What did you do today?

[Handy Don 14,129]

13 hours ago, Wayne0 said:

Good on the wood! I love a Cedar strip canoe!!

I drive by Lowell's Boat shop in Amesbury, MA. all the time. They have been making Amesbury Skiffs since the 1800s.

Still there on the Merrimack river. Great piece of history.

My best friend, now passed, had two Amesbury sailing skiffs and one motor skiff. We spent many an hour zig-zagging on Haverstraw Bay in the Hudson River going nowhere in particular! The boats went to family members who could store them and, I hope, are using them. 

 

10 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

We've got an Old Towne plastic kayck and a chepo Wally World kayck.    The ease of paddling them is a couple of quantum levels.  My wife uses the Old Town, and I am working pretty hard to keep up with her in the cheapo.

Been looking at plans and kits to build a wooden kayck.  I've  found a couple with similar hull lines to the Old Towne.  Almost ready to pull the trigger on a kit.

An Adirondack Guide Boat is terrific for solo rowing—startlingly fast and dry in calm and rough—but lovely for two adults plus child or one adult and two children in lake conditions. On the Hudson, I’ve been out in two-foot (trough to crest) breaking waves. At first, with its low-ish freeboard, I was quite apprehensive but as I gained confidence it became an adventure. Mine is the Kevlar version with cherry trim and a sliding seat. 

[davem1111 2,170]

6 hours ago, Wayne0 said:

Several years back, I sold my 10' Old Town Loon kayak. Stupid mistake.

 

I still regret not having the foresight to move the Old Town single and tandem kayaks we had before leaving my Ex-wife 14 years ago. Bought them both brand new. She probably just sold them. 

[davem1111 2,170]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Went for a hill walk this morning. 

Yepp. Trina checked her All trails app. 3.69 miles and 554 feet Elevation gain.  

 

We've known about this cabin in the forest for years. Today we walked over to it. 

 

 

This made me curious.  Is it on private property?  Does someone live in it?  Or did someone put it there for anyone to use if they need shelter in a hurry?  

[adsm08 3,338]

10 minutes ago, davem1111 said:

 

I still regret not having the foresight to move the Old Town single and tandem kayaks we had before leaving my Ex-wife 14 years ago. Bought them both brand new. She probably just sold them. 

 

My mother has a saying about times like that:

 

In this house, we don't believe in divorce. We believe in murder, but not in divorce.

[Handy Don 14,129]

47 minutes ago, adsm08 said:

In this house, we don't believe in divorce. We believe in murder, but not in divorce.

Just don’t ever introduce your spouse as “my first wife.” 

[adsm08 3,338]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

Just don’t ever introduce your spouse as “my first wife.” 

 

We have a joke about that too, in my house.

 

My family, on both sides, usually gets to at least 90 in pretty good shape. My wife's family usually doesn't get to 70. I like to tell her my second wife hasn't even been born yet, gonna get me a Bill Belichick deal when she dies.

 

Then she hits me.

[ebinmaine 72,987]

2 hours ago, davem1111 said:

 

This made me curious. 

 

Us too!

 

2 hours ago, davem1111 said:

Is it on private property? 

 

It WAS, Yes... but that doesn't mean in Maine  what it does in other states. 

Maine has "Permissive Trespass".

We can access whatever we want to that isn't Signed otherwise or has Purple Stripes. 

It's now in a preservation area.  

 

 

2 hours ago, davem1111 said:

Does someone live in it? 

 

I'd say not full time but it's obviously taken care of. The plant life is trimmed around the building. 

 

2 hours ago, davem1111 said:

Or did someone put it there for anyone to use if they need shelter in a hurry?  

 

We believe it's likely a hunting camp.  

There are several across the hills in this area.  

It's not intended for public usage. The door is padlocked.  

 

[8ntruck 7,877]

90 degrees here today.  Only made about 1/2 a mile walking the dog.  He had maximum toung hang out for cooling by the time we got back to the car.

 

This afternoon, Mrs. 8n and I took the pontoon out to the middle of the lake, threw the anchor overboard, and followed it.  I think the lake has springs feeding it.  We know areas of the lake that have cold spots in the water - feels really good on a day like today.

[adsm08 3,338]

I finally fixed the exhaust leak in my Escape today. A few years ago I broke a weld on the exhaust taking the subframe out, and I've just been welding it back together periodically, but the metal isn't in great shape, so the welds don't stick well.

 

This week I had some time off, so I ran to the local junk yard and found a good muffler assembly for it. $25 for the muffler and resonator assembly, $14 for new clamps, 2 hours getting everything cut and bent just so to make it fit properly (original pipe has a catalytic converter in it, so I couldn't buy the whole thing). A new muffler, that I would still have had marry the cat to, was $150. I'd say it was worth it.

[ebinmaine 72,987]

10 minutes ago, adsm08 said:

I finally fixed the exhaust leak in my Escape today. A few years ago I broke a weld on the exhaust taking the subframe out, and I've just been welding it back together periodically, but the metal isn't in great shape, so the welds don't stick well.

 

This week I had some time off, so I ran to the local junk yard and found a good muffler assembly for it. $25 for the muffler and resonator assembly, $14 for new clamps, 2 hours getting everything cut and bent just so to make it fit properly (original pipe has a catalytic converter in it, so I couldn't buy the whole thing). A new muffler, that I would still have had marry the cat to, was $150. I'd say it was worth it.

 

 

You done good.  

 

We can't even get exhaust from a salvage yard here. At all.  

 

 

[adsm08 3,338]

5 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

You done good.  

 

We can't even get exhaust from a salvage yard here. At all.  

 

 

 

Is that a legal issue, or a practical one?

 

I went through four vehicles before I found one worth taking, and only because it had already been replaced. And that doesn't count the ones that had the wrong part because they had the wrong engine.

[ebinmaine 72,987]

Just now, adsm08 said:

 

Is that a legal issue, or a practical one?

 

 

I've asked in years past but don't recall the answer.  

 

No exhaust or brakes from anywhere. 

I only know one place that'll sell a used battery.  

[adsm08 3,338]

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

I've asked in years past but don't recall the answer.  

 

No exhaust or brakes from anywhere. 

I only know one place that'll sell a used battery.  

 

Well I wouldn't be buying used brakes anyway. Exhaust is admittedly dicey, but with the way the modern ones are built it's at least worth looking at. They don't rot out like they used to.

[Mickwhitt 5,138]

Big sports day today!

Our women football team won the euro championship in a penalty shoot out, very nervous until the last spot kick went in.

Also it was the last day of England v India cricket test at the Lancashire county cricket ground in Manchester. 

Me and Mrs W both went along for the day and enjoyed some fantastic cricket. 

Saw our England team close up and the valiant India team who played their socks off to force a draw. 

this guy is their number one fan, he travels to every game and paints his body in their national colours.  Over here he wears a lycra body suit as it's too cold for the paint lol. 

Mrs.W looking foxy in the stands before start of play. 

[Achto 29,432]

3 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Just don’t ever introduce your spouse as “my first wife.” 

 

I like to introduce my wife as "My ex-girlfriend." 

[ebinmaine 72,987]

Got this pole trailer finished up and tested.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[oliver2-44 10,781]

Son#3 called and said

"Dad I need help, I broke a bolt off on my car transmission"

He's a software trouble shooter for software used in many electronic financial transactions, (data in motion) so he's kind of techie.

But I have to give him credit, he tries to learn and do a lot of house and hands on stuff himself. 

He had rotated tires, changed engine oil, and was changing transmission oil on his 2017 Chevy Equinox.

It has a semi sealed transmission, no filter, no dipstick, but manufacture recommend changing transmission oil every 45k miles.

He watched a YouTube where the guy pulled one bolt to remove an O-ring sealed speed sensor to verify full level.

Speed sensor is located under front left wheel wheel, pic has tire removed and wheel skirt pulled back to the right.

His driveway is too sloped for jack stands, so car is on asphalt pavement street, 97F 2pm.

Have I mentioned that broken bolts challenge me!

@adsm08 you came to mind as I scratched my head looking at this.

I thought about options, but decided dealer or local shops would just say transmission case needs to be replaced.  So......I can't make it any more broke!

I brought a Dremel with a 1/4" flat end stone to try to square end of bolt for a good center punch mark.

 I got a small center punch, bolt seemed fairly hard to be going into an aluminum housing.

I started drilling with a 1/8" left hand bit, but it quickly walked to the side of the bolt.

I also had a 1/4" rounded end Dremel bit and with difficulty ground a cone into end of bolt (ground a little bit of surrounding aluminum too!)

I decided since bolt seemed hard, I needed a really sharp/hard cobalt drill bit.  Checked on line and headed 7 miles to town, Ace hardware.

While I went to town I had him search parts list and find length of bolt and thread. I didn't want to drill to far and cause other problems!

M6 thread, guy at Ace said they didn't carry metric taps, but when I looked there was a lone M6 tap on the hanger.  Miracle #1.

Thankfully the sharp bit and the ground cone got my drilling started straight. (and I prayed to St Joseph the whole time I drilled for it to go straight)

At close to depth I tried an EZ-Out but no movement..

I kept praying and put the left hand 1/8" bit back in the drill and gently drilled with a careful /slight side pressure. The bolt started to move a little!

Back to the EZ-Out, and it slowly unscrewed. 

  

My prayers were answered, Miracle #2 it drilled as close to center as imaginable! 

P.S. while my son was looking for bolt length he found there is an actual square headed level plug on the rear side of the same left wheel well.

So the YouTube video guy was wrong, or doing it the hard way. 

Cleaned all the metal shaving away multiple times.

I let him button it up,  add transmission oil, and drive it around as I packed my tools up.   

He was kicking himself for breaking the bolt, I never ask how he broke it.

I told him I've broke my share!)  But reminded him I always try to watch multiple YouTube videos.

 

[Wayne0 1,222]

"I prayed to St Joseph the whole time"

Patron saint of broken bolts?

Saved my a$$ many times!!

[adsm08 3,338]

2 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

Son#3 called and said

"Dad I need help, I broke a bolt off on my car transmission"

He's a software trouble shooter for software used in many electronic financial transactions, (data in motion) so he's kind of techie.

But I have to give him credit, he tries to learn and do a lot of house and hands on stuff himself. 

He had rotated tires, changed engine oil, and was changing transmission oil on his 2017 Chevy Equinox.

It has a semi sealed transmission, no filter, no dipstick, but manufacture recommend changing transmission oil every 45k miles.

He watched a YouTube where the guy pulled one bolt to remove an O-ring sealed speed sensor to verify full level.

Speed sensor is located under front left wheel wheel, pic has tire removed and wheel skirt pulled back to the right.

His driveway is too sloped for jack stands, so car is on asphalt pavement street, 97F 2pm.

Have I mentioned that broken bolts challenge me!

@adsm08 you came to mind as I scratched my head looking at this.

I thought about options, but decided dealer or local shops would just say transmission case needs to be replaced.  So......I can't make it any more broke!

I brought a Dremel with a 1/4" flat end stone to try to square end of bolt for a good center punch mark.

 I got a small center punch, bolt seemed fairly hard to be going into an aluminum housing.

I started drilling with a 1/8" left hand bit, but it quickly walked to the side of the bolt.

I also had a 1/4" rounded end Dremel bit and with difficulty ground a cone into end of bolt (ground a little bit of surrounding aluminum too!)

I decided since bolt seemed hard, I needed a really sharp/hard cobalt drill bit.  Checked on line and headed 7 miles to town, Ace hardware.

While I went to town I had him search parts list and find length of bolt and thread. I didn't want to drill to far and cause other problems!

M6 thread, guy at Ace said they didn't carry metric taps, but when I looked there was a lone M6 tap on the hanger.  Miracle #1.

Thankfully the sharp bit and the ground cone got my drilling started straight. (and I prayed to St Joseph the whole time I drilled for it to go straight)

At close to depth I tried an EZ-Out but no movement..

I kept praying and put the left hand 1/8" bit back in the drill and gently drilled with a careful /slight side pressure. The bolt started to move a little!

Back to the EZ-Out, and it slowly unscrewed. 

  

My prayers were answered, Miracle #2 it drilled as close to center as imaginable! 

P.S. while my son was looking for bolt length he found there is an actual square headed level plug on the rear side of the same left wheel well.

So the YouTube video guy was wrong, or doing it the hard way. 

Cleaned all the metal shaving away multiple times.

I let him button it up,  add transmission oil, and drive it around as I packed my tools up.   

He was kicking himself for breaking the bolt, I never ask how he broke it.

I told him I've broke my share!)  But reminded him I always try to watch multiple YouTube videos.

 

 

Yeah, guy on YouTube is an idiot. That transmission is the same-ish as the Ford 6F50/55, which I happen to have apart on my bench at work right now.

 

They both drain from a pipe plug on the bottom. The Ford is 11mm, not sure about the Chevy. Ford has a dipstick that's part of the pan, Chevy should have a level plug near the axle shaft, but I thought they had a dipstick/fill hole in the top of the pan, probable under the air cleaner. They do have a filter, but total transmission disassembly is required to replace it.

Edited July 29 by adsm08

[Beap52 1,481]

Resin arrived for my water softener today.  It was in plastic bags that had been heat sealed--except one was a bit wrinkled and didn't seal very well.   Now I have about 1/2 cubic foot of resin on the basement floor.  That stuff can scatter!  Almost impossible to sweep up.  

 

I called the large box retailer I purchased it through and explained my predicament and even offered to send them poorly sealed bag or pictures.  They quickly offered to refund my money on the bag and 20% discount on a replacement.   I asked for a better deal and was told to hold on for couple of minutes until she talked to supervisor.  After about a minute, the phone was hung up.  Called again and was offered 10%.  I said I was offered 20% on first call of 19 minutes before cut off. He finally ("after meeting with supervisor" while I was on hold) agreed to 20%.  

 

The way I see it, I'm getting paid a little over six dollars to spend more than 30 minutes trying to get this stuff off of floor.  I likely never will and it's like walking on tiny marbles. Plus I'm awaiting another week to put water softener back in service.  

[ebinmaine 72,987]

Start:

 

 

[953 nut 60,348]

9 hours ago, Beap52 said:

trying to get this stuff off of floor.  I likely never will and it's like walking on tiny marbles.

                   Wouldn't this be a good job for a vacuum cleaner?

[squonk 43,939]

Drove to the Steam Pageant grounds today to mow the grass on my site. As customary as to not get run over by a garbage truck, You pull over onto the shoulder way early before turning. As I did I realized just ahead was a pile of manure left over from a leaky Honey Wagon!  No way to avoid it. I got out of the Ridgeline at the site and exclaimed, " It sure stinks around here!"  When I got home and pulled into the garage I got out and said "Yup still stinks!"  Went to the car wash and got back home. "Yup still stinks!"  This one is gonna take a bit! 

[rjg854 12,249]

@squonk get the place fumigated if you want me to come and hang out with you for the day 

[squonk 43,939]

Turned out it was the truck and not the place!