Texas Fall/Winter thread!

[Bird]

Bird, almost time to "scalp" the yard and fertilize! I need to do some oil changes too.

Yeah, and I haven't bought any fertilizer yet. In fact, February 14 was when I dethatched and scalped it last year. I usually change oil in the mower in the spring, but I just changed the oil & filter on October 11, so it's good for awhile.

I did let my Ford dealer change the oil & filter in my little Ranger truck today. And I also let them change the spark plugs and wires since it has almost 104k miles on it and the manual says to change the plugs at 100k. How long has it been since you priced letting someone change plugs & wires? I was more than a little surprised to learn it's just about $400 now.

 

[lostcreekranch]

So, do you drink from a stien or stein, Rick? I know. . . I know. . . you drink from a longneck.

Roger Tower! I mean Roger Jim!

Unless it's Jack Daniels or is it Jack Daneils?

 

[lostcreekranch]

I get about $100 per goat at 60/80lbs. I only sell the Billy's. Best prices are in the late fall, do to all the fall religious holidays. So I hold them until nov/dec to go to auction. Mexico has become a big market, many are bought by a meat processor in SA, who markets into Mexico. Goat meat has become very popular there. The dairy Billy's I give to 4H, they snap them up on Craig's list within minutes. HS

Scott;

Cabrito! MMMMM MMMMM Good!

There is a great restaurant in Monterey by the river, called El Ray Del Cabrito that serves only Cabrito.

Do you know of any place in Houston area that sell quarters? Would like to throw a couple on the smoker or rotisserie this spring.

 

[pacerron]

I did let my Ford dealer change the oil & filter in my little Ranger truck today. And I also let them change the spark plugs and wires since it has almost 104k miles on it and the manual says to change the plugs at 100k. How long has it been since you priced letting someone change plugs & wires? I was more than a little surprised to learn it's just about $400 now.

Looks like if you had replaced the coil as well the dealership price runs about $500.

Other forums talk about the plugs being hard to get out without breaking them off so they must
charge you extra time, in the book, in anticipation of such.:confused3:

I'd either do it myself or look for an independent mechanic with a price up front.
The parts, wires, plugs, and coil are said to be about $150 retail for good quality parts, if there is such a thing anymore. Apparently most of the plugs are made in 2 pieces and crimped together which makes them weak.
One mfg. still makes one piece.

Did they give you free coffee and donuts while you waited?

 

[Bird]

Looks like if you had replaced the coil as well the dealership price runs about $500.

Other forums talk about the plugs being hard to get out without breaking them off so they must
charge you extra time, in the book, in anticipation of such.:confused3:

I'd either do it myself or look for an independent mechanic with a price up front.
The parts, wires, plugs, and coil are said to be about $150 retail for good quality parts, if there is such a thing anymore. Apparently most of the plugs are made in 2 pieces and crimped together which makes them weak.
One mfg. still makes one piece.

Did they give you free coffee and donuts while you waited?

Ron, my old Ranger is a 2001 model with the biggest engine; 4.0L V-6. I found on some other websites that it came with platinum spark plugs (or platinum tipped). Later models had cheaper ones.

I grew up hearing how independent garages/mechanics were so much cheaper than dealers and maybe they are, if you find the right independent. But I checked with another place in the area that is very popular and his price for the plugs and wires was $398.63, including tax. The Ford dealer I always use was $383, plus tax, so about the same. But I had the dealer do their injection system service and cleaning, too. And it was time for an oil & filter change, which they did at no cost this time.

Coffee & donuts? They have the biggest coffee/cappuccino/hot chocolate machine I've ever seen, and if you're there early in the morning, there's usually donuts (or maybe the donuts are just on Saturday), the TV is on, and there's both Dallas and Denton newspapers. However, this time I went by yesterday afternoon, talked to my service writer (who is the assistant service manager) and just left the truck. They brought me home. Then this afternoon about 1 p.m. he called to tell me it was ready and to ask if I wanted him to send the driver to pick me up.

 

[Western]

I did let my Ford dealer change the oil & filter in my little Ranger truck today. And I also let them change the spark plugs and wires since it has almost 104k miles on it and the manual says to change the plugs at 100k. How long has it been since you priced letting someone change plugs & wires? I was more than a little surprised to learn it's just about $400 now.

$400!!!:shocked: Holy cow poooh! Bird that is criminal in my book. dam Good set of wires $100, high dollar plugs, say $10 each. even $100 labor. I agree with Ron, find a good mechanic.

 

[Western]

HS, now would be a good time to mow the dead grass so you allow sunlight to the wildflower seedlings. Bluebonnets come up in the fall, so they are already there, just be careful to make as few passes as possible so the young seedlings don't get bruised. I like to use a regular lawnmower in the early springtime because the turf tires are not nearly as abusive as my tractor's tires.

Whatever wildflower you have, watch the stems closely for buds. Once the buds form, all mowing must be stopped. It's easy to see the buds form on bluebonnets, but may be less obvious on other wildflowers, especially Indian paintbrush. In my area, I don't dare mow after mid-march, but in your area it may be much earlier because of average temperatures in your area being much higher than here in N. TX.

Great advice,
but some what concerned about Jim's obsessive focus on "buds":laughing: Wonder what he's really growing at the "Rockin Anchor" Colorado and Washington State anthem "this buds for you".

 

[Bird]

$400!!!:shocked: Holy cow poooh! Bird that is criminal in my book. dam Good set of wires $100, high dollar plugs, say $10 each. even $100 labor. I agree with Ron, find a good mechanic.

Dennis, the wires were about $70, labor about $150 to $197, spark plugs closer to $20 each. I had read on another website that the way to get to the plugs is to remove a front wheel and go in through the fender well. Neither the dealer, nor the other garage, made any effort to sell the wires, but the guy at the other garage told me that sometimes they find a wire that they cannot pull off without damaging it. But several years ago, I changed a set of plugs in a Ford Escort, the wires appeared to be good, but less than a month later, one wire went bad, so I replaced the entire set. And I wanted the entire set this time, too. And the non-dealer shop said there are cheaper parts available that fit, but they recommended staying with OEM motorcraft parts.

 

[Western]

Bird, I would never change only one wire myself, same with plugs. I do know OEM are at inflated prices ( at the dealer) and there are allot of equal or better alternatives.

EDIT: Bird, on my GMC diesel 1 ton, I go through the passengers side wheel well to change the fuel filter. It is a pain, but saves me over $130!


Ford owners sue over the plugs???
http://blogs.ajc.com/business-beat/2012/04/27/ford-owners-sue-over-costly-repair/

 

[txdon]

So you have an even better memory than I.:laughing:

Nope, you are still the memory King, I just made that up.