ZMotorsports Shop Projects 2.0

[zmotorsports]

Friday night after returning home from work I finally got around to finishing up the post-season tune-up on the Snapper 21" walk-behind mower. I'm embarrassed just how long it took me to get to it this year. Usually I have the post season treatment of our lawn mowers done around November at the latest but time got away from me this year as I've been stacking paying side jobs in the shop.

Started by sucking out the engine's oil in preparation for adding new, clean oil.


My new air filter and pre-filter finally arrived a few weeks ago. This was part of my delay as I ordered these parts in September.


New filters installed and engine wiped down. I usually pressure wash the mowers in November before performing my post-season maintenance, but again, time got away from me this year so no pressure washing, just a wipe down with Zep Power House aerosol cleaner and put it back in the attached garage before the first mow of the season, which I hope is coming up soon.


After parking the mower in the attached garage I went to work sweeping up the shop from the last month's work.








Shop it pretty clean and I have only a couple more paying jobs that I have promised out before I transition in to a couple of my own projects for the new year.

Thanks for looking.

 

[XJSuperman]

Everything is looking great as usual Mike. I wish I had the floorspace for half of that, but really I need to update my hardware storage to something like the drawer stacks you have there. Whats the next customer vehicle coming in?

 

[zmotorsports]

Thanks. I'm not sure what's next yet. I text a couple of them over the weekend but haven't heard back from either yet. Whichever one can bring them over first gets shop space and my attention. Time is running out on side jobs right now as I am anxious to get going on a few of my own projects before the RV'ing season begins for the wife and I.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Your space is looking very sanitary as usual Mike!

Once I get the 'burb finished, and the headliner/steering gear done in the Z28, I need to go through the shop again and thin some stuff out, possibly rearrange a little.

 

[LXCam]

I had one those oil changes last year. Friend of ours bought a house and he had never mowed a lawn before plus just didn’t own a mower. Myself having a service didn’t need my trustee Honda so leant it to him.

Not even a week later he tells me it won’t start so I go pick it up. One pull of the rope was an instant WTF. So the first thing I check was the oil.

Now I’ll admit on this mower both the gas and oil caps look similar, but gezzis dude at least the symbols tell the story.

After a couple oil changes she runs but he definitely hurt it, it’s just not the same reliable well running unit I handed him. One of these days I’ll tear it down and see what’s going on.

 

[zmotorsports]

Your space is looking very sanitary as usual Mike!

Once I get the 'burb finished, and the headliner/steering gear done in the Z28, I need to go through the shop again and thin some stuff out, possibly rearrange a little.

Thanks Marc. I've been so busy lately and pounding work out of the shop I haven't had a chance to think much about how far the shop has come in only 5 years when we first broke ground on the shop. I LOVE working it in still and have everything where I want it and easily accessible. As I was sweeping up on Friday night I realized it's been a while since it has been empty and clean that I may have to do another shop tour video for my YouTube channel. Some things have changed in the past 4 years since I did the original shop tour video.

Not sure if anyone wants to see an updated video or not but my original shop tour did get quite a few views and comments.

 

[zmotorsports]

I had one those oil changes last year. Friend of ours bought a house and he had never mowed a lawn before plus just didn’t own a mower. Myself having a service didn’t need my trustee Honda so leant it to him.

Not even a week later he tells me it won’t start so I go pick it up. One pull of the rope was an instant WTF. So the first thing I check was the oil.

Now I’ll admit on this mower both the gas and oil caps look similar, but gezzis dude at least the symbols tell the story.

After a couple oil changes she runs but he definitely hurt it, it’s just not the same reliable well running unit I handed him. One of these days I’ll tear it down and see what’s going on.

That ***** Cam. My Snapper 21" walk-behind mower turns 31 years old this year and luckily is still on the original engine. I have had some routine maintenance over the years but the engine itself is holding up well and starts on the first or second pull each time.

 

[lugnut71]

very nice shop ! tell me more about those green file cabinets ?

 

[zmotorsports]

very nice shop ! tell me more about those green file cabinets ?

Thank you. The green drawers in the last pictures are where I keep my metal selection for machining/fabrication.

I purchased the drawers from our local university's salvage department. They came out of the geology department where they were used to keep various samples of rocks and soils. They required quite a bit of cleaning but with I had a couple more.

 

[lugnut71]

nice , i have been looking for a tall locker for tools / equipment, most of them cant handle 50lb on a shelf, what brand are yours ? likes dislikes ? thanks

 

[zmotorsports]

nice , i have been looking for a tall locker for tools / equipment, most of them cant handle 50lb on a shelf, what brand are yours ? likes dislikes ? thanks

I don't know what brand they are. There were no labels or emblems on them when I purchased them. I wish the slides were roller bearing but they are friction. I also purchased the standard metal gray filing cabinets to the left of them at the same time. They are older so a bit heavier gauge steel than the newer filing cabinets. The left one I am using as a standard filing cabinet but the center and right I am using for welding supplies and misc. parts. The cabinets seem to be handling the weight extremely well.

 

[Jayman17]

very nice shop ! tell me more about those green file cabinets ?

lugnut beat me to it, I was going to comment on those same cabinets. I like the drawer sizes and there are plenty of them!
Shop looks great too. Must be nice working in there...

Jay

 

[zmotorsports]

lugnut beat me to it, I was going to comment on those same cabinets. I like the drawer sizes and there are plenty of them!
Shop looks great too. Must be nice working in there...

Jay

Thanks Jay. Yes, I love working in it. Especially now that I have everything organized and arranged to my liking for workflow efficiency. The first year or so was as challenge until I got everything in its place.

Thank you for following along.

 

[lugnut71]

sorry , i was referring to the tall three in a row on the opposite wall

 

[zmotorsports]

sorry , i was referring to the tall three in a row on the opposite wall

I purchased those from Global Industries. I think I show them in my shop build as I was moving stuff into the shop. Those were one of the first purchases I made when outfitting the new shop for storage.

 

[demetri94]

Friday night after returning home from work I finally got around to finishing up the post-season tune-up on the Snapper 21" walk-behind mower. I'm embarrassed just how long it took me to get to it this year. Usually I have the post season treatment of our lawn mowers done around November at the latest but time got away from me this year as I've been stacking paying side jobs in the shop.

Started by sucking out the engine's oil in preparation for adding new, clean oil.


My new air filter and pre-filter finally arrived a few weeks ago. This was part of my delay as I ordered these parts in September.


New filters installed and engine wiped down. I usually pressure wash the mowers in November before performing my post-season maintenance, but again, time got away from me this year so no pressure washing, just a wipe down with Zep Power House aerosol cleaner and put it back in the attached garage before the first mow of the season, which I hope is coming up soon.


After parking the mower in the attached garage I went to work sweeping up the shop from the last month's work.








Shop it pretty clean and I have only a couple more paying jobs that I have promised out before I transition in to a couple of my own projects for the new year.

Thanks for looking.

The shop looks great! I've been quietly following you from way back when you were in your old house/shop. It's nice to have space to comfortably work and keep everything organized. You ever miss the old shop?

 

[lilscorpion]

Mike - nice job on the up grades. Can’t believe you do stuff to customers vehicles when they don’t know exactly what they want. Seems risky since most car owners have horrible taste. LOL

 

[zmotorsports]

The shop looks great! I've been quietly following you from way back when you were in your old house/shop. It's nice to have space to comfortably work and keep everything organized. You ever miss the old shop?

Thank you very much for following along all this time. Glad I haven't run you off.

The only thing I miss about the old shop is the smell. It was a combination of race fuel, 2-stroke mixed with caster oil and machining oil all kind of rolled together. This shop is just now starting to take on it's uniqueness in that area but will never be the same because I doubt I will ever run race fuel or 2-stroke mixed fuel again in this shop.

I still reflect back on the memories of the old shop, working with my son when he was younger and all of the custom one-off's that we built in that little space but I don't miss the size or especially the deteriorating neighborhood one bit. I love my new shop, home and yard so much more. The space to work on things without tripping over myself and having enough space between pieces of shop equipment to actually get between to work and sweep is amazing.

My only regret is that my son and I won't be able to campaign our race cars or quads out of this shop which is much more conducive for a home based race shop with all of the room. I miss working with my son in the shop each day like when he was younger but he has his own life now and I cherish those times when he does come over to work on something.

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike - nice job on the up grades. Can’t believe you do stuff to customers vehicles when they don’t know exactly what they want. Seems risky since most car owners have horrible taste. LOL

Thanks Matt. Even back when I was building street rods, sandrails and quads, most people had an idea of what they wanted but the details were fuzzy at best. I always had a hard time sleeping the night before they picked them up but they were always happy with the liberties I took.

 

[zmotorsports]

While I am waiting for the next guy to bring his Firebird into the shop I thought I would take a couple of nights and knock off a couple personal items from my list.

Last year I had aligned the headstock on my lathe. It took the better part of an evening in the shop but I finally got it nearly spot on. A few weeks ago I was machining a shaft for a neighbor's loader/skid and thought the part had a bit of a taper in it after some measurements. I wasn't sure if it was due to the shaft being so hard that it was deflecting from the cutting tool OR did my headstock come out of alignment again. Headstocks as a rule generally don't just come out of adjustment and when they do it is usually due to being crashed or moved. I had done neither but wanted to satisfy my curiosity.

Last night I grabbed my test piece and ran a few passes taking a few thousandths off each pass and it was spot on from where it was last year. It was .0001" off in about 6 inches with the smaller end being furthest away from the headstock. Spec's show it should be no more than .0004" in 4" so I am extremely pleased with that.

Since I had already made chips on my nice clean shop floor I thought I would lead in to my next small project that I have wanted to do since last fall.

As most of you know I hate, despise and even loathe noises in my vehicles. I go to great measures to rid them of any such noises. I have made several modifications to my Mac's Black Box over the years in order to deal with the weight that I carry in it. If I would just alleviate some of the weight such as my bottle jack/jack stand and some of my tools I am sure I could lose about a hundred pounds and probably get rid of this particular noise but I am not willing to be without certain things when I am traveling into the back country off-road. After the last couple of mods to the toolbox it has become nearly silent.......Nearly. Last fall after my last modification I thought I had finally achieved perfection but shortly after fabricating and adding the small glides to the rear edge of the box in which the drawer slides up on to for supporting the weight, I noticed a very, very slight "creak" when I either accelerate or stop abruptly. I found out that even though the box's weight is now fully supported by UHMW glides at the front of the drawer and aluminum glides at the rear which takes the transportation weight off of the drawer tracks it makes a very slight noise as the weight transfers fore or aft during driving. The drawer's latch is center and top of the drawer but the bottom moves ever so slightly in/out as the weight transfers. This is what I would like to address.

At first I thought about using a toggle clamp on one of the sides but there simply isn't enough room. My next thought was a couple of aluminum blocks with a pin through them to keep the drawer fixed in position during travel.

I thought I would machine two small aluminum blocks. One which will be located at the center bottom of the drawer and then another one just below it attached to the framework of the box. Then a quick release pin would hold the two together and therefore eliminate the slight movement at the bottom of the drawer. I dug through my aluminum drop drawers and found a piece that I thought would work for both.


After a couple of measurements I came up with a size and design, then transferred it to a piece of cardboard for my CAD drawing.


Transferring my pattern to the aluminum block.


Probably a little overkill but while I am at it I figured I would work to exact measurements for practice. Here I am squaring the block to size.


Dead nuts right on the money @ 2".


Next I located where I wanted the 1/4" quick release pin to be located.


After reaming I test fit the pin. Perfect fitment.


I then used a 3/8" end mill to come in to the radius.


The other half of the block will need to be .7" thick. This will be the part that resides on the lower framework of the box. The block that mounts to the drawer itself will be a full 1" thick. This will allow the quick release pin to protrude below the bottom block just enough for the retention balls on the pin to fully release and therefore lock into the bores.


I left about .010" of thickness in which I will remove once both parts are separated and I can flip them over and remove from the other side.


Laying out the template on the lower block piece.


That's as far as I got last night.

Thanks for looking.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

It's a sickness Mike, I can't stand unecessary noises either. Normally I'm the only one that hears them as well, makes a fella feel like he's losing it at times.

The first trip out in a new semi with my dad generally involved a roll of paper towels and finding all the squeeks and rattles in the new truck . My wife has one in her Tacoma on the passenger side that I still haven't been able track down

 

[Finallygotit]

Mike, I hate car noises and rattles as much as you do. Most of the time when I start to hear a new noise, I crank up the sound system. That reminds me, I need to replace that one blown speaker which is creating its own new noise.

 

[zmotorsports]

It's a sickness Mike, I can't stand unecessary noises either. Normally I'm the only one that hears them as well, makes a fella feel like he's losing it at times.

My wife hasn't been able to hear the creak until this past Sunday when we were on our way to breakfast. I had to stop rather abruptly at a light which shifted the weight slightly forward. It didn't make the noise upon stopping, but when I left the light a bit more aggressively than usual she said "oh, I think I heard the noise".

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike, I hate car noises and rattles as much as you do. Most of the time when I start to hear a new noise, I crank up the sound system. That reminds me, I need to replace that one blown speaker which is creating its own new noise.

Maybe that's my problem Dan, I don't listen to the radio in the Jeep. I do in the truck once in a while but I like the sound of the exhaust so much in the Jeep that I haven't listened to the radio in the past 3 years. On occasion my wife will turn the radio up a bit while we are in the Jeep but most of the time it is off and all of the time when it is just me.

 

[Mr.zippy]

Reminds me years ago, I was hunting with one of my favorite Uncles. He had an old Jeep Gladiator pick up. We were crawling on a "road" that was rough, rocky and steep. The truck had a squeak that was like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.......I asked him how he could stand that annoying squeak. He took a long drag on his hand rolled cigarette, looked at me and said, "near as I figure, if the truck stops squeaking, we will be afoot". Squeak beats walking.
That being said, I really, really hate squeaks and rattles!

 

[zmotorsports]

Reminds me years ago, I was hunting with one of my favorite Uncles. He had an old Jeep Gladiator pick up. We were crawling on a "road" that was rough, rocky and steep. The truck had a squeak that was like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.......I asked him how he could stand that annoying squeak. He took a long drag on his hand rolled cigarette, looked at me and said, "near as I figure, if the truck stops squeaking, we will be afoot". Squeak beats walking.
That being said, I really, really hate squeaks and rattles!

I guess there is some merit to that theory. I despise squeaks and rattles whether on the pavement or off-road. I especially hate those wierd noises when wheeling as I find them to be embarrassing. Last August mid-way through our week long annual trip to Ouray my RCV front axle shafts started developing the "RCV click" and it about drove me to drinking before we got back home. That little noise, although knowing it was nothing detrimental damn near ruined my trip.

 

[4 FN 27]

After a couple of measurements I came up with a size and design, then transferred it to a piece of cardboard for my CAD drawing.

Mike what CAD Software is this in the picture?

Sorry I couldn't resist.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Mike what CAD Software is this in the picture?

Sorry I couldn't resist.

Same one I use Pat, it's a very sophisticated "table top" program

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike what CAD Software is this in the picture?

Sorry I couldn't resist.

The CAD program I use would be the Cardboard Aided Design Pat.

My shop is very low techy techy....

 

[4 FN 27]

The CAD program I use would be the Cardboard Aided Design Pat.

My shop is very low techy techy....

Love it...been there and done that. Still make paper cutout on occasion but then I put them on the Laser Scanner at work...cheating, I know.

 

[zmotorsports]

Love it...been there and done that. Still make paper cutout on occasion but then I put them on the Laser Scanner at work...cheating, I know.

Yeah Pat, your shop is high techy techy....Pretty much the opposite of mine. And yes, I'm a bit green with envy.

 

[4 FN 27]

Yeah Pat, your shop is high techy techy....Pretty much the opposite of mine. And yes, I'm a bit green with envy.

I have respect for anyone doing what they enjoy with what they have. Finding limits and forever pushing for self improvement and knowledge. You are a fine example of that Mike!!!

Cardboard Aided Design will work when the grid goes down...me...I will be at a standstill.

 

[Monza Harry]

I LOVE your tabletop CAD program Mike, I use the Ritz, Rice Krispies version etc. for mine, low budget, reuse or nutin"! Now about that circle/radius template though, I just bought a new one as my selection didn't go quite large enough for my latest "Lime Felt" cut-outs*. While searching nothing like that popped up or would have bought one like that (really catching my attention) looks real handy! Any hints as to the "catalogue name/description" I figure you've been "attached to it for awhile" as I have been to my drafting supplies [second last template purchase was ~1987 I think]. I did buy my self a set of real nice mechanical pencils about 5 years back. Yes I paid more than that, I am Canadian we pay more for everything: https://www.dickblick.com/products/...zqyzhFfF6m-OQ9_I2cbkSd41A_IElfr0aAhCgEALw_wcB but they are silky smooth.
Harry
* I am planning a thread of some of my projects soon if everything goes smooth here'

 

[lilscorpion]

Mike what CAD Software is this in the picture?

Sorry I couldn't resist.

Not cool. You know Mike would use a modern CAD software if anyone made a post for his mill controller.

 

[demetri94]

Thank you very much for following along all this time. Glad I haven't run you off.

The only thing I miss about the old shop is the smell. It was a combination of race fuel, 2-stroke mixed with caster oil and machining oil all kind of rolled together. This shop is just now starting to take on it's uniqueness in that area but will never be the same because I doubt I will ever run race fuel or 2-stroke mixed fuel again in this shop.

I still reflect back on the memories of the old shop, working with my son when he was younger and all of the custom one-off's that we built in that little space but I don't miss the size or especially the deteriorating neighborhood one bit. I love my new shop, home and yard so much more. The space to work on things without tripping over myself and having enough space between pieces of shop equipment to actually get between to work and sweep is amazing.

My only regret is that my son and I won't be able to campaign our race cars or quads out of this shop which is much more conducive for a home based race shop with all of the room. I miss working with my son in the shop each day like when he was younger but he has his own life now and I cherish those times when he does come over to work on something.

I miss the smell of race fuel too! I hear you on the father/son time, my kids are still young and I am grateful that they enjoy spending time in the garage with me.

 

[csp]

Friday night after returning home from work I finally got around to finishing up the post-season tune-up on the Snapper 21" walk-behind mower. I'm embarrassed just how long it took me to get to it this year.

Oh the horror!!

Here's something to put your embarrassment into perspective. I have a Honda that I got used 20 years ago. I have yet to do anything to it other than sharpen blades, adjust the drive cable to take up slack from stretching, clean the air filter and add gas to it. It usually starts on the first pull, but sometimes it takes two. I wish i could find the time to keep up with the maintenance I'd like to do.

 

[zmotorsports]

I LOVE your tabletop CAD program Mike, I use the Ritz, Rice Krispies version etc. for mine, low budget, reuse or nutin"! Now about that circle/radius template though, I just bought a new one as my selection didn't go quite large enough for my latest "Lime Felt" cut-outs*. While searching nothing like that popped up or would have bought one like that (really catching my attention) looks real handy! Any hints as to the "catalogue name/description" I figure you've been "attached to it for awhile" as I have been to my drafting supplies [second last template purchase was ~1987 I think]. I did buy my self a set of real nice mechanical pencils about 5 years back. Yes I paid more than that, I am Canadian we pay more for everything: https://www.dickblick.com/products/...zqyzhFfF6m-OQ9_I2cbkSd41A_IElfr0aAhCgEALw_wcB but they are silky smooth.
Harry
* I am planning a thread of some of my projects soon if everything goes smooth here'

Harry, I have had my radius template and arc template for many years now. I haven't seen them anywhere in recent years to even begin to suggest where you could purchase them. We used to have an office/art/draft supply house here in Ogden called Utah-Idaho Office Supply that we would frequent for things like this but I think they've been out of business for many years now.

 

[zmotorsports]

Oh the horror!!

Here's something to put your embarrassment into perspective. I have a Honda that I got used 20 years ago. I have yet to do anything to it other than sharpen blades, adjust the drive cable to take up slack from stretching, clean the air filter and add gas to it. It usually starts on the first pull, but sometimes it takes two. I wish i could find the time to keep up with the maintenance I'd like to do.

Yeah, I hear that a LOT, especially from co-workers. They tell me I'm nuts for doing the pre-season or post-season maintenance on any of that stuff. However, I've worked on enough of other people's stuff to know it doesn't always work out that way. I made a lot of money over the years working on clients powersports and lawn & garden equipment due to lack of maintenance so I just can't bring myself to let it go although I know there are many who don't do a thing and haven't had any problems. I just can't do it.

 

[WoodsTruck]

My CAD program is sponsored by Cheerios.

 

[jbmatth]

Rapidesign Radius Template I use quite a few of theirs at work still to this day.

JB