Little bits at a time

 Hello everyone,

Well, I got the chimney for the wood burner fixed and I think I found out why it had the creosote problem in the first place. It has a rain cap on it and during the summers the birds would build nests in it and I would have to clean it out every year, so, I decided to put a type of wire fencing around it to keep them out. That was probably 10 or 12 years ago, haven’t been up there since. When we took it down that fencing was almost plugged by creosote! Don’t really know why, but it damn sure was. Cleaned it all out and sandblasted it and vacuumed it and put it all back together and in the roof again. All cozy again!

Still working on the golf cart, trying to come up with a way to mount the new micro switch that’s easy to remove the switch if it goes bad. Haven’t completed that task just yet.

Our youngest son came up to Lafayette to see his girlfriend and we drove down and went out to lunch, it was nice. We’ll be going to Nashville in a few weeks to visit and get the stink blowed of us as our first trip this year.

Went to our spot last night and saw the Jaywalkers play music, what a fun good band.

Back to the grind this week, I’ve got to get the golf cart going this week or else my wife is going to kick my butt!

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI 

Catching up and do overs

 Hello everyone,

I passed on the gator engine swap for a little bit and did some small other projects that needed catching up.

I was running my wood burner and noticed creosote running down the pipe, that hasn’t happened ever in twenty plus years. So, I let the fire die down over night and went to take the pipe off to inspect it and the pass through adapter for the ceiling broke off! I couldn’t repair it so I ordered parts. I also ordered new seal for the door and did some sanding and painting on the stove body and door. At least it’s a little more presentable and should be a little more efficient.

The original problem with the golf cart reared its ugly head again. I ordered a new solenoid and installed it, it ran a little longer, then it appeared again. After a little while of running it just stops, no solenoid engagement. Let it sit a few minutes and it’ll go again. It seems like something is getting hot and breaking down. The only thing left I can think of is a micro switch on the throttle. I ordered some new ones and will run new wires for it. I took the resistors out of it and cleaned all the contacts up and tightened all the pass through bolts up. Now I’m just doing some painting to a few things. I found the original battery hold down s for it I sandblasted and am painting them to install.

The black cover goes over the resistors, like a heat shield. I also had to repair my little portable air tank. It’s probably 35 years old and the little filler valve just broke off the top, so I ordered a whole new assembly and got it all plumbed up.

Well, the parts just arrived for the chimney, and my middle son said he go up on the roof and pull it out so I can change the adapter piece. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow.

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI 

Maybe the next project

 Hello everyone,

I finished up the golf cart, got both speakers put in and tied all the wiring for everything tucked safely away. 

Right before I retired I grabbed a 22 horse, vtwin Briggs engine out of a Miller welder they were scrapping out. I wrapped it up and brought it home and stuck it in my barn. I’ve been pondering putting it in my old Gator.

The biggest problem I face is having to turn down the output side of the crankshaft so the old torque converter will fit. The shaft is 1 1/2” and I’ll probably have to go down to an inch. I contacted “Shop Teacher Bob” and he thinks he might be able to turn it down. It means I’d have to tear the engine down but, I think I’m capable of that. We’ll see still pondering.

I also think I might have picked myself up a part time gig working at a place here in town that sells lawnmowers. Maybe 2-3 days a week. That might put a little jingle in my pocket to support some of my other projects(ie: the old motorcycle!).

We’ll see, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI