What did you do today non-detailing related?
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Optimus Grime
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- Feb 25, 2023
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I used to have a gen 1 XD chambered in 40 cal. Coming from a Glock I couldn’t get used to the trigger pull. We sadly parted ways for a Glock 23C.
Optimus Grime
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- Feb 25, 2023
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It was a sad day for my household. We had a family of birds that nested in the wreath on my front door. Yesterday was exceptionally windy and blew the nest down. This little guy is the only survivor and was barely clinging to life. After an hour of calling around I finally found a bird sanctuary that could help. The hour drive seemed like an eternity but we made it.
I got my first update and it looks like the bird will make it.
http://cwrescue.hopto.org/cgi-bin/RaptorMedCGI.exe?patient=2026-1639&forceDisplay=true
I got my first update and it looks like the bird will make it.
http://cwrescue.hopto.org/cgi-bin/RaptorMedCGI.exe?patient=2026-1639&forceDisplay=true
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
- Aug 31, 2010
- 17,867
- 1,932
I had a precarious spot under my porch where a (the same?) bird would build a nest every year. The first year was ok, but one year the nest fell out and the eggs all broke, the next year the nest fell out after hatching and the hatchlings died...then I stuffed a plastic bag in the hole so the bird(s?) would find a more suitable building site.
Optimus Grime
Well-known member
- Feb 25, 2023
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Last year a bird, possibly the same species, tried to make a nest in the wreath but after a few days of constant interruptions it moved on. This year the nest and eggs were there before we knew anything was happening. We thought it would be the perfect location and keep the babies safe from predators so we used the garage to get in and out of the house.
I’m gonna take the wreath down and invest in a bird house or two.
Big Dave
Well-known member
- Jan 7, 2018
- 4,831
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We had to go in and out of the house by the garage for a couple of days last week, the security screen door lock broke, inside the key would just spin in the lock and outside it wouldn't turn at all. And of course it broke in the locked position.
MisterSnoop
Well-known member
- Sep 15, 2020
- 2,481
- 809
just put those on my car recently
MisterSnoop
Well-known member
- Sep 15, 2020
- 2,481
- 809
My raised garden bed that I built 5 years ago.
It was starting to disintegrate.
Replaced it with one I bought on Prime Day.
It was starting to disintegrate.
Replaced it with one I bought on Prime Day.
bill walsh
Active member
- Jul 16, 2007
- 1,010
- 11
is this a new project?
DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
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Correct. Its got a few issues that need to be sorted, including a leaking lower crank seal, leaking fuel cap, botched handle bar locks, and a few other little items that I want to correct. Some of this I already have in stock, others have been ordered.
Setec Astronomy
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- Aug 31, 2010
- 17,867
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DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
- 5,901
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So yes, I bought another lawn mower. This Rover Craftsman joins another two on the same square-body 18-inch alloy chassis, a larger 20-inch version, and two smooth-body 22-inch ProCuts as well (one not shown).
This particular one ticks a few boxes. First of all, this unit was made in 1986, the same vintage as me. It also has the old 148cc 3hp Briggs flat-head, which came with the auto-choke and vertical pull recoil. And its this vintage of Briggs that taught me all about how engines worked. At about age 12, my father and I rebuilt one of these engines, something Dad determined was better (read-cheaper) than buying a new mower. The reason for the rebuild? Well, the rings were completely worn out and it was smoking like a freight train. That mower and engine are long gone, so I'd been waiting for one to pop up, which leads us to this Rover.
This example is far from perfect, but its complete. Someone clearly forgot to lay out the drop sheet while painting, its covered in white paint overspray. This is a common theme on a lot of used mowers for some reason. The handlebar locks have been butchered, a new throttle cable with the wrong controller installed, and has leaking fuel cap. But the biggest problem is the lower crank seal, its leaking like sieve. So, I've gone and ordered the following -
- Lower Oil Seal
- Sump Gasket
- Air Filter
- New Rover Throttle Controller
- New Starter Grip (the one on it is incorrect)
- Fuel Cap (which I have NOS)
- Governor Spring (from NOS)
The oil seal I plan to do with the pan still in place, so if you have any seal puller recommendations, I'm all ears. I've ordered a gasket if needed, but I'd prefer to leave it alone.
I'll do the plug as well, probably when I pull the head to de-coke. Wheel bearings as well. Blades are fine.
Overall, its a strong runner. Those old auto-choke carbs had high and low speed adjustments, meaning it can actually idle down nicely and have a strong top end. Actually, its a little too strong up top, the tacho reading above 4000 rpm, they should be at 3600 rpm. I've already slowed it down. There are a few puffs of blue oil smoke, but not crazy. It is 40-years old, and those old Briggs burnt oil anyway, so to be expected. I also think the seller has put 10w30 in it, these engines should have SAE30, so that might cure the oil burn a little. Once I've done the oil seal, I'll swap to SAE30.
I toyed with a total rebuild, but it runs so nice and doesn't leak other than the crank seal, so I'm going to leave it alone.
While I wait for the parts to arrive, I decided to address a few cosmetic issues. The first being the muffler.
The exhaust port looks worse than it was, I gave it a quick clean out before reassembly, as well as cleaning the oil residue from around the valve cover. For the muffler, I used a combination of steel wool and a wire brush, then some Autosol metal polish. It's not perfect but much better than before. The black remaining on the centre was baked into the metal.
On that engine I rebuilt with dad, it also had the large Super Lo Tone, but with the metal all blown out around the bolts. To keep it attached to the engine, dad slung a length of wire underneath and over the top of the engine.................can you tell I don't take after my dad? When it started shooting blue flames out around the bolts, I put my foot down! Off to the mower shop, the guy gave dad two options....................guess which he chose? Yep, the cheap pepper pot cannister type, not the Super Lo-Tone. It just wasn't the same. As a 12 year old, I was so annoyed! That's why I love the look of these Super Lo-Tone mufflers.
This particular one ticks a few boxes. First of all, this unit was made in 1986, the same vintage as me. It also has the old 148cc 3hp Briggs flat-head, which came with the auto-choke and vertical pull recoil. And its this vintage of Briggs that taught me all about how engines worked. At about age 12, my father and I rebuilt one of these engines, something Dad determined was better (read-cheaper) than buying a new mower. The reason for the rebuild? Well, the rings were completely worn out and it was smoking like a freight train. That mower and engine are long gone, so I'd been waiting for one to pop up, which leads us to this Rover.
This example is far from perfect, but its complete. Someone clearly forgot to lay out the drop sheet while painting, its covered in white paint overspray. This is a common theme on a lot of used mowers for some reason. The handlebar locks have been butchered, a new throttle cable with the wrong controller installed, and has leaking fuel cap. But the biggest problem is the lower crank seal, its leaking like sieve. So, I've gone and ordered the following -
- Lower Oil Seal
- Sump Gasket
- Air Filter
- New Rover Throttle Controller
- New Starter Grip (the one on it is incorrect)
- Fuel Cap (which I have NOS)
- Governor Spring (from NOS)
The oil seal I plan to do with the pan still in place, so if you have any seal puller recommendations, I'm all ears. I've ordered a gasket if needed, but I'd prefer to leave it alone.
I'll do the plug as well, probably when I pull the head to de-coke. Wheel bearings as well. Blades are fine.
Overall, its a strong runner. Those old auto-choke carbs had high and low speed adjustments, meaning it can actually idle down nicely and have a strong top end. Actually, its a little too strong up top, the tacho reading above 4000 rpm, they should be at 3600 rpm. I've already slowed it down. There are a few puffs of blue oil smoke, but not crazy. It is 40-years old, and those old Briggs burnt oil anyway, so to be expected. I also think the seller has put 10w30 in it, these engines should have SAE30, so that might cure the oil burn a little. Once I've done the oil seal, I'll swap to SAE30.
I toyed with a total rebuild, but it runs so nice and doesn't leak other than the crank seal, so I'm going to leave it alone.
While I wait for the parts to arrive, I decided to address a few cosmetic issues. The first being the muffler.
The exhaust port looks worse than it was, I gave it a quick clean out before reassembly, as well as cleaning the oil residue from around the valve cover. For the muffler, I used a combination of steel wool and a wire brush, then some Autosol metal polish. It's not perfect but much better than before. The black remaining on the centre was baked into the metal.
On that engine I rebuilt with dad, it also had the large Super Lo Tone, but with the metal all blown out around the bolts. To keep it attached to the engine, dad slung a length of wire underneath and over the top of the engine.................can you tell I don't take after my dad? When it started shooting blue flames out around the bolts, I put my foot down! Off to the mower shop, the guy gave dad two options....................guess which he chose? Yep, the cheap pepper pot cannister type, not the Super Lo-Tone. It just wasn't the same. As a 12 year old, I was so annoyed! That's why I love the look of these Super Lo-Tone mufflers.
Tasmania
Well-known member
- Jan 12, 2017
- 2,182
- 1,647
*WARNING* *RANT* *IN* *SESSION*
IM ANGRY
5 month have passed at nothing has been done next door in regards to the water leak, Since December i have been mowing, whipping snipping their lawns!
Feeding and watering the cow and 3 chooks daily.
And only today did they get a new leak detected fixed....well sort of.
This is how the "New story" goes they found a second leak which the insurance company won't fix until my neighbours fix this themselves
So today a cowboy digs up the garden beds and finds the source of this little leak BUT he has now put rocks dirt crap everywhere over the lawn making it impossible to mow in these areas, PLUS the other people that are supposed to dry out the house have left old personal belongings just sit outside for months.
I HAVE NEVER MET people like my neighbours that are in their 70s just leave shit and crap laying around and just walk straight past it like it will disappear or fix itself
I getting really frustrated and over this as I give sooooo much to them but get nothing back.
*RANT OVER*
IM ANGRY
5 month have passed at nothing has been done next door in regards to the water leak, Since December i have been mowing, whipping snipping their lawns! Feeding and watering the cow and 3 chooks daily.
And only today did they get a new leak detected fixed....well sort of.
This is how the "New story" goes they found a second leak which the insurance company won't fix until my neighbours fix this themselves
So today a cowboy digs up the garden beds and finds the source of this little leak BUT he has now put rocks dirt crap everywhere over the lawn making it impossible to mow in these areas, PLUS the other people that are supposed to dry out the house have left old personal belongings just sit outside for months.
I HAVE NEVER MET people like my neighbours that are in their 70s just leave shit and crap laying around and just walk straight past it like it will disappear or fix itself
I getting really frustrated and over this as I give sooooo much to them but get nothing back.
*RANT OVER*
Big Dave
Well-known member
- Jan 7, 2018
- 4,831
- 4,412
We get shopping brochures delivered in our neighbourhood, they roll them up and put a rubber band around them and throw them into the front yard from a passing car. Some houses I walk past have a few sitting in their driveway, all flattened from being driven over multiple times, the ink has mostly run out then. They'll sit there for weeks, usually it's the same people who don't do the edges on the footpath, don't weed their lawns, basically they don't do anything outside.*WARNING* *RANT* *IN* *SESSION*
IM ANGRY
Feeding and watering the cow and 3 chooks daily.
And only today did they get a new leak detected fixed....well sort of.
This is how the "New story" goes they found a second leak which the insurance company won't fix until my neighbours fix this themselves
So today a cowboy digs up the garden beds and finds the source of this little leak BUT he has now put rocks dirt crap everywhere over the lawn making it impossible to mow in these areas, PLUS the other people that are supposed to dry out the house have left old personal belongings just sit outside for months.
I HAVE NEVER MET people like my neighbours that are in their 70s just leave shit and crap laying around and just walk straight past it like it will disappear or fix itself
I getting really frustrated and over this as I give sooooo much to them but get nothing back.
*RANT OVER*
Not on the same level with what you're dealing with, but some people are oblivious.
DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
- 5,901
- 5,145
*WARNING* *RANT* *IN* *SESSION*
IM ANGRY
Feeding and watering the cow and 3 chooks daily.
And only today did they get a new leak detected fixed....well sort of.
This is how the "New story" goes they found a second leak which the insurance company won't fix until my neighbours fix this themselves
So today a cowboy digs up the garden beds and finds the source of this little leak BUT he has now put rocks dirt crap everywhere over the lawn making it impossible to mow in these areas, PLUS the other people that are supposed to dry out the house have left old personal belongings just sit outside for months.
I especially hate that sort of so-called "tradesmen". The do the "job" but don't actually "finish" the job. In your case, the mess they've left behind. And because skilled tradesman are in demand, so they have no incentive to be thorough because in their eyes, they're doing you a favour.
I HAVE NEVER MET people like my neighbours that are in their 70s just leave shit and crap laying around and just walk straight past it like it will disappear or fix itself
I getting really frustrated and over this as I give sooooo much to them but get nothing back.
*RANT OVER*
From someone who's been there and done that, the sooner you break free of this lopsided arrangement, the better you'll be. Stop letting them take advantage of your kindness and generosity. I know you are doing the right thing, but it's time to do the right thing for you, not the users of you.
Tasmania
Well-known member
- Jan 12, 2017
- 2,182
- 1,647
Having two other brothers i was taught to look after my thing's and respect stuff, I've never seen anything like this before I know there lazy but it's just a shit show at the moment next door.
And when we discussed in December it could be April they move back in i was like that's so far away but it's gone in a blink of an eye 5 month nothing done until today and maybe 2 weeks where the cleaning guy's brought in fans and put up plastic drop sheets.
So maybe June they move back 7 month's, my neighbours know I'm getting frustrated and annoyed just wish they could me.
Put it this Dave if it was us and we said can you mow our lawns feed the cat and chickens......a firm no would be the answer.