Good morning!!!!

[RedNeckGeek]

68F, headed for a high of 88F under partly cloudy skies.

The weather station appears to have repaired itself overnight and is working again. We'll see for how long...

Drew, beautiful job on the pavers. Please let us know how well the sand holds up in the joints. You used the special sealing sand, right? It also sounds like you're prepared for a low ball offer from Toyota, and (regrettably) my experience is you won't be disappointed. I've sold my last few vehicles through Craig's List, and find meeting the potential customer at their bank the easiest, and perhaps safest, way to take care of business.

Don, glad you're drying out and starting repairs to your roads. Sounds like snake boots work like rain coats and umbrellas, huh? My friend in Houston (not Austin as I'd previously reported) is looking for a 2 bedroom apartment to rent while his home is dried out.

David, sounds like you're making great progress on the insulation, and great that it's not too itchy.

RS, looks like you more than got your money's worth from those sprockets :laughing: And I'd go with the harder ones, too. Tractor Supply also sells roller chain, but don't know if it's perma-lube. It's bound to be less expensive than McMaster if they carry it.

Eric, I had an electronics teacher in high school that kept a rather large capacitor charged up on his desk. About once a week a kid would start fooling with it and get a pretty good shock, in the process learning another use for capacitors :laughing:

KevT, have you ever caught poison ivy from brush hogging it? I've got a few patches of poison oak I'd like to mow, but have been leery of breathing in the mist that might be created.

Sounds like Larro may have dodged a bullet, but riptides, sorry to hear the news on your A/C, especially the conflicting estimates. Makes you wonder which one, if either, is correct. Maybe time for a third opinion?

Finished up on the mowing yesterday using the old pusher. It hadn't been started in a year and the tank was dry. Was almost sure that the carb would be all gummed up, but had some hope it would be OK because it had E0 and Stabil in it. Filled it up with more of the same and found that the primer bulb was hard as a rock, but once it limbered up the darn thing started after only a few pulls, and was back to its usual one easy pull for the rest of the outing. This time I drained the tank and float bowl before putting it away, and blew out the air filter as well as topping up the oil. Should be good to go until next year

Started in on the RTV dump bed after that, hammering the top rails straight with a buck and a 3 lb. sledge. Made up U shaped toppers from 3/16" and 1/8" flat stock, welded to shape then welded onto the rails. After a fair amount of grinding (I'm a much better grinder than weldor) the first one came out fine. The new shirt still let a few sparks through, but at least it didn't catch on fire. :shocked: Should finish the other side later today, but the tail gate needs a new plate for the inner side. I didn't have anything suitable in the scrap pile, so it's off to the yard again.

Looking forward to Friday, and Eric's latest installment of the siphon adventure! :dance1:

 

[Thomas]

wngsprd.
"Thomas, I admire your spirit when you're still doing firewood with temps in the 80s."
Like to have wood split stack before June 1st...5 month drying...2 more cords going to be close.

 

[Thomas]

dave1949.
"The yard needs mowing and I should get the string trimmer out too."

Weather station Sunday going to be 20-25 degrees cooler. :scratchchin:

 

[dave1949]

dave1949.
"The yard needs mowing and I should get the string trimmer out too."

Weather station Sunday going to be 20-25 degrees cooler. :scratchchin:

I like that but the chance of afternoon t-storms today turned in a steady rain now. I got rained off the mower but the string trimming is done. We sure need the rain so I'm not complaining.

 

[rswyan]

76F and clouds and sun @ 13:45 ... headed up to a high of 81F ...

Rainfall since midnight was 0.45"

Waiting for a call back from Motion Industries on chain pricing ... which will be interesting since the guy says it comes in 10' lengths (I need about 10 1/2' ... )

Hope everyone has a good day.

 

[Larro Darro]

Still no snake sightings since I got the snake boots - I guess they work. What? - you think I would purposely test them? Here, hold my beer. . .

Don, I saw this on Face Book.

I shared it from Texas Hill Country to my timeline. He said, "THIS is a one good reason NOT to kill every snake you see. Texas Indigo snake eating a Rattler. The guy who took this pic said "it was still rattling all the way down." :confused3: They don't hurt humans or dogs!! There ARE snakes that are GOOD to have around, because they target the deadly ones. Just thought I'd share for those of you who think, or have friends who think, "the only good..."

 

[rswyan]

Guy from Motion Industries still hasn't called back - needed to "research" what would be the "proper type" of chain for this application ... geezus ... :confused2:

I just asked for a simple quote on standard and self-lubricating ANSI No. 40 chain ... how tough can it be ?

In the meantime I downloaded a parts manual for the Simplicity and got the part numbers for the items I need, and called the local Simplicity dealer to check on availability and pricing.

The drum/sprocket assemblies are available from Simplicity and are $162 apiece ... the jackshaft assemblies (the one with two sprockets) are no longer available.

Also checked on the large sprockets that are on the wheels - available @ $172 and change each.

Mighty proud they are ...

After that I tracked down a power train component supplier who can provide the components (drill rod, sprockets, etc - including roller chain) and the necessary machining, for what he feels will be a very reasonable price. Need to take the components down tomorrow so he can have a look at them and give me a firm quote.

Be willing to bet I still don't have a return call from Motion Industries on the chain by the time I make the trip.

 

[rswyan]

RS, looks like you more than got your money's worth from those sprockets :laughing:

Yup ... run 'em till they disintegrate ...

That was the original set in the pic I posted that I saved when I replaced them for the first time. We're now on second set and they are about as bad.

And I'd go with the harder ones, too. Tractor Supply also sells roller chain, but don't know if it's perma-lube. It's bound to be less expensive than McMaster if they carry it.

Yup ...

I think this place I found (Yohe Supply) will probably be cheaper than either from the sound of it, and if not I'm probably still more likely to get decent quality product (TSC can be a crap shoot at times)

Glad to hear you avoided lighting your new shirt ... I hate it when that happens

 

[RedNeckGeek]

"THIS is a one good reason NOT to kill every snake you see. Texas Indigo snake eating a Rattler. The guy who took this pic said "it was still rattling all the way down." :confused3: They don't hurt humans or dogs!! There ARE snakes that are GOOD to have around, because they target the deadly ones. Just thought I'd share for those of you who think, or have friends who think, "the only good..."

Good point, Larro! Don's big rattler didn't get that way by accident. It was feasting on mice, rats, and other rodents that might otherwise be destroying crops or, if they get inside a house, all kinds of household goods. Yes, I've killed rattlers here in the past, but only when they've been right at the house, and it was clear they were living in the rocks here. Now the rocks are buried and I haven't seen a rattler in more than two years. And if I do see one out in the pastures, I'll just keep my distance and let it keep doing what it's good at. As for other snakes, they always get a free pass, including an escort if they're inside the garage or on the patio...

 

[daugen]

fiddled around in the wood shop doing odds and ends, put the right hoses on the air supply and clamped them. Then the carpenters came to finish the last bit of the ceiling insulation now that the electricians are done. They reinforced the area under the vise as i asked them to and lastly I started to work on cutting down the crazy long power leads that Tripplite provided with their power strips. Must be 12 feet long; not sure why. I was able to tuck in the leads for the surge suppressor using some delightful rubber tubey things made by a company in Oregon called Goofy Products. Sure was the right size here.
I'm a sucker for US made, and thankfully found some plug ends made in the US at Lowes which surprised me.

 

[dave1949]

Drew, the woodwork shop is looking good. I'm never that organized.

 

[daugen]

thanks Dave and others.
RS, how about one of those old fashioned cup oilers right over the chain so you don't need permalube...
Oil Hole Cups and Covers | GITS Manufacturing
that way you could wear your striped train hat and overalls and carry the big oil can with you...

 

[farmer2009]

Drew that's a nice wood shop you have. I only see one thing it's missing. Sawdust.

Spent my time today on the loader repair. I forgot the before picture but if you look at the first one and imagine the bucket being separated about 4 inches on both sides of the middle cylinder. You can get an idea of what it started out as.



Finally got it pulled back close. Then finished welding it up. Had to add some filler plates.

 

[farmer2009]

Here's what it looked like after I pulled it back as close as I could. I can only post one picture at a time. I'm currently welding up the reinforcements.

 

[KevT]

Here's what it looked like after I pulled it back as close as I could. I can only post one picture at a time. I'm currently welding up the reinforcements.

View attachment 426888

Okay, Dumb Question.... Why do you have 2 ground leads connected? You have a stinger in each hand?

 

[deerseeker001]

I was wondering the same.

Okay, Dumb Question.... Why do you have 2 ground leads connected? You have a stinger in each hand?

 

[farmer2009]

Okay, Dumb Question.... Why do you have 2 ground leads connected? You have a stinger in each hand?

I was using a stick welder but parts of the bucket was too thin. So I had to drag out the flux core. I just left both grounds hooked up.

 

[Eric Salop]

Dog has just run upstairs to say good morning to my wife. They are usually pleased to see one another. Not so sure how it will go this morning.

This has become something of a daily ritual these past couple of years. I get up and then throw a cover over the bed to keep it clean for when he jumps up later, then me and dog go out and check on the sheep. After we get back, I clean him up best I can and he bounces upstairs to tell her all about his adventures while I make tea and then take it upstairs. When it is raining or a heavy dew I keep him downstairs with me a little longer to dry off.

Today dog is looking especially pleased with himself. We found a ewe stuck on her back and he claims he saw her first, but what pleased him most of all was that he found and then rolled in a generous helping of his favourite perfume - fox scat. Think I'll hold back a while before I make the tea.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Dog has just run upstairs to say good morning to my wife. They are usually pleased to see one another. Not so sure how it will go this morning.

This has become something of a daily ritual these past couple of years. I get up and then throw a cover over the bed to keep it clean for when he jumps up later, then me and dog go out and check on the sheep. After we get back, I clean him up best I can and he bounces upstairs to tell her all about his adventures while I make tea and then take it upstairs. When it is raining or a heavy dew I keep him downstairs with me a little longer to dry off.

Today dog is looking especially pleased with himself. We found a ewe stuck on her back and he claims he saw her first, but what pleased him most of all was that he found and then rolled in a generous helping of his favourite perfume - fox scat. Think I'll hold back a while before I make the tea.

The dog has lucked into a wonderful life.

 

[ronjhall]

Coffee is done brewing. 56° with rain this morning. Heading to 82° with thunderstorms this afternoon. Went car shopping with wife yesterday afternoon. Bought her a 2015 Chevy Captiva. We now have a matched pair in the garage. Will not get it until next week. While moving another car in dealers lot. Driver hit rear quarter panel.
My Aunt in town here needs some help repairing some cracked tiles in her kitchen counter top. That should keep me out of the rain today.
Eric, dog in my Avatar likes to go outside and roll in what ever smells good. Then come in and show us how well she smells. Good part, she cannot jump up on bed.
Drew, nice touch with the glass sea shell lamp. But on a work bench?
F2009, good repair.
Good Morning All