Potato truck bed repair?

[bjr]

The reason I mentioned self contained was tripping the residential breaker and not have access to it.

You All have very good input and I really do appreciate it. Since I've posted I found out one of the my customers does have a small 120 Volt wire feed,but, doesn't know anything about it. I will inspect it and see if it's worth messing with and get back to the thread. One of the Poster mentioned noise in a neighborhood environment was a concern and he is correct. It's zoned and agriculture and have to be able to run farming machinery, although I try to be conscious of making obnoxious noise later in the evening when people are going to bed. These drivers need to think they are operating a business and take care of their truck maintenance as a expense to the business and get the welding done in a shop. I've almost talked myself out of helping these guys. I started just helping a neighbor/friend and it kinda got carried away. Then there was some heated words about me not doing some work for the others and I just stopped it at that point. I'll post back later when things get sorted out/ cooled off. bjr

 

[Sodo]

Since I've posted I found out one of the my customers does have a small 120 Volt wire feed,but, doesn't know anything about it. I will inspect it and see if it's worth messing with and get back to the thread.

If he doesn't know anything about it,,,,,, I can almost guarantee someone gave it to him because doesn't work well enough to use. Lots of machines on the market that barely work new, and one little problem and they don't work at all. I would go have a look at it, with ONE thing in mind, the BRAND. If it's Miller/Lincoln/Hobart (not likely) it could be a bargain - otherwise, don't bother even plugging it in. If other brands are worth taking a chance on, those who know can mention them but I've only used the 3 (very rebuildable brands) mentioned. Some folks could probably evaluate it, get it going, but you said you don't know wire-feed. I read often on forums where a guy who's never used a (good) wire-feed will try to use a junk machine then all they know about wire-feed is it doesn't work. And then he decides all 115v wire-feeds don't work. And sometimes they know it very, very well ! :laughing:

It sounds to me like if these guys had any time or money to take their trucks to a shop, they ought to be getting OTHER maintenance done. If I had a welding shop, and someone came in with weld-upon-weld I'd turn down the job. Whereas a traveling welder, you do the best job for the $$ offerred then "c-ya". Man there must be zero $ in hauling potatoes. What do they do with a load of potatoes on a broke-down truck blocking the access road?

Some welding can be satisfying, but re-welding broken fatigued stuff, weld-upon-weld, is not fun. It's just gonna break again in the same place, they will always blame the last repairman. That's not satisfying, especially when you see the guy again and he want's you to warranty it.

Sounds like it would be interesting for a couple days though. How do you bill? By the hour or by the job? Are you getting cash?

 

[bjr]

If he doesn't know anything about it,,,,,, I can almost guarantee someone gave it to him because doesn't work well enough to use. Lots of machines on the market that barely work new, and one little problem and they don't work at all. I would go have a look at it, with ONE thing in mind, the BRAND. If it's Miller/Lincoln/Hobart (not likely) it could be a bargain - otherwise, don't bother even plugging it in. If other brands are worth taking a chance on, those who know can mention them but I've only used the 3 (very rebuildable brands) mentioned. Some folks could probably evaluate it, get it going, but you said you don't know wire-feed. I read often on forums where a guy who's never used a (good) wire-feed will try to use a junk machine then all they know about wire-feed is it doesn't work. And then he decides all 115v wire-feeds don't work. And sometimes they know it very, very well ! :laughing:

It sounds to me like if these guys had any time or money to take their trucks to a shop, they ought to be getting OTHER maintenance done. If I had a welding shop, and someone came in with weld-upon-weld I'd turn down the job. Whereas a traveling welder, you do the best job for the $$ offerred then "c-ya". Man there must be zero $ in hauling potatoes. What do they do with a load of potatoes on a broke-down truck blocking the access road?

Some welding can be satisfying, but re-welding broken fatigued stuff, weld-upon-weld, is not fun. It's just gonna break again in the same place, they will always blame the last repairman. That's not satisfying, especially when you see the guy again and he want's you to warranty it.

Sounds like it would be interesting for a couple days though. How do you bill? By the hour or by the job? Are you getting cash?

Yeah, the Farmer or Field boss will make sure the potatoes get removed from the broken down truck one way or another lots of labors or I've seen them bring a generator in to run the electric drive motor for the belt. They just won't let the digger stop, as they get those fields harvested fast.
And you're right it's not satisfying desirable work. It's just way to bring in a few dollars on the side and always cash. Not something that always gets reported on the taxes. Now I know there's the the tax and insurance police in the crowd, but, this is the kind of desperation repairs to make it one more night or day of work depending on which shift they get. I'm usually just doin' the guy favor rather than actually trying to get big bucks. The whole farm/business plan just doesn't allow much profit in produce field hauling. Things always could be run "better", but, just are not. See also "Half Assed". I don't try to redesign the world just live in it is all. bjr

 

[Big Barn]

Found a 30 year old pic of one of my potato boxes. This one was a Schell Systems manufactured in Idaho.



Terry

 

[Sberry]

Skip some pos wire feed, Everlast has a machine similar to a Maxstar. While you have a 15A recept it is likely on a 20A circuit. Get 100 ft of 12 cord, a Max will run a 1/8 6011 and a 7018 3/32 at 100 ft in most cases.