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  1. westcliffe01

    Moving Equipment Long Distance

    I will be hauling 3 loads from SE MI to southern Colorado on my 12K gooseneck and then at least 1 load on a rented deck over that has a hydraulic tilt deck (20' shipping container). Im sure it will be a fraction of the price of truck freight. I was quoted up to $2k to haul a 300lb engine from...
  2. westcliffe01

    Shop build and heating in 2024

    Be very careful with unvented heaters. There is a fairly considerable amount of water produced for every gal of propane burned and has to be some risk with CO and CO2 also. Its amazing how unvented heaters have come to dominate the market because they save the cost of a chimney or direct vent...
  3. westcliffe01

    Shop build and heating in 2024

    I wasnt planning on putting radiant heat under the porch concrete. The idea was that the glazed in area would provide a comfortable environment even in cold weather, so long as there was sunshine, where the typical wind would make it too uncomfortable in the outdoors. There would also be...
  4. westcliffe01

    Shop build and heating in 2024

    Im going to be earning my living in my shop, I wont have any sort of fixed income for at least another 7 years. I also have early onset arthritis so its important for me to be comfortable in my work space. I dont need to worry about cooling because of the altitude (about 3F drop per 1000 ft if...
  5. westcliffe01

    Shop build and heating in 2024

    There is also this offer from a local lumbermill. Buying slab wood seems pretty economical. $160 per cord for bundled birch slab wood is not bad.
  6. westcliffe01

    Shop build and heating in 2024

    I got some clarification on a local facebook bulletin board.
  7. westcliffe01

    Shop build and heating in 2024

    There was a major blow down event a few years ago with 130+ mph wind. I know for a fact that motorized vehicles and chainsaws were not allowed as part of the remediation job. I think the blown down trees laid on the ground for the nest 5-6 years till a fire came through.
  8. westcliffe01

    HVAC problem this morning.

    I can remember renting a house in Germany, sight unseen in a small town near where my new job was going to be in Edenkoben Germany. The house was set into a shaded north facing slope with about 140 steps to get from street level to the house. It was heated with oil. Half of the basement was...
  9. westcliffe01

    Shop build and heating in 2024

    My property is off grid, so the only electric I will have is solar PV and I have a diesel generator which I will be recovering heat off the coolant and exhaust to get the most $ per gal of fuel consumed. So having an insulated storage vessel for the hot water will help with the radiant heat. I...
  10. westcliffe01

    Shop build and heating in 2024

    FYI Home Depot has 2" R-Tech foil faced insulation, rated for under slab use. For my 40'x64' slab it says I will need 88 units for $1851. The Owens Corning Foamular 250 is more expensive at $4704. Their price has gone way up for sure.
  11. westcliffe01

    Shop build and heating in 2024

    photo credit Ed Fensholt Sr. Im planning a 64x40 shop/home in Colorado at 9000ft. No need for AC, just open some windows. Its a high wind area, buildings need to be rated for 130mph wind. Im probably going to use 14ft off the 64' length for living space on the west end, the side facing the...
  12. westcliffe01

    How do you sell stuff? I have 21 sheets of Stainless Steel

    I could do the same.... When we bought the abandoned 100yo house to renovate my wife raised her part of the payment by selling some handbags, coats and boots....
  13. westcliffe01

    Geothermal related to cooling in Michigan.

    Here is an example of what I was referring to
  14. westcliffe01

    How do you sell stuff? I have 21 sheets of Stainless Steel

    The grade and finish have a big impact on the cost. My local steel supplier wants $1004 for a 126lb 5x10 sheet of polished 304 sheet. The exact same weight sheet in 409 is $491. The exact same in 439 is $533. an 81lb sheet of 18ga 304L is only $322 and its not polished.
  15. westcliffe01

    Geothermal related to cooling in Michigan.

    The OP wanted cooling performance in summer. I get the impression he lives somewhere else in winter. The mini splits will give all he needs in summer and far better zone control than any central air system. Buy the highest seer value you can afford. Install some solar panels and it will cut...
  16. westcliffe01

    Geothermal related to cooling in Michigan.

    I didnt read every response, but if you buy the highest seer rated mini split you can find and install the outside unit on the north side of the house so as to put it in permanent shade and away from walls heated by the sun, you should be able to run said mini split with 2 solar panels so long...
  17. westcliffe01

    LVPs and Wear & Tear

    Buyer beware, there are large differences in quality and robustness with this type of product. Some variations are only 1/8" thick which makes the interlocking features on the edges very thin and fragile. Some of the best products are more than 5/16" thick, have a much more robust interlocking...
  18. westcliffe01

    Non CDL F250 towing 12K trailer across state lines ?

    Honestly, I would have preferred a somewhat bigger backhoe but once I investigated towing options I quickly determined that it becomes quite difficult to get an adequately rated tow vehicle and one is going to violate the 26k limit pretty quickly. Yes, there are a "few" aluminum trailers...
  19. westcliffe01

    Non CDL F250 towing 12K trailer across state lines ?

    In Mi farm tags only cover activities within a 150 mile radius of the farm operation and do not cover inter state activities.
  20. westcliffe01

    Non CDL F250 towing 12K trailer across state lines ?

    The way I understand it, whatever is legal in your home state, you are allowed to do through any state that you transit on your way to your destination. The flowchart I cited from our Michigan CDL training manual seems easy to understand. They are not interested in my trailer so long as the...
  21. westcliffe01

    Non CDL F250 towing 12K trailer across state lines ?

    Back when I bought my backhoe I did a lot of research to determine what options I had to legally tow my 8000lb backhoe. I really didnt want a 3/4 ton truck because they are expensive to buy, expensive to run and expensive to maintain. But I couldnt come up with any sort of alternative...
  22. westcliffe01

    Non CDL F250 towing 12K trailer across state lines ?

    My truck is rated to tow up to 12.5k and trailer is 12k. (6.4 diesel 4wd supercab) Looks like Gooseneck/5thwheel is up to 15400lb (single rear wheel, 6.4 super cab 4wd)
  23. westcliffe01

    Non CDL F250 towing 12K trailer across state lines ?

    A crisis created by former Californians leaving the state ??? I dont think I could come up with any possible reason that would be my destination....
  24. westcliffe01

    Non CDL F250 towing 12K trailer across state lines ?

    I had an engine shipped from Tucson AZ to MI recently. 90% of the quotes were over $1000 for a crate 36x36x28 and weighing 300lb. At the time when I will be doing the move I will be unemployed so I will have plenty of time and be trying to save any money that I can. The next time I get any...
  25. westcliffe01

    Non CDL F250 towing 12K trailer across state lines ?

    Eddie, hope you dont plan on moving far, because the cost per mile with a Uhaul is impressive, over and above the gas that those trucks suck at 8mpg.... $0.79 per mile. 3000 mile round trip, assume 8mpg is $2370 per trip for mileage, another $1300 in fuel based on $3.50/gal add another...
  26. westcliffe01

    Non CDL F250 towing 12K trailer across state lines ?

    I found this flowchart on the MI SOS website Link: I will make sure to print it out and carry it with me when on the road. It seems pretty unambiguous.
  27. westcliffe01

    Non CDL F250 towing 12K trailer across state lines ?

    The states involved will be Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado. The Youtuber couldn't simply pay the fine and continue, he was immediately "taken out of service", in other words parked and the trailer disconnected. The 10k weight limit on trailers seems very arbitrary, its pretty...
  28. westcliffe01

    Non CDL F250 towing 12K trailer across state lines ?

    Im sure there are many on this forum who have their CDLs. I am moving from Michigan to Colorado next summer. Way back when I started prepping for the move (prior to my divorce) I bought the F250 and a 12k gooseneck trailer so that I could legally move my 8500lb backhoe and utility tractor...
  29. westcliffe01

    Help w compressor selection.

    https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-elite-qst-30-60-scroll-air-compressor-with-quiet-technology.htmlConsider a scroll type compressor. Much quieter than a piston type. Rotary vane compressors seem much harder to find but are vastly superior to piston type compressors.
  30. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    Dont worry, the 5R110 that was behind the Navistar 6.4 is one of the strongest transmissions out there.
  31. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    She is bolted to the dolly now. 6 recycled head bolts and 6 spacers 2 3/4" long made from 1"OD x 0.5" ID tubing. Now I need to move the cylinder head and crank, then I can get the pallet out the way and can start cleaning all the abrasive material off the block and get it ready to go back...
  32. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    After a very long wait for the machine shop to get to my engine, I finally got it back last week after having the block bored 0.020" oversize. The cylinder head was rebuilt with new guides and a valve job and pressure tested. The crank was checked but deemed to not need any work. Since the...
  33. westcliffe01

    Subaru Automobiles

    Its my labor of course and I pulled the engine to do the clutch job, so no better time to do the timing belt, water pump and idlers. O
  34. westcliffe01

    Subaru Automobiles

    I dont need it anymore, my young wife has never driven a stick, so I will be selling it. An 09 Forester with 120k miles and a new clutch, new timing belt, new water pump and idlers, new serpentine belt should sell pretty quick for $6k....
  35. westcliffe01

    What's the best way to clean "pitted" sheet vinyl floor?

    I have had pretty good luck getting just about anything clean using this nylon bristle brush chucked in my cordless drill. Just dont go crazy with the speed... Depending what exactly the contaminant is, the "solvent/detergent" will differ. Sometimes, I need to throw in some "barkeepers friend"...
  36. westcliffe01

    Keep current truck forever or try to afford a new one every 5-10 years?

    Im currently installing a Cummins 5.9 24V with a VE pump into my 2008 F250 that had a blown up 6.4. My plan is to rebuild the front axle and steering once I get the engine swap finished and then do a whole lot of sheet metal repair (rockers, cab corners, door bottoms, bed sides etc... That...
  37. westcliffe01

    Subaru Automobiles

    I own a 2009 Forester. The VW beetle equivalent, it has virtually no options at all. Manual transmission. The clutch bearing went out at 114k miles. Its a pretty serious repair. They suggest the transmission has to come out, which would mean pulling the front suspension to remove the drive...
  38. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    Hogwash, coyotes will attack a herd and may injure 4-10 sheep, which die a day or 2 later and partially consume 1 or 2 when they had all the opportunity in the world to eat the entire animal. No, they are not strong enough to kill hundreds of sheep like wolves do, but they can do plenty of...
  39. westcliffe01

    First experience with high tensile fence and high tensile barbed wire

    The first thing is to know what the fence has to do ? Simply demarcate the land boundary - mainly for people ? Contain livestock ? Cattle, horses goats, sheep, Poultry ? Keep out predators ? Coyote, wolf, black bear, grizzly, mountain lion ? There is no 1 size fits all.... A friend of...
  40. westcliffe01

    2 in the furture on friday would you buy an electric car maybe almost if its free sorta kinda thing

    Not sure how anyone thinks anything electric car related is going to be free. The math for moving the UK to electric for transportation was going to cost between $200-500k per household. The US is a much larger country, longer distances city to city so the cost is going to be more. Im not...
  41. westcliffe01

    Generator question.

    pages 22 and 23 of the manual have wiring diagrams. Seems there are "idle control transformers" and of course an electronic governor PCB with an electronic actuator that does the throttle control. Your particular model is not an inverter type generator, so it is designed for load or no load...
  42. westcliffe01

    Anybody ever have a well fracked?

    The well driller in Westcliffe CO spoke of it. If you have invested $50k in a dry hole, then its one more option to fracture some rock to provide a pathway for some water. Apparently has been used successfully for water wells. A different mud used compared to what is used in gas wells, since...
  43. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    The first response I got was from Pueblo with the $80/foot number so yes, I am looking for more offers in the area... I am sure it wont get cheaper as one heads further north toward Denver...
  44. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    I finally found an email address for the well driller and got a response. Seems they are no longer in the well drilling business. Sounds like health problems on the part of the proprietor, not a voluntary retirement... Sad.
  45. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    If he did retire, you think he would have abandoned the land line and not just simply leave it on voicemail forever.... At least I hope. The way I remember the guy was my age, so about 55 now... Should be making a ton of money drilling for all the new arrivals, worst possible time to retire....
  46. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    It was a well driller from Pueblo who gave me the $80/foot quote... If Nequett is still in business Im pretty sure I will get a better deal from him. If I can figure out a way to contact him... No website, no facebook account, no cell phone number. Old school. For construction it is more...
  47. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    There were some pretty large groups camping at the grape creek campground in 2012 while visiting families who had moved to Custer County.
  48. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    Property I am looking at is in the valley, but not way up the side of a mountain. Also right next to the main local state highway. So I think logistically it will be less problematic. Now on the labor front, Im sure I will have a hard time competing with the crews building the Mc Mansion...
  49. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    I plan to be my own general contractor. I will hire a crew to get the frame of the house up and weathered in, but after that I will do everything myself. I have done 2 extensive renovations already and I would like the opportunity to do something from scratch rather than muddling my way...
  50. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    The key thing if one is going to move, is to find a community that shares your values. Custer county is beef raising and hay growing country. You still see cowboys on horses and the sound of spurs on the sidewalk on main street in Westcliffe. The community there have done a lot to keep their...
  51. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    I had been interested in an old subdivision in Custer County, Centennial Ranch. But it appears that a recent influx of folks from California and NY state resulted in pretty much any available land parcels being bought up now being "flipped" at $150K+ for a 35 acre parcel. These were selling...
  52. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    Unfortunately the well driller with whom I had an interview back in 2012 has not answered his phone nor returned calls for a few days and I think I might get a more honest opinion from him. I did discover the Colorado GIS mapping system for wells Geocortex Viewer for HTML5 With it you can...
  53. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    Thats $14.28 a foot... Vs $80 a foot ?
  54. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    more than 90% of lots are undeveloped. Very few lots where the buyer has invested in a well prior to building.
  55. westcliffe01

    Cost of deep wells ???

    My wife was looking at a piece of land in CO. So I sent the nearest well driller an email asking about wells in the area and the response was one should bargain on 600-850 ft and an all up cost from $70-100k. Drilling and casing $80/foot. Anyone's first thoughts on that news ??? Back in...
  56. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    Wolf packs have been a disaster for both hunting and farmers. A single wolf pack caused hundreds of dead sheep on 1 farm. Many killed as sport by the wolves, many more driven to trampling each other, heart attack etc. Cattle stressed by the presence of the wolf packs, cows losing calves before...
  57. westcliffe01

    Plugged up drain.

    I had a problem with my kitchen sink drain too. I didnt biuld the house, had no knowledge of what route the drain line took. I tried clearing it out with 25ft long drain cleaner, that got me no-where. Called a plumber, he ran his drain cleaner down it, put more than 40ft down that drain...
  58. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    I have never needed to take evasive action for a coyote, but for deer it can be 2-4x a day on my commute into town...
  59. westcliffe01

    Rant: Modern household appliances are of poorer quality

    The ice makers take up quite a bit of space in new refrigerators so we have opted to buy models without ice makers and benefit from the extra space in the freezer. We make ice the old fashioned way and are never wanting for ice. The more crap you add to your appliances, the more there is to go...
  60. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    The problem with coyotes and any other wild critter is that so long as there is some form of food available, their population will expand and as the pups are weened and they are forced out of the pack on their own, they will expand the territorial area they live in. With deer, the population...
  61. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    EPA Hits Two More Diesel Tuners With $10 Million Fine For Defeat Devices The EPA's crackdown on diesel emissions defeat devices has come to Michigan. EPA Hits Two More Diesel Tuners With $10 Million Fine For Defeat Devices The above would be why. How is a diesel...
  62. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    They are a tough quarry. Body is really not that big under all that winter fur if you are trying to hit something vital and they virtually never stop moving, especially in the ambush situation where you are not giving yourself away. Even my 243 has enough bullet drop between 160 yards where I...
  63. westcliffe01

    Shooting a Woodpecker.

    Attached video is not about a woodpecker but has to be the funniest racoon video I have ever seen. Dude with the broom gets much more than he was ready for....
  64. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    If you see how fast they light those afterburners when the first shot goes off, then you would know why one is not shooting more than 2 in a string. Not unless there are 10 people shooting... and in my case I never saw a group bigger than 2 in the day either. Usually the Alpha male with the...
  65. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    We are talking about a period of over a year. 1 shot at a time. I only ever had 1 double, 10 years ago. The coyote with his nose out front and closer to danger is generally the alpha. Shoot that one and 2 months later you are looking at the next alpha.
  66. westcliffe01

    ultrasonic cleaner

    I bought 3 of them to clean injector pump parts...
  67. westcliffe01

    ultrasonic cleaner

    They suggest you use a sealed container into which you put your parts and solvent and then place that in the water. I would use paraffin, higher flash point than gasoline or a lot of other solvents. Second video:
  68. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    If you went out 15x with a caller and never saw a coyote, yet the sheep get attacked several times in the same period you would conclude that all the coyotes are "educated" and trying to get them to come in during daylight is a waste of time. That leaves only the option of night hunting and...
  69. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    The Navistar 6.4 engine weighs 1130lb with oil, so it is very close to the weight of the Cummins 5.9 engine. The transmission cross member does get moved back to the rear most set of holes to allow for the longer straight 6 to fit behind the radiator.
  70. westcliffe01

    Shooting a Woodpecker.

    Bugs in a pressure treated or creosote pole used by a utility ? Or my green pressure treated posts that hold up my deck ? I dont think so. A 1 out of a thousand example of the species that has a mental defect, yes. The country is full of nutty people judging by how full the jails are, so why...
  71. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    Its annoying when people are going to lecture others who have in fact sat out in freezing pre-dawn conditions for hours, waiting for the coyotes to show up and have seen the reaction in their behavior after their leader is killed in front of them. Here in the midwest with our super suspicious...
  72. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    Where you you come up with such conclusions ? If you went out and never came home, do you think your family would not notice ? If your body was found at the front gate, you dont think they would conclude that some great danger is lurking out there ? What if your brother had been standing...
  73. westcliffe01

    Shooting a Woodpecker.

    Troll..
  74. westcliffe01

    Generators, sizes and fuel options?

    Diesel Generators for Home Power or Off-Grid Electricity There is a pretty big price jump above 6.5kW but the Izuzu or Kubota 12kW generators offer good value for what they deliver. I would always go with a water cooled generator because it leaves open the possibility to do waste heat recovery...
  75. westcliffe01

    Shooting a Woodpecker.

    I dont need advice from experts to live my life. If a critter causes problems, eliminate it. Go on with your life.
  76. westcliffe01

    Shooting a Woodpecker.

    It is my belief, that just like humans, animals sometimes also develop brain tumors and get an obsession for destroying stuff that they normally would have no interest in. I have had robins in my yard for all of the nearly 20 years I have owned my home. Never a problem with them. Then out...
  77. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    You know me and my maintenance habits ? This vehicle/engine has a known MTBF of around 80k miles, that is well known in the marketplace. Lets see, bought in 2010 with 70k miles, failed in 2020 with 117k miles so 47k miles in 10 years. Basically 5k a year and 1 oil change. Worst maintenance...
  78. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    The VP-44 electronic rotary pump was the one that was less reliable. 1999-2002 I believe. Mainly because it was cooled by excess fuel supplied from the lift pump. But the Dodge trucks had a poor lift pump and as the lift pump would flow less and less over time, the injection pump and its...
  79. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    If you go with the Ford dealership of course you will get the replacement engine in the exact same state as the original, whereas with the independent shop at least they will upgrade anything that needs it or that they know about for basically the same price that Ford charges. My truck does not...
  80. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    Thanks... I bought the truck so that I could legally tow my 8000lb backhoe or my Kubota M4500 tractor from place to place. I have a 12k gooseneck trailer for that reason and couldnt come up with any legal way to do it with a half ton truck and the cost sure goes up when looking at a 3/4 ton or...
  81. westcliffe01

    Adding a storm shelter

    Yes, buy a high lift jack and weld on an extension pipe so it can be set on the floor to jack against the door if needed and weld a piece of heavy angle to the inside of the door that gives a non slip point to jack against.
  82. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    1 state south of you in Colorado and its already a totally different world with once a year state inspection of the emissions system on your diesel truck. Even if you have to drive several hours to get it done at one of the approved facilities. No way I would own any diesel there unless it was...
  83. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    So many diesel shops have been busted for doing deletes that no-one will touch it nowadays. I also live within 50 miles of the EPA office in Ann Arbor so no-one nearby will do anything delete related. Its either DIY or nothing. I actually bought a device to change the controller software but...
  84. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    Since one of the common failures was for piston 8 to crack, many 6.4 blocks were ruined by that. Im sure my engine has been rebuilt by someone who wanted to keep the 6.4, I just could not justify the spend needed to replace all the failure prone Navistar parts and still end up with an engine...
  85. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    There is at least 1 bushing on the journal next to the drive gear.
  86. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    Yes, a P7100 pump is quite an expensive item, it would need new injector lines at $750 min a set. The P7100 has more performance potential with 1 plunger per cylinder, but does not have injection timing advance like the rotary pump. Thus fuel economy winner is the VE pump which has the timing...
  87. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    I know people at work that paid that exact price. Pull the cab, pull the engine, tear the engine down, install ARP studs, potentially bore block and new pistons, rings, bearings, possibility of valve train damage, new cam, followers rockers, 2x head jobs, new turbos, up pipes, new HP fuel...
  88. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    The only thing that works reliably is a proper no-climb fence but that is quite an expensive undertaking on 160 acres where one would first have to spend a considerable amount on clearing the now centuries old hedge rows using a forestry mulcher and large excavator so that a new fence could even...
  89. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    The farm I mentioned had great pyrenees dogs too, but with 5 or 6 different packs active on the 160 acre parcel and the even larger parcels around it, one is not going to make it with dogs alone.
  90. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    Here is a report on coyote attacks in California specifically. Seems to be a lot more activity than you are aware of. Coyote Attacks: An Increasing Suburban Problem
  91. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    This particular image shows the barn where the sheep sleep at night in the center. The owners cabin is the one with the green roof and it should be clear that from the farmhouse one cannot see the coyotes as they would approach at the bottom of the draw, coming in over the ice in winter where...
  92. westcliffe01

    COYOTES

    For people with Livestock coyotes can be a serious problem. Sheep in particular a single attack on a herd can cause the loss of several animals and they can attack every day. Here in MI it seems that in high summer when the pups have grown enough, the parents bring them out to benign species...
  93. westcliffe01

    Putting a Cummins 24V with VE mechanical injection pump into my 2008 F250 with failed Navistar engine

    This project has been on the slow train for some time because of the difficulty I have experienced in getting the donor 5.9 engine worked on in a machine shop, but finally after more than a year it seems things might finally start moving.... This story starts in late 2010 when I bought a 2008...
  94. westcliffe01

    Recent interview regarding my national service in 1986-87 in Namibia and southern Angola as a combat engineer

    I have stayed at Muskallonge Lake state park many times. Used to be an every summer deal. Picked up a lot of tumbled rocks on the beach right in front of the state park. Also been on the opposite side of Lake MI at the ghost town of Fayette, they have a real nice harbor there. Have not been to...
  95. westcliffe01

    Recent interview regarding my national service in 1986-87 in Namibia and southern Angola as a combat engineer

    I dont recall the town but it was in SD. They were there till the snow started flying. I thought it was all about pollination, but thinking back on it must have been honey production at that time of year.
  96. westcliffe01

    Recent interview regarding my national service in 1986-87 in Namibia and southern Angola as a combat engineer

    One of my former military buddies son worked for a TX based bee keeping company in SD just a year ago.
  97. westcliffe01

    Recent interview regarding my national service in 1986-87 in Namibia and southern Angola as a combat engineer

    1993 was quite soon after cessation of hostilities and the first election in Namibia. They gained their independence in March 1990, a little more than 2 years from the time I was serving there. I have to wonder how they are doing now, some 30+ years later under 1 party rule.
  98. westcliffe01

    Recent interview regarding my national service in 1986-87 in Namibia and southern Angola as a combat engineer

    Eddie, for your benefit, I put a marker on Omaruru, so you can get a perspective on where you were at vs the so called "operational area" outlined in red. You can see that the Etosha National park was within the operational area, but it was not frequent that insurgents made it down to the...
  99. westcliffe01

    Recent interview regarding my national service in 1986-87 in Namibia and southern Angola as a combat engineer

    Many different interviews on that channel including the folks who beat back Cuban and Angolan T55 tanks with their Ratel infantry fighting vehicles. Despite being outnumbered 6:1 and not having air superiority over the Angolan Mig 21, 23 and some 27's who bombed their positions on a near daily...
  100. westcliffe01

    Recent interview regarding my national service in 1986-87 in Namibia and southern Angola as a combat engineer

    Some may find this interview interesting, what it was like at one of the most remote outposts in Namibia and directly on the insurgent infiltration route. 1987 was very near the peak of the proxy war with massive soviet investment, Mig 21, 23 and 27 fighters, Sam 8 systems, 50 000 cubans many...
  101. westcliffe01

    Retirement thoughts Past Present Future

    What you say was true until the civil service unions became the largest unions in the country. Since that time I dont believe there is parity anymore nor do I think it is ever coming back. In some locations like Colorado you have more people working for the feds than in any form of private...
  102. westcliffe01

    Retirement thoughts Past Present Future

    I dont know how to see this. I started in the US with more than 10 years experience and acknowledged as an expert in my field and that was on about $66k/yr in MI. Some of these jobs are offering $94k/yr for 3 years experience and a lot of the others $66k with no required experience. So I...
  103. westcliffe01

    Retirement thoughts Past Present Future

    I think your comments are a bit out of date. In Michigan, just about any state level job pays more and has better benefits than its private sector equivalent. My wife has been working in corrections for 2 years, first at the state facility, then at a local sheriffs department. She is getting...
  104. westcliffe01

    Any One Else Eat Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth?

    The subject of modern medicine, as we have all recently experienced with our "pandemic" has become politicized and unscientific in the extreme. I am today less convinced than ever that "corporate medicine" as enshrined in our local hospitals, drug companies and various practicioners (doctors...
  105. westcliffe01

    Retirement thoughts Past Present Future

    If I take my family as an example: My great grandfather fought against the british in the first and second Anglo Boer wars. Most people are not aware of the war crimes committed under Churchills orders where all the rural folk were rounded up and put in concentration camps (yes, prior to the...
  106. westcliffe01

    Retirement thoughts Past Present Future

    I dont think I have much of a retirement to look forward to. I have no pension coming to me from the years I worked in ZA which was up to age 32. One only became eligible to keep our own pension contributions after 3 years at a job and thus employers put some effort into convincing you to not...
  107. westcliffe01

    What type of gun is this?

    I would be curious how they determined that the weapons were fully automatic ? Did they fire them ? I believe a lot of similar claims get made that are later walked back when the evidence doesnt support it. But as we see, there is certainly no hesitation on the part of criminals to have...
  108. westcliffe01

    Barn sticker shock. WOW!

    Eddie you are most likely correct. Going stick built would change the priority to the slab and anything associated with it getting done first and then walls can be framed up on it and then raised up. Steel and sheating up to 12ft and then polycarbonate daylight panels another 2 ft to 14ft...
  109. westcliffe01

    Barn sticker shock. WOW!

    There have been a lot of posts in this thread since April and I dont know what the OP has gone on to do... Im planning something similar for spring 2024 in TN and just trying to get my facts together now. Having said that we have Menards here and in their "design and build" section you can...
  110. westcliffe01

    Has anyone rebuilt their Kobuta tractor engine using one of the ebay rebuild kits ?

    So I have a Kubota M4500DT which is a mid 70's 55hp utility tractor. It has no hour meter but given the age of the machine I am assuming it has at least 6500 hours on it. It has low compression which makes it hard to start, but once it is running, it does everything I need it to do. Oil...
  111. westcliffe01

    M4500 DT wiring diagram ?????

    Folks, I had a 60A inline fuse disintegrate in my M4500 wiring and the firewall mounted fuse block is corroded and flaky. I basically lost all electrical function on my machine and eventually traced it to the disintegrated inline fuse in the B+ line that goes from the engine to the starter...
  112. westcliffe01

    Close call

    My minipin, now deceased, had to experience the business end of a skunk 3x in about 2 weeks before she finally learned that she had to leave the black and white striped cat alone....... Open the door to let her out for a run, when she came back and I opened the door, it felt like someone...
  113. westcliffe01

    New Truck Time - Suggestions.

    I'm not buying a new car again, ever. Just no reason to. Right now every car in the household has more than $100k miles. 2009 Subaru Forester, 2005 BMW Z4 Roadster, 2008 Buick Lucerne, 2008 F250 SD diesel. The most expensive was the F250 when I bought it 2 years old with about 70k...
  114. westcliffe01

    Kimber bummer.

    There are so many things that can make a rifle shoot badly. Kimbers have slender barrels, which are subject to a lot of different vibration modes and very sensitive to any stock contact. So the first question is on free floating. When I free float a barrel, I make sure I can get something the...
  115. westcliffe01

    Got embarressed refilling Viagra

    Sorry to resurrect this ancient thread, but there have been developments regarding generic viagra that anyone who has to pay for these drugs would be interested in. As of a couple of weeks ago, you can get Generic Viagra, 100mg tablets 30x for $15.50 at the Kroger pharmacy. The variation in...
  116. westcliffe01

    Encouraging rural folks to be informed of critical status of South African farmers

    I have posted a link to a documentary on the status of farmers in South Africa. So far, attempts to get refugee status for these people has not succeeded and is being opposed by the media, the UN and many nations, like NZ and Australia. I made the actual posting on the "Friendly Politics"...
  117. westcliffe01

    How much would you pay for a pet's surgery?

    My wife and I rescued a redbone coonhound when on vacation in Florida. His owner had died and he had been abandoned and running around free on a large adventure type resort property for more than 2 years. The property owners had arranged for his capture and euthenization the day after we were...
  118. westcliffe01

    Any Pilots On Here??

    I give you the Waiex B from Sonex Aircraft : There is also the "SubSonex", currently the only jet powered kit airplane you can buy. All brand new and not falling from the sky or requiring advanced pilot skills....
  119. westcliffe01

    TODAY'S GUN TIME

    I might add that those are 175gr SMK loads, same load as used by the USMC snipers and in fact loaded in surplus LC-12 LR brass. So a lot more recoil than typical 150gr hunting loads. Here is the target from load development of that ammo. The rifle itself, pieced together from parts (came to...
  120. westcliffe01

    How to rid Coyote's

    Richard, coyotes have expanded their territory under the same conditions in which wolves were all but eliminated. They are intelligent, adaptable and parents can teach pups specific skills and techniques that they have learned which you might not see in a different pack. Having said that...
  121. westcliffe01

    M4500DT aftermarket loader options ?

    Hi I recently bought a new to me M4500DT in fairly good condition. It is not equipped with a loader and I would very much like to add one. I did some google searching and the one that I found which would apparently fit is from Westendorf model TA-26. The problem is that the price is...
  122. westcliffe01

    Is it spring?

    A good weather forecast website without ads and a gazillion menu options is Windyty, wind map & forecast Image of the layout for all of the USA (today) one can see the big cyclonic systems out over the oceans. At the bottom of the screen is a slider bar for the forecast. Just click on the...
  123. westcliffe01

    How to deter coyotes

    Typical attack victim, was being eaten while alive, had to be shot. First coyote skull prepared european style Pair of coyote males shot on a morning raid. Typical coyote pack tracks in the snow from nocturnal activity
  124. westcliffe01

    Making an A frame for a heater vent

    The image above is from a current Rinnai tankless water heater install manual. One can note how they have added the image clarifying height above the "anticipated snow pack" to the install manual. Perhaps it was open to interpretation before leading to the kind of situation described by the...
  125. westcliffe01

    Recommend a concealed carry gun...

    There is no single right answer regarding what to carry. The answer is "it depends".. Depends on the perceived nature of the threat, season, dress etc. For protection "in the woods" where one might still need to be discreet, one may want a 44 magnum with a 4" barrel. Black, brown bear...
  126. westcliffe01

    AR 15

    Eddie, in case it has not occurred to you, try out the ergonomics on a Sig 556. Same basic concept (semi automatic, 223/5.56) but it is a gas piston design, the receiver stays much cleaner since no gas is vented into it. Disassembly is simpler. You have the same options for mounting optics...
  127. westcliffe01

    Your thoughts on my basement plans

    Picture of the drilling rig which weighed over 800 tons which was toppled by the tornado Anchor bolts and nails which failed to retain wall to foundation Impact damage to steel door of above ground "poured in place" shelter
  128. westcliffe01

    AR 15

    Eddie, try to avoid any AR that has the original milspec trigger. The reason why I say that is because AR15 trigger upgrades are expensive. Most of the options are over $200 for a trigger upgrade. That is a lot of money when you spent $650 to $850 for the basic rifle. Anything that has a...
  129. westcliffe01

    Identifying pins on new JCB Ignition switch ????

    Folks, I have a Bobcat B200 which I bought used. I believe it was a repo machine, since it has had a JCB ignition key since the time I bought it. Recently the I have had multiple problems with the ignition switch and wiring harness (from years of being exposed to the elements) and currently...
  130. westcliffe01

    Hay Spears

    I bought a TSC 3pt round bale spear for $250. Then I bought a quick attach plate for about $120. Cropped the 3 pt spear to suit the height of the quick attach plate, added some welding and I had a quick attach bale spear for a lot less that the commercially made ones. I personally prefer...
  131. westcliffe01

    Travel Trailer Questions - thinking of a long trip

    Could be that my 5000lb Hilo is much lighter with a much lower centre of gravity than your trailer ? My Superduty curb weight is over 7000lb vs the 5000lb trailer. With the Ram, it is more like 4000lb truck to 5000lb+ trailer. Not to mention that the trailer is much longer than the truck...
  132. westcliffe01

    My Wifes kittle dog killed by rural speeders For tghe second Time!

    If a physical fence is not on the cards, for whatever reason (including local ordinances) you should go with a wireless pet fence. I used one for years and the dogs learn their boundaries pretty quickly. The only thing it does not do is prevent intrusion on your property by other dogs that...
  133. westcliffe01

    Brake Rotors. Resurface or New?

    This is the stuff that you want for your brake job....
  134. westcliffe01

    Spotting scope for hunting and wildlife watching?

    If you go this route, be sure to get a gimbal head to go on the tripod. The tilt pan heads and all of the ball heads are all top heavy and do not act at the centre of gravity. If you ever try a gimbal head you would never do without it. Same thing the wildlife pro photographers use for their...
  135. westcliffe01

    QuadraFire 4300 Step Top Temperature?

    Don't concern yourself too much about the stove top temperature. Get a probe type thermometer for the flue and install it about 2-3 ft above the stove in the stove pipe. It is the flue that will gather creosote, not the stove. A probe type thermometer that is in direct contact with the flue...
  136. westcliffe01

    Any coyote hunters

    I have been doing this for a few years. You might really want to try some mouth calls before spending major money on an electronic caller. If the coyotes are educated, no caller is going to work. I first bought an $80 caller and never called in anything with it. Then got a $350 Foxpro caller...
  137. westcliffe01

    ugh.. Discovery Channel Alaskan Bush People hype / BS

    I don't find much worthy of watching on TV, but it is pretty sad to see the extent to which the discovery Channel has fallen. Anyone who watched the first series of "Alaskan Bush People" knows a few things about them. Like the fact that they moved into the Alaskan interior in late fall...
  138. westcliffe01

    SHEEP?

    2 or 3 coyotes. One holding the neck while the others ripped parts off. You can clearly see where the canines went in the neck. Coyotes have a pretty impressive set of teeth and can do a lot of damage in a very short time. If the sheep struggles and gets free, they just grab another. Thats...
  139. westcliffe01

    SHEEP?

    The kill shown above took place this past Sat. I had in fact been practicing some long range target shooting 2 hours prior, just 30 yards from where the kill took place. August is generally an active month, with 4 animals attacked so far this month of which 2 died or had to be euthanized. The...
  140. westcliffe01

    wood stoves

    Kenny, what type of chimney do you have ? Type 1, 2 or 3 ? A type 2 chimney will never gain as much draft in cold conditions as a type 1. A type 3 will have less draft than a type 1 due to the extra bends in the system. I have a damper about 18" above the stove in a type 1 flue and other...
  141. westcliffe01

    Freestanding Gas Stove w Ductwork

    There are some very fine gas stoves out there, a lot more effective that "gas logs" From this fine manufacturer Soapstone Gas Stoves DIMENSIONS & SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions (HxWxD): .......30 x 24 3/4 x 21 1/4?br> Weight: Stove 290 lbs., Shipped 310 lbs. Fuel: LPG(propane) or Natural Gas...
  142. westcliffe01

    Never thought I see the day 22 lr. ammo.

    Thought this might interest a few reading this thread. Posted on the Michigan Gun Owners forum in this thread. Stacked Deep. This is a no-joke part of a single person's ammo cache. Stacked Deep.
  143. westcliffe01

    Does anyone know a special trick to get the wheel free from hub (F250 SD) ?

    Coils on the front of this 2008 model...
  144. westcliffe01

    Does anyone know a special trick to get the wheel free from hub (F250 SD) ?

    My task list today was to do a brake overhaul on my 2008 F250 SD. Last summer I took my Dodge Ram 1500 to get the brakes rebuilt and by the time it was done it was nearly $800. In addition, the guys "forgot" to rebuild the parking brake, which was the #1 issue I needed dealt with since I was...
  145. westcliffe01

    Oil Burning Stove

    With the Kuma you don't need power. When one needs heat in winter with no power, the first part is enough of a problem without adding the second part. If you have the heat part covered with wood, then you should be good. Another option (depending on how much heat is needed) is the pioneer...
  146. westcliffe01

    Happy Heat! Wood Stove Help

    See if there is a pacific energy stove dealer near you. Pacific Energy :: Home They are made in Canada where there is primarily softwood and very cold winters. I have the T5 model, the fancy cast iron trimmed version and mid sized. I am able to load the wood lengthwise into mine and that is a...
  147. westcliffe01

    It's Cold !

    I must be missing a step in the math here. If I look at that graph for propane, at -20C the vapor pressure is just under 2 bar or 30psi. How do you get from 30psi to 14 000 psf ? 30psi x 12 x 12 = 4320 pounds per square foot. Right at freezing point maybe double ? BTW, that is possibly a...
  148. westcliffe01

    Alternatives to tire chains?

    In the subdivision I have been looking to buy in CO, there are 2 "major" steep hills. There is pretty much nothing to stop your slide all the way to the bottom, and both have switchbacks where you can go over the side pretty quick. This photo taken mid summer and it was just within the ability...
  149. westcliffe01

    Anyone wishing to track the tornado super outbreak today in IL, IN and MI ?

    The weather forecaster on the radio said this afternoon that this storm was expected to set records in Indiana. This was while I was driving down 60 in the direction the weather was approaching from... Fortunately for me, all I had was some strong wind and a few good rain belts... But since...
  150. westcliffe01

    The Size of Coyotes

    I have not yet seen wolf tracks, but at close to 5" in size I am sure I would not mistake them. Even the coyote tracks are surprisingly large for their size. They have a low ground pressure that helps them immensely when there is snow out.
  151. westcliffe01

    Man suffers injuries while fighting off 3 attacking coyotes (Colorado)

    Man suffers injuries while fighting off 3 attacking coyotes | KDVR.com The link has a video interview with the victim showing the extent of his injuries (young guy in early 20's and in good shape) DENVER A Longmont man was attacked by a pack of coyotes while he walked to work early Monday...
  152. westcliffe01

    County says no camping on your own land !!

    This has become a thread about trash, when in fact it started with not being "permitted" to camp on your own land, when no mess was involved. Would anyone want to suggest that native Americans lived a "trashy" lifestyle ? Do you think that having a couple of tipis (without trash) on the...
  153. westcliffe01

    Wood Stove in Trailer

    So how do y'all feel about wood stoves in boats then ? Perhaps a diesel fired stove would be safer than wood ? At least the operation would be more predictable and less susceptible to "operator error". Here is a Diesel fired marine heater that has a cooking surface Sold here for $764...
  154. westcliffe01

    Finally done (for now) with 2 medium range rifle systems...

    Since getting my green card and being allowed to be a firearm owner again, I had a rather protracted and expensive lesson in long range shooting (and I should qualify that it really is medium range in the big scheme of things since we are talking of less than 500 yards typically). Most of my...
  155. westcliffe01

    PU spray foam insulation: What does it cost where you live ?

    I have been doing some research into the cost of spray foam insulation and there seem to be huge disparities in cost. I'm looking to build on some remote property and the location alone will mean that I will have a small selection of contractors willing to come out to the property to begin with...
  156. westcliffe01

    Has anyone cut a 40ft container into 2 20's ? High cube - not available in 20.

    I am preparing for relocating to a remote building site. The site will be at about 8000ft elevation and with the remoteness and the kind of weather one has in the Rockies, I have no intention of slumming it in a camping trailer or tent and I will need to keep my possessions somewhat safe from...
  157. westcliffe01

    Killed 2 coyotes that came to visit...

    Things have gone better the last year on the sheep farm. Just 4 sheep lost the entire year to predation. Like before, the coyotes live on neighboring property and stray onto the property intermittently. I have been after them since fall and have not even seen one. I got exactly 1 picture on...
  158. westcliffe01

    Australian gun buyback explained.

    OldMcDonald. Just to make a comparison using a UN report: http://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/statistics/crime/CTS12_Persons_prosecuted.xls If we compare prosecutions of civilians in a few different countries (rate per 100000 citizens) Year 2004 2005...
  159. westcliffe01

    Anyone sitting on the fence on an SKS, this is one you might not want to ignore....

    Yugoslavian rifles do not have chromed bores because in the 50's they didn't have good access to chrome and what little they had got used for more strategic purposes. The Yugo SKS's are well made and many of them are in pristine condition. For a bit more than $50 over the price of a 10/22 you...
  160. westcliffe01

    Anyone sitting on the fence on an SKS, this is one you might not want to ignore....

    I already own 2 Yugoslavian 59/66 rifles, so no more for me, but I just got the email flyer from Wideners and these look absolutely gorgeous and still modestly priced for $375. http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=100001081&dir=700|701|1029 I have paid substantially more for other...
  161. westcliffe01

    Deer hunting with iron sights.

    My current rifles are: Savage 10PC 1:9.25 x20" barrel 223 75gr Match ammo for coyotes out to 400 yards if the wind is not blowing too hard Savage 12LPV 1:9.25 x26" barrel 243 Win 95gr SST Superformance ammo for when the wind is expected to blow harder or if something nastier than a coyote may...
  162. westcliffe01

    Coyotes and Deer

    Nice 40lb coyote that someone took in the last few days...
  163. westcliffe01

    Coyotes and Deer

    This info came from a guy who traps fur bearers in the UP This is 4 weeks worth of catch prior to firearm deer season. Those are coyote pelts and a few fox, no wolves, before any speculation starts. Hope this one gives you perspective on size The guy caught many wolves too, but they all...
  164. westcliffe01

    Deer hunting with iron sights.

    N80, if you are interested in shooting with Iron sights, maybe I could interest you in a Remington 700 "Classic" which has iron sights from Williams ? It is an 8x57. I am on the cusp of "bubbafying" the rifle, but if someone wanted it as it was, I may not feel bad about it... In the picture...
  165. westcliffe01

    Finally shot my first buck this morning...

    I was up just after 4 this morning to get ready, drive out to the farm, negotiate the various gates, park in a safe spot, then make my way to my blind in the dark. I had been out the previous day to rake away the leaves on a path that would get me to the blind quietly and that plan worked out...
  166. westcliffe01

    Any windshield wiper options for an RTV 500 ?

    Folks, I have an RTV 500 and will be installing the glass windshield. I do not find windshield wipers listed as an option, is there anything that can be adapted for this purpose ? I'm sure the 900's and bigger have windshield wipers on them. Also, does anyone have leads on rigid doors for...
  167. westcliffe01

    Repeated alternator failure on Kubota D1105T engine on my loader backhoe

    I bought my Superstav EF2 (Bobcat B200) loader backhoe 2003 model with about 1400 hours on it in 2009. In 2010 the alternator failed. The stator was fine, diodes were good, brushes were good and ultimately we found that the field winding was open circuit. This is the winding that is on the...
  168. westcliffe01

    Biggest boulder moving job so far....

    Recently, I helped the a farmer friend move a boulder out of a field he has been trying to use for a cash crop. There was about 3" of the boulder sticking out of the ground and of course every year he would hit it with something causing damage. I had loaned him my Bobcat B200 but he is not...
  169. westcliffe01

    Does anyone have their own hose crimper to make up hydraulic hoses ?

    Just curious how fellow equipment owners handle the problem of needing to replace hydraulic hoses every few years due to wear and tear ? I have 6 individual hoses on my Bobcat B200 loader backhoe that run from the hoe controls to the cylinder ports which need to be replaced. I am guessing the...
  170. westcliffe01

    No oil pressure after startup ????? D1105 T

    As most know, we have had virtually no snow all winter, so my Bobcat TLB has been sitting since November, outside. I just bought a small CMM to go into my garage "shop" (if I told you the price I may get arrested...). I figured I would use the loader backhoe with some pallet forks to unload...
  171. westcliffe01

    Latest coyote killer....

    So finally today I got out to the range with the Savage 10 precision carbine I recently bought from a forum member on MGO. I ordered a Warne 20MOA one piece optics rail and already had the Nikon Monarch 4-16x50 scope and Warne Maxima steel rings. I loctited the Rail in place on the...
  172. westcliffe01

    Finally got my Golani sporter fixed...

    I bought a Golani sporter late last year to be sure I had a weapon which would comply with the sunsetting "michigan pistol" law prior to Jan 1 2012. The sample I got came from a dealer in Ohio and was a train wreck. One hears bad things about Century, but boy, this one was bad. Worn out stock...
  173. westcliffe01

    Review of brass cleaning using "Stainless Tumbling Media"

    So after reading great reviews of cleaning brass using stainless steel pins, I had to give it a try. The media and lemishine is not expensive and will supposedly last forever in home use, so I sent off my order. I just ran a batch of boxer primed brass and was blown away how shiny it was...
  174. westcliffe01

    Range report - DPMS 7.62x39 carbine

    Todays target with the DPMS on the second iteration of trigger work: I worked on it again today to reduce sear engagement to reduce the amount of take up. Will see if it does better tomorrow. Also worked on my Remington 700 in 8mm mauser. The trigger on that beast was close to 8lb... Will...
  175. westcliffe01

    Range report - DPMS 7.62x39 carbine

    A couple of weeks ago I took my DPMS carbine chambered in 7.62x39 to the range for the first time and was very disappointed. The only manufacturer who makes magazines for the rifle had gone out of business (C-Products) and now I think I know why.... The rifle absolutely would not feed...
  176. westcliffe01

    Closure on first (and second) rifle purchase

    As I had mentioned previously, I purchased a Savage 24 double rifle as my future "Coyote gun" with an upper barrel chambered in 222 and the lower in 20ga. This was back in late January and I was assuming that I would be in possession by sometime in February. Boy was I wrong.... Initially the...
  177. westcliffe01

    Has anyone bought a FNAR 308 rifle ? looking for feedback

    Since I will shortly be permitted to own a firearm again after a 10 years abstinence, I was wanting to get a semi auto 308 for a reasonable price and without the super aggressive styling. The FNAR seems to retail for around $1300, promises minute of angle accuracy and it looks like it won't...
  178. westcliffe01

    Feedback on new Dell Laptop with Ubuntu Linux

    After a worse experience with windows with every OS update, I decided that the next time would be something else. Last time was a Toshiba notebook that came with (drum roll) Vista.... ugg uggg puke.... That particular laptop fairly quickly was donated to a needy soul on an unexpected business...
  179. westcliffe01

    Thought on M35A2 AM General "Deuce and a Half", 2 1/2 ton Cargo Truck

    I'm curious on feedback on actually using the "deuce and a half" for heavy work, hauling trailers and dirt and the like. They seem fairly cheap to buy and I would guess there are Mil surplus parts available (tires, axels etc). Just curious regarding how much time is spent working vs fixing...
  180. westcliffe01

    Finally..... A half decent welder..

    I guess I was a bit of an unusual kid growing up. Amongst other things, I learnt how to weld when I was about 11. I spent my pocket money at the speciality welding store in town buying rods to try welding cast iron and things like that. I remember welding up a cracked hand plane body for the...
  181. westcliffe01

    Its alive !!!

    Well, mixed feelings here. The hydrostatic drive on my Bobcat B200 one day decided that it didn't want to work no more. No warnings, no strange noises or anything obvious. Park it one day and the next it barely wanted to move. I say barely, because if you held the hydro pedal down, it would...
  182. westcliffe01

    Simplicity Cast Iron Motor free to good home

    Just in case there is anyone out there restoring a Simplicity tractor that has the 10hp Briggs Cast Iron engine, I have one I pulled from my tractor that I replaced with a modern engine instead of re-building. It is worn, was burning oil, and I just needed an operational tractor that was not...
  183. westcliffe01

    Oil & Fuel  Bobcat B200 hydraulic oil ?

    Hi Folks Seems I am having a rough start in my experience with my B200. Machine details: 2003 model 1500 hours Kubota turbo diesel engine 31hp 1 ton rated capacity Gross weight 6300lbs While I initially thought I had run low on oil, I discovered during an inspection tonight that the tank...
  184. westcliffe01

    How to recover from low oil in Hydro transmission ?

    Hi folks I think I did something really dumb... I recently purchased a 2003 Bobcat B200 TLB. It has a diesel Tank on the left hand side of the chassis and the hydraulic tank on the right. The machine has some small hydraulic leaks which I have not yet tracked down. I think it is...
  185. westcliffe01

    Removal of teeth from Bobcat bucket ?

    I find this an embarrasing subject, since tight bolts are in some ways part of working with heavey equipment, but here goes: The teeth on my Bobcat B200 loader bucket are bolted on and every attempt to remove the bolts so far has failed. Since I am working with landscaping on my property...
  186. westcliffe01

    B200 operation question - re seat rotation

    Hi I today demo'ed a Bobcat B200 which I intend to purchase. One of the things that I discovered during my demo was that when the vehicle is operational and one rotates the seat to operate the backhoe, part of the seat displaces the lever that controls the bucket, resulting in an uncommanded...
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