Concert and more

 Hello everyone,

Well we went to the Allman- Betts band concert this past week and it was excellent! They’re sons of the Greg Allman and Dickie Betts, and they can play! We saw them at an old drive in converted to a music venue and it was pretty cool.

Spent the night in the van and then went the next day to winery and caught a comedy show, also pretty good. Met some really nice people from Connecticut.

Came home and found the trailer hitch had been delivered.

Should get that installed today. I also have to mow the lawn this afternoon when it dries up some.

Did some horse trading with a friend of mine and got a set of gauges and 50’ of torch hose. I’ll go this week and get some tanks so I can get the frame fixed and a couple of other projects done.

I ordered a seat swivel for the passenger seat of the van, I’m hoping that shows up this week and then I’m going to order a few remote USB charger ports and install them in the van and then that project should be complete.

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon, 

TVI

Always something

 Hello everyone,

Things just keep going and going, kind of like the battery bunny!

I put new anti scarfing wheels on the tractor and the first time I tried to cut the lawn it was like I was plowing a field! After several tries and a careful inspection, I discovered exactly how badly or crooked I welded the wheels on! So, I cut them off again, this time with the deck on the tractor and made up some gussets and got them way more straight and welded them back on again.

Not a great welding job but they’re pretty straight and should be strong. I bought a tool from John Deere to level the deck out.

So I leveled the deck out( it was pretty far out!), and put it all back together. The grass isn’t long enough to mow yet and it’s actually snowing here today! It’ll be a few days before I’ll be able to test it out.

We bought a new awning for the van, I set it up on Saturday, and it’s actually pretty cool!

It’s held on the roof with strong magnets and folds up like a tent. We found a spot to store it and maybe this week we’ll be able to test it out. We’re going over to a new venue in Wabash, they converted an old drive in movie theatre to a outdoor music venue that you bring your car in! Should be kind of cool!

I cleaned the shop up spic and span yesterday and today I started cutting the frame on the Harley! Don’t faint over, really did!

I bought the frame a lifetime ago, when I didn’t know much, and discovered later that it’s from a Knucklehead, and I have a Panhead engine. I remember asking the guy I bought it from if a Panhead engine would fit and he said he one in this frame. After cleaning it all up and can see some modifications done for it to fit but, it never sat down flat on the engine mounts. So, after much head scratching and a few meetings with “Shop Teacher Bob” I came up with the solution to cut the frame at the seat post and bend it back about 1/4”. I have to make a plate up to hold the bottom half in place, plus I’ll bolt the engine in place also. Then I’ll heat the tube just above where the oil tank bolts to and bend it back. If it works like I think it will, you’ll probably never be able to tell the difference. At least, that’s the plan. Don’t know how soon but maybe next week. I need to get a torch so I can heat it up. Been wanting one anyway so this is as good of an excuse as any!!

Well, I think that’s it for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI

Back in the work groove

 Hello everyone, 

I got finished polishing the pickup. Washed it, clay barred it, and completely waxed it. Cleaned the inside, and Armor- alled it. Chrome polished the bumpers and Armor- alled the tires. All that’s left is replacing the ABS sensors and she should be ready to sell.

Picked up all the parts for the tractor and changed all the oils and changed the blades, installed new anti scalping wheels and greases everything up, so it’s ready for lawn mowing season. I will have to order new bolts for the anti scalping wheels, they’re pretty worn but should be ok this season.

My wife bought a little canvas type greenhouse to keep all the plants she bought safe for a couple of more weeks.

Plus, we’ve really been working on cleaning up winter’s destruction. A lot of small limbs down and the big pine trees out in front took a real beating! But, we’re slowly getting there.

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon, 

TVI

Back and ready to move forward!

 Hello everyone,

Had a really nice vacation, got to spend some more time with my youngest son on the way down and on the way back. Also had a great time with the oldest son and his family in between.

The van performed almost flawlessly on the trip. Blew one fuse or had a bad fuse in the isolator system. Replaced the fuse and all seems well.

Now, back to reality! Found the problem in the pickup and ordered parts for it. Need a couple of more parts for the van in the 12 volt system side. Need to order parts for the tractor. The list seems endless!!

One of the things I got to do on the trip was go here. If you’re into drag racing or antique cars this is definitely a spot worth stopping at. Missed “Big Daddy” by just a few minutes the day we were there but I had met him a few years ago. Even my wife liked the antique car side!!

Today I’m washing and polishing up the pickup truck so I can pedal her off in a few weeks. It’s been a really good truck after a rough start.

I have to say here that with all the “cooties” ( COVID-19) talk, I never felt uncomfortable at all on our trip. The wife and I wore masks, as did most of the people we came across. I don’t know how this thing is going to end ( if ever!) but, I say go ahead and do your own thing as safely as you can.

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI

A little vacationing

 Hello everyone,

Last week the youngest son came to visit and we had a really good time. He brought all his guns and we shot quite a few rounds .

During his stay, we got some very sad news, one of my wife’s nephews passed away suddenly while on vacation. 41 years old, leaves  a wife and three kids. 

After my son went home, we started packing for our vacation. Packed the van to the gills, made a few minor adjustments and we left.

The first night’s stop was the youngest one’s apartment. We slept in the van in the parking lot. Everything was smooth. Left the next morning and drove through Alabama all the way to Tallahassee, Florida.

Spent the night in a Cracker Barrel parking lot, which was nice. Got up the next morning and had breakfast, and drove to Clearwater.

This is the view from our hotel room. We normally ( ever!) get rooms like this, so it’s very nice. Having coffee on the balcony is my thing!

When we get ready to leave I’m going to go to “Big Daddy” Don Garlits drag racing museum in Ocala. After that, it’ll be an adventure for the ride home.

Well, I think that’s all for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI

Sort of back in the groove

 Hello everyone,

Well, I fixed the sink in the van, installed the beginnings of the 12 volt system and put in the new fan. Got a couple other things squared away as well. 

Cleaned and put away stuff in the shop and started eyeballing the Harley. Not quite ready yet but it’s beginning to be an itch I need to scratch. Ordered the parts for the chain saw. They won’t be here until next week.

The youngest son is coming to visit for a few days on Sunday evening and the oldest is supposed to bring the family down on Sunday for a day of messing around. 

The youngest wants to go shooting while he’s here and in general knock around. The wife and I are supposed to go on a big adventure next weekend for a week or so. Supposed to meet the oldest boy and his family in Florida for a few days.

So I have a small mountain of chips I’d like to get spread this week before I leave, and probably while I’m on vacation I’ll order the parts for the tractor and do the maintenance on it when I get back. Today we started the large task of cleaning up the property after winter. Which is always a huge undertaking. It generally takes us until late April to be done.

So, I think that’s it for now.

Talk to you soon, 

TVI

Trying to move on

 Hello everyone,

The son who’s living with us, went to the neighbor’s house and cut down some trees for him in his cow pasture. I went over with the tractor and loaded them up on a trailer and brought them home to split. We’re just about to the end of heating season here so, this’ll get us started for next season.

My wife and I took the van on its maiden voyage last week and it performed well. Couple of small things, the sink leaked water, and we found it’s very close quarters if you have to spend an extended period of time in it when you’re sitting still.

Other than that, seemed fine.

I’ve recovered well enough that I can pretty much get on with taking care of things here. I have a maintenance list that needs attention. The tractor needs a full service and new blades and anti scalping wheels. The clutch bearing on one of my saws went south and took the new brake band and possibly the cover with it. Both saws need new bars and some new chains to go with.

So, I’ll order parts for those things in a week or so, and then, forge ahead. In another month or so, it’ll be time to start prettying up the place for summer. 

We had a couple of teaser days last week where the temps hit almost 70. The wife and I had a fire in the outdoor fireplace and it was wonderful. So ready for that to be a much more available thing!

Well, I think that’s it for now.

Talk to you soon,

TVI