What did you do today....other than work on your car!?

[YY1]

Replaced one of the blade spindles on my 18 year old Craftsman 42 inch Kohler powered mower.

I've never done this job before and really hadn't even considered how these parts operate.

This is the worst thing that's happened to it since I've owned it, although I've also had to replace the starter solenoid, and install a fuel cut-off along the way.
....and I had to replace the steering link bar that kept getting bent with a square tube.

2 new spindles and bearings, 2 new Oregon brand blades, and a new Kevlar belt- $55 and free shipping.

Now cuts like butter and you can't even hear the blades engage when you throw the lever.

Of course all three bolts broke off due to dissimilar metals and being covered in 18 years of organic debris with the occasional hosing of water.

Other than that, the worst part of the job was prying the pulley off with a wood block against the deck and pry bar.

 

[YY1]

...and released some feral cats that we trapped and had spayed/neutered.

These were rough cats. What you can't see and I'm sorry I didn't get a pic of, is the gray and white one had survived a pit-bull attack and is missing the fur and layer of skin between it's head and shoulder blades. that poor guy got some would cleaning and antibiotics.

We are now up to 14 adults spayed/neutered and 5 friendly kittens adopted out with another 5 at the re-homer's.
We have 2 more friendlies to foster plus another brown one we may take, and 2-3 more litters in the oven.
I am being cautiously optimistic that these will be the next to last kittens born into this colony.

Don't let that cute little orange one fool you. It was like a Tasmanian Devil when trapped.
We were told the tortie female has had over 20 litters.
We are not sure how many more adults are there but have seen at least 4 more.

This group is now free to go be cats, just not to reproduce.

...and we took the one we have already decided will stay with us (Sabrina) to the vet to see about her tail.
-infected from bites. She got antibiotics and "the cone", which she immediately got out of.

Sabrina-

 

[toolmanmike]

Made some killer Pico de Gallo.
View attachment 1161376
Best batch ever, put a small habanero in it for some heat.

Looks tasty! I can make a meal out of that and a bag of chips.

 

[toolmanmike]

...and released some feral cats that we trapped and had spayed/neutered.

These were rough cats. What you can't see and I'm sorry I didn't get a pic of, is the gray and white one had survived a pit-bull attack and is missing the fur and layer of skin between it's head and shoulder blades. that poor guy got some would cleaning and antibiotics.

We are now up to 14 adults spayed/neutered and 5 friendly kittens adopted out with another 5 at the re-homer's.
We have 2 more friendlies to foster plus another brown one we may take, and 2-3 more litters in the oven.
I am being cautiously optimistic that these will be the next to last kittens born into this colony.

Don't let that cute little orange one fool you. It was like a Tasmanian Devil when trapped.
We were told the tortie female has had over 20 litters.
We are not sure how many more adults are there but have seen at least 4 more.

This group is now free to go be cats, jut not to reproduce.
...and we took the one we have already decided will stay with us (Sabrina) to the vet to see about her tail.
-infected from bites. She got antibiotics and "the cone", which she immediately got out of.

View attachment 1161465 View attachment 1161466 View attachment 1161467 View attachment 1161468


Sabrina-


View attachment 1161469

Good for you.

 

[NoCar2023]

Looks tasty! I can make a meal out of that and a bag of chips.

I usually fill up on it before dinner is ready. That bowl was almost full before I took the pic.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Replaced one of the blade spindles on my 18 year old Craftsman 42 inch Kohler powered mower.

I've never done this job before and really hadn't even considered how these parts operate.

This is the worst thing that's happened to it since I've owned it, although I've also had to replace the starter solenoid, and install a fuel cut-off along the way.
....and I had to replace the steering link bar that kept getting bent with a square tube.

2 new spindles and bearings, 2 new Oregon brand blades, and a new Kevlar belt- $55 and free shipping.

Now cuts like butter and you can't even hear the blades engage when you throw the lever.

Of course all three bolts broke off due to dissimilar metals and being covered in 18 years of organic debris with the occasional hosing of water.

Other than that, the worst part of the job was prying the pulley off with a wood block against the deck and pry bar.

View attachment 1161445

How do the front tires go bald on a lawn tractor?

 

[YY1]

OE from 18 years ago and tight turns?

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

prepping for the concrete gazebo pad. I wish she would have pick a more level spot!!
Using part of the bin for concrete forms. I cut one ring to 10" tall to make the form. 5" of packed gravel and 5" of concrete.

 

[BDF6]

I weedeated around structures, had a big breakfast on back porch with a bald eagle keeping me company.
Then started cleaning the place.
The first swipe with the 'webster' brought down a desicated bat...

I have to drive 36 miles north or 8-16 (depending) south for service so not on line much...life is GOOD!

 

[beanhead]

I helped my buddy receive his new hot-rod project...a '35 Ford truck kit from Factory Five. We've built a nice street 302 for it, it's getting Moser 9" and 3-link rear....nothing super crazy but gonna be a fun cruiser.

....it staaarts!

 

[kiwigtx]

Took the opportunity to do one of those disgusting jobs that nobody enjoys......cleaned the washing machine out.

It was actually quite easy to do....helps to have YouTube for guidance. Honestly it was a lot easier than I thought, and instead of all that scrubbing with a brush on the outer drum ...I just hit with the water blaster. Done in no time at all.

Maybe I should just become a Maytag Repairman....

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

I'm an electrician.

 

[YY1]

I was an apprentice for almost 2 years.

 

[beanhead]

I remember the days when the hall would send out 11 apprentices to every job.....10 to kill and one to bitch about

 

[YY1]

How many electrician's apprentices does it take to.................

 

[beanhead]

 

[Cranky]

Replaced one of the blade spindles on my 18 year old Craftsman 42 inch Kohler powered mower.

I've never done this job before and really hadn't even considered how these parts operate.

This is the worst thing that's happened to it since I've owned it, although I've also had to replace the starter solenoid, and install a fuel cut-off along the way.
....and I had to replace the steering link bar that kept getting bent with a square tube.

2 new spindles and bearings, 2 new Oregon brand blades, and a new Kevlar belt- $55 and free shipping.

Now cuts like butter and you can't even hear the blades engage when you throw the lever.

Of course all three bolts broke off due to dissimilar metals and being covered in 18 years of organic debris with the occasional hosing of water.

Other than that, the worst part of the job was prying the pulley off with a wood block against the deck and pry bar.

View attachment 1161445

How'd you get bald tires on the front!? Had to replace mine several years ago because they got really dry rotted and the rears are getting that way and leaking down but they all still had great tread. Oh well, they are the originals from 1984 and can't see buying new ones at this point but did buy some tubes and have been procrastinating doing that job for 2 months and may just wait until the grass slows down. I rebuilt my deck about 15 years ago and it's been pretty noisy ever since. Recently got some new blades but they were 1/4" wider than the old ones and had a smaller shaft hole. The holes were fairly easy to drill out but tried to mill the center section to fit the drives and well, ended up having to just grind them. That was some hard stuff there. My garden tractor is a Gravely 8163B and have had it since around late 88. PTO clutch went out in 07 and had to pull EVERYTHING out of the gear box to get to it. It's a dual range forward and reverse 4 speed and thought I'd never get it back together again lol

 

[YY1]

I had rear tire go down about 10 years ago.

Turns out one of the nubs got folded against the bead when it was installed at the factory, and chose that moment to not hold air any more.

Removed the nub but the bead had deformed around it and nothing would make it hold air.

That's when I learned that Carlisle turf savers cost as much or more than car tires.

The other three tires are all original.

 

[Cranky]

I had rear tire go down about 10 years ago.

Turns out one of the nubs got folded against the bead when it was installed at the factory, and chose that moment to not hold air any more.

Removed the nub but the bead had deformed around it and nothing would make it hold air.

That's when I learned that Carlisle turf savers cost as much or more than car tires.

The other three tires are all original.

Yeah, I was taken aback a bit too when I saw how much these smaller tires cost and is why I bought tubes. Hope I can get them in without destroying something! Don't remember what the fronts cost back then but they must have been reasonable for me to buy them lol Also, I quit washing mine when I found the bearings in the front spindles AND the deck jack shaft bearings pitted up pretty good. Mine take tapered roller bearings....and now I just used the leaf blower to clean off any debris.

 

[beanhead]

Took the opportunity to do one of those disgusting jobs that nobody enjoys......cleaned the washing machine out.

It was actually quite easy to do....helps to have YouTube for guidance. Honestly it was a lot easier than I thought, and instead of all that scrubbing with a brush on the outer drum ...I just hit with the water blaster. Done in no time at all.

Maybe I should just become a Maytag Repairman....



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Ok I just watched the video......

Happy Friday Rog!