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  1. S

    Starting fluid

    I don't endorse it but it's funny:
  2. S

    What do you always carry in your vehicle

    I have the handgun for the same reason I have the fire extinguisher. Never needed to deploy either, thankfully.
  3. S

    Can a Mahindra 1626 pull an RV?

    I wasn't trying to be. The way he asked and never followed up has me worried. I actually searched this days ago but didn't have much to go on.
  4. S

    Can a Mahindra 1626 pull an RV?

    Or died trying
  5. S

    Can a Mahindra 1626 pull an RV?

    We haven't heard back from OP since posting this; I hope he hasn't become a tractor accident statistic.
  6. S

    Can a Mahindra 1626 pull an RV?

    How did it go @Roberts2600 ?
  7. S

    Can a Mahindra 1626 pull an RV?

    Yeah, all bets are off when you start jerking. When I see people start jerking I stay tuned for the impending carnage. If you can't get it out with a steady pull, you need to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new plan. I mean, it can work, but it represents the "Vantasner Danger...
  8. S

    Can a Mahindra 1626 pull an RV?

    Ok, well thanks for sharing. I will file this in my mental repository. I will still do it with my own vehicles but I will exercise caution and think twice before recommending it to others.
  9. S

    Can a Mahindra 1626 pull an RV?

    Can you expound on that? Have you seen frame damage as a result of pulling a truck that's towing a trailer? If so, were there any contributing factors? I wouldn't think twice to do this. I've done it many times and much worse; this would be actually among the more mundane recovery/pulling...
  10. S

    Can a Mahindra 1626 pull an RV?

    I would leave the truck connected and if doesn't immediately pull the camper, use the tractor to assist the truck pulling the camper out. This is easier overall and lets you pull from the drawbar on the tractor which always the safest bet.
  11. S

    Can someone recommend a good true RMS multimeter that has frequency measuring capability?

    If the executioner wanted to kill someone with only 5mA (weird goal, but whatever) he would need to stab probes into the condemned's chest and apply it directly to the heart. 5mA from arm to arm does not translate to 5mA across the heart.
  12. S

    3/8 pipe thread - tapping for fuel bowl

    NPT connections should not need thread sealant. The seal is metal-on-metal. That's why the threads are tapered, so they get tighter and tighter until seal is achieved. Thread lubricants like Teflon tape are used to help you be able to achieve the tightness required for sealing, before galling...
  13. S

    What do you always carry in your vehicle

    I have TP in my go-bag, which I forgot to mention. Toiletries, 3 days worth of clothes and meds. Never know when you'll have to drop what you're doing and drive several states away. At least, I don't. And I forgot about ratchet straps. I don't have or need a block heater. TX gulf coast. I...
  14. S

    What do you always carry in your vehicle

    About 1,000lbs of tools*, a fire extinguisher, a hydraulic Jack, a sealed tote full of all kinds of every fluid a truck uses, a spare serpentine belt, a pistol, a Maglite and a portable 1200A battery jumper box. I drive a 2021 truck with <50k miles but for the 20 years leading up to it I drove...
  15. S

    3/8 pipe thread - tapping for fuel bowl

    If you don't tap far enough, you can always run the tap back in and take it deeper. But if you go too far, there's no un-tapping. I would go no further than half way, check, and go deeper if you need to. One or 2 turns at a time.
  16. S

    Home made plywood

    I think you would be better off laminating them together as needed. Rather than gluing 4x8 sheets together to make a 3/4" sheet and then later cutting the 3/4" sheet into 1ft × 4ft sections to make a shelving unit, just wait until the shelving unit project comes up and cut the 1/8" sheets into...
  17. S

    John Deere oil

    I've never heard of this. Thanks for sharing. I looked it up and there is a loophole, which if anyone would exploit, it would be John Deere. I'm not familiar with any company that has more contempt for their own customers, and I can't fathom why anyone buys their products...
  18. S

    John Deere oil

    Sounds like you've talking to folks who bleed green.
  19. S

    Lathe Motor Amperage Rating

    Yes he made the same mistake, or fell into the same trap, as I did in my video. He tried to frame his argument in the same (incorrect) terminology used by those making the counter-argument, so as to make the content of the video stay "on topic," insofar as viewers would expect the topic to be...
  20. S

    Lathe Motor Amperage Rating

    Sorry if I responded disproportionately. I'm just sick of seeing that "quote." It's been weaponized against me more than once in the past and left me with a chip on my shoulder.
  21. S

    Lathe Motor Amperage Rating

    Albert Einstein, the brain behind the Theory of Relativity, said this? He whose theories are so abstract that some people who spend years studying them still don't understand them, and whose equations require math that most people never learn? Uhhh... Sorry to burst your bubble, but he never...
  22. S

    Lathe Motor Amperage Rating

    You're probably referring to the two videos near the end of my post, which are the ones I recorded. I accept the criticism and admit, I am not an educator. The last video was a demonstration in response to claims on another forum that current flows opposite directions through the loads on L1...
  23. S

    Gotta love the Korean to English translation

    Sure, makes sense if the excess heat is from running with excess load. But if it's from a bad water pump, stuck thermostat, etc.? Maybe this is the part with regard to which we are supposed to avoid confusion?
  24. S

    Gotta love the Korean to English translation

    I think it's saying not to shut the engine off if it overheats because then there is no coolant circulation to remove the heat. That seems like bad advice so I'm probably wrong, but that's how it seems to me. Further, it seems they are saying not to introduce cold coolant to the engine while...
  25. S

    Lathe Motor Amperage Rating

    Thanks for bringing this up. I think you are being generous in saying "some folks" - I would say "most folks." It is a pervasive misconception perpetuated by many sources online, even in industry whitepapers and in tutorials from respected sources such as: This stems from the way it is taught...
  26. S

    Is it normal for the well pressure tank to lose its air pocket?

    How did the failed bladder cause bad tasting water?
  27. S

    Is it normal for the well pressure tank to lose its air pocket?

    I have been tossing around the idea of doing this. I design PLC control systems for a living, so automating this manual task would be no problem for me, but I wouldn't want to stop there. I have other issues like heavy sediment that I want to filter out, and sulfur gas that I want to address. I...
  28. S

    Is it normal for the well pressure tank to lose its air pocket?

    I don't have one of those.
  29. S

    Is it normal for the well pressure tank to lose its air pocket?

    Ok, so water absorbs air. I did not know that. Thanks 😊
  30. S

    Is it normal for the well pressure tank to lose its air pocket?

    That doesn't sound like my system. There is no control float, nothing inside the tank (I've seen inside it). There's a pump underground and a check valve, then the tank, then a water softener, and straight into the house. The only control that I know of is a pressure switch.
  31. S

    Is it normal for the well pressure tank to lose its air pocket?

    Oh, I didn't know that. I remember my dad's bladder tanks had valve stems on them like you could pump them up with a compressor, but I never had to touch them. I doubt my dad did either; that seems like something he would have told me to do. Our well was at least 50 yards from the house so maybe...
  32. S

    Is it normal for the well pressure tank to lose its air pocket?

    I grew up on well water but we never had the problems I've been experiencing for the past 7 years in this house, because my childhood home had a bladder tank. This house has just a 120gal tank with no bladder. Water enters the bottom, water leaves the bottom; air gets trapped in the top, with...
  33. S

    How to spend your legacy?

    Another idea I just had. There's this kid Boyan Slat who is cleaning the ocean. I usually keep my donations to people i personally know, and it's one of the only organizations I've ever donated to. I'm not a big environmentalist, but the way he went about this impressed me. He didn't waste any...
  34. S

    How to spend your legacy?

    If I were in this situation I think would split it up among a few people that I know; people who are struggling small business owners. People whom I know would make the most of it, take it and multiply it, feed not only their own families but others too. In my case there are: A mobile mechanic...
  35. S

    My Senior design project - a "Swamp Thing" tracked vehicle clone

    Well that is usually how I know when I've had a good idea - I find that someone else did it 100 years before me. Thanks for the lead; I will see if I can find any information about this Austrian Westmizer Skinner snow machine
  36. S

    My Senior design project - a "Swamp Thing" tracked vehicle clone

    One day I want to make a differential steering vehicle that, rather than using brakes on either side, uses a variator. If you're unfamiliar with a variator it's basically a CVT that, instead of changing its ratio dynamically based on RPM/torque, is directly controlled by the user. The way it...
  37. S

    Lathe Motor Amperage Rating

    No worries, polyphase power can be a little abstract :D. I'm not so deluded as to think I'll ever have a complete understanding of it, but an understanding that's "good enough" is, well, good enough. Even with the bar set that low, still every time I think my I've reached it, I discover there's...
  38. S

    How to Prevent Amazon, UPS, Fedex 3 point turn ruts?

    This. A teardrop wide enough to drive around in dually with a 40ft gooseneck will serve not just the delivery guys but you too. That's one thing you won't regret doing or having.
  39. S

    Lathe Motor Amperage Rating

    This ^ is using single phase equation for 3 phase power. It disregards the power from the additional 2 phases. The problem becomes apparent if you convert the calculated kW back to HP. 2714W ÷ 746W = 3.63HP The proper formula: E x I x PF x 1.732 11.8×230×0.91×1.732 = 4277W 4277 ÷ 746 = 5.73HP...
  40. S

    Torque Wrench Suggestions

    This is the only kind I really trust.
  41. S

    Lathe Motor Amperage Rating

    Yes and this is a good thing to list in the "pros" section when comparing AC and DC motors. DC can also do field weakening but only if it's a wound field motor and those are not common anymore in the 1HP range. Most VFDs will go up to 400Hz (6.7X rated speed) and some even higher. But most...
  42. S

    Mowing anthills

    Who wrote that? I'm betting they also have simple solution to end global hunger and war. I am not afraid to mow ant hills on my ZTR mower because the thing vibrates like what must a world-ending cataclysm for the ants. They have zero chance of crawling up the mower deck and onto the frame, up...
  43. S

    Lathe Motor Amperage Rating

    True. Speaking of torque, it is worth mentioning that having a variable speed drive (AC or DC) is not a reason in and of itself to ditch any step pulleys or variator, or whatever mechanical means might be varying speed currently. Decreasing speed by mechanical means has the benefit of offering...
  44. S

    Lathe Motor Amperage Rating

    This is true for the motor itself. But 1hp is 1hp whether 1ph or 3 ph and since you're generating that 3rd phase with the VFD, the single phase side will need to deliver the same amps as before and the breaker size requirement won't change. Amps between the VFD and the motor will be lower but...
  45. S

    Lathe Motor Amperage Rating

    13.6A is about right for a 1HP motor on 120V single phase. Per this: An equivalent 3ph motor on a VFD will require just a little more since the VFD introduces a bit of inefficiency. Whoever told you 30A is required, is wrong. It should work on a 20A breaker, and probably even a 15A breaker.
  46. S

    Any precautions-electrical system-when welding on tractor?

    If your tractor has a computer then it would be a good idea to disconnect it. I don't think it would hurt to disconnect the battery too, but neither do I understand how it could help. Is it to prevent damage to the battery itself? If so, it's worth pointing out that the battery is the most...
  47. S

    Basketball goal attachment

    Yeah! Put the kids in cars and this could be a cool spinoff of auto soccer:
  48. S

    Basketball goal attachment

    I suppose I need to paint the picture if this sub-topic is to have any hope of fizzling out. We live 45 minutes from any major metropolitan area, we are surrounded by rice farms, and this is my daughter's varsity basketball team: She's #5, the token diversity. I'm sure you're right and...
  49. S

    Cold hands idea..

    Oh, man you've got the wrong kind of coveralls. Get some of those oil field coveralls. They have access slits in the pockets. Officially, because they're meant to go over other clothes, so you can reach through the pocket access slit inside the pocket, into the pants pocket under the pocket, but...
  50. S

    Basketball goal attachment

    Nice! I like it. Just need to find one.
  51. S

    Basketball goal attachment

    Exactly! See, I knew the drawing would help. One toddler drawing is worth a dozen words. P.s. my condolences for your stick man, he seems to have broken his neck on approach to the basket.
  52. S

    Basketball goal attachment

    The way this goal is designed, the pole is anchored at the back of the base and comes forward at a good angle, supported by legs at the front of the base. Then the dimensions of the linkages in the top correct for the error induced by the tilted pole. I think this makes it a good candidate for...
  53. S

    Basketball goal attachment

    That's why I don't just auger a hole and set in the ground with concrete. I want to reserve the option to put it away. Much more effective than shaking sticks at people who know you won't hit them or you'll go to jail.
  54. S

    Basketball goal attachment

    Me and my grandpa, 1986. back of pickups, check. Sitting behind the wheel of my grandma's Lincoln boat in her lap while she drove, letting me pretend I was the one driving. Never rode on a back dash though. Yep. I can't speak for anyone else but "the wrong kind of people" in my book are...
  55. S

    Basketball goal attachment

    This was my first thought^ And this was my 2nd: It is strange to me, how cultural this is. I saw a a video recently posted on social media; a father had a baby on his lap, he was smoking a cigarette, and letting the baby take drags off it. 99% of all the comments were along the lines of "he...
  56. S

    Basketball goal attachment

    It's not really an "attachment" at this point, but trying on the idea. The kids want to play basketball in the fat end of the road, but last time I moved the goal out there, heavy winds (we get a lot of those) knocked it over. I want it way heavier than filling the plastic base with sand/water...
  57. S

    LS ECU

    If you can't find any affordable repair options for your ECU and you decide to throw it in the trash, please PM me before doing so. I'll give you a little something for it.
  58. S

    Portland cement or other trick for turning a soup pot into a driveway?

    Thanks for chiming in! This thread was a few years old though. I went with the Geotextile fabric, 12ft wide I think it was, like 1/8" thick felt made of Thor's crotch hair, impenetrable stuff. Put 4" of crushed concrete over it, and it's not sank into the mire yet. Pretty good solution. Maybe...
  59. S

    Kioti Grapple Buyer beware!!!!

    That's like an truck manufacturer voiding a powertrain warranty because you install a bed cover. I can't see any reason for this unless Kioti tractors run a low hydraulic pressure and they're assuming you hooked it up to a higher pressure tractor and screwed it up that way.
  60. S

    Can <40hp compact tractor tow a trailer?

    +1 (assuming any tongue load) I use a ball hitch attachment all the time to move empty trailers around. It's one of my most frequently used attachments. It's super convenient to be able to lower the ball all way to the ground, back up to the trailer, and bring the ball up under the hitch, move...
  61. S

    Can <40hp compact tractor tow a trailer?

    Search youtube for "india tractor pulling trailer" for a bottomless bucket of videos that will illustrate just how much weight a given size tractor can pull without popping wheelies, with popping wheelies, without splitting in half, with splitting in half, without flipping over, with flipping...
  62. S

    Saber saw blades

    Jig saws are not that expensive. I would consider getting a new one that accepts t-shank blades. It will open up a lot more options. But I understand owning something older and of better quality than what's available now, and wanting to use it. Unfortunately I can't recommend a good blade for it...
  63. S

    55HP Tractor

    🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️🏳️
  64. S

    55HP Tractor

    Not everyone. Just the OP. Then "everyone" jumped on my back about it and I had some misguided sense of duty to defend my point. They were roughly what I suggested. 1/4" (actual dimensions metric of course) imagine that! A tube, twisting?! :LOL: I guess I picked the wrong thing to allow this...
  65. S

    55HP Tractor

    Except, I am. And is torsion the only force that piece is expected to endure? You have an orange tractor in your profile so I know your word automatically trumps mine, but I brought a caliper with me when I went to look at these and the measurements were not what you claim. You know what...
  66. S

    55HP Tractor

    Fair enough, thanks for acknowledging my point. I'll take your word on the common failure modes of front end loaders, I don't have any stats. Anyway I was reluctant to post pictures of what I was talking about because I rightly feared that would make the discussion too focused on that one spot...
  67. S

    55HP Tractor

    When I bought mine I was looking around 40hp. I don't remember the model of Kubota I was looking at, but there wasn't anything like you described. Maybe I was looking at too small a tractor to encounter it.
  68. S

    55HP Tractor

    I did some more research and you are correct. I was wrong in suggesting that if you're shopping at a MF dealership in the USA that you're looking at Chinese/Indian tractors. More likely Brazil as other suggested.
  69. S

    55HP Tractor

    With the reference to 3/4" plate I was referring specifically to the interface between the loader and the tractor. It is hard to find good pictures of this on the internet but I did my best (hence why recommend looking in person). LS: Deere: MF: Kubota: New Holland: But that's just one...
  70. S

    55HP Tractor

    Which parts were bull :poop: and which parts were negativity? The post was meant to encourage another option that didn't seem to be getting any attention. I agree that you can get good quality products from countries known for poor quality manufacturing. In fact the whole point of my post (maybe...
  71. S

    55HP Tractor

    No implication intended. I meant to say it flat out. If I didn't achieve that goal, then maybe I saved myself some embarrassment. "Designed and engineered" are not the words I used but if that's criteria this hinges on then I'm not sure my argument holds up. I don't know how well the LS loader...
  72. S

    55HP Tractor

    Is it? Care to contradict me more specifically? Maybe include where you think they are made? Or even better cite a source that refutes my claim.
  73. S

    55HP Tractor

    I'm surprised this took until the 5th page to get mentioned, especially after several LS owners have chimed in. Massey Ferguson? Which model? Their tractors (in your HP range) are made in India (might as well buy Mahindra) or China (might as well buy Jinma). If you're looking at a Case...
  74. S

    New mower time

    They're like anything else from HF. If you consider it a kit with some disassembly and reassembly required for proper operation, you won't be disappointed. I put a predator on my buggy and it's pretty good after putting a real carb on it. I didn't flush the case before putting real oil in it...
  75. S

    Any apocalyptic way to kill nutgrass?

    Keep in mind it was only ever about the pool area, I never tried anything to address nutgrass on the rest of the property. But in the spot under the pool I am sitting at 100% success rate. 0 nutgrass sprouts have come up under the pool in 3 years
  76. S

    New mower time

    I do not know what's going on in CA but I can use my imagination. I choose to live under a rock. But it sounds like whatever it is, you're in a position where you need to choose the mower you intend to use for the rest of your life. If I were in that position I would get a zero turn by a...
  77. S

    Switching FEL valve body to another.

    Ok then, put the other valve manifold in series with the existing one rather than in parallel.
  78. S

    Switching FEL valve body to another.

    I don't know that we know it's an open center circuit. Was that confirmed already?
  79. S

    Switching FEL valve body to another.

    Instead of replacing your valve with this other one, why not supplement it with the other one? Tee off before your existing valve and run to the new one so now you have 3 new extra functions Instead of just one. And you don't have to sacrifice float or anything else.
  80. S

    If there are aliens, what will they look like?

    So does antifreeze. I mean, you're welcome to eat all the Martians you can cram down your gullet, but don't be surprised when they rise up and have telepathic control over your motor functions.
  81. S

    What to do about a rusty frame?

    Good question. I probably should have thought to ask it before I left the paint store.
  82. S

    What to do about a rusty frame?

    Just paid $130 for 2 quarts of POR15. Only in my younger years when I paid for liquor by the shot with a tip, did I ever pay so much for any kind of fluid per volume. Sure hope Home Depot accepts returns on unopened paint or else I'll have to wait for payday to get brushes to apply the stuff!
  83. S

    SHIPPING CONTAINERS / Sea Cans

    I would love to get a sea can. Some day... If things don't work out, I thought I'd share this... Several years ago my stepfather moved all of his late mother's belongings to his house and filled the garage completely. Then had an unexpected life event and had to turn the garage into an...
  84. S

    What to do about a rusty frame?

    I saw the reviews on that stuff, it looked really good but spendy. I assumed it would take a couple gallons. Maybe will use that instead, not sure if I can return the paint I bought. So no ospho first? Just por15 directly over red rust? She has really surprised me. This isn't the truck she...
  85. S

    What to do about a rusty frame?

    Good call. It's not something I've ever had to think about so I failed to recognize it as a safety issue. I will make sure and address it. Previous owner was my dad. He had it parked under a tree outside San Antonio for the past 10 years, not a swampy area. Much dryer than here by the gulf...
  86. S

    What to do about a rusty frame?

    I decided halfass is better than noass. made up my mind today to just go ahead and put the truck back up on Jack stands, pressure wash, spray with ospho, and paint with rustoleum professional flat black, whatever we can reach. The most complete solution we can achieve short of taking the cab...
  87. S

    What to do about a rusty frame?

    This is bad for a TX truck but I've been out of the state a time or two so I know they can get much worse and still be considered "fine" by loads of people. I'm just not one of them.
  88. S

    If there are aliens, what will they look like?

    If there can't be any science fiction in thread with a title like this one has, then what can there be? Anybody have scientific data on this topic? Anyone? No?
  89. S

    Ever Buried galvanized fencing????

    Well I must have acidic soil or something because y'alls tales of decade-old chicken wire in the ground sound pretty fanciful to ears trained by my experiences. I would expect a buried hog panel to last a couple of years tops and anything thinner not worth the time to bury it.
  90. S

    What to do about a rusty frame?

    My daughter and I are fixing up an old truck (91 Chevy S10) and the frame is rusty. We've got the bed off right now but no plans to remove the cab. I can't wrap my head around the rust on the frame. It's all surface rust, nothing bad at all, but it's the ENTIRE frame. Every square inch of it...
  91. S

    If there are aliens, what will they look like?

    I think they would look like us; pretty sure we crash landed here. If not us, then octopuses. Octopuses definitely crash landed here. They (Octopuses, cuttlefish, and the like) have no genetic cousins and they're super weird. I don't think we should be eating them.
  92. S

    Can a diesel engine run on gas. .

    If you're still unsure whether you ran your tractor on gas or rotten diesel, you can compare to this: I figured out that I had dumped gas in it. I added 5 galons of gas to 1 or 2 gallons of diesel and ran it for about 20min before I realized what I had done. No permanent damage has surfaced...
  93. S

    Used pickup questions

    I hope you're right but I'm not putting any eggs in that basket.
  94. S

    Used pickup questions

    You can get pretty far into the weeds on this topic; yes, it can be a good motor under certain circumstances. But unless one's willing to do the research it's easiest just avoid it. Leave it for the guys who have done the research and willing to take the chance. That goes for buying, or advising...
  95. S

    Used pickup questions

    Based on the prices I've been seeing i would say $35k
  96. S

    Used pickup questions

    Stay away from the Ford 6.0 diesel. For the most part anything else is decent, gas or diesel. 100k miles isn't "high mileage" on these newer vehicles (2000's and up) especially trucks - 250k miles is the new 100k miles. Less problems with gas, and people with diesel trucks think they're made of...
  97. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    well, eh... will she fit in a 6" vise? Thank you! Glad you like it.
  98. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    Ha! Good one. It's 2022, cars worth their weight in... wood.
  99. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    After I'm done cutting the forklift I'll probably decommission the saw and reclaim my unistrut hardware. Is there anything anyone is curious to see cut before I do?
  100. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    :LOL: well I don't have a federal explosives license and I can't recipes on the internet for that stuff.
  101. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    Kinda neat!? I thought my unnecessarily graphic intro, misapplied theatrical musical score, and laughably false bravado would have clued everyone in that it's in fact the coolest thing anyone's ever seen. I mean hell, just look at what I named it! You bet! Thanks for watching! It's abrasive...
  102. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    You're not wrong, it's a painfully slow process. I say that cutting with diamond wire is almost always not the way you should go. It's messy, expensive, and takes forever. If there's any other way to cut it, cut it that way. But when there isn't, it's something worth having in your back pocket...
  103. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    4-pole/1800 RPM. There's more info than you'd ever want to know about them over on my 2018 thread about them.
  104. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    Why, a 0.0298MW LS tractor, what else would I use? :p I can spin the rotor up with a cordless drill so I don't think the tractor will have any problem. Of course I won't be able to power the whole county as the generator's data plate indicates I should be able to, not with my little tractor as...
  105. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    The generator build/assembly is something I started a few years ago and never finished. That's one of my reasons for getting active on YouTube again; some accountability for finishing projects. The video will be a retroactive recap of getting it to the point it's at, and filming the completion...
  106. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    No, sorry. Build, future tense. And not from scratch. Build a PTO generator with emphasis on the PTO part.
  107. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    Can this thread be moved to Build It Yourself?
  108. S

    I built a big saw for slicing up a forklift, or anything else on earth.

    I built this janky monstrosity out of unistrut and I call it the BAWS. It's a Diamond Wire saw and uses surplus (new/expired) wire from the semiconductor industry. They would have used it to dice up silicon ingots into wafers in the manufacture of chips, or to slice up lab-grown sapphire into...
  109. S

    Quality drill bits for metal.

    Hand sharpening drill bits is a great skill to have, but comes second to learning how to drill metal. If you don't burn up your bits to begin with, then there's a lot less sharpening (or throwing out and re-purchasing) to be done. Learning how to drill metal by hand, like hand sharpening, is an...
  110. S

    County Line Post Hole Digger - Watch which one you get!

    Those two look exactly the same to me. They probably come off the same assembly line.
  111. S

    Phase Converters

    This works but it limits you to V/Hz mode because the VFD will fail an auto tune. And it requires a 3ph transformer which is more expensive. Unless you already have all the components on hand to build the system you described, it would be better IMO to get a 480V VFD and single phase transformer...
  112. S

    Terrified of tipping - how about an inclinometer?

    I agree with all who said that the inclinometer wouldn't give useful data. I also relate to the OP's apparent desire for data and knowing where is "the line" you shouldn't cross. The closest I have seen in this thread to my own thoughts was post #62 but I still haven't seen anyone come right out...
  113. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Actually I'm really impressed by that. I would expect the bed rails to flattened down to the axle. You might even be able to drive that, at least for a little while.
  114. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Good call. I plan to, before carrying anything of serious weight on it. To date, this is all it's carried: The bed cover itself is heavy, but I think (hope) not heavy enough to cause a problem.
  115. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Turns out the new geometry combined with the 300lb struts is perfect, performs exactly how I wanted. Very happy to mark this project DONE (as done as it will ever get) on the list. Some more photos:
  116. S

    Post your BBQ And meals

    Agreed. Rule #2 Don't start late. Meat should be coming off the pit well before people start asking about it. For a dinner brisket this means putting meat on the pit around 3am. Rule #3 don't cut into a brisket for least an hour after it comes off the pit. This is more important than the...
  117. S

    crazy steel prices - should I import from China?

    I marvel at this, not only in putting different brands on the same product off the same assembly line, but also in putting different model numbers on the same product within the same brand. My Flir E4 thermal imager carries a $1,000 price tag and has an "80x60" pixel resolution while the E8...
  118. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Well I tried re-orienting the gas struts a dozen different ways and they just aren't going to cut it with the added weight of the aluminum sheet. Just ordered (4) 300lb gas struts of the same dimensions as the 200lbs ones I basedthe original geometry on. Hope those work or the modifications...
  119. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    That guy makes great videos. I had not seen that one but I watched his other one for the rattle can bed liners. Raptor performed about middle of the road, in line with its price tag. After watching that video I'm very glad I primed it before spraying the bed liner.
  120. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    I have no idea. It has a slippery surface like plastic which makes me think it wouldn't stick, but it's also textured, so .. maybe? Sounds like a question for Raptor Tech support. I'll let you know. But I have a feeling their answer will be "if it was paintable we wouldn't make it tintable."
  121. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Disappointment over the bed liner dampened my enthusiasm to get the bed cover put back on so it sat there for over a week while I flushed out all my feeling sorry for myself. Here it is installed: The color match isn't great; it's too dark, but from certain angles it's less obvious. And...
  122. S

    crazy steel prices - should I import from China?

    I had the same experience trying to order Tellurium Copper in bulk. By "bulk" I mean like 500-1,000lbs. At first I could not find a domestic supplier (I since have) so I turned to Alibaba and wasted a week of man-hours between learning the above lesson, and learning that most of the sellers on...
  123. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    That's the idea. I don't enjoy publicly making a fool of myself, but my mistake is an easy one to make. There is not a lot of this kind of information out there. If you Google Raptor liner you'll find all kinds of instructional posts and videos on how to mix it, spray it, prep, etc, all the...
  124. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    I found myself unable to "just live with it" and decided to suck it up and spend the money for some more unreasonably expensive automotive paint tint and a couple more gallons of the Raptor bed liner, and spray over what I sprayed last week for a thicker coating. I had the Raptor stuff in my...
  125. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Me too, I am optimistic about the durability, haven't read any complaints about that aspect of it, and I put more effort into prep than I ever have on any other project. My painting projects usually turn marginally acceptable because I don't have the patience for meticulous prep, but I forced...
  126. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Life has been getting in the way of my project(s)! Didn't get a chance to do the bed liner application until Independence Day, and then, I didn't get past priming before I had to go take care of other things. Just today got to mix & spray the bed liner. I am disappointed. More with myself than...
  127. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Got the paint yesterday to tint the bed liner. You have to special order the paint and when you do, you have to specify that it's tint only, no binders or fillers or other stuff they usually put in paint. All that other stuff apparently constitutes most of the volume of the paint, and the tint...
  128. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Thanks. I brought this up in post #7 and the next 4 pages were mostly on that topic. I won't be loading anything heavy up there until I come up with some kind of internal support that transmits the load from the bed cover down into the frame, instead of the bed walls. It will be something that...
  129. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Line-x quoted me $1,150 to spray the bed cover. That's 2-3 times what I was expecting and 4 times what I am willing to pay. So I'll be doing it myself, as with most things, can't seem break out of that mindset. I ordered this Raptor tintable spray-in bed liner kit and acid etch primer they...
  130. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Thanks, I submitted a RFQ.
  131. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    As of yesterday, welds ground down and wire-wheeled to blend together. The wire wheeling did not look like it did in my mind. This will definitely need to be plastered over with bedliner. Any recommendations on a tintable DIY bedliner?
  132. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    I would have needed to design it that way from the start. It would require a significant amount of modification at this point, and I'm feeling too close to "done" to make that large of a course change. I might make a non-stationary headache rack that either folds down or detaches entirely when...
  133. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    I bought some D-rings for it that have not made it off the mental drawing board and into the deisgn yet. I really should have welded on the supports for them before I put on the aluminum but I was running out of time. I needed a bed cover to keep the water off my gear. Until I get the D-rings...
  134. S

    pickup truck size

    I agree with you, but... My opinion, this is an example of that principle (I don't know what it's called or if there's a name for it) which describes that thing the internet does where it amplifies dissenting voices and makes them seem like majority opinions instead of the minority opinions that...
  135. S

    I couldn't access TBN from 4G, now I can

    A bit of positive feedback... if you did something to the server recently, thank you. For several weeks I've been unable to access TBN from my phone while on 4G. Only TBN, every other site worked fine. I get on WiFi, it would work just fine. Tried deleting cookies, clearing caches, etc...
  136. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Ok I got it primed and painted (badly, very badly), dressed the edges of the aluminum, and installed the aluminum deck. The aluminum had a bit of a bow in it from welding but 90% that went went away when I screwed it down to the metal frame. I think I can get the other 10% out with some...
  137. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Those are pretty slick setups. Very utilitarian, and they also look good. Would be cool to see those concepts applied to American trucks that don't look born to deliver feminine hygiene products. Who knows, maybe one day I'll ditch the bed altogether and try something like that.
  138. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Yeah but can your fancy vans do this? I think not. And I think that's why Americans only use vans to transport tourists, cripples, and church youth groups.:p Just kidding, point taken. Good point, its center of gravity would be less than ideal with a tall heavy load. Not a bad idea. I did...
  139. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    After my failed attempt at welding the aluminum sheets together with the MIG/spoolgun, I decided I would cut that warped middle section out, make a new middle section, and I would not try welding them again. I would just silicone between the edges. Well I did all that (minus the silicone) but...
  140. S

    Can a mutt drag a 200lb roll?

    you win, now go away.
  141. S

    Can a mutt drag a 200lb roll?

    Here's another source which explains where all the hype that you're spouting comes from: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-are-chimpanzees-stronger-than-humans-1379994/ Yeah, I did the research, as I already said. Why are you being so confrontational about this? I'm not going to...
  142. S

    Can a mutt drag a 200lb roll?

    I edited my post to include a source as you were typing this.
  143. S

    Can a mutt drag a 200lb roll?

    That is old science and has been refuted. EDIT to include source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2138714-chimps-are-not-as-superhumanly-strong-as-we-thought-they-were/
  144. S

    Can a mutt drag a 200lb roll?

    It's a Spyder forklift (story here) - awaiting eventual cannibalization or restoration.
  145. S

    Can a mutt drag a 200lb roll?

    I'm reminded of this scene below from the Amazon show Patriot, some kind of government training about how to handle a dog attack. The instructor says (paraphrased) to think of a dog as an 80lb man whose only asset is powerful jaws. clip from the show, NSFW (cursing): I did some research in...
  146. S

    Can a mutt drag a 200lb roll?

    I went behind my shop today and found that someone had tried to make off with a 12ft roll of road fabric I had back there. At least that was my immediate theory. They got it about 15ft and gave up. Looks they had intended to bring it out through that opening where the fence meets the lean-to, at...
  147. S

    Northern Tool?

    You been under a rock? I think they changed the name from Northern Hydraulics to Northern Tool 15-20 years ago. Until recently they've been (IMO) a middle ground between Harbor Freight and Sears and the other big box stores in terms of price and quality. But HF has been putting out and better...
  148. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    High praise! Too high, I'm afraid. I'm a novice fabricator at best. I just have a habit of biting off more than I can chew and then being too stubborn to spit it out. There's a reason I didn't post any closeups of my welds. They're... "functional." Here's my first attempt at stitching together...
  149. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Exactly. Trucks all got bigger. A half ton tuck of 20 yrs ago is smaller than your Tacoma, and a Tacoma of 20 yrs ago (or was it a T100?) Doesn't exist anymore. It would be a toy in today's market. In my 2005 Sierra I was able to easily reach over the side and grab something. Same for my 1990...
  150. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Got it, and I am the OP. You're probably right but my point was that there is room for the scenario where they make a good strong bed cover and advertise its impressive weight rating to attract buyers, without mentioning (maybe mentioned somewhere in fine print) that the rating of their bed...
  151. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    I thought hard about buying the diamondback cover but in the end I decided against it because it isn't compatible with the way I do things. I keep my tools and supplies organized in totes. For small jobs I leave the totes in the vehicle and just park as close as I can, walk back and forth for...
  152. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    The guys with sled decks is where I'm getting this idea that putting a heavy load on the bed rails is a bad idea. I found the topic discussed on snowmobile forums and they said those decks are meant to used with support under them. Of the guys who ran without internal support, some had cracks...
  153. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    Thanks. Will do, once I get the aluminum deck on and get the strut angles adjusted for the weight change, I'll record a video of it.
  154. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    I haven't seen the weight rating you're referring to but i think it's probably a safe bet that it applies to the diamondback cover itself and not the rails that it sits on.
  155. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    I mused to myself "this will be stronger than the bed rails it sits on:p" and that got me thinking "how much weight can you safely load on bed rails?" I did some digging and didn't find any concrete numerical answers but walked away with the impression that the weight of my bed cover alone will...
  156. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    I will be installing 1/8 aluminum sheet as the deck and probably get some color match bedliner sprayed on it. Yes, I retain almost the full usable space of the bed. I estimate that it is or will be 200-250lbs. I've since put some heavy duty gas lift struts on it and yes, it can be lifted with...
  157. S

    Determining a "junker trucks" worth at junkyard

    Wow, those are great prices! Is that typical for the past years in your area or has the value of junk cars gone up with the price of used cars since this whole chip shortage business? This may be obsolete experience considering everything going on the world recently, but in my experience... In...
  158. S

    Determining a "junker trucks" worth at junkyard

    That truck is worth 0$ at a junk yard I'd wager. If they offer anything higher, take it and leave quickly before they change their mind.
  159. S

    DIY pickup bed cover that will carry a load.

    UPDATE 8/1/21 The finished product is in post #64. I got a new truck a couple of weeks ago, after years of being stuck in an SUV. There was a couple of things I got used to with the SUV: having a "safe" place to store my tools when traveling for work, and being able to transport pallets of...
  160. S

    UV stable 5gal buckets?

    I went to checkout, for a dozen black buckets the total was $43, excellent price but they have a minimum order of $200. And Shipping was $116
  161. S

    UV stable 5gal buckets?

    Thanks, I'll give these suggestions a shot. The reason I want to stick with the buckets is shown in my video below. My chicken feeders are no-waste and varmint proof (when they're new) and super easy to open/close so my kids tend the chickens and I don't have to worry about it. (it's kind...
  162. S

    UV stable 5gal buckets?

    I make my chicken feeders out of home depot 5gal buckets. Problem is they don't last more than a year before they start falling apart from being in the sun. I'd like to get a few more years out of them. Where can I find buckets that won't degrade from sunlight? Food grade would be ideal too. I'm...
  163. S

    How to force regen mode?

    Yeah I had it up to temp and parking brake on, but not in neutral (HST type)
  164. S

    How to force regen mode?

    Thanks. One thing I didn't do was put it in neutral. I'll try that and see if it works. What I'm worried about is that it might need to go but not know it. I don't know what crap gasoline (may or may not) leave behind in a DPF system, but if it did leave something behind, whatever it is might...
  165. S

    How to force regen mode?

    It was about 50/50 gas/diesel and I ran it 30-40 minutes that way. I was working with the tractor so it was already up to temp, then added 5 gal of "diesel" and went back to work for another 30 min, never noticed anything out of the ordinary. Parked it for a couple hours, went back and started...
  166. S

    How to force regen mode?

    Is that a joke or are you serious? I assumed it would leave behind some contaminants, but I don't really know what I'm talking about and I didn't consider that it might actually do the opposite.
  167. S

    Is this what water in diesel looks like?

    Yeah I was pretty worried when I read what the internet has to say about putting gas in a diesel. I think it's like when you gooogle a medical symptom; doesn't matter what it is, tingly thumb, headaches, diarrhea, you probably have a brain tumor and/or pancreatic cancer. Not sure why all the...
  168. S

    Is this what water in diesel looks like?

    Ok I cleaned out the tank, replaced the fuel filter, ran the last of the gas out of the lines, and it was running just fine. In retrospect I had a couple of clues I didn't realize until after the fact. 1. The water sensor fault never came up, so water should have been my second guess, not my...
  169. S

    How to force regen mode?

    Found that video, the guy did just what I thought you were supposed to do, and his went into regen. I did the same and mine did not. I found a small blurb in the manual about it will only go into manual regen if soot is >30%. I guess it thinks my soot is <30% so it won't comply. I did a stupid...
  170. S

    How to force regen mode?

    I'd like to force regen mode on my XR4140 but I can't remember how to do it, the sticker that used to tell me how has crumbled away the vital information, and I can't find how to enter forced regen anywhere in the manual. Who knows how to do this?
  171. S

    Is this what water in diesel looks like?

    I'm the moron who put the gas in my own tank. I was just telling the story about my friend as an explanation for why I let this sit for a week before doing anything about it. Not his fault, although if it had been water, the week sitting with water in the lines and the fuel filter removed...
  172. S

    Is this what water in diesel looks like?

    So I think the contaminant was not water, but... gasoline :oops:. This happened the evening before I had to go out of town for work, and thinking I had water in my fuel system I didn't want it to sit in there rusting everything out so I asked a friend to help me out, drain my tank, replace the...
  173. S

    Is this what water in diesel looks like?

    I filled it with diesel from a can I filled 6-8 months ago. The can has sat under the lean-to next to the tractor all "winter," out of the elements but no indoors. It may or may not have been sealed well, not sure. I was running it for 30 min, then filled it, then ran it 30 more minutes, did...
  174. S

    The Sky is Falling

    I'm pretty confident we could shoot it down. We can shoot down ICBMs (I think?) And they go 10x terminal velocity. And if conventional weapons tech doesn't pull through, we have space lasers. And a space force... right? I never followed up on that story. Do we have a space force or not?
  175. S

    Who makes a work truck with creature comforts?

    This one has load carrying capacity and they show ATVs loaded on it, so maybe pallets of bricks are in the cards.
  176. S

    Who makes a work truck with creature comforts?

    Yeah I'm getting the same conclusion as I look at what's available. Now thinking of rolling my own using tailer deck technology. An angle steel welded frame with 2"×X wood slats. You would need a torch to get through it, and I could transport pallets of bricks on top it*. Of course it would be...
  177. S

    Who makes a work truck with creature comforts?

    Would it keep out prying hands with prying tools? One thing I do sometimes is drive across the country with a vehicle full of expensive tools, sleeping in hotels. I'm very particular about where I stay and where they put me. Unless there's some kind of event that has all the hotels booked to max...
  178. S

    Who makes a work truck with creature comforts?

    Well I ended up trading in my tired Yukon on a brand new truck yesterday. Things started falling off the Yukon and what didn't fall off stopped working. Within a couple of months the engine started ticking, it was shaking badly at highway speed, wouldn't keep an alignment, burned up the front...
  179. S

    Sick of Paying Tractor Part Prices.... Make Your Own....(3D Printed)

    Don't worry, we will be saved from ourselves sooner than later. Better get that anti-tank gun while the getting's good.
  180. S

    Sick of Paying Tractor Part Prices.... Make Your Own....(3D Printed)

    The presumption would be... Because according to some fear mongering nitwits, they can be used to print "ghost guns." Which, while "true" if you want to put a definition to "ghost guns," any CNC machine is an even bigger "threat" because it can produce real guns made of real metal. So by the...
  181. S

    Sick of Paying Tractor Part Prices.... Make Your Own....(3D Printed)

    Surely you don't mean the watch list (no fly list) but instead, some lesser list curated by algorithms instead of people. There are not enough people in the government to spy on all the people who have purchased 3D printers, much less all the people who have purchased other things that actually...
  182. S

    Sick of Paying Tractor Part Prices.... Make Your Own....(3D Printed)

    That's an interesting concept of dealers (and individuals) printing parts on demand. I think the key to making it a reality will a fight on two fronts: 1. Development of cheaper laser sintering (metal printing). 2. Development of cheaper and more robust resin printers for plastics. Or some...
  183. S

    Sick of Paying Tractor Part Prices.... Make Your Own....(3D Printed)

    Basic level printer? My 2013 "basic level printer" can do nylon and I don't see how anything on the market today could/would be any more basic than that. Why can't you do nylon?
  184. S

    Sick of Paying Tractor Part Prices.... Make Your Own....(3D Printed)

    If you print them in nylon they should hold up. I have a nylon lathe change gear for metric threading that I printed nearly 10 years ago and it still works just fine. It comes out of an oily drawer, goes onto an oily machine where it's meshed with other oily gears, subjected to more torque than...
  185. S

    Any apocalyptic way to kill nutgrass?

    Well I waited 2 years for price of wood to go through the roof and it finally did, so I built a wooden deck. Well, not built, but in progress. My daughter wants to have a pool party for her birthday at the end of the month and I said no problem. Then she said it's hard to have a pool party...
  186. S

    Why are people in Indianapolis going postal.

    No I agree with you. That was sorta the underlying theme of my post. The reason why it feels like the world is going to hell in a handbasket is because we have "the news" always screaming that it is (because that's what sells) and we have AI controlling our informational diet, constructing data...
  187. S

    Why are people in Indianapolis going postal.

    This is an exceptional post: I would like to discuss the portion I highlighted, and this: I believe the ailment America and most of the west suffers from is multifaceted but the main component is media, with a large sub-component being social media. For the older population probably the...
  188. S

    Updated LS Website

    Is the XR line discontinued?! I've now got an obsolete tractor?! Must go upgrade immediately.... oh wait, this isn't an iPhone.
  189. S

    Wood vs Metal Pole barn trusses

    Wow man, really good work! Looks awesome!
  190. S

    Death of a machine

    Yep, agreed on all counts. Choke/output reactor is never a bad idea, although I must confess I don't run them (or inverter duty motors) on any of my machines in my shop. I just keep the wiring between VFD and motor as short as possible, and never had an issue. My main lathe is equipped with a 30...
  191. S

    complaint with restaurants (which dosen't make sense to me)

    IMO, you go into a place, order something, and pay for it, it shouldn't matter who you are and what you order. Within reason. Going into a place and reserving an 8-person table for just yourself and nursing a single glass of tea for 2 hours is not within reason. A single adult member of a party...
  192. S

    Death of a machine

    The derating advice is golden if you're looking at 3ph input drives. There is a relatively new trend of VFDs specifically rated for single phase input and they do not need to be derated. Some are dual (single or 3ph) rated and they will typically have the ratings for both stamped right on them...
  193. S

    Death of a machine

    +1 the only time it's ever worth rewinding a motor is when it's double-digits HP and/or some kind of special purpise-built motor. No disagreeing, but "prematurely" is subjective and may or may not be relevant. On a production machine that gets run at least a full shift every day I would...
  194. S

    How much can raccoons eat?

    My trap worked twice, 2 years ago. Ever since, they know better. Here's from last night. That plate inside has chicken nuggets, a rib bone with meat still on, a few handfuls of the chicken feed they seem to love so much, and spaghetti. I can't imagine the willpower it must've taken to walk...
  195. S

    How much can raccoons eat?

    The only part of that that's an old wives tale is the "always" part. They absolutely do wash their food, if there's water around to wash it in. One of the funniest things, giving them cotton candy to wash:
  196. S

    How much can raccoons eat?

    That's what I'm saying. So smart. They really are smarter than dogs and cats, I have no trouble believing they're nearly as smart as monkeys. They're like 5 y/o children but more aggressive, with cat claws and Doberman jaws, and they're way too strong for how small they are. If you wouldn't be...
  197. S

    What kind of vintage car do you wish you had?

    Seems to be a common theme here, the classic most people want is one that they've already had, and I'm no different. I want my 1999 Trans Am back. I was born in '85 and had wet dreams about this car when it came out in '93. The one with the ram-air hood only; I didn't care for the base model...
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