Sometimes having all the tools just sucks

[muddstopper]

Spent most of the day working on a old bushog. brother bought one needing work and elected me to help him. First off, the 3pt frame was bent. No problem, just lifted the mower in the air and hung his fat butt on the end while I heated the bent parts with the torch. Few cracks in the mower deck, put blocks under the edges and let mower down on blocks and everything lined back up. I was going to mig it, but couldnt get welder to feed wire. took a while to find the problem. At some point, someone, probably me had droped soething heavy on the cord and crushed the liner. Well, I had a old liner so I put it in and quickly found out why I had replaced it. Welder just wasnt going to feed the wire. Well. I had some old 6011 rods so I drug the out and fired up the big welder. Afer a few minutes of chicken crap and bird dropping, flux falling off the rods, I gave that up to. I had about a 1/2 dozen 7018 rods laying on my wood stove so off to the house to get them. The rods where hot and ran well, so I got the welding done.

Fired up the tractor to try things out and noticed the pto had a pretty big wobble. Shaft bent. Well I decided to try to straighten the shaft using the torch to heat and shrink. Laid the shaft on the welding table and started heating fine little red lines and pouring water to cool it off, move a little and repeat. I wasnt sure how well this would work, but to my surprise, there was almost no wobble when we but it all back together.

Should have quit while ahead but just had to look under the mower to see what kind of shape the blades where in. They needed sharpening of coarse, but it looked like the stump jumper was loose, sure enough, so we got out the big ratchet and cheater pipe and torqued it super tight. Then noticed the gear box bolts where loose. No way in heck to get to the bolts with the stump jumper on so off it had to come. Since we had just got done torqueing it down, it proved a bear to get back off. I finally took a bottle jack and wrapped a chain around the stump jumper and the jack to make a redneck press and got the stump jumper off. We tightened the gear box, sharpened the blades and went to reinstall the jumper and the dang nut would not start. It came off hard and it was going to go back hard, the end of the threaded shaft had been beat and battered. Took a grinder and ground a little off the shaft and a file to chase the thread and then laid under it using a hammer to peck the nut with while I turned it with my hand to get it started.

Thought I was done, but noooo, brother decided he needed to get it adjusted for his tractor. We raised the back wheel, we lowered the back wheel, two or three times. Screwed the top link in and out and he just wasnt satisfied. I finally just told him to wait until the grass was tall enough to mow and then we could adjust the cut. Almost 5 straight hours of crawling on and under what we thought was going to be a 30 min job. With my knee replacement and all the metal pins in his legs, nether of us could hardly get under the bushhog, and when we did we couldnt hardly crawl back out. Good thing there wasnt anybody around watching us.

 

[kthompson]

You know i have resemble this with MY brother also.

But nothing due to my brother for my evening in getting sprayer ready for tomorrow: pull type sprayer with 500 gallon tank. Had to replace a 5 foot piece of suction hose, well failed to get it off so just cut it. will have to remove from fittings with small screw driver tomorrow.
Straps to hold tank in place bolts on them had to be replaced meaning new ones welding on and to reinstall the straps, easy enough but one bolt broke lose from my welding (amazing my welding did not hold. yeah right) so remove and reweld or maybe weld the first time.
Now where are the nozzles I need for broadcast spraying....can not find nor retainers for them so off to store tomorrow to get more of those plus the suction hose.
Was going to study the pressure and speed chart tonight so would not be burning daylight tomorrow to and somehow have left my knife and that chart between my shop and my house probably sitting in my shop.
What should have been at most an hour job was 1 1/2 this evening and looks like another hour tomorrow. So I am going to sleep late to make up for early start tomorrow. Think that is the way some calculate that.
But I do look forward to working to see a crop pop, a great sight.

You know there is a lot of cost in time and money to live in the country and to keep land up for what ever use. However the blessing of being able to part of creation and see life coming out the ground is a real blessing. It is a blessing to be able at the end of a week or a day look back and see what your labors have achieved. Something too many never get to feel in this country any more.

 

[dragoneggs]

Mudd, I truly wish I had a brother that I could waste a ton of time being productive together. Was there a beer at the the end of it? Sounds like you earned it.

 

[Gunny]

At least they help with the repairs, and they were family, those two things count for a lot, especially the family part.
I've got a reputation for owning a lot of different tools. I don't borrow tools and rarely rent one, if I needed a particular tool to do a job, I'd just go buy one, so over the years I've managed to get a a lot of stuff the average guy wouldn't have. Bottom line is that word got out and every spring I get a constant flow of neighbors and friends wanting to know if I can do this or that to fix something and it's always comes with their opinion that "it shouldn't take long to do it."
Then a huge percentage of them will stand around and let me do the vast majority of the work because "you know what you're doing and I don't know much about this kind of stuff."

And to add insult to injury, most of them don't even bother to bring along the beer and at some point during the repairs, they'll ask if I've got anything to drink in my refrigerator!

 

[dragoneggs]

At least they help with the repairs, and they were family, those two things count for a lot, especially the family part.
I've got a reputation for owning a lot of different tools. I don't borrow tools and rarely rent one, if I needed a particular tool to do a job, I'd just go buy one, so over the years I've managed to get a a lot of stuff the average guy wouldn't have. Bottom line is that word got out and every spring I get a constant flow of neighbors and friends wanting to know if I can do this or that to fix something and it's always comes with their opinion that "it shouldn't take long to do it."
Then a huge percentage of them will stand around and let me do the vast majority of the work because "you know what you're doing and I don't know much about this kind of stuff."

And to add insult to injury, most of them don't even bother to bring along the beer and at some point during the repairs, they'll ask if I've got anything to drink in my refrigerator!

Boy this sounds eerily familiar! :drink:

 

[muddstopper]

Neither I or My brother seldom drink beer. If Its hot and I am really sweaty, nothing taste better than a ice cold beer,, or maybe two even. I am just not a big beer drinker. I keep a little white likker in the fridge, but use it mostly for colds and sore throats. My wife uses the white likker to make her cleaning supplies with. Mixes it with essence oils and wipes down the counter tops with it. She likes to make wine too, but we endup giving it all away.

Like others, I have accumulated tools for years, I guess one of the advantages of growing old is you have time to collect the tools you want. Disadvantage to growing old is now you have all those tools and everybody knows it. You will find you have more friends than you realized, when they need something they are your best bud's.

 

[PILOON]

"Like others, I have accumulated tools for years, I guess one of the advantages of growing old is you have time to collect the tools you want. Disadvantage to growing old is now you have all those tools and everybody knows it. You will find you have more friends than you realized, when they need something they are your best bud's. "

Sounds like my shop assortment.
Friends only get one chance to borrow tools as my elastic often is not long enough, nothing irritates me more than having to retrieve a lent tool.
Now don't get me wrong,ask and I'll lend (as long as U are not on my 'never again' list).
Borrow, use it and immediately bring it back!
Nothing I hate more than having to retrieve my tools when I need them.

I once made a guy drive from 40 miles away to bring me back a tool that he'd kept 'handy' for 3 months.
Another rule is 'you break it, you replace it' and the guy that says 'it was due, or old and worn out' goes on the black list.

The other funny thing is that there is rarely any tool that I can borrow from others and shucks even rental shops have less than I.

But then maybe I'm a tool nut.

 

[Oldoak]

Some of my own repair jobs turn out the same as the original poster's. Also, with all the tools and equipment that I own, there is always one more to buy.

 

[muddstopper]

Also, with all the tools and equipment that I own, there is always one more to buy.

Exactly, he who dies with the most tools wins!

I find myself always searching the tool section on CL. Cant walk thru Homedepot or Lowes, and even Sears without cruiseing the tool isles. Go to the flea market and just have to stop and look at all the old tools on the tables. Kind of like going to BassPro or Gander Mountain and looking at all the fishing gizmos and of course dont forget the gun racks. If i had as much money as I had wants, Whew, dont want to think about it.

 

[Oldoak]

Exactly, he who dies with the most tools wins!

I find myself always searching the tool section on CL. Cant walk thru Homedepot or Lowes, and even Sears without cruiseing the tool isles. Go to the flea market and just have to stop and look at all the old tools on the tables. Kind of like going to BassPro or Gander Mountain and looking at all the fishing gizmos and of course dont forget the gun racks. If i had as much money as I had wants, Whew, dont want to think about it.

Oh my God! Were we twins, separated at birth? :laughing:

 

[yomax4]

Another day in the life of equipment ownership. I better go look under my hog and see if all is well.

 

[bigtiller]

A friend told me the worst decision he ever made was to buy an appliance hand truck. When people found out he had one, they wanted to borrow it, and his truck, and him also. He said it seemed as if everyone he knew was buying something or moving. He finally started trying to give it away but it always came back to him.

 

[comancheflight]

Feel fortunate your brother wants to help.
Everyone just drops stuff off to me...

 

[dragoneggs]

Neither I or My brother seldom drink beer. If Its hot and I am really sweaty, nothing taste better than a ice cold beer,, or maybe two even. I am just not a big beer drinker. I keep a little white likker in the fridge, but use it mostly for colds and sore throats. My wife uses the white likker to make her cleaning supplies with. Mixes it with essence oils and wipes down the counter tops with it. She likes to make wine too, but we endup giving it all away.

Like others, I have accumulated tools for years, I guess one of the advantages of growing old is you have time to collect the tools you want. Disadvantage to growing old is now you have all those tools and everybody knows it. You will find you have more friends than you realized, when they need something they are your best bud's.

Actually I hardly touch a beer either... it needs to be late afternoon and after working hard outside on a hot day. And fortunately or unfortunately around here we don't get very many hot days! :laughing: Now I do enjoy red wine at dinner.

HD, Lowes, (wherever if they have tools) doesn't matter if I only coming in to buy a rattle can of paint, I have to walk ALL the tool aisles knowing I won't buy or probably see anything I don't already know about. Wife knows and immediately heads to the garden/plant areas and finds me later when she is done. Garage sales are fun but I always feel like I was probably late to get the score I was craving and rarely does a tool go home with me then either. But those days when I do get a new tool on line or happen to come across a used tool that I had to have... are indeed joyous! Oh and I do not borrow tools hence my addiction I suppose.

 

[PILOON]

More than a few times I have spotted some oddball looking tool at a vendor's booth that catches my eye.
Some actually dare you to guess what it is, result is that I have a few that I'll never use. LOL, like a faucet seat reamer and stove pipe crimper to convert straight pipe to a male insert.
I still have one tool that I simply can't figure out. Brand name search takes me to web site that makes particle accelerators. Tool is pistol grip affair that grabs like 3 wires and pulls them together and has all sorts of delicate adjustments. Were I to guess I'd say that somebody paid four figures for that device judging by the delicate and complex machining.
I'll someday load pics under 'what is it' just for laughs and maybe get lucky.

 

[muddstopper]

I have actually borrowed a stove pipe crimper when I installed my wood stove. As I recall, the tool isnt very expensive, but the store didnt have a new one in stock so they lent me theirs.

 

[al3]

When asked, here’s the response I’ve adopted: “Sure I can weld/straighten/rebuild but I’ll need your help”. Nothing like asking for a little investment in requestor’s time to flush out the abusers. Only thing I won’t do is media blast for others-----tell them they can use the equipment, but the labor/fuss is theirs to do.
With respects to welding/rebuilding, I look at it as an education; they can both learn something about various repair processes AND the time it takes to do something correctly. I keep a spare welding hood/jacket around just for this purpose.
It’s surprising the responses; some folks jump at the chance, which is great. A lot simply pass on the offer, saying they don’t have the time or interest---then neither do I.
Exceptions for welding rototillers for those over 70---figure I can help them stay active so they don’t have to be here……

 

[muddstopper]

Another day of everything breaking, again. Went to fireup the troybuilt horse tiller. Got to get those taters in the ground you know. Made a couple of passes and something just didnt see right. grabbed hold of the tiller tines and the whole shaft would wiggle up and down. Bad bearing my first thoughts. Got to fix it, that brass gear is over $100 and it wont last long with a bad bearing. Tore the tiller down and the bearings looked good. Hit google and got a diagram and it seems there is supposed to be 2 .054 shims between the bearings and the gear. Well mine didnt have those shims. I bought the tiller used, I can only guess the previous owner had worked on it before I got it. No one had any shims so I made a trip to tractor supply and bought some body washers. took my mic with me and they measured .052-.057, close enough. Problem was the washers didnt have a 1 1/4in hole in the middle. Ever try to chuck a washer in a lathe chuck and get it true. I messed up 2 out of the pack before I figured out a way to hold it. In the mean time, while trying to figure out a solution for the tiller shims, I decided to use my power rake to till up the garden spot. Of course something didnt seem right, noticed the belts looked oily while using it so I got off and walked around to where I could look at whats going on and the filter had a small pinhole letting oil spray right on the belt. OH well, might as well mow the grass. I was almost done cutting and I heard a bang and fire flew out from under the deck. Thought I had hit something. Lifted up the deck and backed up and didnt see anything so I turned on the blades and bam bang, fire flying, what ever it is It must have got stuck between the blades and the deck. It was almost dark so I parked the mower behind the tiller until the next day. finished fixing the tiller and gave it a test and tie to work on mower. Jacked up the mower and looked under it but didnt see anything, but turning the blades by hand it was obvious the blades where hitting the sides of the deck, dang spindle ust be bent. I took off the blades and removed the bolts fro the spindle. Spindle housing had all flange broke in three large pieces. New spindle assembly is $199.95, Ouch! New housing $35. Welder setting in the corner so what do I do. I wimped out and ordered the new housing. Housing is Aluminum and the flange is 3/8 thick. I have welded one of those housings before and its hard to get clean, hard to weld and impossible to keep flat while welding. I'll weld it up and keep it for a spare when I find the time.

 

[dragoneggs]

Another day of everything breaking, again. Went to fireup the troybuilt horse tiller. Got to get those taters in the ground you know. Made a couple of passes and something just didnt see right. grabbed hold of the tiller tines and the whole shaft would wiggle up and down. Bad bearing my first thoughts. Got to fix it, that brass gear is over $100 and it wont last long with a bad bearing. Tore the tiller down and the bearings looked good. Hit google and got a diagram and it seems there is supposed to be 2 .054 shims between the bearings and the gear. Well mine didnt have those shims. I bought the tiller used, I can only guess the previous owner had worked on it before I got it. No one had any shims so I made a trip to tractor supply and bought some body washers. took my mic with me and they measured .052-.057, close enough. Problem was the washers didnt have a 1 1/4in hole in the middle. Ever try to chuck a washer in a lathe chuck and get it true. I messed up 2 out of the pack before I figured out a way to hold it. In the mean time, while trying to figure out a solution for the tiller shims, I decided to use my power rake to till up the garden spot. Of course something didnt seem right, noticed the belts looked oily while using it so I got off and walked around to where I could look at whats going on and the filter had a small pinhole letting oil spray right on the belt. OH well, might as well mow the grass. I was almost done cutting and I heard a bang and fire flew out from under the deck. Thought I had hit something. Lifted up the deck and backed up and didnt see anything so I turned on the blades and bam bang, fire flying, what ever it is It must have got stuck between the blades and the deck. It was almost dark so I parked the mower behind the tiller until the next day. finished fixing the tiller and gave it a test and tie to work on mower. Jacked up the mower and looked under it but didnt see anything, but turning the blades by hand it was obvious the blades where hitting the sides of the deck, dang spindle ust be bent. I took off the blades and removed the bolts fro the spindle. Spindle housing had all flange broke in three large pieces. New spindle assembly is $199.95, Ouch! New housing $35. Welder setting in the corner so what do I do. I wimped out and ordered the new housing. Housing is Aluminum and the flange is 3/8 thick. I have welded one of those housings before and its hard to get clean, hard to weld and impossible to keep flat while welding. I'll weld it up and keep it for a spare when I find the time.

Mud, help me... use some paragraphs so I don't lose you in the verbiage. That said... your story sounds like the old saying, 'when it rains, it pours'. But the sun will come back out!

 

[oosik]

You know - I can distinctly remember those few times when I've started out to do a "simple" job and it actually ended up being simple. For any number of reasons - I don't think there are too awful many simple jobs. Like many - if I need a tool, I will buy it. The big problem is trying to remember where its stored so I don't have to buy a second one. This situation has become more intense as I have aged. Its really irritating to know you have the tool but not remember where you stored it.