Todays Project - What did you do today?

[f350ca]

Well we got our first warm day and the mosquitos just drove me in off the veranda.

[Tony Wells]

All I did today was replace a magnetic ballast in an 8 foot fluorescent fixture and fix a couple of lawnmowers. One for me, and one for an older gentleman I help out once in a while. But that was enough. It's my day off work.

[EdK]

I spent all Sunday morning with a good friend at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum shooting pictures. It was a perfect day for it. Sunny and in the mid 60s with a nice breeze. Not much blooming yet but it was so nice to get outside after a rather long winter.
Shop related, I got an electronic enclosure all marked up and ready for machining but stopped there. Since it's for work I decided I'd do the machining on company time instead of my time.

Ed

[f350ca]

probably going to feel it tomorrow, This one and about another half trailer.
Sure wish the wood processor was built.

[stevec]

Actually yesterday but I was too tired to post it.

   

First Oak of this springs harvest. I got a late start because of the snow so I have some catching up to do. Gotta do 5 or 6 more before they leaf out. Also gotta finish the new splitter. Then start on the chipper.
I figure I've got to live to about 350 to get my to do list done and at the rate I'm slowing down I might have to live even longer.

[Sunset Machine]

Wood heat brings back some awful memories. That's a lot of work! I remember running out of firewood once and having to peel some of the walls apart and burning a few chairs for heat. That was a bad time, even ran out of beer. 'Orrible!

[stevec]

Burning the walls and furniture is bad, for sure. But running out of beer can lead to a life of crime!
I cut down 4 more Oaks this afternoon from 18" to 12" dia. I hope to cut 4 more tomorrow. They can lay there until I get around to de-limbing, hauling and junking them up. Just wanted 'em down before they started making leaves. They can lie there while I work on our patio gardens and try to finish up the new log-splitter. Oh yeah, there's the new Jon boat to fit with the swivel seats , trolling motor and depth sounder/fish finder.
Work, work, work.

[PixMan]

Today's project took me damn near 5 minutes.

I'm starting to bring back to life a 2000 Triumph Sprint RS that's been sitting in my (walk0in) cellar for about 3 years. I'd bought it for $500 when I was "bikeless" to appease a riding friend who had been bugging me to get a new ride. He had got it from his mother-in-law's boyfriend who dumped it on his first ride, two weeks after undoing a kidney transplant.

The guy had dropped it on its left side, and on those bikes the first thing to hit is the left hand side engine case cover. It's a crankcase breather cover over the end of the crank, and has a special seal that has to be gently pressed into the magnesium cover. The cover cost me $82.99, the seal a ridiculous $ $36.75 and the gasket $12.99. That's all I've spent so far.

Here's what the cover looks like on the outside:


The tool I made in just a few minutes is 6061 aluminum:


And the seal, installed. (The seal comes with the green plug installed, only to be removed just as you're ready to install the cover.):


The gear shift lever arm (on the same side of the bike) was also damaged. The little rod projecting from it at 90º which carries the rubber where your toe lands is missing. The whole arm is also bent.

The shops want $102.50 for a new complete new shifter arm. I didn't want to spend that on an old non-classic bike that has a reconstructed title. Last Thursday I stopped in at the dealer who sold me my new bike to get a replacement rubber for the shifter. I figured I could measure the hole through the rubber and make the new rod, and also heat up and bend the lever back into shape.

He didn't have the new rubber in stock. Instead, he took to his parts room and dug out TWO used shifters. One, the exact assembly I needed, was in perfect condition. He also handed me the "new design" one that eliminated the rods and Heim joints of the original design. He wouldn't take my money!

I've got a lot of "cosmetic" work to do as much of the ABS plastic bodywork on the bike is damaged. The damage ranges from small scratches to broken mount tabs. Again, while I can still get new it's too much $$ for this bike. A fellow in Texas is sending me for under $100 all the rear bodywork that would otherwise cost over $600. I just have to prep and paint it.

While I've tried to get my youngest son Brian to get interested in the bike, he seems to lack motivation. I'll finish it within the next 6 weeks or so and start riding it. If that doesn't spur him into getting his permit and the training I offered to send him to, I will just have to decide if I need a second motorbike or settle for doubling the money I've got into it.

[EdK]

Parts sure are pricey for motorcycles.

Ed

[TomG]

Parts are pricey for all vintage vehicles. Virtually every part on the first generation Camaro is available aftermarket, including the body. I've heard that it's possible to build one complete from repro parts but it would cost over $200K. The bare body shell alone is 15K.

Tom