or maybe that is the sound of my head bouncing off the wall?

The Ford snow plow may just win the epic battle of Strouty versus the dreaded fords. I may end up biting the bullet and fixing everything that needs to be fixed, so I can use it for another couple years. Frankly, I hate this thought, but with the house in play, I do not think I can pull together enough money to go south and buy a rust free truck to make my permanent plow. Besides, the truck is worthless not running, heck it is half worthless when it was running, no alternator, no dump body, won’t start due to neutral safety switch, and you can’t drive it over the road for about a thousand other reasons.
 
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ttpete

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Mar 8, 2011
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Dearborn, MI
You can always take a bit more-to the maximum dosage that your physician gives you, in the prescribed method of delivery.

xtremek, I see that St. Johns MI is along US 127/old US 27. Did you know US 27 begins in Miami-Dade County FL almost-to Biscayne Bay, off the Atlantic Ocean? One of the things I've considered doing now that I'm retired, is taking a trip the length of US 27, though I read that old US 27 has been decommissioned in MI.

US 27 still exists, but it's been changed to US 127. It goes up to near Roscommon where it joins I-75 and continues to Sault St. Marie on the Canadian border.

US 127 also has the world's longest yard sale that runs from Gadsden AL to Addison MI. http://www.127yardsale.com/
 

xtremek

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Apr 13, 2012
Messages
11,603
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St. Johns, Mi
That excavator blade looks like it is/was no fun. It looks wet, and nasty, and cold, and dirty. Fords aren't that bad. It could be worse, it could be a Toyota.

.......xtremek, I see that St. Johns MI is along US 127/old US 27. Did you know US 27 begins in Miami-Dade County FL almost-to Biscayne Bay, off the Atlantic Ocean? One of the things I've considered doing now that I'm retired, is taking a trip the length of US 27, though I read that old US 27 has been decommissioned in MI.

That's on my bucket list, go down Old 27 and come back Telegraph or 23. Old 27 still goes right through the middle of a lot of little towns, it's just not used as much south of St Johns. And maybe you can answer me a question, where's new 27. I just can't seem to find it.:lol_hitti
 
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Strouty

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Southern Maine
That excavator blade looks like it is/was no fun. It looks wet, and nasty, and cold, and dirty. Fords aren't that bad. It could be worse, it could be a Toyota.

The blade was greasy and oiled up from all the leaks, but it was almost 55, so it felt really warm. The ford, well I wish I had just taken the excavator to it and put it out of its misery. At this point I am looking at another truck, will know more tomorrow, but it is a chevy, so I know those a bit better. I may take the plow off the ford, convert it to electric over hydraulic, then sell the plow. The truck would be better off at the auction in the spring, if I could get it running without too much issue, it may not get the death sentence yet.

I need to get the blade out of the front yard, I think I may just put it on my trailer, but I have to do some measuring to see if it will even fit. My plan is to setup the pressure washer and that means I need to finish doing repairs on it, the hot water side was not working, then I can clean up the machine, blade, and rams. I saw I have another ram leaking as well as a few other leaks here and there. The machine needs some attention and I would like to do the repairs, it is a very useful piece of equipment, especially around my shop.
 

xtremek

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Apr 13, 2012
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St. Johns, Mi
I think you and I need to get together and have a vehicle fixing party for about 2 months at about 100 hours a week. I feel your pain. Then we can have a house/property fixing party for 12 months at around the same rate a week. Then we can get back to earning a living. :lol_hitti:
 
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Strouty

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Mar 21, 2010
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Southern Maine
I am seriously thinking about unloading everything, then going south and buying a couple decent vehicles. I have been toying with doing this for a while. I have no problem working on used vehicles, but I hate rust and it is very rustrating. ;)
 

xtremek

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Apr 13, 2012
Messages
11,603
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St. Johns, Mi
You sound like my son, that's why he lives in Texas. I can't give up the snow. I hate the rust, but I love the white stuff. Although, if this mud fest keeps up, I just might follow you south.
 

Perrorojo

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Jun 8, 2012
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Northern IN
I am seriously thinking about unloading everything, then going south and buying a couple decent vehicles. I have been toying with doing this for a while. I have no problem working on used vehicles, but I hate rust and it is very rustrating. ;)

Every time I visit Arizona I ask myself why I don't live there. I hate rain, rust and sub 20 degree temperatures yet I live in the lake effect weather zone of Indiana where every day from October to April has the potential of all 3.
 

Bob Heine

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Oct 24, 2009
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Boca Raton, Florida
Strouty, I enjoy following your adventures and look forward to seeing the evolution of the house and compound.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
 

86turbodsl

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Jul 1, 2005
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Michigan
Every time I visit Arizona I ask myself why I don't live there. I hate rain, rust and sub 20 degree temperatures yet I live in the lake effect weather zone of Indiana where every day from October to April has the potential of all 3.
Amen brother. I hate the North. And I'm trapped here.

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rmalkow2

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Jun 26, 2009
Messages
4,087
Location
Brighton, MI
I am seriously thinking about unloading everything, then going south and buying a couple decent vehicles. I have been toying with doing this for a while. I have no problem working on used vehicles, but I hate rust and it is very rustrating. ;)

Lately I've been watching and learning by using the Copart web sites of vehicle auctions near me. It seems like a good way to get a newer vehicle cheap if you are not afraid to do the repair work. Lot's of people buy these cars to fix and flip but I would just want one for myself to use. It would be a nice change to work on a newer vehicle without rust rather than the older junk I usually have.
Sounds like you are in the same situation. We try to keep the old junkers running but that means we deal with the rust.

Moving somewhere south and west does sound great. I don't like the snow and cold either but for the next few years I'm stuck as well. Maybe when the job train stops and I retire it will get me to move.
 
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Strouty

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Southern Maine
Thanks Bob, I hope you and yours have a safe and happy holiday!

Right now the only thing trapping me here is the projects that I have created. I can travel for a few weeks at a time with no repercussions, so I want to either get the projects done or get them gone. There are a couple projects that I need to get done to scrape together some capital for my adventure, but all in all, I could leave tomorrow for a little while. I am almost ready to go for a trip just to buy a used truck for a snow plow. I am looking at one today that is cheap enough, if it is not too rotted, I can use it as my stop gap, sort of a safety net. Then I can sell it on for similar money next fall. Now that I put money into Bev, I have to decide what the plan is moving forward. I want to build a smaller hotshot truck for my travels, I want to keep the truck, trailer, and load under 26K so I do not need to run apportioned plates and do all the fuel stickers and paperwork associated with it, the truck will still be class A and fall under DOT rules, but registering apportioned means you have to keep track of all the miles you drive in every state and if you don't register in that state, you need a permit to drive there, that costs time and money. The plan is to use a truck similar to Bev, then custom create a short trailer from a larger aluminum semi trailer. By doing this, I should be able to still haul a decent load. The combination I have right now would weigh about 17,000 pounds giving me a 4.5 ton payload. I know I can get that down even lighter by using all aluminum rims, should save me a good 800 pounds over the steel rims. Ultimately, I envision hauling a truck and parts related to it or a car and parts related to it and this should be doable with 9 to 10k pounds payload. I am also planning on making connections that will allow me to store some things so I can gather a load together and have everything shipped by a larger truck if needed. Long term goal would be to actually own a shop out in the middle of the US that I can store and stock pile stuff. I think I can offset my fuel costs by hauling things for other people, but that remains to be seen. I just have to get the truck and trailer set up first. I know I could use Bev with a little bit of effort and the current trailer, but I wanted to start with a rust free truck considering the amount of effort I will be putting into things. That of course is exactly what a perfectionist would say to never get the job started, let alone finished. :(
 
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Strouty

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Copart is a great way to find a repairable vehicle, I used to have connections with a used car dealer and I could go to big auctions, those were fun. As for newer vehicles, I am not sure I am ready for that yet. I like my pre 2000 stuff, but I am toying with a newer truck project and that would be 2006 vintage.
 
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Strouty

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Today was a lucky day. Apparently I forgot to turn off the breaker on the air compressor and it decided to stay running. I was it was probably running for 12 or more hours. The safety pressure valve popped, but the compressor was constantly running. Things were pretty warm, the entire shop smells like warm motor and stale air. Talk about dodging a bullet.

I guess I need to get things setup so I don’t have this issue again. Obviously the compressor has an issue and I knew that, so I need to figure that out and fix it. Now I am thinking of setting a timer, so if I forget to turn the compressor off it automatically disconnects power after an hour, then it couldn’t start while I was gone.

Wake up call heard loud and clear.
 

OccupantRJ

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May 15, 2009
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Eastern North Carolina
The people who leave theirs on just need to get a taste of this one time. I have a switch right in line with my light switches to kill the compressor and a couple of other things when I lock up. It becomes habit to switch the whole bank of switches off.
 
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Strouty

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I like the light switch idea, it just makes sense. I can’t think of any reason to have the compressor running while I am not at the shop.

Now for round two of Fords, the knuckle boom won’t start, actually the starter won’t engage, of course this is after I used it to move things around and it is now blocking the main bay door. Solenoid clicks, but no starter. Two fords in one week. I need to get away from them! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind fords, they just can’t have a ford engine in them. I like Cummins and international engines, 370s and 460s are not my style. So after Christmas, I will be fixing fords, outside, in the dirt, while it is cold. :(
 

86turbodsl

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Sorry to hear it on the Ford's. They've always been good to me. For me it was the Chevy's always leaving me stranded.

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