Stuff you have fixed today

[Hopefuldave]

I thought "aviation spanner" meant it was made of aluminium, to prevent sparking when you drop it in an environment full of fuel vapour.

Traditionally bronze for flammable areas, when I worked on BT we had a kit we could draw from stores for the likes of oil and gas refineries, footway boxes full of vapour from leaking petrol station tanks - the storeman was very possessive about it, not surprising at the price!

 

[DanZac]

I thought "aviation spanner" meant it was made of aluminium, to prevent sparking when you drop it in an environment full of fuel vapour.

I've spent most of my career in Aviation, and in all that time I've rarely, if ever, come across an "Aviation Spanner".

99% of the time there's not room to get a normal spanner in the space, let alone a long one. Your'e more likely to come across the extra offset or bent handled spanners for getting in tight spaces, and its pretty rare that you need the extra leverage, because things don't tend to corrode like cars do.

And I've definitely never come across Aluminium spanners either. Aviation fuel (jet, not the 100 octane stuff they used in spitfires) is less flammable than diesel, so whilst power tools can be an issue, sparking associated with hand tools etc doesn't tend to be.

 

[julianthegypsy]

nowadays you'd Photoshop the hand out. Actually, thinking about it I have written user manuals that had step-by-step instructions with pictures, and I copied and pasted lit lamps over unlit ones to make the representations look right.

I always wanted to build a panel like the cockpit of that spaceship in Hitch-hiker's Guide... it had black bulbs with black lenses that lit up black on a black background.

Reminds me of a guy I knew who built specialised software for oilfields. It was specific to each field and generated reports which the name of the field in the heading. Every so often he'd get customers complaining that the screen had gone blank. It was his protection. You could change the name of the field in the heading, but then you were essentially using knocked off software, so he put a tiny bit of code into it. Everything carried on working but it changed the font colour to the same as the background so you couldn't actually see it...

 

[Robotstar5]

Reminds me of a guy I knew who built specialised software for oilfields. It was specific to each field and generated reports which the name of the field in the heading. Every so often he'd get customers complaining that the screen had gone blank. It was his protection. You could change the name of the field in the heading, but then you were essentially using knocked off software, so he put a tiny bit of code into it. Everything carried on working but it changed the font colour to the same as the background so you couldn't actually see it...

When I was building robot welding cells my boss had an idea a customer wouldn't make the final payment once it was installed so I put a timer in the PLC (industrial computer) software set to disable the machine a couple of weeks after payment due date. Sure enough boss gets a phone call "my machine's stopped", my boss tells him once the payment's cleared he can have the password to restart his machine - money appeared in the bank within the hour

 

[julianthegypsy]

When I was building robot welding cells my boss had an idea a customer wouldn't make the final payment once it was installed so I put a timer in the PLC (industrial computer) software set to disable the machine a couple of weeks after payment due date. Sure enough boss gets a phone call "my machine's stopped", my boss tells him once the payment's cleared he can have the password to restart his machine - money appeared in the bank within the hour

Far simpler than chasing payment from a customer who has a working machine and no incentive to pay for it!

 

[Robotstar5]

Far simpler than chasing payment from a customer who has a working machine and no incentive to pay for it!

That particular customer was a pain, we commissoned the machine with decent quality welding wire which they replaced with the cheapest tat they could find then tried to blame us for poor weld quality.

 

[julianthegypsy]

That particular customer was a pain, we commissoned the machine with decent quality welding wire which they replaced with the cheapest tat they could find then tried to blame us for poor weld quality.

Isn't it predictable that they'd be bad payers too. Always the way.

 

[Onoff]

When I was building robot welding cells my boss had an idea a customer wouldn't make the final payment once it was installed so I put a timer in the PLC (industrial computer) software set to disable the machine a couple of weeks after payment due date. Sure enough boss gets a phone call "my machine's stopped", my boss tells him once the payment's cleared he can have the password to restart his machine - money appeared in the bank within the hour

A crowd I know did similar but to generate income through regular equipment " breakdowns". They got caught when the client noted the regularity of the callouts.

 

[Robotstar5]

A crowd I know did similar but to generate income through regular equipment " breakdowns". They got caught when the client noted the regularity of the callouts.

There were suspicions of that happening with a VAX computer installed at a Ford plant in the 80's, it needed an (expensive) engineer call-out every few months.

 

[DanZac]

It's taken a few weeks, but I've started fixing this mess.

That's a 5 year old kitchen end panel from the supplier that advertises themselves as the UK's No1 kitchen retailer, and whilst that ones really bad, all of the doors and panels have delamination to some degree.

I'd normally be blinking annoyed about these failing so soon. But, as I've had almost the entire cost of the kitchen refunded due to supplier errors and mistakes, I'm not complaining (as much).

I've tried resticking them before, but the laminate appears to be slightly shrunk on, so you end up with gaps, and it never fully comes off either, so getting it stuck back down properly never works.

So, in a first step to putting it right, I got some paint matched in the same colour (costly, and I had my doubts on how good a match it would be), and as a bit of a trial run I made a couple of new panels from a sheet of MDF which was knocking around.

Handily, these ones go down the side of the washing machine, so that seemed like a good place to see what was achievable, without it being obvious if my efforts were a disaster.

Which today finally got fitted.

I'm pretty pleased with that. In fact I know they're not the originals, but I still can't tell the difference (excuse the rubbish photo). Credit where its due to the paint shop guy. That's the most I've ever spent on a tin of paint, but it went on beautifully (sprayed with a Wagner FLEXiO electric spray gun), and the colour match is spot on, plus there's enough left to do the rest of the house, so it was well worth it in my book.

Now I know what's achievable, my plan is to wait until the others unstick themselves a bit more (which they will!) and then try removing any remaining laminate and reusing the door blanks to save making new, and if I can't get a decent finish on them, I'll just make replacements as above.

 

[DanZac]

This afternoon I have been mostly replacing this......

In case your dirty copper washer recognition skills aren't up to speed, that's the No1 Injector sealing washer thing out of my camper van.
Which has been replaced because for reasons known only to themselves and the god of nuts and bolts, the injector securing nuts decided to come undone on the M3 the other day!

All the others are tight as a tight thing, so I've no idea why they felt the need to come undone.

 

[Seadog]

I had a few sparks from the battery charger...

No wonder really. A stupis place to run cables from. But then again, it is over 40 years old.

New cables and a reroute were in order.

 

[droopsnoot]

^ I've got a battery charger like that, I'll have to have a look at it.

 

[awemawson]

My Beaver Partsmaster CNC Mill is back working

It all started when I realised that the Parameter Backup buffer batteries were overdue a change by a couple of months - probably not an issue as I have hard copies - but I usually religiously change them every 12 months.

This has to be done with the machine powered up so the power supplies can retain the memory as you take the batteries out for replacement - fairly standard on CNC machine. Well the machine controller (Heidenhain TNC355) refused to go live - blank screen - nothing. Eventually I traced this to the reset signal from the power supply holding it stopped as the -12v and -15v rails were missing.
Hens teeth of course so priced according - best I could find was 850 Euros and lots of shipping.

Time to try and fix it! First I set up a three cell battery pack to supply the 4.5 volts for the parameter ram:

Power supply extracted from the controller:

A bit of poking about with meter and 'scope and I found a high current fast recovery diode on the -15v rail apparently short circuit. Cutting one leg showed me that the short was further in and not the diode - likely the reservoir capacitor. Sure enough a 1000 uF / 25 volt electrolytic was dead short circuit - fortunately I had several in stock so changed it.

On bench testing showed the rails were all a bit low, but maybe they always were ! So I re-assembled it and crossed my fingers!

Whoopee - we have lift off - not only has it come back to life but the parameters were preserved - happy days !

There was a bit of collateral damage though - the -12 volt rail is derived from the -15 volt rail via a 7912 TO220 regulator clipped to a small heat sink - it sprang off and disapeared - much magnet searching failed to find it. I'm not over bothered - this rail draws 80 mA and it's a 1 amp regulator so I don't think that it'll over heat!

Also there is what seems to be a reset button next to one of the CPU chips on the controller board that has self disassembled - I expect I bumped it getting to supply out - it's a momentary button that I've never had need to use so being unable to be pressed probably isn't the end of the world !

So then I was able to change the back up batteries - five minute job that took several days ! - still she's up and running again thank goodness

 

[Blobber]

My Beaver Partsmaster CNC Mill is back working

It all started when I realised that the Parameter Backup buffer batteries were overdue a change by a couple of months - probably not an issue as I have hard copies - but I usually religiously change them every 12 months.
View attachment 423002

This has to be done with the machine powered up so the power supplies can retain the memory as you take the batteries out for replacement - fairly standard on CNC machine. Well the machine controller (Heidenhain TNC355) refused to go live - blank screen - nothing. Eventually I traced this to the reset signal from the power supply holding it stopped as the -12v and -15v rails were missing.
Hens teeth of course so priced according - best I could find was 850 Euros and lots of shipping.

Time to try and fix it! First I set up a three cell battery pack to supply the 4.5 volts for the parameter ram:

View attachment 423003

Power supply extracted from the controller:

View attachment 423004
View attachment 423006

A bit of poking about with meter and 'scope and I found a high current fast recovery diode on the -15v rail apparently short circuit. Cutting one leg showed me that the short was further in and not the diode - likely the reservoir capacitor. Sure enough a 1000 uF / 25 volt electrolytic was dead short circuit - fortunately I had several in stock so changed it.

View attachment 423007

On bench testing showed the rails were all a bit low, but maybe they always were ! So I re-assembled it and crossed my fingers!

Whoopee - we have lift off - not only has it come back to life but the parameters were preserved - happy days !

There was a bit of collateral damage though - the -12 volt rail is derived from the -15 volt rail via a 7912 TO220 regulator clipped to a small heat sink - it sprang off and disapeared - much magnet searching failed to find it. I'm not over bothered - this rail draws 80 mA and it's a 1 amp regulator so I don't think that it'll over heat!
View attachment 423009

Also there is what seems to be a reset button next to one of the CPU chips on the controller board that has self disassembled - I expect I bumped it getting to supply out - it's a momentary button that I've never had need to use so being unable to be pressed probably isn't the end of the world !

View attachment 423010

View attachment 423011

So then I was able to change the back up batteries - five minute job that took several days ! - still she's up and running again thank goodness View attachment 423005 View attachment 423008

Great result and a massive cash save!

 

[ajlelectronics]

^ I've got a battery charger like that, I'll have to have a look at it.

Mine failed in the same place.

 

[Seadog]

My Beaver Partsmaster CNC Mill is back working

It all started when I realised that the Parameter Backup buffer batteries were overdue a change by a couple of months - probably not an issue as I have hard copies - but I usually religiously change them every 12 months.
View attachment 423002

This has to be done with the machine powered up so the power supplies can retain the memory as you take the batteries out for replacement - fairly standard on CNC machine. Well the machine controller (Heidenhain TNC355) refused to go live - blank screen - nothing. Eventually I traced this to the reset signal from the power supply holding it stopped as the -12v and -15v rails were missing.
Hens teeth of course so priced according - best I could find was 850 Euros and lots of shipping.

Time to try and fix it! First I set up a three cell battery pack to supply the 4.5 volts for the parameter ram:

View attachment 423003

Power supply extracted from the controller:

View attachment 423004
View attachment 423006

A bit of poking about with meter and 'scope and I found a high current fast recovery diode on the -15v rail apparently short circuit. Cutting one leg showed me that the short was further in and not the diode - likely the reservoir capacitor. Sure enough a 1000 uF / 25 volt electrolytic was dead short circuit - fortunately I had several in stock so changed it.

View attachment 423007

On bench testing showed the rails were all a bit low, but maybe they always were ! So I re-assembled it and crossed my fingers!

Whoopee - we have lift off - not only has it come back to life but the parameters were preserved - happy days !

There was a bit of collateral damage though - the -12 volt rail is derived from the -15 volt rail via a 7912 TO220 regulator clipped to a small heat sink - it sprang off and disapeared - much magnet searching failed to find it. I'm not over bothered - this rail draws 80 mA and it's a 1 amp regulator so I don't think that it'll over heat!
View attachment 423009

Also there is what seems to be a reset button next to one of the CPU chips on the controller board that has self disassembled - I expect I bumped it getting to supply out - it's a momentary button that I've never had need to use so being unable to be pressed probably isn't the end of the world !

View attachment 423010

View attachment 423011

So then I was able to change the back up batteries - five minute job that took several days ! - still she's up and running again thank goodness View attachment 423005 View attachment 423008

Well done, Andrew. I'm glad your mojo has started to return.

 

[Red'n'Black]

My chainsaw, Husqvarna 141.
Fresh tank of fuel, did two cuts then revved its head off and died.
Sure enough, fuel line had crumbled to bits inside the tank.

Getting the new piece in was a bit of a faff, it was too floppy to go through the hole (fnar fnar) a length of steel wire inside the tubing sorted it.

Took the plug out and spun it over with a drill to prime the carb. Buttoned it all up and started first pull

Name plate says made in 1999, it owes me nothing.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

This came my way the other week.
It was complete, a rare thing recently.

If it is not complete be ready to spend money on getting parts.


When getting theses working there is a few steps I always follow.
I always get a service kit, this will have all the seals and washers you need. Plus a pack of mantles.

This one had a good washer, a quick soak in warm Veg oil had it nice a soft. I also striped the None return Valve down.

A quick test showed the pump is work, but if you do a good job on the NRV it will not give an issue. If it does it will show when the tank is pressurized. By the rod being pushed out .

Flush the fuel tank out, I use Solvent based clutch and brake cleaner.
Place the tank, in this state, up to the control valve, in a bucket of water and give the pump 20 strokes. Any leaks will show. The tank can be repaired, but it can be difficult.

To check the vaporizer out.
Fill the tank half full with good paraffin, or lamp oil. Give the pump 40 strokes. Check for leaks on the control valve, tank area and the joint between the valve and vaporizer.

Take it outside and open the valve a bit and a straight clean jet of fuel should come out. If not a new vaporizer is needed.
This one worked, but I striped it down and used a oven cleaner to give it a clean.

Most lamps do not have mantles, this one did. it was also in good condition.
So we took a gamble and used it.

Original Glass, it just needed a good clean.

The dimpled item is the pressure indicator, when working it will rise up and it will show you when correct pressure is reached. I drop of light oil will not go amis.

Fill the tank 3/4 full and give the pump 40 pumps.
Soak the pre heater in Meths, fit and light.
Now wait.

When the pre-heater is all but out, open the control valve and it should burst into life with a poip and then settle down to a gentle hiss.

Just warming up.

We had a annoying leak, so i turned the lamp off. I was lucky I was able to nip the knurled part up. The new seals just needed to settle.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Running with the control valve just opened.
Nice white bright light with a gentle hiss.