Stuff you have fixed today

[Blobber]

The ride on broke again, its really trying my patience! the big spring that tensions the drive belt lost its hooked end but not to be beaten I had a rummage through the Vauxhall/Bedford stock and found a nice clevis, eventually got a hole drilled in the end but jeeze it was hard, poked the spring though and got a nice big blob of weld on the end, thatl do it!
Ran it for 3 hours and its fine, did fit a new belt while it was off but I might need to see if there is any adjustment as the drive belt is a bit tight

 

[Farside]

Ran it for 3 hours and its fine, did fit a new belt while it was off

You did well with that old one

 

[Arc Tourist]

Today I fixed a modern engineering failure. Specifically, a motorcycle fender. Why they are so darn short and inefficient boggles the mind . Oh, its most likely a marketing sales scheme, catering to looks over function. Even the add on extensions are pretty much useless when it comes to keeping sheep & cow ***** from being slung up onto the engine or else ware. So, I bought an A4 size sheet of 4mm thick neoprene and fabricated a five inch extension for the Pyramid extension I initially acquired for extending the stock Honda fender on my recently acquired bike. I'm happy with the result, and had enough material left over to make a deflector to keep debris off the rear shock.

 

[Blobber]

You did well with that old one

It did 2 seasons but I think it might have been hanging a round a bit before I got it as it cracked up badly pretty quick

 

[slim_boy_fat]

^^ Love the standard of your work!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

This Copper Soldering came my way.

Si I used it as a educational aid on how to fit a new handle with out glue.

The handle was also salvaged from a dead file.

Handle was cleaned and given a good oiling.

Getting it to a nice dull red heat.
You want it a dull red heat for 3/4 of the depth you want to fix the handle.

Smoking.

You need to fix the handle in one go, once it is on and solid, do not tamper with it.

Finished, I even re-tinned the tip with modern solder.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Well I had the tools out to clean up wooden handles.

This old multi tool was mine for pennies. I knew it had something in the handle, as it rattles.

But the cap was seized.

Wrap the lower section in a ice cold cloth, the cap with a hot water soaked cloth and wait.
It will come undone.

80% bee's wax melted and mixed with linseed oil.
It will bring the Box wood up a treat.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Well the metal part of the multi tool need the metal polish, so.......

So I cleaned the Georgian Ink well up.

I even made a new cork stopper.

Top LHS is a Percussion cap and fuse.

So that was cleaned.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Above in the image of the collection of things.
There is a Zippo.

Well it was brought as a zippo, but it was a clone.

I got it for spares to keep a 1968 original zippo going.
It was just a wee bit bigger than a Zippo, so nowt, bare the flint will fit.

So I fitted a new flint, fresh fuel and we have now have a working lighter.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I got robed on this.
I live and I learn.

The hydrometer was missing the thermometer and one weight. But the weights are not original, they are a mix of sets.

Using Meths and 00000 wire wool the muck, old wax and grease is removed.

At least 5 coats of bee's wax applied in thing coats and buffed up.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

This needed at off attention. It also was so far out of tolerance it was almost not worth it.

This amount of dirt on the heat sink will not help. When testing on 240V it was smoking.

So It was given a good clean.

Sadly, 3 out of the 5 balance resistors are damaged and spares are not available.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

So, more coffee was drank and as I had the tools out for the Volt meter, I might as well get this insulator tester checked out.

It is ex MOD or WD.

Not only is the scale marked with the Board Arrow, 80% of the internals are marked.


Testing showed it was still within tolerance. I had already ordered new leads. But they have not arrived.
Despite being on next day delivery.

The leather work was fed with saddle soap. Then a nice of the shelf wax was applied and buffed up.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

In-between the wax on the insulator tester I was able to clean up this Map measure.

Saddly some one had tried to lubicate it with something like 3 in one oil. The internals were gummed up.


So it was left in a make shift Meths. Vapour tank. You could see the oil and dirt dripping out.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

This wide tank Paraffin road lamp came my way, tired and just in need of a clean I thought.

The wick was long gone.

I fitted a new wick to test the tank. I knew the wick was the wrong size, but to test it will do.

The tank had a split seam.

New wick ordered an Friday morning, arrived yesterday. Fed Ex man had fun turning his van round.

Oh bother. Another weeping seam.

So I drained the tank and used a of the shelf tank sealer.

It is now with it's friends.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I even found time to fix this table saw.

The frame was bent and the saw blunt.

Saw set and sharpened.

 

[Matt2223]

E28 M5 steering box (ball and nut)
Restored, resealed and readjusted to factory specs.
View attachment 413498
View attachment 413497
View attachment 413496
View attachment 413495

Where do you get your spares from when rebuilding?

 

[Brad93]

Bearings and shaft seals normally simplybearings, o rings from polymax
Some small spares are available from BMW sometimes like the locking plate for the pitman arm nut was available for this steering box for instance. Larger parts have to get from doner

simply bearings are dear, try bearings r us

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Well, I know you all like a laugh of a weekend so...... One of my clothes poles developed a distinct list to port earlier in the week, to the extent that even I could have pulled it to the ground with two fingers. They rust at ground level where they're embedded in a big lump of concrete, and I reckon they're the originals from when the house was built c 60 years ago. Same thing had happened about 4 years ago, at which point I welded it up using 'splints' cut from a scrap of pipe lying about.

I had to resort to MMA which I hate attempting due to my eyesight problem - I keep burning holes due to difficulty in judging 3D position, and you all know what trying to weld rusty steel is like... Trying to grind back to clean metal.....forget it. That just resulted in bigger holes/gaps. Anyway, the before

and the result of much lying on the ground to attempt getting the right 'angle of attack' with associated grunting and swearing

Got a coat of matching green paint applied today so when it's fully dry I'll get the turf replaced and hope it lasts for a few years again.

Pretty it ain't, but it's strong enough to stay upright if I pull on it - for the moment.

I know I could have simply cut it off at ground level and erected a new replacement alongside, but that would have involved creating a new hole for the sleeve for the replacement - sod that for a game of 'sodjers' - I don't do digging now if I can avoid it.

 

[Gragson]

They rust at ground level where they're embedded in a big lump of concrete

Postcreated in an 18" ali sleeve so I just pull it out and store by side of shed when not in use as I think there ugly things.
Annoys the co-worker, but provides her added exercise as its a heavy quality old rotary thing.

 

[GRW]

Today I got my Will signed off at the Solicitors - so I've fixed it that if (when) I snuff it - there won't be more hassle than necessary for those I leave behind.