The Daily Yardman Thread
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bertsmobile1
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Re: Still Welding....
Should be a nice little earner in your retirement.
Lots of folks pay good money for stuff like hand made fire irons.
A old aquaintance makes them.
He used to just do the one pattern which he hoped would become recognised as his "style" but got bored quickly and they sold cheap.
Now he does custom ones with peoples initials, names and the such in the handles ( split & twirled not wood ) and has orders to for over a year.
The panel beater next to my mother had his knees go so while he was off recovering I got him to make me some parts for my veteran BSA's.
HE made a few sets because he was not particularly happy with the way they turned out .
Well I took the lot, sold the excess and gave the proceeds back to him.
He now makes custom Harley parts in his shed, to order for custom shops & repair shops, makes twice what he used to as foreman panel beater and works 2-3 days a week .
His wife never stopped thanking me as he was a very proud German man and she feared for his mental health if he could not work and apart from metal working was virtually illeterate.
Norton owners pay silly money for alloy tanks to replace the fiberglass ones that are now all falling apart due to the nature of modern fuels.
Always oppertunities to justify the expenditure ,
Have a look around on evilbay and see the selling prices for hand forged items
Have a look at the age of Kent in some of the videos.
He would have to be 70 if he was a day.
Always meaningful work available for those who can use their hands
A retirement with some meaningful and reasonably renumerated work is a good reirement.
Enjoy yours.
I buy the way am well over retiring age.
Because I was too old and my van too small my last delivery contract was not renewed so I have been doing mowers ever since I turned 62 and look like doing it till around 75, health holding out.
Should be a nice little earner in your retirement.
Lots of folks pay good money for stuff like hand made fire irons.
A old aquaintance makes them.
He used to just do the one pattern which he hoped would become recognised as his "style" but got bored quickly and they sold cheap.
Now he does custom ones with peoples initials, names and the such in the handles ( split & twirled not wood ) and has orders to for over a year.
The panel beater next to my mother had his knees go so while he was off recovering I got him to make me some parts for my veteran BSA's.
HE made a few sets because he was not particularly happy with the way they turned out .
Well I took the lot, sold the excess and gave the proceeds back to him.
He now makes custom Harley parts in his shed, to order for custom shops & repair shops, makes twice what he used to as foreman panel beater and works 2-3 days a week .
His wife never stopped thanking me as he was a very proud German man and she feared for his mental health if he could not work and apart from metal working was virtually illeterate.
Norton owners pay silly money for alloy tanks to replace the fiberglass ones that are now all falling apart due to the nature of modern fuels.
Always oppertunities to justify the expenditure ,
Have a look around on evilbay and see the selling prices for hand forged items
Have a look at the age of Kent in some of the videos.
He would have to be 70 if he was a day.
Always meaningful work available for those who can use their hands
A retirement with some meaningful and reasonably renumerated work is a good reirement.
Enjoy yours.
I buy the way am well over retiring age.
Because I was too old and my van too small my last delivery contract was not renewed so I have been doing mowers ever since I turned 62 and look like doing it till around 75, health holding out.
Roger B
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Re: MTD Yardman Transaxle Rebuild
Bert-mobile,
I appreciate your suggestions, however having busted my hump ever since I was around 14 years old, I'm not overly inclined to do "work" which might come with demands and time frames. I much prefer to do pretty much as I damn well please and when I damn well feel like it. Also I have far too many interests and would not want to become tied down to doing one type of 'work'. . . . As I can only see 70 in my rear-view mirror, I don't feel I have enough time left to develop the quality for any skill I'm not currently 'fluent' in to make myself marketable. Plus I don't really need the money in order to survive in the life style which I currently enjoy. . . . And as much as I hate to admit it, when age creeps up on you, you to may well find that the quality of what you do produce isn't quite what it used to be, even though it took you twice as long to accomplish! I'm just out here trying to dabble in a number of vocations that have caught my interest over the years, to see what I might have missed, if you will...
Roger
Bert-mobile,
I appreciate your suggestions, however having busted my hump ever since I was around 14 years old, I'm not overly inclined to do "work" which might come with demands and time frames. I much prefer to do pretty much as I damn well please and when I damn well feel like it. Also I have far too many interests and would not want to become tied down to doing one type of 'work'. . . . As I can only see 70 in my rear-view mirror, I don't feel I have enough time left to develop the quality for any skill I'm not currently 'fluent' in to make myself marketable. Plus I don't really need the money in order to survive in the life style which I currently enjoy. . . . And as much as I hate to admit it, when age creeps up on you, you to may well find that the quality of what you do produce isn't quite what it used to be, even though it took you twice as long to accomplish! I'm just out here trying to dabble in a number of vocations that have caught my interest over the years, to see what I might have missed, if you will...
Roger
Roger B
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Avatar
Tom,
I've already forgotten what question I asked in the email.. (Or else I don't understand what you meant) - Either case is possible.
Yep! You got it correct, it IS the conning tower (sail) of a diesel submarine, showing from left to right: Number one Periscope, Number two (attack) Periscope, the "Football" - (I could tell you what it is, but then I'd have to kill ya), Radio antenna, Snorkel intake mast and head valve, and then the snorkel exhaust mast and diffuser - with two guys riding on it!
Normally, as you might imagine, all that would be showing above the waterline would be maybe Number one Periscope, the snorkel intake and the diffuser just at the waterline to help hide the exhaust. None of us old bubbleheads have decided whether or not the photo is real.. No one today could believe that anyone would do that, and I must admit, even in the "old days", with the Captain's strong dislike for having to write somebodies mother a letter telling her how her son was lost at sea (while 'joy-riding' on the snorkel diffuser) the chances that it actually happened are pretty slim. Although we were known for doing some fairly crazy things back then. I recall talking the Officer of the deck into allowing me to go out on the forward deck while we were underway in the Caribbean to pick up the first flying fish either of us had ever seen, that had landed out there. That doesn't sound like much unless you have ridden an old diesel sub, and realize that the bow is underwater most of the time, even in calm seas.
We were both very interested in examining the fish up close.. One time I had to crawl under the walking deck, between that and the pressure hull while at sea in order to stop a leak around a water-proof cable fitting... THAT was exciting!
Interesting picture, photo-shopped or not.
Roger
Tom,
I've already forgotten what question I asked in the email.. (Or else I don't understand what you meant) - Either case is possible.
Yep! You got it correct, it IS the conning tower (sail) of a diesel submarine, showing from left to right: Number one Periscope, Number two (attack) Periscope, the "Football" - (I could tell you what it is, but then I'd have to kill ya), Radio antenna, Snorkel intake mast and head valve, and then the snorkel exhaust mast and diffuser - with two guys riding on it!
Normally, as you might imagine, all that would be showing above the waterline would be maybe Number one Periscope, the snorkel intake and the diffuser just at the waterline to help hide the exhaust. None of us old bubbleheads have decided whether or not the photo is real.. No one today could believe that anyone would do that, and I must admit, even in the "old days", with the Captain's strong dislike for having to write somebodies mother a letter telling her how her son was lost at sea (while 'joy-riding' on the snorkel diffuser) the chances that it actually happened are pretty slim. Although we were known for doing some fairly crazy things back then. I recall talking the Officer of the deck into allowing me to go out on the forward deck while we were underway in the Caribbean to pick up the first flying fish either of us had ever seen, that had landed out there. That doesn't sound like much unless you have ridden an old diesel sub, and realize that the bow is underwater most of the time, even in calm seas.
We were both very interested in examining the fish up close.. One time I had to crawl under the walking deck, between that and the pressure hull while at sea in order to stop a leak around a water-proof cable fitting... THAT was exciting!
Interesting picture, photo-shopped or not.
Roger
Boobala
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Re: Avatar
Ahhh ... the things we military guys did ( & still do ) makes mothers cry themselves to sleep. Personally, ...I don't know why ANYBODY would even get into one of those claustrophobic "spam-cans" ... But then there are very interesting stories about a flyboy called "Pappy Boyington" & his "Black Sheep Squadron" . I really enjoyed all the ol war movies about our guys during W.W. 2 , I guess my favorite last "sub" movie was "The Hunt for Red October" fictional (?????) but enjoyable . My deepest respects to ALL the past, present & future "Phins " God Bless em ALL !! ...:thumbsup: ..Boobala
Ahhh ... the things we military guys did ( & still do ) makes mothers cry themselves to sleep. Personally, ...I don't know why ANYBODY would even get into one of those claustrophobic "spam-cans" ... But then there are very interesting stories about a flyboy called "Pappy Boyington" & his "Black Sheep Squadron" . I really enjoyed all the ol war movies about our guys during W.W. 2 , I guess my favorite last "sub" movie was "The Hunt for Red October" fictional (?????) but enjoyable . My deepest respects to ALL the past, present & future "Phins " God Bless em ALL !! ...:thumbsup: ..Boobala
Roger B
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PARTS ARRIVED!!!
Finally my parts from eReplacementParts got here...
I ordered them on 11/16 @ 0630 and according to them they were ready for shipping later that same morning. But then, out of the desert comes Juan Valdez and his limping donkey to pick up the order and he starts plodding East...
(Admittedly, I signed up for the cheap $5 shipping option, but geez...)
So, yesterday afternoon, twelve days later, my mailman (mail person) shows up on my door step with one of those foam protected envelops and my parts have arrived! Today the transaxle goes back together.!!!
Finally my parts from eReplacementParts got here...
I ordered them on 11/16 @ 0630 and according to them they were ready for shipping later that same morning. But then, out of the desert comes Juan Valdez and his limping donkey to pick up the order and he starts plodding East...
(Admittedly, I signed up for the cheap $5 shipping option, but geez...)
So, yesterday afternoon, twelve days later, my mailman (mail person) shows up on my door step with one of those foam protected envelops and my parts have arrived! Today the transaxle goes back together.!!!
Boobala
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Re: PARTS ARRIVED!!!
I can't hear it !! Is it running yet ???
And about that parts delivery... I know sometimes theres a 3rd supplier involved , which is reason for slow delivery, but I would have called Ereplacement and lit a fire under SOMEONES erogenous zone !! Usually they are P.D.Q.
I can't hear it !! Is it running yet ???
And about that parts delivery... I know sometimes theres a 3rd supplier involved , which is reason for slow delivery, but I would have called Ereplacement and lit a fire under SOMEONES erogenous zone !! Usually they are P.D.Q.
Roger B
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IT WORKS!!!!!
Got the wood stove out in my shop fired up early and once that was heated up I went to work greasing the transaxle. First thing I discovered was the old grease gun that had been Becky's father's was manufactured pre-grease tube! Although a grease tube would fit inside, the piston plunger would not fit inside the tube! I had to hand fill the barrel of the grease gun. (I'd already spent about an hour disassembling the gun and cleaning out grease that must have been almost as old as I am!) Once the gun was working I filled the differential, which had to be done through four small holes in the gear covers. Once the differential was filled I started greasing the sleeve bearings (bushings) and then all the grease 'alleys' in the casting, (See picture of casting filled with John Deere, green Corn Head Grease.) The next job was to clean any excess grease off the mating surfaces of the two halves of the housing and then bolt it back together. Once that was accomplished I bolted the main drive pulley to the input shaft and then remounted the pulley assembly. The transaxle was completed! (Next picture.) Shop work was done, so I opened the door between the shop and the back of the garage and hung a couple little fans in the doorway to force heat out into the garage. (It was just 31* this morning.)
Now came what I assumed would be the 'hard' part, reinstalling the transaxle and reconnecting all those springs, belts and control rods. Actually that work was fairly easily accomplished, with just a minimum amount of cursing! The most difficult part was reattaching the main spring that tightens the drive belt between the engine and the pulley assembly.
Once everything was back together, Becky helped me by removing the frame stands while I held the tractor up. The brake was set (the only safety switch I left intact) the gear shift placed in neutral and the engine started. Becky opened the main garage door and I shifted into Forward and released the brake... . . . . Away I went! . . . Out the door and up the driveway.. I advanced the speed control to 7 (max) and it went right up the hill to the main road. Turned around and came back down, however, when I put the brake on again and shifted into reverse, Becky yelled at me to stop.. The brake rod had become disconnected from it's spring and dropped down to the ground. I reconnected it and tightened the open end of the spring. It hasn't happened since.
The YARDMAN in a functioning machine!
Roger
Got the wood stove out in my shop fired up early and once that was heated up I went to work greasing the transaxle. First thing I discovered was the old grease gun that had been Becky's father's was manufactured pre-grease tube! Although a grease tube would fit inside, the piston plunger would not fit inside the tube! I had to hand fill the barrel of the grease gun. (I'd already spent about an hour disassembling the gun and cleaning out grease that must have been almost as old as I am!) Once the gun was working I filled the differential, which had to be done through four small holes in the gear covers. Once the differential was filled I started greasing the sleeve bearings (bushings) and then all the grease 'alleys' in the casting, (See picture of casting filled with John Deere, green Corn Head Grease.) The next job was to clean any excess grease off the mating surfaces of the two halves of the housing and then bolt it back together. Once that was accomplished I bolted the main drive pulley to the input shaft and then remounted the pulley assembly. The transaxle was completed! (Next picture.) Shop work was done, so I opened the door between the shop and the back of the garage and hung a couple little fans in the doorway to force heat out into the garage. (It was just 31* this morning.)
Now came what I assumed would be the 'hard' part, reinstalling the transaxle and reconnecting all those springs, belts and control rods. Actually that work was fairly easily accomplished, with just a minimum amount of cursing! The most difficult part was reattaching the main spring that tightens the drive belt between the engine and the pulley assembly.
Once everything was back together, Becky helped me by removing the frame stands while I held the tractor up. The brake was set (the only safety switch I left intact) the gear shift placed in neutral and the engine started. Becky opened the main garage door and I shifted into Forward and released the brake... . . . . Away I went! . . . Out the door and up the driveway.. I advanced the speed control to 7 (max) and it went right up the hill to the main road. Turned around and came back down, however, when I put the brake on again and shifted into reverse, Becky yelled at me to stop.. The brake rod had become disconnected from it's spring and dropped down to the ground. I reconnected it and tightened the open end of the spring. It hasn't happened since.
The YARDMAN in a functioning machine!
Roger
