Just a NORMAL Day

[crash325]

A few days ago went to take a shower. Waters cold - Out of Propane. - No big deal - Just load the tank & go get it filled.

Along the way drive out in the desert a little way & let the girls run & hunt. Grab a couple of small trees (Dead ) for fire wood.

Get home & hook up tank. Sort of pulled a muscle in my back. - No big deal - don't hurt very bad.

Want to move truck - No start - battery dead? - Its hot - no big deal - will go to town & buy a new one - this one sort of flaky anyway.

Today want to jump truck - Light under hood has completely killed the battery. - No big deal - hook tractor battery to truck & let it charge for about 10 minutes.

Still no start just clicks & grunts - No big deal - Put tractor battery in truck. - Now lets go to town - Nope still only clicks & grunts.

Being prepared I have another starter in the back of the truck & the right tools to change it. - did it about 2 years ago. - Nope the needed tools not there. No big deal I just gather some up.

Sure feels good sliding around on my back in the gravel. Did I mention the new rt front tire almost flat - But I still have room (barley) to get under truck.

Well I mostly had the right tools - another trip out and get another hand full. Got the battery cable off the starter - now to get the little 16 gauge wire off. - Oops starter slips out of my hands - no big deal that little wire caught it - didn't even break - Nut to hold little wire on weird size Not 1/4 5/16 or 3/8ts - Well a C resent wrench fits - just a little hard to use.

Did I mention that these starters are heavy - Holding it up with 1 hand & taking that wire off is no fun. Got the little wire off. - Now I have made sure that my head is not under the starter in case it falls again. - Small mistake had my arm under it when it fell. - Kind of nasty looking wound on my right wrist - it will feel a lot better when it quits hurting. Hardly even bleeding.

Test replacement starter its good - test old starter - clicks & grunts - Wow I'm making progress. - just put this puppy in - Hang starter by little wire - Now if I can get it positioned just right I can put on the battery cable - Almost get it - If it was a couple of inches longer sure would be a lot easier. - remove clamp holding it to the frame - Hot Dog got the needed 2 inches - Get the starter back up in place - ( Did I mention the nut sizes on the starter are a different size than old one.) -
Good reason for that, the stud on starter is bigger than old one. - & its bigger - cable will not go on, hole in cable too small. - No big deal, I'll just ream it out.

Can't find a good reamer or right size rat tail file. OH well i can use the file handle - not working too bad & making progress - After a while check progress - About 1/2 as much as needed.

Me tired - bad shoulder aching - time for a beer & think about this.

Put battery back in tractor so I can move it back so that when the bucket comes down it does not mash the truck hood.

At last something went right - have a beer - I've had enough fun for 1 day - tomorrow is another day. :licking: :thumbsup:

 

[Depmandog]

What a day! The only thing that would have topped this day would you to have came face to face with a rattler while laying under your truck with the starter in your hand!! I thought that's where the story was going!!

 

[crash325]

What a day! The only thing that would have topped this day would you to have came face to face with a rattler while laying under your truck with the starter in your hand!! I thought that's where the story was going!!

Though I had one the other day. Dogs were giving their Snake bark at a pile of lumber near where truck is sitting. Poked around in the wood pile & nothing rattled, so must have been another type of snake.

After 7 dead last year, may not have too many this year.

 

[wolftree]

I had to look to see that you were from Arizonia since it was not raining on you as well.

 

[GolfAddict]

... it will feel a lot better when it quits hurting...

:laughing: I'm going to steal that one! :laughing:

 

[crash325]

SUCCESS - & success does not come easy around this place.
When it does come it's nice to take it slow & enjoy it. Kind of like If you gulp down 3 beers, the pleasure is over real quick'.
But if you sit & drink slowly the pleasure lasts a lot longer.

Day before yesterday, I got to thinking. That starter is probably getting tired of me holding it up. So I gave it the day off. Did get a battery charger working & battery charging.

Next day, lets get er done. Found 2 rotary burrs & a broken reamer. Picked up a drill & the chuck was slightly frozen. Got it freed up enough to work. OH crap the drill motor its self is frozen. Get a working drill & time to attack that nasty battery cable.

Start up tractor & push the truck back a little closer to the compressor & extension cord. Hey that went real well even better than expected.

Compressor worked & tire is aired up. Now for the real work. Broken reamer is too hard to try & turn. Smallest burr a little bigger than hole. But holding it at an angle it worked real fine. Got that hole reamed out just a tad oversize. Perfect - Drug up an old piece of tin to go between me & the rocks. Not perfect but big improvement. Gained another 2/3 inches of cable by removing a clamp. Cable fits right on, good going. - now where is that nut?? OH its under the wrench I just laid down - Why it even starts & I can quit holding up the stater. Got that puppy tightened down. Not easy but starter is headed home. After a little wrestling & a few good words got bolts started & tight. Well I did have to pause once to loosen & reposition cable that is hitting the truck frame. That's after I drag myself out from under truck & locate a couple of 5/8" wrenches. 1 Is too tight, other I had ground out a tad for a similar situation. By flipping the wrench I can get a whole flat on the nut. That's OK does not need to be very loose. Starter now all tightened up & I'm ready to try it. OH Crap it's holding the small wire tight against the exhaust manifold. - Reposition 1 more time. Nope that is not working still against manifold. After careful study the big cable has to be removed & the small wire put on the other side of it. Did I mention the nut is real tight on the stud & can't be finger turned. Time cures most every thing & soon ( not very) that cable will be off & back on.

At last ready to start truck. A charged up battery sure seems to weigh a lot more than it did empty. Got er in, now the big test. Key & door alarm making nice noise. Click Grunt & That's it. At this point I am just thrilled. Why I'm so happy I could just Break Wind. That battery gets heaver every time I move it.
Take battery back out of tractor & put in truck. Nothing, no alarm, no click & grunt. Lets check fuses, All good. Now what???

Now should anyone ever ask, you can say you got it from a person with knowledge on the subject.

No Matter how good the battery, no matter how good the starter. Unless the ground cable is hooked up. an engine will not crank.

Truck Cranked & engine started. Running a little rough & died once. But re-lit and smoothed out in just a little while. Alternator putting out 15 amps. Keep it at a high idle until alternator cuts back to 14 Volts.

Monday its off to the big city, new battery & get tire fixed. End Of Story - I HOPE!!!

 

[Ken]

A few days ago went to take a shower. Waters cold - Out of Propane. - No big deal - Just load the tank & go get it filled.

Along the way drive out in the desert a little way & let the girls run & hunt. Grab a couple of small trees (Dead ) for fire wood.

Get home & hook up tank. Sort of pulled a muscle in my back. - No big deal - don't hurt very bad.

Want to move truck - No start - battery dead? - Its hot - no big deal - will go to town & buy a new one - this one sort of flaky anyway.

Today want to jump truck - Light under hood has completely killed the battery. - No big deal - hook tractor battery to truck & let it charge for about 10 minutes.

Still no start just clicks & grunts - No big deal - Put tractor battery in truck. - Now lets go to town - Nope still only clicks & grunts.

Being prepared I have another starter in the back of the truck & the right tools to change it. - did it about 2 years ago. - Nope the needed tools not there. No big deal I just gather some up.

Sure feels good sliding around on my back in the gravel. Did I mention the new rt front tire almost flat - But I still have room (barley) to get under truck.

Well I mostly had the right tools - another trip out and get another hand full. Got the battery cable off the starter - now to get the little 16 gauge wire off. - Oops starter slips out of my hands - no big deal that little wire caught it - didn't even break - Nut to hold little wire on weird size Not 1/4 5/16 or 3/8ts - Well a C resent wrench fits - just a little hard to use.

Did I mention that these starters are heavy - Holding it up with 1 hand & taking that wire off is no fun. Got the little wire off. - Now I have made sure that my head is not under the starter in case it falls again. - Small mistake had my arm under it when it fell. - Kind of nasty looking wound on my right wrist - it will feel a lot better when it quits hurting. Hardly even bleeding.

Test replacement starter its good - test old starter - clicks & grunts - Wow I'm making progress. - just put this puppy in - Hang starter by little wire - Now if I can get it positioned just right I can put on the battery cable - Almost get it - If it was a couple of inches longer sure would be a lot easier. - remove clamp holding it to the frame - Hot Dog got the needed 2 inches - Get the starter back up in place - ( Did I mention the nut sizes on the starter are a different size than old one.) -
Good reason for that, the stud on starter is bigger than old one. - & its bigger - cable will not go on, hole in cable too small. - No big deal, I'll just ream it out.

Can't find a good reamer or right size rat tail file. OH well i can use the file handle - not working too bad & making progress - After a while check progress - About 1/2 as much as needed.

Me tired - bad shoulder aching - time for a beer & think about this.

Put battery back in tractor so I can move it back so that when the bucket comes down it does not mash the truck hood.

At last something went right - have a beer - I've had enough fun for 1 day - tomorrow is another day. :licking: :thumbsup:

Jim this sounds like almost a year ago was coming toward your direction and the propane bottle was empty

Along with a bunch of troubles. Maybe still same starter getting installed?

My today started good a man had called wanting to look at and maybe purchase my Allis WD-45 so to be able get it out of tractor shed had to move a lumber stack all 14 /16 ' length. one shoulder not working and the arm other side has had surgery and full of stiches.

after considerable time loading lumber onto trailer was able to make room to drive tractor out of the shed. Battery had been charged the oil transmission grease looked good and birds had spent the last year aiming at the steering wheel center bolt. so drove to water hose and in low 40 degree weather washed the tractor. went into house and pontental buyer arrived.
Wanted to haggle on the agreed price ended up got my agreed dollors and then sold him a used bush hog then he mentioned he had a J.D. M busted block so swapped him the bush hog and a 3kw old kohler generator. for the unseem M so now when he returns will find out if I had a bad or good day .
Jim the easyiest way to repair the old equipment is to turn it over do dirty side is up then dirt doesn't get in your eyes and gravity works with you not against.

So when are you going to get that load of propane next year.?
ken

 

[crash325]

Hi ken.
Life is grand & just one big bowl of cherries.
Went to 30 gallon propane - lot easier to load & unload. Before getting the tractor & pulled or starained a mussel in my back'

For some reason this truck eats starters. Chevy 350 engine that usually starts before it cranks a full revolution.
2Nd or maybe third starter. about a year 1/2 ago it was the solenoid. Turned the washer over & sanded it clean. Starter worked at that time.
I was working on it when my brother in law showed up & being smart, I let him take over.
But I did buy a spare & carry it in the truck.

Found out my good shoulder is worse than the bad one.

About 3 / 4 months ago got a flesh eating something or another. Sort of like gang green. Spent 2.5 months in & out of Hospital & rehab. 10 /12 inch cut 1 /2 inches wide 2+ inches deep. Took out nerves, muscle, ligaments. Actually still in the healing process. Doc said had I waited 1 more day to come in I would have died ed.
A little over 3 maybe 4 weeks ago took a fall about 8 feet. Landed on left foot, bad sprain & some fractured bones. Most of the black & blue is gone, but still swollen. Bones will never heal. EX Wife had a similar fracture years ago & still bothers her. Nothing tastes good any more, EX said that could be from antibiotics, & it lingers.
It also took away about 1/2 the little strength that I had left.

Did I mention that a tractor with a hydrostatic transmission is really hard to start without a battery. :laughing:

Tomorrow, new truck battery & maybe a spare used battery for some of the other things with bad batteries.
Next month some solar battery maintainers. Will also get another spare starter in a month or 2.

At least you picked up a few $$$ instead spending them.

Have Fun,
Jim

 

[Ken]

Jim there was a series of Chev. that the orginal starter had shims for proper placement and when exchanging failing to add the shims caused starters to fail.
Look at the wear on removed starter is it just on the edge if the gear or seated into the middle. if edge doesn't get a good hold and wears the flywheel ring dig a pit so can stand up under pick up to work on it. if prepared will never need .

With the health problems maybe to much home cooking.
Some BBQ snake with boiled scorpon on the side causes intestional problems.

Was your illness bacterial or something picked up or bug bite.

Don't know if made to much $$ in sales and trading Buy high sell low and have learned not to load until cash is in the hand.

Now own a Little J.D. "M" with crack in the block. But have not seen maybe repairable it will show up in the future.
Under stand it is sitting in back yard across the other side of state. Know the seller so fairly sure it will show up later.

ken

 

[crash325]

Hi Ken,
Not sure what caused the problem. I suspect that it was a spider /tick / bug bite.
Doc has given me a prescription for handicap license plate. Now an official old crippled fart.

How is your shoulder doing??

Sure do understand about buying high & selling low. I say that I lost my fortune getting rich.

Pit not practical here, to flat & when big rains come whole yard flows water about a foot deep. Have though of it though.

Got any plans for the little JD M ??

Original starter was replaced by a shop. If it had shims, they got left out them. I will take a look at the spur gear.

 

[crash325]

Went to town today - Have I mentioned I hate going to or being in town.
Main thing get dog food, get tire fixed & pick up 1 or 2 batteries.

Get beer on way to town - now that's a good thing.
Need a few groceries, also get dog food there. Basket was far from full - Pedigree sort of on sale $22 for a 33# bag. Only a $143 for a near empty basket.
Sure a good thing I didn't need a lot of food.

Stop at tire shop - Very small leak between tread & side wall - patch not a good idea. - Have road hazard need to go to tire store see about a replace meant.

Lets get battery first - Customer relations close to zero - counter man could not hear me, only himself. About 5 times I said "Top Post" & he kept asking side or top posts. Battery in bed of truck, look at it - A Side Post. Reluctantly he got out a top post & replace the side one. ME not in a good mood now.
had left a battery to be charged & checked = $5 in advance - Not for that would go to a different store.

Still need to go to DMV, have AC checked & see about tire.

Then my own stupidity dawned on me. Not even noon & its 90 degrees. Sick of town anyway skip all other stops to save milk & meat.

Starting to cool right down - was 98 a little while ago - now only 97. Suppose to drop back into the 80's next week.

Life is Great - If you don't weaken.

 

[Ken]

Hi Ken,
Not sure what caused the problem. I suspect that it was a spider /tick / bug bite.
Doc has given me a prescription for handicap license plate. Now an official old crippled fart.

How is your shoulder doing??

Sure do understand about buying high & selling low. I say that I lost my fortune getting rich.

Pit not practical here, to flat & when big rains come whole yard flows water about a foot deep. Have though of it though.

Got any plans for the little JD M ??

Original starter was replaced by a shop. If it had shims, they got left out them. I will take a look at the spur gear.

Jim consider the septic tank then able to stand up and get bath same time. Old Geezers from desert and there mule smelled about the same.

And the dogs will love and respect you.

I bought a roto Tiller for the garden yesterday and had drove 40 miles to store to load the new tiller. got home and tried to till and the tiller blades hit the housing locking up the rotation .
This morning returned to the store got replacement and then all day spent getting the garden ready to plant.

so how was your day.
ken

 

[crash325]

Jim consider the septic tank then able to stand up and get bath same time. Old Geezers from desert and there mule smelled about the same.

And the dogs will love and respect you.

I bought a roto Tiller for the garden yesterday and had drove 40 miles to store to load the new tiller. got home and tried to till and the tiller blades hit the housing locking up the rotation .
This morning returned to the store got replacement and then all day spent getting the garden ready to plant.

so how was your day.
ken

yesterday went local clinic & talked to insurance lady. No real progress. she to call me & I will see her next week.
Also the first day to reach 100 degrees actually 101
Visited a friend & we solved a few world problems over a beer or 3.
at his place I let the girls run free. they have a great time. It Started a few weeks ago. They have decided to guard his place. when someone approaches they go challenge them. He has no fence & they love how far they can go. They check in with me about every 5 minuets.

 

[crash325]

Since temps are in the 100's it was time to get the swamp box running.
Actually went pretty well. No major problems. A few little hiccups not worth talking about.

Last night I was sitting out side & wishing that I had a bed out on the deck. Maybe next year after I rebuild the front deck, that I have never liked anyway.

Fired up the "Mister" on the back deck yesterday. With a lot of messing around, got 2 nozzles semi working. Next trip to town, new nozzles or maybe a whole new Mister.

 

[crash325]

These Normal days are killing me. heat not too bad. Wind has been a *****. Allergy goes up & down with the wind.

Been about 1/2 sick for a week or 10 days. Got a boil on my butt, big nasty sucker. Would lance it if I could see it. About 3/4" wide by about 1.5 inches long. hurts like ****, but is starting to drain stinky stuff.

Well went down, no water pressure. Changed pressure control valve. Found some shorts in the knife switch. Fixed them, more shorts in condenser box. Fixed ??? Sort of. Was getting a sun Stroke & had to quit. Dizzy & brain not working very good. Went to Friends house, Beer, Water Cold rags & Ice cubes. Took about 2 hours & feeling pretty good.

Got home tried to Bar B Q some ribs. tasted like crap. Dog girls happy now.

Came in house, wow its sure is warm in here. OH crap water pump on cooler is out.Cooler just blows hot air.

Tomorrow AM, fight with the well some more. Go to town, new water pump for cooler.
If i can't get well pump working, call well man. $150 for test, $2,000 if pump bad. May take 2 / 3 days before he can come out. Lives in Sierra Vista.

OH well life goes on. Just hope I don't weaken.
Tomorrow Well, town, - beer , pump, dog food.

 

[Ken]

These Normal days are killing me. heat not too bad. Wind has been a *****. Allergy goes up & down with the wind.

Been about 1/2 sick for a week or 10 days. Got a boil on my butt, big nasty sucker. Would lance it if I could see it. About 3/4" wide by about 1.5 inches long. hurts like ****, but is starting to drain stinky stuff.

Well went down, no water pressure. Changed pressure control valve. Found some shorts in the knife switch. Fixed them, more shorts in condenser box. Fixed ??? Sort of. Was getting a sun Stroke & had to quit. Dizzy & brain not working very good. Went to Friends house, Beer, Water Cold rags & Ice cubes. Took about 2 hours & feeling pretty good.

Got home tried to Bar B Q some ribs. tasted like crap. Dog girls happy now.

Came in house, wow its sure is warm in here. OH crap water pump on cooler is out.Cooler just blows hot air.

Tomorrow AM, fight with the well some more. Go to town, new water pump for cooler.
If i can't get well pump working, call well man. $150 for test, $2,000 if pump bad. May take 2 / 3 days before he can come out. Lives in Sierra Vista.

OH well life goes on. Just hope I don't weaken.
Tomorrow Well, town, - beer , pump, dog food.

Morning Jim Maybe today will be a good one.
Received the jd"M" and checking the engine rain had run down the exhaust stack rusting a valve and bending push rod . So pulled engine and took pan off all good except the water in pan took the rods and main caps off antifreeze had discolored surfaces Ordered parts. Used to be able to place order and pick up the next day. Now parts ordered and been 2 weeks still no call from parts house.

Honed the cylinder bore and small amount of rust where the rain went past the rings. think will be o'k
original rings and bearings dated '49

We have had some rain 5 inches last week softened the soil and driving past rear of building the Dodge sank to frame Had to go back 2 miles to get the tractor drug truck backwards to higher ground then drive tractor back to house and get ride to drive the truck . Wife says I'm retired and to think ahead of the events and not get into troubles like a stuck truck.
Told her if knew truck was going to sink into the road would not have driven that direction.

Then got to thinking about lack of customer service . 1st of March wife wanted new Lazy boy chair . drove 40 miles to furniture store and she liked a style and color of one in store.
But wanted my chair to look like hers and so ordered new one for my use. Back ordered by 6 weeks to arrive. O'k
8 weeks later called the store and was told had not arrived . 2 more weeks and called again . still no chair. Yesterday decided to check and look face to face with person that purchased from.
Drove the 40 miles and asked if they would recheck the order and locate just where the chair was . Would think they could of done this weeks earlier with out being told to do so. And found it sitting in there own warehouse . past few weeks. acted like it was my fault in not coming in earlier.
So wipe this store off the small list of where we purchase anything.

Jim there used to be a song about worry, misery and troubles for me or some such wording. Think if we met about 1/2 way Some where around Clyde Tex. could put a slug in juke box and listen to the song. ? While having a cup of coffee.

ken

 

[Jstpssng]

Ken, you may have been thinking of this old "HeeHaw" theme. Gloom despair and agony on me - YouTube - YouTube

Tomorrow is a new day. :thumbsup:

 

[crash325]

Hi Ken,
Good to see you are having fun.
Customer service should be renamed Customer Disservice. Just went through that with a battery store. Did buy 1 battery, but didn't buy the second one.

Dann - Hard to believe but things went Right today. Well Mostly - Only took another couple of hours.

Young neighbor that knows a little something about electricity & had a couple of good testers came to help. I had got the pump running twice, but only for a few seconds at a time. When the fuse box started shooting sparks yesterday, I blamed a Red Wire that had burnt off a couple of inches & made sure it was not touching anything. 220 Volt only needs 3 wires, there are 4 of them coming from the main breaker panel. & Red is no longer used. Turns out the Red wire was 1 of the hot wires. My guess is the capacitor would kick the pump on, but it could not run on 110 Volts.

The good news do not need a pump, now working fine again. About a $2,000 victory
Second good news Swamp box does not need a new pump. It had just run out of water. About a $40 victory.

Tomorrow will pretty things up a little, add some insulation. Then hope it lasts.

 

[Ken]

Ken, you may have been thinking of this old "HeeHaw" theme. Gloom despair and agony on me - YouTube - YouTube

Tomorrow is a new day. :thumbsup:

That's the song.

Jim living in the desert West of Tucson needs a little cheering up sometimes.

ken