Above 1200 Sq/FT The Warthog Hidey Hole

[rixtrix1]

Good to see you've been having some fun instead of just working forever and maintaining vehicles. I just finished 2.5 months of 60 hour weeks. Funny to see you mention Tractor Supply; I used to shop there for bolts in Nebraska before I moved to AZ in 1985. Found one here in town about 10 miles away. Went there and bought a generator from their Black Friday sale. The rest of the store looks pretty much the same as I remember from 35 years ago!

 

[jbmatth]

Ain't nobuddy wanna see that.

That could be why I don't make any money at it.

Happy Thanksgiving JB and family, have a blessed day

Stopped in to wish you a happy thanksgiving

Don

Happy Thanksgiving, JB!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thank you all, I truly appreciate it. I was able to meet up with a couple of family members in Arkansas and see my newest niece who is 2 weeks old now. I took the mini bike and let a couple brothers drive it, only one wrecked and we laughed like crazy when we saw he was still moving. Luckily he only had a couple scrapes (he was wearing a helmet too) and the bike only had scratches and a dented cover on the pull string so all easily repaired.

Good to see you've been having some fun instead of just working forever and maintaining vehicles. I just finished 2.5 months of 60 hour weeks. Funny to see you mention Tractor Supply; I used to shop there for bolts in Nebraska before I moved to AZ in 1985. Found one here in town about 10 miles away. Went there and bought a generator from their Black Friday sale. The rest of the store looks pretty much the same as I remember from 35 years ago!

Every one I've been in has been pretty much the exact same, it really has that old hardware store feeling to it and is one of my favorite places to shop, the staff is usually quite knowledgeable when I have questions.

I'll fill everyone in when I get caught up a bit on the progress I made this past week.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

Back in to work now and wanted to fill everyone in on the fun happenings in the Warthog Hidey Hole. The order for the Stage 1 kit for the mini bike's Predator 212 engine arrived and was pretty simple to install. I started by pulling the motor mostly out and installing the new 18lb (8kg) valve springs:

I used my compression tester hooked up to 30 psi (2 bar) air to keep from dropping the valves in the engine. Note to file, when doing this on a 4, 6, or 8 cylinder the other cylinders keep the engine from turning over. well on a single cylinder engine that is not the case and you can run an engine on air pressure alone and gets very exciting for a couple seconds. I used a wrench as backup to keep that from happening twice.

Next up was a new jet in the carb, and onto fitting the exhaust. The kit was not universal enough and the pipe had to be cut, shortened, and rotated, then welded back together:

While I was in there I redid the throttle cable mounting and sadly it changed the throttle to where there isn't much movement at all between closed throttle and wide open. It takes a very delicate touch but is controllable for the most part.

All back together and ready to test drive:

It sounds much meaner now, and is way more responsive, it will also wheelie like crazy so I'm considering an extended swingarm or wheelie bar. I have no photos of me driving it but this one is of a friend on it:

Oh and the new top speed is 43 mph (69 kph).

I was also able to get out a few times to go deer hunting on opening weekend and got this nice (for me) 8 pointer:

More to come,
JB

 

[jbmatth]

I decided to get back to the go cart to see if I could get it running again as well as go through the wiring harness to make it better than leaving everything in the passenger seat. Turns out the fuel pump was bad so another is on order and should be in tomorrow. To start off I got the harness opened up and started extending everything for the gauge cluster, start switch etc.:

It came out pretty good after wrapping it in either plastic split loom or braided split loom:

I made a place to mount the key between the seats and was pretty happy with the way the welds turned out so I'll even share them:

I made a mount for the gauge cluster as well and positioned it where I wanted and it would work, but I'm not happy with how it turned out so I am going to redo it pretty extensively. I'll share photos of that when I get it done.

JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Making some good progress, JB. Nice buck! Now you've got some horns for the WHHH or to mount on the hood of the Bronco 3!

 

[jbmatth]

Making some good progress, JB. Nice buck! Now you've got some horns for the WHHH or to mount on the hood of the Bronco 3!

Thanks Outlaw, I have gotten 3 deer out here since we moved in and the others weren't that nice but this one is the best I've gotten. I'm the only one that eats venison in the house so it takes a while to go through one. I'm going to European mount this one and hang in in the shed, the others are hanging on the wood shed along with a couple of sheds I found.

JB

 

[mybigwarwagon]

My neighbor loves to hunt, but his family cannot eat everything he brings home. A few weeks ago we paid the processing fee and he bought us a deer. It is nice because with my back if I shot anything bigger than a squirrel I would have to hire a pack mule to get it out.

 

[jbmatth]

My neighbor loves to hunt, but his family cannot eat everything he brings home. A few weeks ago we paid the processing fee and he bought us a deer. It is nice because with my back if I shot anything bigger than a squirrel I would have to hire a pack mule to get it out.

Don't you have a cherry picker and a truck? I use ratchet straps to load it in the truck rather than fight it for 30 minutes trying to pick it up my hand.

JB

 

[Grizz1963]

Nice

Nice

Nice

 

[BUGTHUG]

Nice buck, I guess the buck did stop there! Nice little mini, I think I would cut the frame and add about 12" to it. It will give a little more control, and might compansate for wheelies. JMO of course. We know what thats worth, I mean youre the Engineer.

 

[jbmatth]

Nice

Nice

Nice

Thank you sir, just having a bit of fun making toys and enjoying life.

Nice buck, I guess the buck did stop there! Nice little mini, I think I would cut the frame and add about 12" to it. It will give a little more control, and might compansate for wheelies. JMO of course. We know what thats worth, I mean youre the Engineer.

He sure did, and the next stop will be the freezer.

I'm debating on where to stretch it, I don't want a chain too long by just stretching the swingarm, but also don't want to end up having to lean too far forward to drive it. Hmm decisions decisions. Also just because I'm an engineer doesn't mean I'm any good at it.

JB

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Don't you have a cherry picker and a truck? I use ratchet straps to load it in the truck rather than fight it for 30 minutes trying to pick it up my hand.

JB

I am better off not getting myself into some situations. I get plenty of practice keeping vermin away.

 

[jbmatth]

Sometimes it is best to keep yourself out of situations like that which could lead to very expensive bills.

All,
I've been making progress on the gauge cluster mount and have completely redesigned the housing and the mount, it should be much better overall and more weather resistant. The first iteration worked until I sat in the seat and this was my view of the instruments:

Okay, not really going to work, also this was the back of all of the gauges:

The original design made removal of the gauges pretty much impossible without a cutting wheel so that is what I did. Lots of cutting, grinding, and welding later I'm getting closer and will share photos when I take them but I'm much happier with it.

JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Could work if you decide to drive inverted?

 

[jbmatth]

 

[OutlawDrifter]

*cough* bull$hit

 

[Finallygotit]

 

[oldironfarmer]

Performance kits for a Predator.

I think I've heard it all and then there's more...

Great work JB!

 

[jbmatth]

Performance kits for a Predator.

I think I've heard it all and then there's more...

Great work JB!

There are some crazy parts you can order and spend a couple grand on a $100 engine. I think I'm done with power modifications on this bike, it is a little too sketchy now as is. (Insert bike careening over a cliff)

JB

 

[jbmatth]

Well this little gauge cluster mount took way longer than I anticipated, in the end I probably have close to 8 hours in it with 20 test fits. I also ended up making 14 total brackets and using those to end up with 10 brackets used to hold the gauges in place. I used all scrap 16 gauge material to make it but in the end it is going to work...at least I hope so. View from the drivers seat:

I used captive nuts welded to a 6 of the brackets and to the housing itself. Here is another view of what it looks like from the back:

Not the most perfect build, but it will be functional as it is. The only thing that is left to do is if I decide to put lights on it and blinkers, I'd need to extend the wiring for those and build mount as well as purchase the lights but think I'll hold off for now.

Lastly I don't remember if I mentioned before but the fuel pump came in and in the process of installing it I discovered the old pump wasn't actually bad. Before ordering the new one I tested the old by using jumper wires to the pump and it didn't run. When I pulled the weather pack connector off of it I put them to the battery and it ran fine.

Did a bit more testing and discovered the fuel pump relay was the issue. It is an odd relay with two hots (one for run and one for crank) and a wire to the power the pump with no ground. I didn't have one laying around so I ordered a new one that should be in next week. Then it'll be time for a test drive.

JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Gauge cluster turned out nice JB, good work!

"Little" projects seem to take the most time!

 

[jbmatth]

Thank you Marc, and it sure does seem to go that way.

JB

 

[zmotorsports]

Gauge cluster is a nice touch and turned out great JB.

 

[jbmatth]

Thanks Mike, not quite as nice as something you would have built I'm sure but as long as it works.

JB

 

[BUGTHUG]

looks like something that would of been issued for the Abrams tank.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Nice cluster mount.

BTW on a whim I ordered a Factory Five catalog. Heath wants to build one. I may have made a mistake.

 

[jbmatth]

looks like something that would of been issued for the Abrams tank.

I would like to have a tank, I'd even settle for a bulldozer.

Nice cluster mount.

BTW on a whim I ordered a Factory Five catalog. Heath wants to build one. I may have made a mistake.

You should try to sit in one before you even think about it, they don't have a ton of foot room, I can't use my work boots when I drive or I hit 2 pedals at once.

If we get back out that way I'll give him a ride in mine.

JB

 

[mybigwarwagon]

I would like to have a tank, I'd even settle for a bulldozer.



You should try to sit in one before you even think about it, they don't have a ton of foot room, I can't use my work boots when I drive or I hit 2 pedals at once.

If we get back out that way I'll give him a ride in mine.

JB

I can look at one and tell you I would never fit. I will have to stick to trucks. It was fun to look at them though.

 

[racer-john]

Around here Cobras are as scarce as alligators. Lol.

 

[jbmatth]

I can look at one and tell you I would never fit. I will have to stick to trucks. It was fun to look at them though.

Oh well, you can always dream, or think outside the box, you could always stretch one:

Around here Cobras are as scarce as alligators. Lol.

We don't get many alligators around here either, I wonder if I could get away with raising one in the basement.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

Another busy weekend with a lot accomplished. I'll start off with the bad news, the fuel pump relay didn't fix the no start issue on the go cart, then the starter button stopped working all of a sudden, then worked, then stopped again. I took a break and pulled the black Jeep in to do some work on it. This is what I started with:

There is just too much going on here with wires running everywhere and lots of extra wiring folded back and split loom covering it. Here is it with it all pulled out before I started re-arranging it:

Once the sun came up it was time to start back on the barn after a few easy weekends of no fence or barn work. A trailer load of wood and wow, it is expensive now, this is what $996 worth of wood looks like:

Here is where I am at the end of the working day Sunday:

Coming along nicely but it is a lot of trips up and down the ladder to make it all fit. Also installing 12' (4m) treated 2x6's 10'-12' (3.3-4m) in the air is tough but I have a decent system down now that isn't too hard to manage but makes for a lot of trips up and down the ladder.

JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

It's definitely time consuming with one man and a ladder. Doesn't matter what your doing, those two items together are a time vampire.

Quite a rats nest under that hood after you had it all loose!

 

[jbmatth]

It's definitely time consuming with one man and a ladder. Doesn't matter what your doing, those two items together are a time vampire.

Quite a rats nest under that hood after you had it all loose!

Those are both very true and border line understatements even. Now that I have at least half of the rafters up I'm using a rope to pull them up with the other board then it is only one trip up the ladder to screw and cut them, much quicker.

I was surprised at it, most of the connectors they used were crimped and they used heat shrink tubing so it was done pretty well just a mess. Much better now but not quite finished.

JB

 

[realvc]

I've never taken on any projects as large as you have on the pole barn.
Rewiring my shop and replacing all the light fixtures has been the most work off of a ladder that I've done. I took a lot of breaks working from a 10' step ladder.

You get more done in one day than I do in a month and I'm retired and here all the time.
Thanks for keeping us all posted with your updates.

Vince

 

[jbmatth]

I've never taken on any projects as large as you have on the pole barn.
Rewiring my shop and replacing all the light fixtures has been the most work off of a ladder that I've done. I took a lot of breaks working from a 10' step ladder.

You get more done in one day than I do in a month and I'm retired and here all the time.
Thanks for keeping us all posted with your updates.

Vince

This is the most ambitious project I've taken on at heights, and it is showing. I can't justify the money to have someone else do it and it is pretty simple really so why not give it a go. The tough part is going to be when I have to put the metal on the roof, not sure how that is going to work out yet.

That was probably close to 12 hours of work split over 2 days, well the posts were set last summer and that was a huge time **** as well. I have to make the most of my time on the weekends because bad weather is here and I just work around it when I can which makes for some sunrise to sunset days.

JB

 

[Slowbuilder]

I would definitely recommend a second set of hands if you can call in a favor or two when you get to sheathing the roof. You'll need a good way to get the sheets up on the roof, not ignoring the Oklahoma wind. You don't want to go sailing off the roof while holding up a sheet of tin - and if you do, the second set of hands can be there to help.

 

[jbmatth]

I would definitely recommend a second set of hands if you can call in a favor or two when you get to sheathing the roof. You'll need a good way to get the sheets up on the roof, not ignoring the Oklahoma wind. You don't want to go sailing off the roof while holding up a sheet of tin - and if you do, the second set of hands can be there to help.

Slowbuilder, I can't remember for sure if you have commented here before, but if not welcome to the crazy bin where a lot happens and nothing gets done.

I'm trying to think of a good way, the best I've come up with is to lean them against the short or tall side then pull them up from on the roof which wont be bad after the first one is in place. I do have a harness and shock absorbing setup I can borrow from work and plan to use it when up at 10'-12' in the air.

I'll ask around to see if there is someone that can help when that day comes too, hiring help is expensive, but hospitals are way more expensive.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

I was able to get a bit more work done on the CJ last night, it went pretty well and I was going to be pretty much done until looking at it a bit more and I just don't like that there is so much red and so many other colors still. I'm interested to hear thoughts, but here is where it stands now, I really like how the split braided loom looks and really helps to clean things up compared to before:

I plan to still rework the electric choke wire and thinking of shortening the positive batter cable by shortening it and covering it in braided loom as well. I don't want to mess with the plug wires as they are good wires for the headers but they are so many different lengths it drives me crazy. I may try swapping them around to get a more consistent look.

So I have been thinking about a name for it other than the black Jeep and the only thing that really sticks out to me is from a tire cover I've seen before:

Playing off of that lead me to Ba Ba Black Jeep and Little Bo Jeep or to shorten it up just simply Bo Jeep, what are your thoughts?

JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Wiring looks night and day better, shortening up the pos. battery cable would help in the looks and shorten up the run for the electrons!

My vote is Bo Jeep...I like that.

 

[Slowbuilder]

Slowbuilder, I can't remember for sure if you have commented here before, but if not welcome to the crazy bin where a lot happens and nothing gets done.

I'm trying to think of a good way, the best I've come up with is to lean them against the short or tall side then pull them up from on the roof which wont be bad after the first one is in place. I do have a harness and shock absorbing setup I can borrow from work and plan to use it when up at 10'-12' in the air.

I'll ask around to see if there is someone that can help when that day comes too, hiring help is expensive, but hospitals are way more expensive.

JB

I don't think I've commented before, but I have been following along for quite a while. I enjoy your mechanical adventures, and your approach to challenges. Keep up the good work!

Glenn