What did you do today?

[Handy Don 14,185]

1 hour ago, 8ntruck said:

Yup.  You need  1/16 or 1/8 per side on the larger bits to prevent snagging the bit.

 

So 1/8th pilot, then 3/8ths, then 5/8ths?

[Lane Ranger 11,467]

Today i bought something I could not refuse!

 

 

Lots of original parts in great shape ( and a few not that great like wheels but still with original tires and frint still loaded ).  The seller was mowing with it when i went to look ( but i took my trailer) .  I drove in third gear and accidentally hit the kill switch - still working! 
 

The Schnacke recoil, the rear hitch attachment connector, the showerhead muffler , an oil bath air cleaner with original  decal, all the guards  ( and belt guard had the original spacers with it) with no rust holes, a pretty early seat cushion, tight steering and a very good operating transmission snd  motor!   Somehow this survived 67 years.  No crack on hood around gas tank.  Gas tank very clean!

 

 

yes the wheels have some rust and a few holes but tires all appear original to me.   I think the decal ar back and the frame decal with # 12510 may be replaced decals but maybe that was the original #.
 

I need a sixth RJ like a hole  in the head but i got this on west side if Indianapolis near Raceway Road today!   I am happy to have gone after it! 

Edited Thursday at 01:34 AM by Lane Ranger

[8ntruck 7,925]

49 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

So 1/8th pilot, then 3/8ths, then 5/8ths?

It would be worth a try.  What kind of drill are you using?  Trick is to keep all of the drills purpundicular to the surface.

 

If you are drilling steel, oil while drilling helps reduce chatter.  I had Marvel  Mystery  Oil  handy, so that is what I used with the 3/4" holes saw today.

[953 nut 60,516]

12 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

I did bend a pilot drill in the hole saw.  The pilot drill broke through the material suddenly, then one side of the hole saw caught, pushing everything sideways.

I drill a 1/4" hole first then go to the hole saw now. I bent/broke a few pilot bits before I figured that out.

[Handy Don 14,185]

12 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

It would be worth a try.  What kind of drill are you using?  Trick is to keep all of the drills purpundicular to the surface.

If you are drilling steel, oil while drilling helps reduce chatter.  I had Marvel  Mystery  Oil  handy, so that is what I used with the 3/4" holes saw today.

 

2 hours ago, 953 nut said:

I drill a 1/4" hole first then go to the hole saw now. I bent/broke a few pilot bits before I figured that out.

 

I didn’t have my hole saws with me or I would for sure have gone with one of those instead.

I did have, and always use, cutting fluid or oil for lubrication, cooling, and to contain the metal cuttings. Keeping the heat down, iMHO, helps extend the life of the drill bits. (Always the tradeoff between drill speed and feed pressure, of course!)

[Handy Don 14,185]

On 8/26/2025 at 5:50 PM, Beap52 said:

the movie "Bridge over the River Kwai"

I first saw that movie as a pre-teen. It was the beginning of my realization that not all choices of actions in life would be simple. 

A phrase my Dad often used was “Any child can distinguish black and white. Adults have to discern among shades of gray."

[ranger 1,814]

3 hours ago, Handy Don said:

 

 

I didn’t have my hole saws with me or I would for sure have gone with one of those instead.

I did have, and always use, cutting fluid or oil for lubrication, cooling, and to contain the metal cuttings. Keeping the heat down, iMHO, helps extend the life of the drill bits. (Always the tradeoff between drill speed and feed pressure, of course!)

When I use a hole saw, I drill a 1/4” hole first and have a piece of 1/4” plain rod in the hole saw arbour in place of the drill bit. I’ve found that using the hole saw with the drill bit in the arbour, the flutes of the drill bit can cause the saw to chatter and wander until the cut has started. Using a plain rod instead of the bit prevents this from occurring 

[Beap52 1,511]

22 hours ago, Lane Ranger said:

I have never seen a set of blades like that!  I saw and learned something new today. 

 

 

 

 

[Handy Don 14,185]

6 hours ago, ranger said:

When I use a hole saw, I drill a 1/4” hole first and have a piece of 1/4” plain rod in the hole saw arbour in place of the drill bit. I’ve found that using the hole saw with the drill bit in the arbour, the flutes of the drill bit can cause the saw to chatter and wander until the cut has started. Using a plain rod instead of the bit prevents this from occurring 

Thanks, Ranger, this is a trick I’ll try to remember!

[wallfish 18,295]

23 hours ago, Lane Ranger said:

I am happy to have gone after it! 

Very Nice score Lane! It's got ALL the goodies and that's a rare find in itself

[Lane Ranger 11,467]

17 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Very Nice score Lane! It's got ALL the goodies and that's a rare find in itself

This is the first time i ever saw or came across this bar with two holes that is used on the lift hitch.   No drawing in the RJ manuals or part number!

[Handy Don 14,185]

5 minutes ago, Lane Ranger said:

This is the first time i ever saw or came across this bar with two holes that is used on the lift hitch.   No drawing in the RJ manuals or part number!

Certainly not an RJ expert, but I’m looking at how it’s not snug in the slot hitch and thinking “nice bit of fabrication by a PO"

[ranger 1,814]

17 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Thanks, Ranger, this is a trick I’ll try to remember!

You can, at a pinch, reverse the drill bit in the arbour after drilling the hole, if you don’t have any 1/4” rod? 
I’ve found that this “trick” goes a long way in preventing oversized and out of round holes, especially in thin steel sheet.

Edited Friday at 07:07 PM by ranger

[wallfish 18,295]

8 hours ago, Lane Ranger said:

This is the first time i ever saw or came across this bar with two holes that is used on the lift hitch.   No drawing in the RJ manuals or part number!

That tow bar is probably original too. They did fit in there pretty loose and the original pin was an eye bolt like that. Most of the time that eye bolt has been long gone and replaced by a standard bolt. Even the eye bolt looks old. Of coarse a piece of bar and an eye bolt can always be replaced pretty easily.

Probably find it in a drawing for a trailer or towed attachment

[Lane Ranger 11,467]

9 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Certainly not an RJ expert, but I’m looking at how it’s not snug in the slot hitch and thinking “nice bit of fabrication by a PO"

don i think it is an original.  I have several homemade type myself but this just has the feel and look of original.  
 

i just was surprised as i took it out of the rear fender tool box! 

Edited Friday at 11:26 AM by Lane Ranger

[Lane Ranger 11,467]

Ok this is some more detail on the RJ slot hitch connector bar that came with the RJ I bought the other day.  
 

I think it is an original Wheel Horse part although I have never seen or owned a similar one.  I own several homemade versions and a made a couple myself but this came with an RJ that was well loved for 67 years as it has almost o

all of its original parts.

 

 

But I am posting pics and measurements for those that would like to make one.

 

width in first oic is  1 3/4 inch

 

length is 7 inches

 

holes on each end are 3/4 centered from each end.  Holes are 9/16ths 

 

thickness is 1/2  inches

 

 

[Ed Kennell 42,302]

Took Mrs. K to lunch at one of our favorite restaurants,   Lee's Landing on the Susquehanna  river in Port deposit, Md. 

 This is a couple mile down river from the Conowingo Hydro Dam where I fish for striped bass early in the spring.

 

Then went to the other side of the river to the boat launch.      That black roof between the white is the restuarant.

 

 

 

[nylyon-(Admin) 8,074]

Neighbor stopped by with his skid steer and really helped me clean up some of the debris piles and overgrown brush I had. Awesome neighbors!  Just need a small excavator to finish up (anyone near by with a mini excavator want to help ) It was all fun and games until we disturbed a big bee nest, little guys got me 11 times, good thing I am not allergic!

 

[ebinmaine 73,124]

Coffee. I'm drinking lovely cowboy coffee.  🤠 

[Handy Don 14,185]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

Coffee. I'm drinking lovely cowboy coffee.  🤠 

Drinking or chewing (or both)? 😉

[ebinmaine 73,124]

18 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Drinking or chewing (or both)? 😉

 

Mostly drinking....

[nylyon-(Admin) 8,074]

Cleared up more of the yard, found another bee;s nest, got another sting, even dozen now.

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,363]

  Did more edging around the new shed (almost a year old so maybe not new). 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 73,124]

1 hour ago, nylyon said:

Cleared up more of the yard, found another bee;s nest, got another sting, even dozen now.

 

 

😬

[adsm08 3,375]

I finally got some good news on the Escape today. I pulled the outer rocker off, and the inner is solid in front of the the door jamb. Got a light in through a factory hole and inspected, the inside of the rocker and torque box up there look brand new.

 

That means a lot less work overall. Gonna hit the inside of the box with cavity wax, or maybe some linseed oil, and start piecing the back of the inner back together.