The Home Machinist!

It is GREAT to hear something is going your way, especially a job.
We are all rooting for you Dave.

_________________
Pat P in the Great NW.

Agreed! 'Bout time you got some good news.

I was startin' to think you were related to Joe Btf Splk or something.

_________________
Today's solutions are tomorrow's problems.

Funny you should mention that, as I was thinking the same thing. Big Dave is long overdue for a break. Looks to me like he's been carrying his own dark cloud for a long time.

Harold

_________________
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.

Ha! When it rains on my parade, its a hurricane! Ok, we only have tornados. But as it happens, A state worker that I have a freindly connection with, just sent me an Email for GAF roofing materials plant. They pay $24 to start, and just shy of $30 in 6 months, for electricians. While this other job is $18 an hour, do the math. $400 a week -on top- is a better (if greedy) bet for the short term needs to crawl out of the hole I am falling into. SOoo, we will take a serious stab at (still) improving my position here.

Always reach for the stars, anybody can fall into the basement.

Hmmm. 40 hrs x $30 = haven't done that good in a while.

_________________
Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.

It looks like a win for the Gipper. I start work Monday 7 AM. Supposed to be 9 hours x5 days. Now if I can hold my body together for a while, I can climb out of my $ hole.

Thursday at 1 PM, I went to the plant and spent 4 hours with paperwork and company orientation, and met with the saftey guy. I then spent the voucher for metatarsel boots, on the way home. I am commited to 90 days, or they take $270 back for costs incurred in my hiring. (Really? Welcome to the new business model). They will provide all tools, I will find out about all that Monday when I report. I am taking my normal electrcians shoulder bag, but I have been told I would be a Mechanic (Millwright) first, and back up the new Electrcian they have hired, we will be paired on afternoons.

In the past few months they lost a 66yr old hand, died of a Heart attack, another to 4 stents installed, and the third to back surgery. They dont know if either will return, as they are over retirement age, and probably out for some months anyway.

They have a small lathe, looks to be 10 inch short bed, and a nasty looking Bridgeport, I just caught glimpses of. So lunch on nights are spoken for. I see wheels, axles, and journals for stalled projects, in my near future. But I have a stellar imagination anyway.

I think my health will be my determining factor here, as somehow old age has set in. I dont remember getting old, just tired.

Thanks for the good thoughts, they helped with my spirits in the waiting game.

Stay tuned, I'm sure there is more to come.

_________________
Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.

This morning I decided to forgo the Auction, (There is a slow drenching rain at the moment) and its miserable $30, and try and repair my tractors gearbox, and driveline. I have to assemble a new pop coupling, and U-joint, and set up a new gearbox case, for the destroyed one. The old one fairly crumbled, losing its mounting ears, and the bearings were notably shot having been run without oil when the cover sheared off.

The drive is right angle 1-1 and based on too small a gearbox for the demands the diesel puts on it. So it periodically re-kits itself in the long hours of mowing. The replacements I am gettign on E-bay, and other sources I can afford, are not always the right model. So, the shaft size may not be the needed one inch, but the internal gears and bearings are all the same, so mix-and match can get me home with a virtually new setup. I tear the boxes apart and assemble what is best from the pile of parts, using the original shafts. Welding up the 3/4 inch shafts and re-fitting them is an option, but I am leery of creating a soft end that may fail, with the belt drive hammering at the key. It has been a problem before, spitting out the 1/4 inch key, and then snapping the 1/4 through bolt like a shear pin. I use a Gr 5 bolt through the shaft, as the original set screw over the key is worthless in the long run. I have completely replaced the spline shaft with a hex shaft drive, that runs smoother, and does not offer the hammer effect in line on the shaft destroying the rear bearing, as the deck follows the ground contours. Consistant gearbox failures indicate to me, it is too light for the power handled through it. So with this gearbox, it will be the last of this style, and I will move to a heavier one.

I have 3 heavier gearboxes, but they will require some modification if I want them to work in the deck position that is there. We shall see.

_________________
Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.

Hi Dave, good to hear from you. Once your employer gets hold of you he won't want to let go. I don't have to tell you to be careful; LO/TO all that and watch the back. I can move around like a 25yr old for a while then One wrong lift with a twist brings alive my compressed disks and all pain after that for awhile.
Your information about the drive repairs is very interesting to me also. I appreciate the engineering analysis. I finished a small piece before the enending storms and now tornado watch storms. My main mower is really just a large garden tractor. I've been thru some years of it maintaining my valley property but I never thatched it out. There's an acre which is outside the capabilities of a 5' belly deck when it's 3' and a tad moist. Thinking about the heavier motion/final drive and the clearance issues you have described. In that style I considered spacing up the frame in relation to the deck, for additional clearance when the deck is raised. That's usually a b and taller wheels/ tires may be an option for some. I've been collecting those odd sparetire things to drill out and use the deck at lower setting(for clearance) on some lawn tractors. Some of these may have a 46" deck and are entirely useless as designed.

Ha! After a good rain here you can stand and watch the grass grow. I need a mowerboat for the front by the drainage swail, as it is only inches above the lowest level. The knot heads in the county have messed up the drainage pattern over the last 30 yrs with shortcuts, and now are in a panic as they want to widen the road in front of my house.. If they slow the water any more, or raise the road surface by 2 inches, my house drains will be flooded when a strong storm comes in. They have been notified, that I plan to sue for damages. So far no response. They want me to go away.

I must get on the gearbox thing, but with the last tornado like storm, has damaged my roof someplace. The rain today dropped an inch, and the front bow window in the bedroom is leaking like a sinking submarine right at the trim. The roof is constructed with thermal pans in the roof to maintain some air flow over the insulatioin batts. So, the leak, that is quite large, may be from anyplace higher up, and following the foam forms to the eave, and flooding the window. I will check in the morning if the rain holds off, as we are looking at 60% of all the water. Oh, thats chance of showers.

_________________
Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.

Man. I'm not going into "when it rains.." Then when the sun is out and the weather is stable, somebody can focuss on your lawn. I've drilled a hole and put or tube to relieve the buildup from spreading. One little hole an easier roundtoit( years ago before the new roof, for the luva..) The deal about contacting "county"; I had a brief conversation about my situation here with someone recently. This guy knew the legal term. I had contacted the county about recycle and greenie stuff before and they were able to respond. They even sent me a package about how good we all are and a free grocery bag and all. Before I mentioned my ultimate fine/charge/theft that i recounted here, I sent them my concerns over the theft. There was NO response. They cannot evidence they received that message. That means they have already drawn that straight line from their intent to the outcome.

I am proactive. I have a file that has 6 letters to the county on drainage, and local flooding. Years ago I referenced previous letters and got blank stares. I sent another package that represented history, and got a property inspection and a list of banned or current codes for violatins. That went to court, and never went before the Judge, as the conditions were mostly legal non-conforming. It was a definate try at intimidation, that did not work with me. It either is , or is not, Illegal. So without abandonment, or a 6 month service break, I do not come under current codes. They simiply deal with me, by not dealing with me.

One of the overbearing reasons to maintain my farm/homestead status, is playing with livestock. Ergo, the chickens. It adds solid weight to the farm status, more than a cultivated veggie garden. I would have to install a several acre garden, to bolster the claim, something I dont want to do, at the moment. They wish to contain properties like a subdivision for complete control, such is their mindset, and collect taxes on the improvements. It is the reason that I madden them, as all the buildings are temporary, and mobile, and actually move several times a year. All the fencing is mobile too. Interestingly enough, my railroad plans went out the window, with the concensus that the track does not move, is a permanent feature, and would be taxed on its value. That made it a dead Duck as far as I'm concerned, (not the least of which is the initial cost with a shakey job market) and the dailly and weekly upkeep, would be a full time job. I am failing on maintenance upkeep now, and cant imagine the extra time and work it would take for a RR. My final loop to loop, would be about 1600 ft of track down. Except for rail and stone, it would be rather cheap. The stone is the largest expense, at $300 for 20 ton delivered. 8" x 24 " for a roadbed, do the math. It makes your hair stand up. Better to join a club. (Or make one).

I cannot comment with any certainty about individual situations, as local codes, mores, and leadership vary around the country. People have a tendancy to omit facts not in their favor. But if I walk into a room with a Judge, you must believe that I am committed to a win, and no other option, and I have as much information as there is. I am patriotic, and believe the Gov works for me, and tell them so. Its all about me, even if they dont agree to some things, otherwise, you negotiate grey areas. I tend to overplay, and not negotiate, and dang sure dont care that some clown laughs at chickens and steam power, and decrees I'm some kind of kookball. Getting close to the facts, and bringing them to light provides a much diferent view.

Ok, I vented some gas on this one, I now return you to a normal state threads. Thanks for looking.

_________________
Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.

Whew! I finished the first week on the new job and got new horrible blisters on my big toes by the second day. Not good. I have found an outlet, that supplies more of my medicines at cost or free, and am on a current antibiotic that I seem to be mildly allergic to, giving me hives of a small order. I need this tho, to keep my toes from infecting as they are raw open wounds the size of quarters. --- New guy to Boss, ' Hey, I gotta take a week off, my toe hurts!' Boss: HUH? --- That'll fly like a lead glider.

I am engaged to getting Son moved into my rental, and he is maddeningly slow and disjointed about moving along. There are many details, too numerous to mention, but I continue to move forward with several projects at once. including more chicken things. We went to a Swap meet Sun morning, and picked up some Appenzellor Spitzhaben, 2 roos and 2 pullets of softball size, to reconstitute the flock decimated in the dog attack. hopefully, we can get our own eggs to hatch. The dog is not to be found at this point, so other than upsetting my neighbors, not much to report there.

Second try at hatching is a failure. Have been told I have low humidity, killing the eggs after they start.

I did manage to assemble the new coupling and drive line parts for the mower drive. Now I have to repair the gearbox assembly, and stick it together for the maiden Uh, crash test. I will buy anew idler pulley as it was exposed to weather too long, and the bearings will junk themselves shortly. The valient Wheel Farce antique, has shed another set of bearings in the belt drive fo rthe deck, and new units (4) will be in Monday if promises hold true. Poor thing, is 857, and trying to finsh mow about 1.5 acres. Already has eaten about $50 in belts.

I am moving a tool box to work for my personal tools, as the company stuff is all beat up junk, and mixmaster of companies, and sizes. Almost have to sort tools for every job, out of the mixed box of leavings. I HATE to work that way, and will provide my own stuff if necessary. They have a coupla things that are nice to have, like a mag drill, and two porta-bands. but the hand wrenches and sockets, leave a lot to be desired.

_________________
Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.

Just let it be known many here Care about your situation. Most of your decisions cannot be improved upon for they are results of your mind and I have no way to improve on them. Many sub situations. One small piece of this is the attack on the grasses which have become too much for a regular belly mower. The wheelhorse model (which I haven't looked up) probably has a horiz shaft engine with a PTO at back. Linear drive to something larger, like a bush hog. I'm going thru the same thing there. Even though the Wheel horse is jacked up, the deck gets clogged. Something more aggressive, set at larger height, can cut this stuff. Then, it seems a rake of sorts, pulls the stuff out of the way for degrees of finish mowing by the belly deck.