Above 1200 Sq/FT The Salvage Garage

[jakemac]

I’m hoping for only 12-18 (or less). I’m in the red zone, I could be getting double that.
Shovels accounted for
Gas in the snowblower
Plow, and Tire Chains on the ATV
The will to go outside in the cold and wind

Fortunately, it’s supposed to be a dry snow. But I’ll still have to go out several times to clear the driveway. The ATV is too light to push heavy snow, it has to be done every 6”-12”, depending on how wet the snow is.

and then ………… I get to go over to my grandmothe’s house and do it all over again.

IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP -
MAKE SURE YOU CLEAR A PATH FOR FILLING HEATING FUEL
AND
CLEAR ANY EXHAUST VENTS

 

[86turbodsl]

I am going to either build or buy a hydraulic scale setup for the forklifts, I want to figure out how to make my own setup, then I can install it on all of them. From there, I want to figure out how to make wireless transmitters, so I can build a couple crane scales, and I am also thinking about building a bench that is a scale. The bench would be great for shipping, just set the package on the bench and see what it weighs, no extra scale or fuss. Ultimately I would like to make my heavy duty scales wireless along with a few other things, I just think this would be a good way to get into some of the electronics that are out there, I am feeling a bit lacking in that department.

This part is easy - if you know the diameter of your cylinder, the force being applied is equal to pressure times area. Of course don't forget you need to weigh the carriage and everything else the cylinder is holding up, but once you know that, you can subtract and get very close to your actual weight.

Hope things go ok during your blizzard. I'm already really tired of the cold winter.

 

[Strouty]

I hope you don't get it too bad Jake, I am as prepared as I can be.

86, the system I have seen uses a transducer to send a signal to an actual scale readout, then you don't have to do math.

 

[86turbodsl]

True, but transducers are usually expensive and you need to signal process. Not sure what your goal is.

 

[Strouty]

To have a readable scale that shows me the weight of anything I pick up with the forks. I would like to be able to use the tare function as well. I currently have a floor scale, but it is always put away since it takes up so much room.

 

[86turbodsl]

Is that a typical commercial item? Don't think i've ever heard of it.

 

[ronjon1190]

I hope you don't get it too bad Jake, I am as prepared as I can be.

I learned last night not to say things like that... Usually I am the guy out fixing the plow truck in the driveway while the snow is falling around me. I had some time this week, so I plugged the tire that I have been adding air to every storm since last year, checked all my fluids, made sure 4x4 worked, and put some patio blocks in the bed for weight, and took it around the block to make sure everything was working correctly. Plus I checked everything out on my wheelhorse and made sure the blower was working!

I was pretty happy with myself yesterday, and mentioned to a buddy that I was more prepared for a snow storm than I have been in years!

This morning I went to get in my other truck to go to work and there is a 2 foot round puddle of transmission fluld on the snow under the plow truck. I think one of the lines to the cooler let go. That'll teach me to be prepared!

Oh well, more seat time on the tractors I guess.

 

[jakemac]

Damn, I forgot to check the leaky tire on the ATV.

 

[Monza Harry]

This part is easy - if you know the diameter of your cylinder, the force being applied is equal to pressure times area. Of course don't forget you need to weigh the carriage and everything else the cylinder is holding up, but once you know that, you can subtract and get very close to your actual weight.

Hope things go ok during your blizzard. I'm already really tired of the cold winter.

But you also need to remember that the first stage on your forks will read double that as the chain set-up will double the lift height and only give half the force. Electronics will be required for the gross/net functions you [and everyone] wants. Harry

 

[86turbodsl]

I'm not so sure that holds for every forklift due to all the variations in masts, but in general you are correct.

 

[Monza Harry]

I'm not so sure that holds for every forklift due to all the variations in masts, but in general you are correct.

Everyone with a single cylinder and chain accelerator. Now second stage those are widely variable some are all chain and others have additional cylinders and etc. I suppose someone built a single, direct acting lift truck, but I've never seen or heard of a commercially built one. Harry

 

[Strouty]

From what I gather, the units I am talking about are a simple (not cheap) pressure transducer that reads the mast pressure and converts that into a digital read out. I can buy a kit for $900, but I feel I can build it for less and since I would want to do this on multiple units, I figure it would be a good thing to figure out.

 

[Strouty]

I heard back from the insurance adjuster about Perk, I looked over his numbers and I just can't figure it out. I normally look at this stuff, then I can instantly pick it apart, these numbers are so in my favor, I can't even come up with a reasonable argument to try and get more money. Only thing I have so far is the mileage, they showed one truck with 150k and another with 80k, Perk has 10k and they essentially adjusted the value by .005 cents per mile, this only added like $700 to my value, I think that 150k versus 10k miles would add significantly more to the value of any vehicle??

Regardless, I am actually contemplating just accepting the offer as is, with one caveat, we don't actually total the truck so I don't end up with a salvage title (of course Salvage Garage, why not Salvage Title?). I spoke with the guy doing the ACV (actual cash value) and he thinks that it can be done that way without an issue. The part that amazes me is that they have the buy back value so much lower than I anticipated, basically I would end up with Perk and $30k, not including what we agree on for expenses and trucking costs I incurred. Our state allows for up to 33% as the buy back amount and they are saying they place a $3,300 value on the "salvage". I can't lose no matter what and I may end up with almost double what I expected originally. I even went looking for comps myself and I couldn't find anything better.

 

[jakemac]

Yeah, but that salvage title would kill the resale value (not that you’re likely to sell Perk) . The next owner would likely end up being the scrap yard. But still, you need to factor that into the equation.

 

[Strouty]

I don’t foresee selling Perk, but it is more the painful process I have to go through with the state. If I can avoid all that, it would be worth it to just run with their numbers. I think I will also lose my registration money, I don’t think they would credit back any of it, so there is that too.

 

[shortykorte]

Forget Perk look what I found. Comes with two nice cabinets too.

 

[Strouty]

That is pretty cool for sure, I have thought about doing something like that, who knows, might have to put it on the list.

 

[jakemac]

I see your next build penciled onto your list

 

[walrus]

Going to be awhile cleaning up from yesterday. Glad it wasn't as bad as they said here, maybe a foot?

 

[xtremek]

We got MAYBE 1/4"

 

[harley jim]

We got a ¼" also

 

[Strouty]

I think I averaged about a foot, Salvage Garage seemed to get the least, the house had a decent amount and the Hill had quite a bit. It is tough to tell though as the wind was really brutal, very few places had a true snow fall depth. At the SG I had almost 30" in front of the doors, but it was all from drifting.

I cracked the tail light on the F-350, got caught on a pine tree after sliding sideways ice, I forgot that I hadn't sanded that particular area, so it was slick as can be, plus a sideways slope to start with. At first I thought I had damaged the bed, but the aluminum has some rebound too it and it just left some scuff marks. Luckily it was the cheap lights, I guess the LED ones are $1800 for a pair and that is the only way they sell them.

Then first thing this morning I am trying to figure out why the snowblower won't move, I always free it up by lifting the handles to get the wheels off the ground, then I push down to make sure the front is free, but nothing worked. I am envisioning the hydrostatic system is toast, then i start looking to see if the freewheel cables are stuck, I moved a wheel by hand, it moved way to easily??? I look closer and the wheels are totally free, then I engage the drive and the shafts are spinning?? So I pull a wheel off, took some effort, then realize that both of the bolts that hold the tires on the axle are snapped off, at first I thought they were a shear pin type bolt, but nope. I then realize what happened, my GF had told me about a month ago that the snowblower was frozen and she couldn't get it out, of course she had never used it before and apparently the noise that the breaking bolts made didn't phase her one bit. Needless to say, I wasn't pleased and I told her not to ever touch it again.

So now I am done plowing and I get to go home to fix the snow blower and then clean up the snow.

On another note, my GF and I get into more fights about snow removal than anything else, it is crazy, she forgets where to put the snow or she does too much shoveling and makes a mess so I can't snowblow easily, it isn't like I change where the snow needs to go every time it snows.

 

[Strouty]

I forgot to mention that when I went into the shop at the Hill, it felt cold, really cold, it was 34 degrees inside. I had to troubleshoot things, after about ten minutes I determined it was the thermostat, the batteries needed to be replaced. For a minute I totally thought I was jinxed from the earlier statement.

 

[bimmer1980]

I just had the batteries go dead in my thermostat the other week as well.... I don't mind simple fixes on this order...

Hey, RE: snow removal, at least your GF will move snow... No way my wife will probably do any out here, but that's fine...

 

[jakemac]

I got lucky. Only 16-18 inches. But then the curse hit. The battery on the ATV doesn’t like the cold. I have a battery tender on it but that isn’t much help in these temps. Had to heat the engine block with a heat gun. it took an hour and a half to get the wheeler started. Of course it was blocking the snowblower in. Then, just as I was almost finished with the driveway, the winch cable for the ATV plow snapped. Couldn’t get my hands into the winch to free the cable (I would have to remove the whole front end to pull the winch, and with stripped bolts it would never go back together). It took me an hour to get the cable out.

Never got over to my grandmother’s house. After putting my nephew on the bus tomorrow morning, it’s off to the hardware store for a thimble and cable crimps for the winch. Then, I get to play in the snow for another day before getting home to argue with a 3rd grader about doing his homework. Yeah

[ I now return you to your regularly scheduled forum ………………….. ]

 

[xtremek]

You guys sound like you're having a ton of fun in the white stuff.

 

[Strouty]

I hate snow.

 

[bulletpruf]

2" - 3" of the white stuff here. Not too bad.

Strouty - you're lucky to have a girlfriend who will help with snow removal, but maybe that's par for the course with Maine women?

 

[walrus]

The old 57 Ford tractor did its job, took couple hours for me to shovel out and then plow. It wasn't real comfortable sitting on the tractor with winds and 10 degree temps but it got done. Lucky we didn't get more snow.

 

[Plastikosmd]

Your gf shovels and/ or attempts to use snow blower?

u shouldn’t be fighting w/ her lol

 

[Strouty]

Totally jinxed myself, 35 in the shop at the Hill this morning.

 

[86turbodsl]

Ugh. How much snow did you end up with? We're waiting on snowpocalypse here Wed-Thurs.

 

[Strouty]

I would say we only got 12", but it seems that everywhere I need to shovel was a good 30" or better from the drifts.

Furnace is fine, thermostat is not, I was going to replace it anyways, but I hadn't done it, so today is the day.

 

[harley jim]

Was that the same tstat that gave you problems last year

 

[xtremek]

Good luck with the thermostat. I've been thinking about upgrading the one in our shop.

 

[1Garageman]

I hate snow, I hate winter, and I hate "sleet" storms the most. Wednesday into Thursday we are supposed to get a big Sleet storm . I would so much rather get snow and Sleet.

Oops, sorry to ***** about on here.

 

[Allenw]

We're supposed to get rain, sleet and snow this week in NW Oklahoma. We'll see.

 

[jack stand]

Let it snow
You snow haters just don't have the right toys!

 

[mybigwarwagon]

I just want less mud.

 

[86turbodsl]

I can't take one of those things to work, and neither can anyone else in my family.