Good morning!!!!

[ArlyA]

I forgot to post the weather. Low temps at camp are lower. Its like 20 here now and no wind with 20 snow flakes falling. Pretty darn nice.

 

[FriendwithTractor]

Good Morning to All Who Celebrate! Currently 23° heading to 30° with cloud.

Snow turned out to be a bust, despite coming down pretty heavily for a while. By the time I cleared work, there was mostly slush. Cleared Grandma's driveway for her the Old Fashioned way (Snow shovel) and was rewarded with Ham 'n green beans. Some of her better work lately. Then home, where I realized using the snowblower would be the epitome of foolishness. However, the snow push did an admirable job:

Sorry about the blur, still getting used to the Iphone camera. I think the snow-push did better because of the 600 pounds of steel hanging off the 3 point might have done something to aid with traction. Just a feeling. During my brief time moving slush, I pulled a small pile back from the garage door and set the snowblower to it. WinterDeere is correct, that thing will in fact move some snow in a hurry!

Other than the snow, just surviving the day job has been enough.

Dad and Uncle are heading up north to chase deer for the weekend. Mom came back from a successful trip with the girlfriends. I got tapped for the Great Firewood Gathering Session tomorrow. So now I take everything off the tractor, put the bucket back on, and get the log splitter ready to rumble. I'm going to steal L4N's idea of FluidFilm (or PAM) to help the table of the RuggedMade and also the snow-push and snowblower. Need to stop at Lowe's on the way home today. Depending on temperature, I might also touch the chain up on the 500i.

Here's hoping for a safe and productive GFGS!

Y'all stay safe and warm out there! Remember! No more slips and falls!
Prayers for all ailing or recovering!

 

[kenmbz]

Morning all, 21 going to 32 and cloudy.
Going to meet the son in NYC today, Wife and him will go ice skating and we'll do Christmas things.

Heal up quick Lou!

Moved the big bench out of the living room into the bedroom, at 7' it is heavy, furniture mover on one side helped.

P1800, the Saint car and one of my brothers favorites.

Off to the train, figures coldest day of the year here so far.

Be well

 

[Popgadget]

P1800 one of prettiest cars ever made

It was Simon Templar’s choice.

 

[ponytug]

Lou, heal quickly, just think of what a movie star you'll look like now

gives new meaning to breath deeply in the very cold air...no.

very pleased that AI solved another problem for me, my concern over a little thump in my car when
taking off. Very tiny feeling like slack is being taken up. And I found out it is. If I had said anything to the dealer,
thank goodness I didn't, they would have suggested replacing the entire assembly. Bet that yoke just needs a little cleaning and some
careful lube.
all this was free on Google. I wonder for how long...

2019 Lexus GX460 in starting out is it normal to have any play in drivetrain
Thinking
Searching

Yes, a small amount of play or a slight "thump" or "bump" feeling in the drivetrain when starting out or decelerating to a stop is a known and generally considered normal characteristic of the Lexus GX 460, including the 2019 model. It is often related to the design of the rear driveshaft slip yoke.
Common Cause: Driveshaft Slip Yoke
The primary cause for this sensation in the GX460 platform is the movement within the rear driveshaft slip yoke. The slip yoke allows the driveshaft to adjust in length as the suspension moves. Over time, friction can cause it to bind slightly, then release with a noticeable "jerk" or "thump" as you start moving from a stop or come to a halt.

• Not Dangerous: This condition is generally not considered a safety hazard or indicative of a major problem.
• Common Across Years: It has been a common characteristic reported by owners and master technicians for many years of the GX model line, including the 2019 model.
• Dealer Acknowledgment: Lexus even issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) for model years including 2016-2022 to address the "thump" or "bump" feeling by replacing the rear propeller shaft assembly in some cases.

and then the plot thickens...dug in further to TSB and sure enough it's the old fashioned grease zerks involved.
When I asked the dealer service rep about greasing the zerks, he asked me what was a zerk. So will definitely have them greased next time
it's on a lift. Cars don't have zerks any more but this old model still has two on that long driveshaft

so now I know what causes it and how to fix it. Or likely how to reduce it since it seems normal

Routine greasing of Zerk fittings on both front and rear shafts (using Molly grease for slip yokes) is crucial maintenance to prevent these issues.

I don't do well with mechanical items making noise, and also have a tendency to dig in to find the cause.

Anyone else think it is kind of scary when a dealership mechanic doesn't know what a zerk is or that a driveshaft needs greasing?

We drove a Peugeot 404 over thousands of miles of terrible roads with nary a glitch. It was a wonderful car in many ways, and while not exactly safe cars by modern standards, but ok for their time. The only other vehicle that seemed to stand up to the abuse were old style Land Rovers, but my those were a bear to drive. Later we had several Saabs, a 99, and a 900, both of which went over 250k, though the 900 become an in town only car after a shock absorber flange failed (metal fatigue) in the back of beyond. It was an easy fix, but you do have to question the reliability after metal fatigue sets in.

Send some of that snow and cold out our way! We seem in some windless doldrums out here. I miss the weather and storms.

Today looks like an indoor day.

We had a phone alert of a 5.9 quake yesterday that turned out to be a digital gremlin. The fault near us has been rumbling all Fall just to remind us it is around. I'm glad the we have the small rumbles to release energy, but I do have concerns about where the friction is building up for a big snap. At one point geologists that I knew were recommending being closer to a fault (one snap) rather than farther away (resonance that rocks buildings to pieces). I'm not sure how universal that advice is, but building to an earthquake standard helps. Shortly after the Fukushima quake, being on the 21st floor for a 5.9 in Tokyo was a bit unnerving, but actually just felt like swaying back and forth in the wind in a tall tree. Still, I found it hard not to think about collapsing buildings at that height. I found out later that the building was design to allow 1m of movement laterally, and had 1m high moving hydraulic flood barriers around the whole building in case of a flood or tsunami. I was always a bit curious about what flexible looks like for power lines/water/sewage for a skyscraper like that.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Engineer42]

Good Morning to All Who Celebrate! Currently 23° heading to 30° with cloud.

Snow turned out to be a bust, despite coming down pretty heavily for a while. By the time I cleared work, there was mostly slush. Cleared Grandma's driveway for her the Old Fashioned way (Snow shovel) and was rewarded with Ham 'n green beans. Some of her better work lately. Then home, where I realized using the snowblower would be the epitome of foolishness. However, the snow push did an admirable job:
View attachment 4492585

Sorry about the blur, still getting used to the Iphone camera. I think the snow-push did better because of the 600 pounds of steel hanging off the 3 point might have done something to aid with traction. Just a feeling. During my brief time moving slush, I pulled a small pile back from the garage door and set the snowblower to it. WinterDeere is correct, that thing will in fact move some snow in a hurry!

Other than the snow, just surviving the day job has been enough.

Dad and Uncle are heading up north to chase deer for the weekend. Mom came back from a successful trip with the girlfriends. I got tapped for the Great Firewood Gathering Session tomorrow. So now I take everything off the tractor, put the bucket back on, and get the log splitter ready to rumble. I'm going to steal L4N's idea of FluidFilm (or PAM) to help the table of the RuggedMade and also the snow-push and snowblower. Need to stop at Lowe's on the way home today. Depending on temperature, I might also touch the chain up on the 500i.

Here's hoping for a safe and productive GFGS!

Y'all stay safe and warm out there! Remember! No more slips and falls!
Prayers for all ailing or recovering!

Go to dollar general for the cooking spray. Saves money and no need for butter flavor, lol.

 

[Looking4new]

Dump/town run is cancelled, do it either tomorrow or Sunday.
The road we gotta use to get to the dump is an old logging road. About the width of a snow plow with a wing. 15' wide. If I still had my Jeep I wouldn't think twice, but the Dodge Journey is useless in deep snow.
The main road to the dump is tore up because the township in all their wisdom decided to replace a 24" culvert crossing the road between the main road and the dump. They expect Mobey Dick (the fish) to swim upstream from the river to the head waters. They are putting in a 48" culvert. Do it in the summertime? Oh, no, start it in November. Dummies.

 

[Looking4new]

Engineer, I get mine at Dollarama, the Canadian version of Dollar Store/Dollar General.

I did manage to get the case of white KD and another 20 lbs of peanut butter ordered yesterday.

 

[riptides]

We had a phone alert of a 5.9 quake yesterday that turned out to be a digital gremlin. The fault near us has been rumbling all Fall just to remind us it is around. I'm glad the we have the small rumbles to release energy, but I do have concerns about where the friction is building up for a big snap. At one point geologists that I knew were recommending being closer to a fault (one snap) rather than farther away (resonance that rocks buildings to pieces). I'm not sure how universal that advice is, but building to an earthquake standard helps. Shortly after the Fukushima quake, being on the 21st floor for a 5.9 in Tokyo was a bit unnerving, but actually just felt like swaying back and forth in the wind in a tall tree. Still, I found it hard not to think about collapsing buildings at that height. I found out later that the building was design to allow 1m of movement laterally, and had 1m high moving hydraulic flood barriers around the whole building in case of a flood or tsunami. I was always a bit curious about what flexible looks like for power lines/water/sewage for a skyscraper like that.

All the best,

Peter

I was in a building once that swayed back and forth during an earthquake. Took a longer time to figure out what was going on in my mind than I expected. I was also amazed that people were just going about their normal routines directly outside and in the building. Not me, I got out of there and went home. And I took the stairs.

Too unnerving.

 

[m7040]

We had a phone alert of a 5.9 quake yesterday that turned out to be a digital gremlin. The fault near us has been rumbling all Fall just to remind us it is around. I'm glad the we have the small rumbles to release energy, but I do have concerns about where the friction is building up for a big snap. At one point geologists that I knew were recommending being closer to a fault (one snap) rather than farther away (resonance that rocks buildings to pieces). I'm not sure how universal that advice is, but building to an earthquake standard helps. Shortly after the Fukushima quake, being on the 21st floor for a 5.9 in Tokyo was a bit unnerving, but actually just felt like swaying back and forth in the wind in a tall tree. Still, I found it hard not to think about collapsing buildings at that height. I found out later that the building was design to allow 1m of movement laterally, and had 1m high moving hydraulic flood barriers around the whole building in case of a flood or tsunami. I was always a bit curious about what flexible looks like for power lines/water/sewage for a skyscraper like that.

All the best,

when the kitchen cabinets start to spill out the contents and the swimming pool splashes out the water in big waves is very scary. Went through a few when we lived in California

 

[Popgadget]

Good Morning
18° and we wont see 30 today. Partly cloudy sky forecast throughout the day.

Yesterday’s major accomplishment-

Back in my pocket where it belongs.

Other than that I got a carryall load of wood from the woodshed, checked the outlet of the rain collector on the Davis weather station, but it was clear. Must have been ice that blocked it. I manually cycled the tipping bucket, and it registered. Cleaned out the fireplace and am ready for the next fire.

This cold spell has been a good test of the heating system. The floor is about 74, the air is about 70, the incoming air from the ERV is 65. Considering its in the teens outside, thats pretty good.
The shop has a minisplit on the second floor, and that stays about 70, which is enough to keep the first floor about 50.
The entire building also has a heatpump with a propane furnace backup. I turned that on today with the thermostat set for 55 just to make sure everything works as it should. (And to make it warm).

Drew came by and picked up his hose wrenches, i think the printed ones will fine.

I’m about to head out with my wife to load her alpaca wares into the Durham Hill holiday market, one of the shows that she has for the weekend.

Looks like we will play music tonight, i see Christmas music on the agenda.

 

[daugen]

Go to dollar general for the cooking spray. Saves money and no need for butter flavor, lol.

my snowblower manual clearly says only to use the butter flavor!
salted or unsalted?

good morning, liked the repair shop, they have to put it up on lift to see what is leaking and he knew all about the grease fittings and the
yoke. He said all of his staff either drove volvos, toyotas or lexus.
then a quick stop at Popgadgets to try out the new rv hose wrench and it worked perfectly, of course.
then home on a cold grey day with an occasional snow flurry

enjoying another cup of coffee then will start to put layers of tung oil on my walnut pot rack.
doing that carefully in living room on a coffee table, too cold to work outside.

 

[sodamo]

68°F and .94 inches rain. A wet night

Finished mowing the Laupahoehoe end of property. Have to admit it’s looking good still some rough spots but getting better.

Had hoped to switched to mowing the “lawn”n the interior 6 acres or give Sophie the opportunity if she would prefer to take a break from chaperone duty. Wx may have all of us inside.

Meeting grinds tonight for dinner at Japanese restaurant.

Prayers for all
Be safe
Have a great tractor day

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Wngsprd, congrats on the hike goals reached.

Now to add to the TBN noise floor,
Todays fix it project was the toaster (the bread kind, not the ones Elon builds). Discovered in the wee hours of the morning yesterday the handle wouldn’t stay down, had to eat jam on plain bread. Took it apart, saw the problem, put back together, still no worky. Apart again, fiddled some more, plugged in and worked. Put back together, not working. Rinse and repeat, finally discovered the switch just sticks. No amount of fiddling would make it work reliably, so ordered new toaster.
They sure are expensive for what’s inside.

Ordered most of Christmas presents, big delivery next week.
Just dusting of snow, mostly gone Temp below freezing all day, 28°
Glad weather station reporting again

Scott, I probably would get fired for not delivering the oil. Hate scammers, news just full of it lately.

 

[Buppies]

28 low of 27 about 4 in of snow not going anywhere more Monday. Tractor has flat tire off rim will take off tomorrow and get fixed. Nothing plowed here no point.

Thanks BEF

Heal fast Lou, nice plow job Phil, afternoon mostly, glad wrench worked Drew nice job PopG, wngsprd congrats on achieving your goals on trails

Precious got up at 7:30 looked outside went to great room and kitchen looked out. Let her out bedroom sliding glass door she went to rail on porch put her nose in skiff of snow there went off back steps 2 then into yard slowly. All of a sudden took off running with nose in snow like a plow. That lasted about 45 minutes oh what fun.

Prayers for all our Country

 

[Buppies]

Been thru Paint Bank several years ago like in the late 70s interesting place. There are underground silos in WVa that one could walk over and not know they are there interesting.

At Peaks of Otter old government installation supposedly not in use radar. We worked up there several years ago the contractor had all utilities marked hit 50 pair phone line that wasn’t there. In 10 minutes surrounded by military people major comes out yelling. Another huh

 

[Buppies]

Precious sleeping on couch beside Holly must have worn herself out

 

[Popgadget]

Scott, I probably would get fired for not delivering the oil. Hate scammers, news just full of it lately.

I have no tolerance of scammers, but things are not always as they appear. Could be a poor planner that just got canned, or a multitude of hardship causing events. Or a scammer.

I find that when I make quick assumptions that i am usually wrong.

 

[ArlyA]

I knew folks who worked on the minuet man instillation's and the MX missile system.

 

[Engineer42]

Engineer, I get mine at Dollarama, the Canadian version of Dollar Store/Dollar General.

I did manage to get the case of white KD and another 20 lbs of peanut butter ordered yesterday.

White KD?