Good morning!!!!

[ronjhall]

Drinking first cup of coffee. 43° with cloudy skies this morning. Heading to 56° with afternoon rain. Lawnmower is on top of list today. Not much to do. Change blades and grease about 20 zerks. Today is last day for critter feeding. Both containers will be emptied. Well over 400 lbs of feed put in feeders this year.

Don, windshield tinting is interesting. Be nice if it helped. First time I ever understood why people have covers on steering wheel was in AZ. It was so hot I burnt my fingers when I touched it one sunny afternoon. I hate playing with sun shades that you put on inside. After that experience I used protector I put over windshield when towing car behind motorhome.

David, you have a big job there. Make sure you wear breathing and eye protection when doing the concrete cutting.

Looking, glad you found CEL problem.

Eric, fly fishing never appealed to me. I needed a big boat with lots of electronics to keep me occupied when fish did not want to bite. :confused2:

RNG, I"ll bet your mind gets caught wondering WHAT NEXT.

Good Morning All.

 

[toppop52]

Ron same here about the shopping.
Did any know there is a clear tint for the front windshield that cuts UV rays and keeps cars cooler? Does anyone have it?

Not legal here,even though it’s clear, no cover of any sort allowed on windshield. Guys put those brand name ones on the top part and they don’t bother them unless they stop them for some other issue.

 

[toppop52]

I always thought the glass in the windshield itself stopped almost all the UV rays already. And that the photo tint glasses I wear don't darken behind a windshield because they don't get sufficient UV exposure.

And it's Infra Red (IR) that does the heating.

Sounds like perfect snake oil to me, Don.

You are right on all counts.

 

[toppop52]

Good morning, looks like I’m in for the third mowing, sooner than later. Wind blew away one of my Easter decorations but I found it behind the house tick up next to the lattice on the deck. Ellen did the weed whacking, I love good help!
Gotta get moving, good day and God be with you all.

 

[Looking4new]

txdon; tinting the windshield is a huge no-no up here.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

RNG, I"ll bet your mind gets caught wondering WHAT NEXT.

At this point I just expect that anything done in that shop is suspect, so I'm trying to go through everything looking for loose fasteners, hose clamps that leak, poor routing/protection of electrical leads, and anything else that can be done half-a$$ed. Sadly, I'm finding a lot of shortcomings.

 

[txdon]

On the Toyota forum a guy did film his front windshield and reported on it - 4th post down - Clear Tinting front window | Toyota Tundra Forum

It sounds good. like Ron says not having to mess with a sun shield and a steering wheel you can touch are big plusses. The only thing that would be a negative is if you have get a the windshield repaired because of a chip the heat to repair the crack might make film replacement necessary. I'll check on that. the link above quotes a Texas department of public safety saying a un-tinted film is legal on the front windshield in Texas. TxDPS - VI Window Tint Program

Good morning! 70˚F big storm heading here tonight with possible hail and tornadoes. Glad I have a garage.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Good Morning!!!! 51F @ 5:00 AM. Mostly sunny. High 78F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Looks like tomorrow we'll be in the 80s for the first time this year. Can't say I'm looking forward to it.

Took a little walk around the yard yesterday, and it turns out there are lupins coming up all over the place. They're a lot later than last year, and more scattered, but they're there and will be very pretty if allowed to keep growing. So starts the yearly conundrum: let the lupins grow to enjoy their blossoms and perhaps get another round of seeds, or cut the grasses they grow in before it gets too high for the flail to deal with.

Think I'll wear a particle mask next time I use compressed air to blow out the vacuum cleaner canister. Took care of that job yesterday morning without one and my nose is still running.:confused2:

Learning more about driveshafts and u-joints, and found a couple of very informative videos that explain the vibration I'm seeing. Very likely the u-joint operating angles on the van are not right and the resulting speed variation at the front differential input flange are the result.

U-joint Operating Angle:
TheSamba.com :: Vanagon - View topic - Calling the Experts : Flange angles on Syncro's.

U-Joint Phase and Operating Angle:
Driveline Troubleshooting - YouTube

Turns out there are apps on the iPhone for measuring both vibration and angles, so hopefully I can make some progress today instead of just going by trial and error. I did get the laser level out yesterday to check horizontal alignment. Had to wait until the sun went down before I could clearly see the laser stripe, but once I did I saw that the transaxle and front differential were in the same plane. That's a good thing because I'm not sure there's very much adjustment available in that direction.

Happy Hump Day, folks!

 

[ronjhall]

Here is a similar video. That shows phasing.
Driveshaft Angle and Phasing - YouTube

 

[lostcreekranch]

Good Morning!!!! 51F @ 5:00 AM. Mostly sunny. High 78F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Looks like tomorrow we'll be in the 80s for the first time this year. Can't say I'm looking forward to it.

Took a little walk around the yard yesterday, and it turns out there are lupins coming up all over the place. They're a lot later than last year, and more scattered, but they're there and will be very pretty if allowed to keep growing. So starts the yearly conundrum: let the lupins grow to enjoy their blossoms and perhaps get another round of seeds, or cut the grasses they grow in before it gets too high for the flail to deal with.

Think I'll wear a particle mask next time I use compressed air to blow out the vacuum cleaner canister. Took care of that job yesterday morning without one and my nose is still running.:confused2:

Learning more about driveshafts and u-joints, and found a couple of very informative videos that explain the vibration I'm seeing. Very likely the u-joint operating angles on the van are not right and the resulting speed variation at the front differential input flange are the result.

U-joint Operating Angle:
TheSamba.com :: Vanagon - View topic - Calling the Experts : Flange angles on Syncro's.

U-Joint Phase and Operating Angle:
Driveline Troubleshooting - YouTube

Turns out there are apps on the iPhone for measuring both vibration and angles, so hopefully I can make some progress today instead of just going by trial and error. I did get the laser level out yesterday to check horizontal alignment. Had to wait until the sun went down before I could clearly see the laser stripe, but once I did I saw that the transaxle and front differential were in the same plane. That's a good thing because I'm not sure there's very much adjustment available in that direction.

Happy Hump Day, folks!

"Think I'll wear a particle mask next time I use compressed air to blow out the vacuum cleaner canister. "

Yep RNG, that's a job ....... I like a good wind for. Get upwind and go for it. Same for air filters on the tractors, Kubota ZT, Polaris Ranger, etc.

When there's no wind, I get in front of my 42" shop fan, turned on high. It has three speeds and moves a lot of air.



Mask is still a good idea with any dust.

 

[cat fever]

Good morning all,

38 this morning and clear skies, no wind. Should get over 50 today so the mud can start drying out.

Prayers for all, have a nice day.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Can you replace them one at a time?

I replaced mine one at a time on my old honda.. I also have a couple code readers, if i get check engine, usually emission related and i ignore until time for emission test.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Here is a similar video. That shows phasing.
Driveshaft Angle and Phasing - YouTube

I'd sure like to get my hands on one of those test setups, Ron. I've read that the rotation speed at each end of the driveshaft will remain constant as long as the operating angles of the u-joints are equal, even if the input and output shafts are not parallel. The output shaft of the transaxle in the van is "down" and lower than the input shaft of the front diff, and the input shaft of the front diff is "up". I haven't seen one of the test rigs run under those conditions yet, and seeing is believing!

 

[lostcreekranch]

Good Morning. It's 71°F here and overcast. Our forecast is for 78° this afternoon and storms overnight.

Looks like our "weather maker" is in Albuquerque area now. Ted is about to sample it, for those of us in Texas. After a very wet winter, March and April have been relatively dry so .... some rain will be welcome.

The forecast, for "partly cloudy", caused me to to get ready to wash outside windows yesterday. It was partly cloudy yesterday ........ just not here. Bright sunshine all day long. I'll try again today ..... in the overcast.

Then ..... put up the hummingbird feeder to see if they're around yet and if they remember to come here. Last year, was the first year, and it took them a couple of weeks to find us.

Hope everyone has an excellent "Hump Day" today.

Prayers to all.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Good morning to all! The weather guessers predicted a chance of a shower overnight and they were correct! Everything was damp, no puddles so I don't think a lot of rain fell. Didn't check the gauge. Low was 40, going up to 55 and continued chance of showers through this afternoon. Then clearing, sunny and nice through the weekend.

Got a chance to spend a few hours in the shop / garage yesterday... I had to do something with all the open shelf space since all the VW bug parts were gone. Got a bunch of stuff organized and placed in their new 'home' spot. Now if it can just stay organized... I've tried and tried to catch the person that gets the shop so messy....I'm gonna have to get some cameras set up....

David, good luck with getting the gas line run. Hopefully no other roadblocks get in the way and it goes smoothly. Tough getting by without any propane to the appliances....back to heating bath water on the wood burner?

LFN, glad you got the diagnosis on the CEL on the journey. Not too bad of a fix.

Mostly, yes just replace one at a time. Usually the front one goes out first.

RNG, I hope you have success chasing the vibration. BTDT on my jeep...to the point of replacing the entire driveshaft and having it high speed balanced at a speed shop. That still didn't fix it. I was able to lower the transfer case and raise the pinion angle to finally get the angles better.

Drew, have fun out in the garden today! No daydreaming while on the Farmall...you need those potatoes!

Not sure what is on the agenda for today....

Everyone have a great hump day! prayers sent.

 

[toppop52]

I'd sure like to get my hands on one of those test setups, Ron. I've read that the rotation speed at each end of the driveshaft will remain constant as long as the operating angles of the u-joints are equal, even if the input and output shafts are not parallel. The output shaft of the transaxle in the van is "down" and lower than the input shaft of the front diff, and the input shaft of the front diff is "up". I haven't seen one of the test rigs run under those conditions yet, and seeing is believing!

I had a 4wd Suburban diesel that had a driveline vibration, we balanced driveshafts, checked input and output bearings, checked yolks, triple checked wheel/tire combo, we already had new u-joints but we checked the needles and the play and any płay in the assembled units. After two months of chasing ghosts, we found an extremely slight cant in one shaft of the rear u-joint, replaced it and the vibration was gone. We ad convinced ourselves that it couldn’t be the new u-joints because everything seemed fine. We only found it because I laid it on a clean table and noticed one side of one cap didn’t seem to be seating, I pulled it off to make sure a roller hadn’t come out, put it back together and it still looked like that, we measured between the shafts and it was off a few .001”. You would think if you could get it in the yolk it would be ok, but not so.

 

[CWB Wyo]

It's 19° this morning with a nice blue sky, the first one I've seen in a week. Yesterday was overcast all day with light snow showers. Today is going to be around 50° and sunny with some wind 10-15 mph. It looks like we will have a few nice days tell the weekend.

I did get a path shoveled out to the water shed yesterday. Didn't take as long as I thought I it would.

If it gets as warm as they are calling for I think I will set in the sun and practice some welding.

Hope everyone has a nice day.
CWB.

 

[daugen]

Bill, be careful and not get trapped between some creeks overflowing.
Ted, 83 and gorgeous, sun is out, gas tank full, oil just changed, time to head out.
Just wish it wasn't like driving a bucking bronco compared to the other tractors, both of which are
comfortable to drive. Seating position is really low and you hang on to the steering wheel for dear life as it
tries to yank itself out of your hands at times.

but the real issue is can I do it this time with perfect concentration, no more "getting out of line" literally.
Since I'm only cultivating with spike teeth, I can go slow, or whatever first gear is.

And then I get in the new tractor, hope it starts and go move some dirt.
Able to play because lawn care service finally called back and said they were showing up for first time this afternoon to do weedeating.
That's a relief.
Not a good start for them to not return multiple calls of mine, left on answering machines.
But I never got your call. Ok....

Went to local Napa and stocked up on supplies while they built two beautiful battery cables for me to
build up a battery bank for my water wagon. Going to add a second battery and these cables are shrink wrapped and
simply beautifully made. Feels like welding cable, very thick.
Probably overkill but always good to have some heavy cables. I didn't trust battery positioning to make them two feet long so I went three feet. And now I'm having second thoughts on the connectors. I have to lay cable nearby to visualize.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Drew, it's better to be 6" too long than to be 6" too short! You won't get any appreciative voltage drop in just a couple of feet.

 

[PJSprog]

62°F and cloudy this morning, going up to 79° today, with storms expected this evening. Got up to 86° yesterday.

We changed trash pickup services last week ... or, should I say, we "arranged" to change them last week. The old company had been raising their rates drastically. Wife checked our records, and in less than six months, their fees had more than doubled. The basic service fee went up, and they started adding all kinds of environmental and administrative fees as well. Wife saw a truck another local company going down our road, and found their rates are less that the old companies old rates. Done deal. They were supposed to drop one of their cans last Wednesday morning and start pickup. They did not, for whatever reason. The old company was supposed to stop pickup, but they did anyway. New company finally dropped off a can on Thursday. It's a 90 gallon can, so now the giant supply of 65 gallon bags we have won't fit. So it goes. Hoping the new company gets it right this week. When The Wife talked to them and gave them our address, she said the girl chuckled and told her we were the third call for new service they'd gotten that week from our area. No surprise there.

Good luck with the new lines, David. Seems like you've been spending a lot of time on concrete just to cut it open again.