So, I'm starting my own business

[Bear Down]

Just passed $100K in sales today for the year.....at margins north of 60%. $28K on ebay alone.

not bad for fucking around in the garage wearing flip flops and drinking beer all day. lol.

Congrats!

Say you want to double the sales # for the next calendar year, would you need to add more equipment/ employees and a lot more hours to do so, or do you have more bandwidth available to increase sales without much more than a bigger recycling bin for more beer?

 

[lbhsbz]

Congrats!

Say you want to double the sales # for the next calendar year, would you need to add more equipment/ employees and a lot more hours to do so, or do you have more bandwidth available to increase sales without much more than a bigger recycling bin for more beer?

Depends…if I want to do it with rebuilt calipers, which I don’t, I’d probably need some help.

I think I can do it with new parts though, which involves sitting on my ass next to a heat sealer putting parts in bags and drinking beer while watching TV.

^^^ going for that one.

 

[lbhsbz]

Are you hiring?

No, employees are a pain in the ass.

 

[lbhsbz]

Interesting observation….

Getting ready to leave for the river…first real break I’ve taken since I started this mess. My clock no longer stops when I leave the office at 5:00. For the last month, every time I start to work on the boat and get things ready, within 5 minutes I get a phone call/email/etc and I’m back doing business stuff.

We’ll be on the road in an hour…boat is still not ready. I’m bringing what I need and I’ll finish things up when we get there I guess….should have some downtime today while I’m waiting for my new jack plate pump motor that should be arriving at the RV park via fedex overnight from FL. Lol.

I struggle with flipping the “off” switch….I always leave it on, because there’s money to be made. Gotta work on that.

I’m leaving my laptop at home this weekend. It’s a start…lol

 

[ElAzul]

Interesting observation….

Getting ready to leave for the river…first real break I’ve taken since I started this mess. My clock no longer stops when I leave the office at 5:00. For the last month, every time I start to work on the boat and get things ready, within 5 minutes I get a phone call/email/etc and I’m back doing business stuff.

We’ll be on the road in an hour…boat is still not ready. I’m bringing what I need and I’ll finish things up when we get there I guess….should have some downtime today while I’m waiting for my new jack plate pump motor that should be arriving at the RV park via fedex overnight from FL. Lol.

I struggle with flipping the “off” switch….I always leave it on, because there’s money to be made. Gotta work on that.

I’m leaving my laptop at home this weekend. It’s a start…lol

Yup

 

[Done-it-again]

Interesting observation….

Getting ready to leave for the river…first real break I’ve taken since I started this mess. My clock no longer stops when I leave the office at 5:00. For the last month, every time I start to work on the boat and get things ready, within 5 minutes I get a phone call/email/etc and I’m back doing business stuff.

We’ll be on the road in an hour…boat is still not ready. I’m bringing what I need and I’ll finish things up when we get there I guess….should have some downtime today while I’m waiting for my new jack plate pump motor that should be arriving at the RV park via fedex overnight from FL. Lol.

I struggle with flipping the “off” switch….I always leave it on, because there’s money to be made. Gotta work on that.

I’m leaving my laptop at home this weekend. It’s a start…lol

Yup

And people think owning their business is cake and ice cream. Sure there a bennies, but work never stops and if the family is not on board it can be rocky.

Just wait to when you have employees.

 

[NicPaus]

Work never stops unless you are willing to pass on the money. Just hit 15 years of being in my current business and I still lose sleep over the money I will lose taking a break. The worst is when you don't have numerous jobs going and something happens the day before you leave to stop a job and you know you will be paying guys every day you are gone with minimal or nothing for them to do.

 

[Done-it-again]

Work never stops unless you are willing to pass on the money. Just hit 15 years of being in my current business and I still lose sleep over the money I will lose taking a break. The worst is when you don't have numerous jobs going and something happens the day before you leave to stop a job and you know you will be paying guys every day you are gone with minimal or nothing for them to do.

Or if the employee fucks up and now costing money to correct the issue. Mistakes happen, but it sux.....

 

[RichL]

Interesting observation….

Getting ready to leave for the river…first real break I’ve taken since I started this mess. My clock no longer stops when I leave the office at 5:00. For the last month, every time I start to work on the boat and get things ready, within 5 minutes I get a phone call/email/etc and I’m back doing business stuff.

We’ll be on the road in an hour…boat is still not ready. I’m bringing what I need and I’ll finish things up when we get there I guess….should have some downtime today while I’m waiting for my new jack plate pump motor that should be arriving at the RV park via fedex overnight from FL. Lol.

I struggle with flipping the “off” switch….I always leave it on, because there’s money to be made. Gotta work on that.

I’m leaving my laptop at home this weekend. It’s a start…lol

Funny how that works out. Took me a long time to get past, not to be confused with over, the guilt of taking any time off. 40 years and two "owner operator" type businesses and the concern never left me. After following your journey I get the sense you're on track and will get it figured out.

 

[Done-it-again]

Funny how that works out. Took me a long time to get past, not to be confused with over, the guilt of taking any time off. 40 years and two "owner operator" type businesses and the concern never left me. After following your journey I get the sense you're on track and will get it figured out.

I struggle with guilt taking time off. This past weeks was the first time we as a family had a vacation in 5 yrs. Besides 1 or 2 days off added to a weekend.

 

[RichL]

I


I struggle with guilt taking time off. This past could weeks was the first time we as a family had a vacation in 5 yrs. Besides 1 or 2 days off added to a weekend.

I was like that for a very long time. I'd send the wife and kids to the east coast to go to the beach with my family or to Havasu to visit her parents.

 

[lbhsbz]

Was an expensive week…bought a pile of “porsche and VW” caliper cores for $2500, they were delivered yesterday, not a single porsche caliper in the pile, just worthless VW calipers….so that’s getting picked up by the scrap man today.

T-Force freight lost $5000 worth of bolts yesterday….trying to sort that out now.

Good thing I’m going to river tomorrow so nothing else can get screwed up until I get back

 

[lbhsbz]

Hit the $200K mark last week…

And T-Force delivered the rest of my bolts the next day….at least most of them. Looks like they stacked the pallets and half the boxes are broken open.

I have 500% margins on these…not concerned about 10% missing.

Now gotta talk to my accountant and figure out how to pay myself one of these days. Lol.

 

[buck35]

Hit the $200K mark last week…

And T-Force delivered the rest of my bolts the next day….at least most of them. Looks like they stacked the pallets and half the boxes are broken open.

I have 500% margins on these…not concerned about 10% missing.


View attachment 1140213

Now gotta talk to my accountant and figure out how to pay myself one of these days. Lol.

Congratulations!

 

[C-2]

That's impressive, and awesome. Great job bud.

I was thinking about bumping your bolt thread. I had a caliper bracket bolt back out on my daughter's Jeep - apparently a common problem. WTF, I've never had a brake related bolt back itself out.

 

[lbhsbz]

That's impressive, and awesome. Great job bud.

I was thinking about bumping your bolt thread. I had a caliper bracket bolt back out on my daughter's Jeep - apparently a common problem. WTF, I've never had a brake related bolt back itself out.

It’s a Chrysler (fiat)…that’s normal. The “domestics” don’t know how to torque things…which is why every bolt is slathered in locking compound.

 

[lbhsbz]

Had a few slow weeks, but a whole bunch of fun parts came in that I’ve been waiting on for a long time. I don’t think I ordered enough, so I just re-ordered 4 times the quantity.

High temp Silicone dust boots for Brembo calipers….since Centric and Stoptech are falling apart, I’m pretty much the only game in town on these. Just shipped 10 rebuild kits (44 dust boots and seals, my cost $28) to New Zealand yesterday for $300 (+ shipping). Lol. I like those margins.

Lined up a Subaru acct who should sending me a decent PO today on kits for the WRX/WRX STI stuff. BMW folks are still ordering like gangbusters.

My competitor is out of stock on bolt kits, so I got a decent order yesterday and have been up since 3:00AM packaging kits because I’ll imagine I’ll get a few more calls today.

My “competition” in the porsche caliper world sent a customer a caliper that looks like it’s spent the last 50 years on the bottom of the ocean, and that resulted in a thread w/ pictures on one of the big porsche forums…I ended up taking care of the customer and he’s spreading my stuff all over the forum now, so that should end well.

Been a busy week this week, invoiced a little over $14K since Monday and we’ve still got 1 day left.

Some people owe me some money

 

[HNL2LHC]

Good to see things still chugging along. I’d reconsider your terms of payment. It is no fun chasing YOUR money. I tell customers and our son terms for those who you don’t know under $1k it is cash with order. Anything over 50% with order and balance before it will ships. I know that you might loose customers with large order you can reevaluate after they question the terms. I have done $100k with 50/balance but have had some question their position if damage wrong etc so I have allowed 50%/40% ship/10% when in hand. I just hate to chase money because at that point you have no leverage. I have seen people loose big money or wait years to get paid.

Keep the updates coming!!!

 

[lbhsbz]

Good to see things still chugging along. I’d reconsider your terms of payment. It is no fun chasing YOUR money. I tell customers and our son terms for those who you don’t know under $1k it is cash with order. Anything over 50% with order and balance before it will ships. I know that you might loose customers with large order you can reevaluate after they question the terms. I have done $100k with 50/balance but have had some question their position if damage wrong etc so I have allowed 50%/40% ship/10% when in hand. I just hate to chase money because at that point you have no leverage. I have seen people loose big money or wait years to get paid.

Keep the updates coming!!!

That’s one customer that’s overdue…they seem to like playing this game. Always 2 weeks late. Their price will reflect that next time. The rest should pay within 30 days…I’m not too concerned with them. 30-90 days is fairly standard for my industry. I offer 30 day terms, no more. Most of my wholesale customers pay me in advance or when the product is received.

 

[HNL2LHC]

That’s one customer that’s overdue…they seem to like playing this game. Always 2 weeks late. Their price will reflect that next time. The rest should pay within 30 days…I’m not too concerned with them. 30-90 days is fairly standard for my industry. I offer 30 day terms, no more. Most of my wholesale customers pay me in advance or when the product is received.

Figured that was the case as I recall that you had a big order. Just putting it out there that NO ONE should be the Finance company for their customers. IT is done so often by General Contractors and suppliers. I have seen the big companies use the ploy to string along the suppliers. Then you hav e tight times and they close up leaving the little guys holing the bag. I like to keep people in check to the roles.

Yesterday had a call from an architect. Wanting ME to put together specs for his project that he will send out to get bids from my competitors. I could tell that he was young and told him that is not how we roll. Send me info and I will spend no more than 15 minutes of my time. It was preliminary design for a new hotel. Who knows if it will ever be built especially with these times.

In our discussion I expressed several large high-rises that we have done in my 30 years. He asked what projects have we done with the firm that he is with. I told him I not aware of any. Honestly I believe that they design nice buildings but when it comes to the build you guys cut out the quality products and buy from China to save money.

 

[lbhsbz]

Had a eBay caliper order and a $2500 bolt order at the bell…sitting on the front porch with a beer right now hoping the UPS guy drives by in the next 20 minutes so I don’t have to cart 800lbs of boxes across the parking lot into the UPS store.

A bit over $17K this week.

I’ll take it.

 

[lbhsbz]

Woo Hoo!

Payment for the $80K bill just got wired into my acct!

 

[HNL2LHC]

Woo Hoo!

Payment for the $80K bill just got wired into my acct!

Whooo Hooo if right…..so where and when is the RDP business development / advisory / celebration party going to be held?

 

[lbhsbz]

Financing a party for you fuckers would put me back in the red

 

[lbhsbz]

Just passed the 1/4 million mark for total sales for the year.

I need to work on my keeping track of shit processes. Most months I may have one or 2 customers that want to send there cores in ahead of time so they don't need to pay the core deposit. Last week I had about 10 of those. Between shipping delays, people not putting the correct info in the box, etc....I got all fucked up. Pretty sure I got most of it sorted out, but forgot to include pads and hardware in the second set to one guy (he was gonna keep 'em on the shelf for spares)....he called me up today all whiny like I killed his dog and talking about how he thought I did business the same way he did and he's disappointed and blah blah blah. I explained that I remembered him telling me during one of the phone calls that he just wanted bare calipers..., and that I musta been mistaken and will send out pads and hardware ASAP. He started whining about how he didn't want them anymore and he'll just tell his friends to go somewhere else for calipers and .... then he had to take another call and hung up. Overnight UPS was $20 more than it getting there next week sometime, so his shit will be on his doorstep by 9AM tomorrow. Whatever.

First customer that sent me pallet quantities of crusty new england calipers to do....bit of an issue with him now. I sent back everything that I could build, and left the straglers with missing parts/bad casting halfs/etc...in the mystery box....where all my misc. shit goes that I can't put together. I fill this box from 3 different customers and my own cores. When the box gets full I dump it all out and see if I can build anything out of what's in there. If I can build 3 sets, each customer gets a set.

I was able to put together about 10 sets for him....but I wasn't gonna send it all to get replated, so I just put 'em together. Every plating batch comes out a bit different. Even come calipers out of the same batch come out a bit different. That's just how it is. He's upset because the inner half of some don't perfectly match the outer halves with respect to color, even though as soon as they go on the car they'll get brake dust on 'em nobody will care, especially because they can only barely see the outer half through the wheels. He also sent me a bunch of aluminum calipers that get really corroded to the point where I condemn about 95% of them and told him to just sell them as cores. These are expensive to rebuild...lots of extra labor and just the parts for a single caliper cost me $120. I sell 'em for $220 each, but they always look like shit, and I can't guarantee they'll work right or last because the casting have so much pitting and corrosion on them....so he tells me to just bead blast and clear coat, and put 'em together anyway. No problem. So I do that, but the castings are degraded to the point where the dust boots won't stay put and keep popping out. I had them staying put for 3 days before I boxed 'em up and shipped, but I guess they slid out of their "press fit" and now won't stay in....so I get to cover shipping to get them back and "fix" them, even though I told him they weren't good in the first place. We're gonna have a chat tomorrow, and I very well may fire him as a customer.

Did $40K last month....

Still having fun

 

[wzuber]

Congrats on the 1/4 mill mark achievement. That's an awesome milestone. Hopefully you can continue to perform there at a regular basis and grow beyond.
Ahhhhh......Growing pains......always one of the "greater joys" of building a business. Once you move past the frustration phase of these interactions, review them and look to see the opportunity in them, it's there. Within each of these are an opportunity to learn additional business operating rules, aka..
"How we do business" rules to be added to the list on your website or contracts. By integrating these rules you can hopefully minimize or prevent future issues that these scenarios present. (Such as the Alum. Casting situation) ideally limit or transfer liability back onto the customer through his purchase decision and or set the correct expectation up front to mitigate the whiney disappointment clowns.
Keep up the good work dude, you Makin it happen.

 

[MPHSystems]

Just passed the 1/4 million mark for total sales for the year.

I need to work on my keeping track of shit processes. Most months I may have one or 2 customers that want to send there cores in ahead of time so they don't need to pay the core deposit. Last week I had about 10 of those. Between shipping delays, people not putting the correct info in the box, etc....I got all fucked up. Pretty sure I got most of it sorted out, but forgot to include pads and hardware in the second set to one guy (he was gonna keep 'em on the shelf for spares)....he called me up today all whiny like I killed his dog and talking about how he thought I did business the same way he did and he's disappointed and blah blah blah. I explained that I remembered him telling me during one of the phone calls that he just wanted bare calipers..., and that I musta been mistaken and will send out pads and hardware ASAP. He started whining about how he didn't want them anymore and he'll just tell his friends to go somewhere else for calipers and .... then he had to take another call and hung up. Overnight UPS was $20 more than it getting there next week sometime, so his shit will be on his doorstep by 9AM tomorrow. Whatever.

First customer that sent me pallet quantities of crusty new england calipers to do....bit of an issue with him now. I sent back everything that I could build, and left the straglers with missing parts/bad casting halfs/etc...in the mystery box....where all my misc. shit goes that I can't put together. I fill this box from 3 different customers and my own cores. When the box gets full I dump it all out and see if I can build anything out of what's in there. If I can build 3 sets, each customer gets a set.

I was able to put together about 10 sets for him....but I wasn't gonna send it all to get replated, so I just put 'em together. Every plating batch comes out a bit different. Even come calipers out of the same batch come out a bit different. That's just how it is. He's upset because the inner half of some don't perfectly match the outer halves with respect to color, even though as soon as they go on the car they'll get brake dust on 'em nobody will care, especially because they can only barely see the outer half through the wheels. He also sent me a bunch of aluminum calipers that get really corroded to the point where I condemn about 95% of them and told him to just sell them as cores. These are expensive to rebuild...lots of extra labor and just the parts for a single caliper cost me $120. I sell 'em for $220 each, but they always look like shit, and I can't guarantee they'll work right or last because the casting have so much pitting and corrosion on them....so he tells me to just bead blast and clear coat, and put 'em together anyway. No problem. So I do that, but the castings are degraded to the point where the dust boots won't stay put and keep popping out. I had them staying put for 3 days before I boxed 'em up and shipped, but I guess they slid out of their "press fit" and now won't stay in....so I get to cover shipping to get them back and "fix" them, even though I told him they weren't good in the first place. We're gonna have a chat tomorrow, and I very well may fire him as a customer.

Did $40K last month....

Still having fun

You know, business would be great if it wasn’t for the fucking customers LOL

I have a 9-5 W2 job and a small electrical contracting business, I think my biggest year contracting to date was $250K gross. I H8 my W2 job, but it has great insurance (was a lot better and cheeper before Obama made it “free”) I wish I had the balls to cut and run and just do electrical, I really like doing that work, even with the customers. In fact, I really like most of my customers. But yea, business has setbacks, that’s the risk. I had a job some years back that called for 48 intercom stations in a hospital. I submitted the bid and the job was accepted, go to rough in the system and luckily I did my due diligence. The door station cut sheets called for a 2 gang box, having never used this product before, I ordered 1 door station to make sure it fit. Turns out that no, it’s not a standard $2.00 2 gang box, it’s a proprietary $27 (X48 = $1,300) “2 gang“ box. Still better than figuring that out on trim And all the labor and delay it would have cost.

Anyways, that was almost 15 years ago and I’m still getting no-bid contracts from them. I treat them fairly and they give me all their work.

 

[Your ad here]

I enjoy reading your post and seeing the solutions you come up with. I'm looking to start a small business in concrete cutting. I did put out feeler work for a bit and I actually turned down about half of it due to some ridiculous request or just having a feeling that even though I did the job correctly, per the layout I was given, the customer would still make up something to be wrong and blame me for their problems.

 

[MPHSystems]

I enjoy reading your post and seeing the solutions you come up with. I'm looking to start a small business in concrete cutting. I did put out feeler work for a bit and I actually turned down about half of it due to some ridiculous request or just having a feeling that even though I did the job correctly, per the layout I was given, the customer would still make up something to be wrong and blame me for their problems.

Anytime you're working in construction, you really want to be licensed licensed. Unlicensed side work there's very little recourse if the customer decides to fuck you

 

[Done-it-again]

Damn that's awesome, I too look forward seeing this thread updated and how things are progressing for you....

I would like to ask a question as I just had to switch insurance providers... How's your liability insurance? Thinking brakes has to be a big deal, no?

I'm in the the material handling business and they ask for some crazy shit....Just in case a part fails that I assemble/build and install.

 

[lbhsbz]

Damn that's awesome, I too look forward seeing this thread updated and how things are progressing for you....

I would like to ask a question as I just had to switch insurance providers... How's your liability insurance? Thinking brakes has to be a big deal, no?

I'm in the the material handling business and they ask for some crazy shit....Just in case a part fails that I assemble/build and install.

I have to revisit my insurance. I purchased a business policy through a member here, but when I received me renewal notice, even though I explained very clearly what I was up to, it says "bolts"....so I'm pretty sure that's all I'm covered for. We'll get to the bottom of that in the next couple weeks.

But, since I'm the only one doing anything around here, I am the one that determines what leaves the door. If there is any question as to whether or not it's less than perfect (functionally), it doesn't leave. I'd honestly be comfortable operating without insurance....but I understand that it's a necessary thing.

 

[C-2]

Damn dude, awesome!

If you bring on a worker/help, consider adding workers comp to your budget. In a new business, it's much easier to start with that expense, rather than adding it later and seeing the hit on the bottom line.

Keep up the good work, happy for you.

 

[Done-it-again]

I have to revisit my insurance. I purchased a business policy through a member here, but when I received me renewal notice, even though I explained very clearly what I was up to, it says "bolts"....so I'm pretty sure that's all I'm covered for. We'll get to the bottom of that in the next couple weeks.

But, since I'm the only one doing anything around here, I am the one that determines what leaves the door. If there is any question as to whether or not it's less than perfect (functionally), it doesn't leave. I'd honestly be comfortable operating without insurance....but I understand that it's a necessary thing.

I understand.... Just didn't know if working with "car" parts if liability is different... I would think it would be, but could be a HUGE difference from "rebuilding" instead of "manufacturing"....

 

[Done-it-again]

Damn dude, awesome!

If you bring on a worker/help, consider adding workers comp to your budget. In a new business, it's much easier to start with that expense, rather than adding it later and seeing the hit on the bottom line.

Keep up the good work, happy for you.

Workers comp is one thing.... I know a few business that don't, machine shops mostly i know of and guys are paid under the table.

But product liability is a biggie.....

 

[Your ad here]

Anytime you're working in construction, you really want to be licensed licensed. Unlicensed side work there's very little recourse if the customer decides to fuck you

True. What I was saying though is you may have the equipment, capability, experience, and knowledge on how to do the job but if you get a customer that is never satisfied it's very tough, if not, impossible for both parties to win.

 

[SBMech]

I have to revisit my insurance. I purchased a business policy through a member here, but when I received me renewal notice, even though I explained very clearly what I was up to, it says "bolts"....so I'm pretty sure that's all I'm covered for. We'll get to the bottom of that in the next couple weeks.

But, since I'm the only one doing anything around here, I am the one that determines what leaves the door. If there is any question as to whether or not it's less than perfect (functionally), it doesn't leave. I'd honestly be comfortable operating without insurance....but I understand that it's a necessary thing.

Just get a blanket 1m coverage for accidental. Incorporate if you are not already and insulate.

Honestly, even with our limited interaction here, I know you are a competent, educated and experienced, ex-tech who is an honest person, parts failure is your least concern, it's proving that it's an installation/operator error that costs the money. Mechanical parts rebuilt to proper tolerances are nearly bullet proof.

Keep on doing you bro!

 

[wzuber]

True. What I was saying though is you may have the equipment, capability, experience, and knowledge on how to do the job but if you get a customer that is never satisfied it's very tough, if not, impossible for both parties to win.

True, at that point one has to decide...
is it worth it trying to service this acct. that essentially refuses to be happy? Typically, the answer at some point is no and ya end up telling them sorry dude, but clearly, I can't make you happy. You are going to have to find another vendor. I can't/won't/refuse to continue like this.
Kinda like a crazy/psyco, hot chick that's a great fuck but ya just can't deal w/the psyco shit anymore....lol

 

[lbhsbz]

Bought a new (used) “company” truck. Lol

 

[lbhsbz]

Been a bit since I updated.

Historically, Sept-Jan slows down in this industry...and it has. I tried to get ahead of thing on calipers...buying every core I could find and building everything for stock. Been ordering heavy on components and picked up a few more wholesale customers for kits/pistons. Slow the last few months, but stuff is still happening.

Just passed $300K in sales for the year today. Lots of inventory, all paid for, money in the bank, life is good.

 

[Go-Fly]

Been a bit since I updated.

Historically, Sept-Jan slows down in this industry...and it has. I tried to get ahead of thing on calipers...buying every core I could find and building everything for stock. Been ordering heavy on components and picked up a few more wholesale customers for kits/pistons. Slow the last few months, but stuff is still happening.

Just passed $300K in sales for the year today. Lots of inventory, all paid for, money in the bank, life is good.

I like stories like these. There is always opportunity if you just look for it. I remember my first $1000 check that was sent to my business. My first $100,000 check and my first $1m bank transfer. There's no feeling like it when you are running in the black and your books balance. Well done.

 

[lbhsbz]

I like stories like these. There is always opportunity if you just look for it. I remember my first $1000 check that was sent to my business. My first $100,000 check and my first $1m bank transfer. There's no feeling like it when you are running in the black and your books balance. Well done.

I took a picture of my first check over $5K. It was a big deal. So far my largest has been $85K, but I didn't take a picture of that one....at the rate we're moving now, it seems insignificant....I want bigger ones.

I did $38K total last year, from March until the end of the year. I've done over $50K just on ebay this year and had several month where I did more than the entirety of last year. If I can keep up a fraction the this growth, next year should be good.

 

[Go-Fly]

You started with a single part number. It's a true one step at a time. When I made my first $1m, I had to fax a copy over to my Dad. Faxing was a big deal back then. He wrote on the page and faxed it back. I'm so proud of you son but why does it start with a 1.

 

[LuauLounge]

You have a month to take advantage of the best tax deduction available. Section 179 Depreciation

 

[lbhsbz]

You have a month to take advantage of the best tax deduction available. Section 179 Depreciation

I have a meeting with my accountant next week to discuss year end strategy. I'll mention this. Thanks.

 

[Done-it-again]

I have a meeting with my accountant next week to discuss year end strategy. I'll mention this. Thanks.

While sec 179 is great when buying something and writing off the deprecation ie: large SUV’s, trucks, equipment. You still need to pay for it.

Try and qualify for the R&D tax credit. That’s $$$$ returned to you. I’m sure you had figure out what components worked best in each caliper. What about the “new” brake pads you made. I’m sure tweaking the compound took time.

 

[lbhsbz]

Well, eBay has restricted my acct and shut down my sales for 3 days.

Evidently Nissan USA contacted eBay about my single listing for a "Nissan GT-R front brake caliper rebuild kit"....because it makes them feel like someone kicked sand in their collective vaginas. I received a notification last week that I was in some sort of violation and removed the listing so as not to cause problems, then got another notification today that I was in violation again (even though eBay had removed the listing last week) and that my acct was restricted for 3 days.

Fuck Nissan

After 30 minutes on the phone with eBay explaining that I was in compliance as soon as they sent me the notice, they said they'll have to investigate the issue before they could lift the restriction and that investigation would take 2-3 days. lol

Fuck eBay too.

Wasn't ready to throw a bunch of money at a website, but now it's a matter of principle.

 

[t&y]

@lbhsbz Question since you are the brake expert. Banjo Bolt for a 70's chevy 4x4 truck front caliper. I bought a kit and over the course of my current project lost one of them. Went to napa to source the other banjo bolt and picked up what is supposed to be a direct fit for GM 70's truck front calipers. When I compare it to the one that came with the kit, the new one is about 1/8" short. Holes on the bolt for fluid passage look to be in the same location and size, bolt is just a little shorter. Will that make a huge difference in application? I would think it would be more of an issue if it were too long vs. 2-3 threads short.

 

[lbhsbz]

@lbhsbz Question since you are the brake expert. Banjo Bolt for a 70's chevy 4x4 truck front caliper. I bought a kit and over the course of my current project lost one of them. Went to napa to source the other banjo bolt and picked up what is supposed to be a direct fit for GM 70's truck front calipers. When I compare it to the one that came with the kit, the new one is about 1/8" short. Holes on the bolt for fluid passage look to be in the same location and size, bolt is just a little shorter. Will that make a huge difference in application? I would think it would be more of an issue if it were too long vs. 2-3 threads short.

doesn't matter.....er...probably doesn't matter.

The "rule" on thread engagement in iron/steel is 1X diameter in a structural application. This is evident by the height of a nut for a given thread pitch.

A banjo bolt is not structural, and will typically clamp good enough to create a proper seal with copper washers at about 1/2 the torque value required for a real bolt that's not hollow. Some banjo bolts are rolled thread bolts with the holes drilled after the bolt is manufactured....these can take some torque. If you bought a set of stainless braided lines or sourced your banjo bolts from a "performance" supplier, more often than not they are machined out of a piece of hex stock and have about the same level of strength as a popsicle stick....don't take these past about 10ft/lbs...if that.

I'm guessing you've got a 7/16-20 thread....so 20TPI. If you have 8 threads engaged...that'll hold up a bridge. I'd be satisfied with 4 threads engaged on a banjo bolt snugged up to the point where it doesn't leak. You only need snug plus about 1/4 to 1/2 turn to crush the copper washers and create a seal....unless you're using Centric reman calipers where a fucktard went at the banjo seat with a spot facing tool in a Makita and bounced the shit of it....then you'll have problems. lol

 

[lbhsbz]

Looks like I'm going to be a distributor for Demon Powersports products. SxS Axles, Brakes, Ball Joints, etc...I'll probably pay RD for a banner ad and try and sell them through here. If anyone needs any Demon stuff, message me.

Shop High-Performance ATV, UTV Parts & Accessories | Demon Powersports

Explore Demon Powersports for top-quality ATV and UTV parts, including heavy-duty axles, brake pads, EPS kits, ball joints, and more. Discover performance racing parts for Polaris, Can-Am, and other off-road vehicles. Designed for durability and extreme performance!

www.demonpowersports.com

 

[rush1]

You might want to consider becoming a supplier for mill supply, they are one of the nations bigger suppliers of route truck parts

Stepvan Parts | Walk-in Van, Cargo & Food Truck Parts | Mill Supply, Inc.

Find high-quality stepvan parts at Mill Supply, from mirrors and handles to roll up doors and LED lights, that meet your budget and performance needs.

www.millsupply.com