This is one of those days.

[kthompson]

On central vac use leaf blower, much more capacity than shop vac. I had to do this twice. They are also good for dryer vents.

 

[Redneck in training]

The garage door guys just left. They didn't have the spring so they just clamped the spring together so we were temporarily released from our prison. I immediately moved one of our cars to my shop just to have some redundancy. Then I got a sticker shock. They charge 200 USD/hour for two guys and a truck so just this repair would be 400 USD. I don't want to know how much it will cost to replace both springs.

 

[Welshman]

I have to ask - why do you have a 36' wide door? That's not a door - it's a moveable wall!

 

[Redneck in training]

It was supposed to be a airplane hanger. I wanted to build a kit airplane. Original plan was to retire at sixty but I had to keep working (mainly because of health care cost) and also due to not having enough working years in the USA to get maximum SS. I was two years short. I retired at 66 but I am still working as a contractor for the same company. I am sixty eight now and suddenly airplanes are not the main thing on my mind. I think a kit car would suffice now.

 

[PILOON]

It was supposed to be a airplane hanger. I wanted to build a kit airplane. Original plan was to retire at sixty but I had to keep working (mainly because of health care cost) and also due to not having enough working years in the USA to get maximum SS. I was two years short. I retired at 66 but I am still working as a contractor for the same company. I am sixty eight now and suddenly airplanes are not the main thing on my mind. I think a kit car would suffice now.

Hey, know how you feel. My goal was to have a super cub at my dock for those 'nice days'.
Instead I have a tractor and a Toyota MR2 Spider. LOL.
Had a Piper PA12, 180 hp C/W floats all ready to recover just for that event (cost all of $4K back then) but along came a gent that said he would buy it. When he plunked $10 K on the table I considered it sold!
That all happened within 10 days of my taking possession so it was hard to refuse that kind of profit margin. (better than bank interest, LOL)
However aviation was overall good to me so I can't complain.

PS with cost of fuel I have not flown for the last 20 years, but still miss it. I is the blood!
Even today I can identify an aircraft simply by the sound of the engine as it flies by.

 

[Dutch445]

Hey, know how you feel. My goal was to have a super cub at my dock for those 'nice days'.
Instead I have a tractor and a Toyota MR2 Spider. LOL.
Had a Piper PA12, 180 hp C/W floats all ready to recover just for that event (cost all of $4K back then) but along came a gent that said he would buy it. When he plunked $10 K on the table I considered it sold!
That all happened within 10 days of my taking possession so it was hard to refuse that kind of profit margin. (better than bank interest, LOL)
However aviation was overall good to me so I can't complain.

PS with cost of fuel I have not flown for the last 20 years, but still miss it. I is the blood!
Even today I can identify an aircraft simply by the sound of the engine as it flies by.

Piloon how do you like your Spyder? I just bought one off EBAY, had it shipped across the country .
what year is yours? mine is a 2003, green with tan top/leather and the SMT trans,, the wife actually
loves it!

 

[PILOON]

Love it, mine is a 2000 Spyder all original, came from Florida via a dealer with 60000 miles on it. Never saw snow.
As of last Friday I stored it for the winter and got all the rebates for storage.
It was legally imported by the dealer so meets all our Quebec regs.

Downside is storage space as U can barely carry even 2 6 packs LOL otherwise great fun.
Sure makes me feel, like 20 again as back then I had about 5 MG TD's and later a beautiful 'B'
INMHO the MRE is a classic and will only evalulate, one reason why I bought it.
Other was that I simply could not find a decent 'B' that had not seen winter.
Also no 'B' had air and the MRE sure has a good system.
For cargo space I removed the spare and simply carry a can of air, patch kit and $20.00 12VDC compressor.

Sent U a PM

Mine is red (black (orig) top) with 5 speed and all the Spyder markings.
Still all orig factory paint with minimal clear flaking (since cured).
While all fun toy, it sure gets attention wherever.

There are a few (limited) web sites dedicated to MRE/MRS with some super knowledgeable guys that can even play in the computers.

My only maintenance over 3 yrs has been de-glazing the headlights and occasional cleaning of the oxy sensor as my caution light comes on from time to time.

My winter storage is the rear of a 16 ft insulated moving van* that a buddy had abandoned at his public storage facility.
I bored a few 4" holes and added a muffin fan to move out any humid air.

*we pulled the van box with an excavator and installed it on cement blocks. Makes a great custom car storage facility!
Heck being foam insulated I could heat it for mere few dollars if I wanted.

 

[gwstang]

Any kind of big spring under pressure just scares the daylights out of me. When my youngest son and I were rebuilding his '56 pickup, we put a camaro front end under it for the disc brakes and to get rid of the straight axle. I had compressed the springs to replace some of the hardware/ball joints etc. I have always been leery of spring compressors. I have used one several times on my '66 mustang and it would make me nervous. Well, sure enough one of the arms on the spring compressor broke and sent that thing flying into outer space....well really into the barn. I was shaking. Fortunately, I would always keep it point away from me or anyone when screwing it down to compress. Cheap China stuff won't work but a few times before failing. I purchased a better one before needing it again. Springs are the stuff of nightmares. It is really hard to imagine the force of energy that is stored up when compressed. Maybe one of you engineers could explain this phenomenon?

 

[Mendonsy]

At least that garage door spring was captured by the shaft through the center so it could not fly anywhere. The car springs are a different story entirely. If something lets go they are GONE!
I think the problem with cheap Chinese stuff is the poor grades of steel they are made from. They don't have any quality control at all.

 

[Redneck in training]

I decided to spend the money and bought extended life springs 250 USD a pop. If the quality is what they promise they should last 18 years at 3 cycles/day. I decided to replace both. The springs are custom made because I was told that my door is largest door Overhead Door installed in Iowa. The spring is about 8" diameter, the wire diameter is 0.475" and is about 2.5 ft long. It takes seven turns to balance the door. I was tempted to save money and install the spring by myself but my wife said that she is willing to put up with me little longer therefore we should pay somebody to have it done. They are coming Monday to replace the springs and make few more adjustments.
Coincidentally my former employer called if I would fly on short notice to Prudhoe Bay Alaska for about a month to commission a compressor. So it all worked great. As I write this I am sitting in a hotel in Anchorage. I got my Arctic clothes purchased today, I will go sight seeing tomorrow and will fly to North Slope (Deadhorse) Sunday morning.