Tales Of A Mercenary Mechanic

[The Chicken]

It blew one big ass fuse...I think I'm actually a bit more worried the other didn't pop. I need to figure out if they both work or not, and to what extent. This think was made for campground type, snowbird stuff. I think it may require both inverters to be working for the giant fridge...that is not a dual, a massive 110/120 home unit.

It has 2 Xantrex 458's in it. Oddly, I have one here I'd squirreled away for a future service truck. I didn't realize they are 1400$ each now. If he needs one, I'd sell him mine cheap, because I know I didn't pay much for it. If he needs two though, may have to see what's on the market as an upgrade/modern option.

IIRC, those Xantrex inverters are simple, robust and durable. They still make them and the design remains relatively unchanged for something like 20 years.
And being simple, they don't have a lot of features, and I don't think you can "stack" or parallel them.
Which means you probably have an inverter each feeding a dedicated 120VAC sub panel. Which is kinda screwy and can get you into trouble if you aren't careful with the branch circuits and neutrals.

 

[monkeyswrench]

IIRC, those Xantrex inverters are simple, robust and durable. They still make them and the design remains relatively unchanged for something like 20 years.
And being simple, they don't have a lot of features, and I don't think you can "stack" or parallel them.
Which means you probably have an inverter each feeding a dedicated 120VAC sub panel. Which is kinda screwy and can get you into trouble if you aren't careful with the branch circuits and neutrals.

I think that may be Friday's fuckery. I think before lighting off the inverters, I'm going to trace the circuits and see what is running where and how. That way if some stuff works, and others don't, I'll have an idea of where to start. I'm worried that one inverter was already bad, the one that didn't pop the fuse. There is a piece of painter's tape on one of the controllers marked "off". Should be an adventure.

Picked up some "new to me" skins for the project service truck. 80%+ tread, but 4 years old. Not the greatest, but will allow me to road the thing for shakedowns. This guy replaced the six rears on a coach, but kept one as a spare. So, I now have 5 of 6 tires for my truck.

No, did not take the Prius, borrowed wife's Avalanche. Turns out, it can only carry 5 of these tires anyway It's a start!

 

[OLDRAAT]

 

[monkeyswrench]

View attachment 1467470

What's so fucky about a redneck borrowing his wife's truck to go get some tires?
Or are you referring to the inverter weirdness in the motorhome?

 

[callbob]

Yes

 

[OLDRAAT]

What's so fucky about a redneck borrowing his wife's truck to go get some tires?
Or are you referring to the inverter weirdness in the motorhome?

The moho, quite the project. I continue to be impressed with your mechanical knowledge on a daily basis.

 

[monkeyswrench]

The moho, quite the project. I continue to be impressed with your mechanical knowledge on a daily basis.

Thank you. To me it's flattering when people say things like that, quite the compliment. Truth is, there are probably a ton of people here that can do this type of stuff. Most of them have other jobs that they spend 40-70 hours a week at, so they have no time to do this stuff. Well, this is my "job". When I moved out here, the goal was to flip cars and build hot rods. Got the shop up, and did some stuff. Life had other plans that didn't quite coincide with mine

Most of that hit the brakes hard two or so years ago. (Just recently started doing some in the shop again...be some updates soon I hope) The more mundane stuff, like wiring repairs and service, pays the bills. It's not glamorous, heck, the last LS I worked on was to patch the wife's ride. It's never boring though. Through the last few years, both from RDP and random word of mouth, I've met some really great people.

Life's different than I'd planned, but it's working out ok I think.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Well, some "unscheduled" medical fukery, but apparently no answers, and a "follow up with your GP" kind of day. Non-wrestling son had some issues which Mom and I feel may have to do with a med change. So, that will be followed up this week...

Between wrestling and other excitement, started working through RV 110v electric. It's, um...interesting. Quickly determined inverters are both toast. Have one, but another new one to match is 1300 or so. Called the one sparky I know that is up on stuff like this, and asked him if an upgrade would be smart. Turns out, better stuff is available, and actually less expensive. So, that stuff should be on it's way soon.

To not get caught up in wait time, bypassed the inverters to run 110v circuits that are meant to run "through" the inverters. Saw this, and said "aw' hell no", and I'm no sparky.

The center is the main, it "feeds" the inverters, then bounces back up to the outers. The wire nut is not a good thing. I'd thought one inverter was bad. This was how the got the fridge working I think. Wired it the way it was from factory, and started checking continuity. One leg was still dead.

Some arc marks and burn pits on the dead side of this breaker. Looked a bit suspicious...
Went to my scan tool, and used it like a tablet. HD has one in stock. Will pick up and continue tomorrow, then see what more stuff I can find. It should be fun!

 

[The Chicken]

Well, some "unscheduled" medical fukery, but apparently no answers, and a "follow up with your GP" kind of day. Non-wrestling son had some issues which Mom and I feel may have to do with a med change. So, that will be followed up this week...

Between wrestling and other excitement, started working through RV 110v electric. It's, um...interesting. Quickly determined inverters are both toast. Have one, but another new one to match is 1300 or so. Called the one sparky I know that is up on stuff like this, and asked him if an upgrade would be smart. Turns out, better stuff is available, and actually less expensive. So, that stuff should be on it's way soon.

To not get caught up in wait time, bypassed the inverters to run 110v circuits that are meant to run "through" the inverters. Saw this, and said "aw' hell no", and I'm no sparky. View attachment 1468967 The center is the main, it "feeds" the inverters, then bounces back up to the outers. The wire nut is not a good thing. I'd thought one inverter was bad. This was how the got the fridge working I think. Wired it the way it was from factory, and started checking continuity. One leg was still dead. View attachment 1468968
Some arc marks and burn pits on the dead side of this breaker. Looked a bit suspicious...
Went to my scan tool, and used it like a tablet. HD has one in stock. Will pick up and continue tomorrow, then see what more stuff I can find. It should be fun! View attachment 1468969

That pitting on the breaker indicates a breaker that has lost it's spring tension-usually due to overheating, typically only seen on breakers that see high loads like air conditioners, hot water heaters, etc. A 50A RV main surely counts as a high load breaker. Interestingly enough, I rarely see this with the old Square D QO style breakers-although to be fair where most of my residential history is Square D panels happen to be a minority.
In any event, check the bussing where that breaker was and adjacent breaker positions for similar pitting-8 times out of ten, the panel bussing gets damaged too. For electrical contractors that love to sell expensive home re-panels, this is usually the beginning of their "You need a new panel-but don't worry we have financing available" sales pitch.
If you do see some pitting, get ahold of me-there are a couple of tricks you can perform if the damage is minimal.
Also, if you have not yet ordered those inverters, get ahold of me-wanna double check a couple things with you.

 

[monkeyswrench]

...and on a different note: The damn Caterpillar has no interest in becoming a butterfly. In fact, Mf'r is still a worm, and pissing me off. The previous week, got the pan back on and sealed up, but ran out of daylight and "oomph". Probably a good thing...

Last week, got oil in her. 5 gallons, from a bucket...no funnel needed. That's kind of cool. Got batteries, got a witness, and a choke plate for the intake. Hit the start...womp!.....maybe a 1/4 rotation, stuck again! WTF?! Had rotated it multiple times in both directions. Pulled the starter, not hung on it. Unstuck it, rotated it back and forward, got tight in a different area, but still rotated through. F' me!

Checked to make sure clutch was releasing, it was good. Put the starter in, put my foot in on the clutch, figuring "maybe?" Hit the starter...it went about half rotation...and really stuck. This time it had no gear train mass slowing it. Well shit...

In the mean time, @The Chicken had got on the innerwebs, and posted to his brain trust on a service truck forum. World wide fixers, guys with service trucks fixing stuff everywhere. He'd posted what had been done and found. They came back with several ideas. All of them center around a bearing or thrust rotating when the starter spins, because that is faster then inching by hand. Also explains why it may spin one direction, but not the other. Basically, pull caps one at a time until it's free.

Guess what I get to do later this week

 

[callbob]

Well boys we might have jumped the shark. Monkeys and Chickens working in harmony. What a brain trust.

 

[monkeyswrench]

It was fun...the weather wasn't bad, mid-30's in the morning. When I arrived, @The Chicken was wrangling cats, or chasing pussy? I don't know and don't ask...plausible deniability

My first order of business was to drain the fresh oil placed in the CAT motor, so I could remove the sump and pan...again. I stuck the funnel into the 5g pail that the oil had come out of, thinking that was the best place to put it. Now, the drain plug on the cat is about 1 1/4". The funnel necked down just shy of that, but I'd poured the oil in and I didn't see an issue. Well, when I poured the oil in, the container had been in a shop, and kept probably closer to 70. Well, it had been quite cold the past week, many nights below freezing. Neat fact, oil holds temperature. Oil is used in some heaters as mass, we use oil coolers to draw heat from equipment...oil has a ton of uses. Oil will get thicker when cold, moves slower, like honey if it's heavy duty engine or gear oil. Oil does not freeze.
This turned into an epic, ecological, and freezing shit show.

Pulled the plug and near immediately overflowed the funnel. It was like pouring jello. somewhat got it under control, holding the funnel out of the pail spout so it could vent, and "throttling" the drain plug. Profanity in at least three languages. That sub freezing oil, felt like burning oil...weird. After that fiasco, it was time to work.

I'd put the pan on with RightStuff. Big believer in it, works really well. The 80lb 12" square oil sump, still needed to be pried off, impressive stuff. Now, this time when I pulled the large portion of the pan, the cookie sheet thing, it had a ton of oil still. The oil fill is towards the front, and apparently the motor is leaning a hair to that corner.

Pulled the rear main with the thrust. Thrust has issues, but not what's holding it up. Pull another cap, looks good. Put those back, snug but not tight, pull 2 more. Also good, not great, but not bad. It had been mentioned to check the oil pump. Since it had to be pulled to check the front few mains anyway. figured now was the time. I told Dan, "It shouldn't be too tough, it's only 4 1/2" bolts". That was stupid...those small bolts hold a heavy pig to the bottom of the motor. Guessing 80-90lbs, oily and awkward. Trying to get it out from the tractor without dropping it in the sand was Twister: Hernia Edition. At that point, all rod caps were easily accessible. So, I wiggled each one. Highly technical and advanced test. They all wiggled...but one. Now, of course that one was at TDC, and I thought it was maybe just the angle. So, tried it with a small prybar. Nope, that's it. Pulled the cap nuts loose, and the cap would not budge. Tapped, smacked, cussed at and begged. Cap would not go. Had been trying to bar over the motor, every main that was pulled. Tried it after pulling the cap nuts, but still stuck. Went back under, and realized I had thrust again in the crank... So, now I figured I had some lateral movement allowed, so the rod cap was releasing a bit. Worked the cap a bunch front to back on the journal, a little looser, but still not coming off. Went back up top, and put the big prybar to the test. It popped free! I went flying again, but it moved! I went under, and sure enough, the cap had popped apart.

The bearings had rolled and stacked. That's why it needed speed I guess. When I'd checked the bearings before, the motor was free, so I only checked one main and one cap. They looked good, and pretty new...I should have checked all of them. I'd wiggle checked them, but only dropped the cap on one...the one next to this one

I did not get pics of the offending bearing and journal. Maybe The Chicken will post them. My hands slimed my phone earlier, so it was in the car. Pinned the pan and the sump back on, and put the starter back in. Keep the elements out for the time being. Fall back, regroup and plan an assault.

 

[The Chicken]

Denise and I had to take three of the ranch cats to town for their vaccinations.
Two of them are champs and take the car ride mostly in stride.
The third cat cries and yells the entire time as if someone was slowly and painfully cutting him open alive.
It’s 50 miles each way to the vet, with that terrible noise coming from the back of the car.
It’s honestly a miracle one of us haven’t pitched that particular cat out of the moving vehicle.
I like Kevin’s description of what I was up to way better, BTW.
Anyway, here’s what the awesome stacked connecting rod bearing Kevin pulled out looked like.

The crank journal was most unhappy too.

This may very well spell the end of the line for the old grader this engine is in, unless we can figure out a way to patch up the bearings and crank while it’s in the grader, or find a really cheap replacement engine.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Denise and I had to take three of the ranch cats to town for their vaccinations.
Two of them are champs and take the car ride mostly in stride.
The third cat cries and yells the entire time as if someone was slowly and painfully cutting him open alive.
It’s 50 miles each way to the vet, with that terrible noise coming from the back of the car.
It’s honestly a miracle one of us haven’t pitched that particular cat out of the moving vehicle.
I like Kevin’s description of what I was up to way better, BTW.
Anyway, here’s what the awesome stacked connecting rod bearing Kevin pulled out looked like.
View attachment 1470753

The crank journal was most unhappy too.
View attachment 1470754

This may very well spell the end of the line for the old grader this engine is in, unless we can figure out a way to patch up the bearings and crank while it’s in the grader, or find a really cheap replacement engine.

Well, here are two of the responses from the heavy equipment guys...makes me wonder what actually goes on in some heavy equipment repairs. Interesting, maybe entertaining, but gives me hope!

 

[bilz]

If otherwise the motor/grader is toast, why not!

 

[4Waters]

Well, here are two of the responses from the heavy equipment guys...makes me wonder what actually goes on in some heavy equipment repairs. Interesting, maybe entertaining, but gives me hope!
View attachment 1470762

I'm wondering if you could use some Crocus (Emory) cloth to clean up that journal. Pics can only do so much in telling us how bad the journal is, touch tells the end of the story

 

[lbhsbz]

I'd invest a little time trying to clean up the crank and measure it...but not much.

This obviously isn't a piece of production equipment at this point in it's life....I'm assuming just for use around the homestead? Torch off what you can of the bottom of the rod, push the piston all the way up to the top of the bore and put a tack weld on the sleeve to keep it there. Pull the rockers/disable the injector for that cylinder and run the sucker on 5. Might work for it's intended purpose.

 

[The Chicken]

Well, here are two of the responses from the heavy equipment guys...makes me wonder what actually goes on in some heavy equipment repairs. Interesting, maybe entertaining, but gives me hope!
View attachment 1470762

You and I actually talked about something like this.
Get it as smooth as possible with an emery cloth, measure it, throw bearings at it and give it a whirl.
Don't have a lot to loose at this point, because either something like that works, or she's done. Unless we find a practically free motor somewhere. And even then, the amount of labor to R&R the engine is starting to get expensive for what this machine is.
BTW, the consensus on the worn thrust bearing is the clutch free play is likely set too tight-or someone rode the clutch constantly- and that pushed the crank towards the damper end of the engine.

 

[The Chicken]

I'd invest a little time trying to clean up the crank and measure it...but not much.

This obviously isn't a piece of production equipment at this point in it's life....I'm assuming just for use around the homestead? Torch off what you can of the bottom of the rod, push the piston all the way up to the top of the bore and put a tack weld on the sleeve to keep it there. Pull the rockers/disable the injector for that cylinder and run the sucker on 5. Might work for it's intended purpose.

Don't think we didn't think about this idea already!

 

[monkeyswrench]

Yes, the 5 cylinder Mercedes farm implement was discussed
The Emory cloth was the next on the list. The issues with that tend to be not "polishing" it in a uniform or concentric manor. I have an idea, that's part redneck and part high end...

The rednecks, myself included, have in the past wrapped the journal in 600, then made 2 passes with one of those wide "thug life" shoe laces. The idea is that kind of compressed the 600 around the circumference of the journal. Then, back and forth on the lace until shiny. That will still not be perfectly uniform...but better.

Once upon a time, I had a customer that did in block crank grinding for heavies. He was old when I met him 20ish years ago. I was hoping his grandson took over, but no. The only outfits that pop up are big time, "we'll fly in" kind of places. Ahhh, nope.

Their equipment and the old timer's were different. He had a drive to spin the crank, and the cutter bolted to the pan rail and followed the journal through it's travel, like an idler arm. The newer stuff, the fly in guys, have a chain drive cutter that wraps the journal, and then driven by a low speed drill, like a HoleHawg.

What I was thinking was a lightly reinforced "backer pad". 9.4ish inches to encapsulate the 3" journal. Neoprene or silicone mat with small rods, like welding rod, inserted to spread the clamping force of the drive (shoelace or whatnot) evenly across the journal. If I can make a drive, say a long bolt with a couple of fender washers tack welded as a "pulley", I could also polish the journal in a single direction, as it's supposed to be.

This is all a work in progress in my head...a little messy, but becoming a bit more refined over the past day or so

 

[lbhsbz]

Don't think we didn't think about this idea already!

Hang a turbo on it to make up for the lost 16hp lol

 

[Nordie]

Emory cloth used to be the way with a set of bearings. I'd bet that the rod is out of round now though.

 

[mash on it]

I've seen a leather belt polish a crank journal to a mirror finish.
Thought I'd throw that out there.

Dan'l

 

[TimeBandit]

I think if the bearing stacked up the big end of the rod took a beating.

So Emery cloth the crank and JB weld the rod bearings in place??

What would they have done in The grapes of wrath?

 

[4Waters]

I think if the bearing stacked up the big end of the rod took a beating.

So Emery cloth the crank and JB weld the rod bearings in place??

What would they have done in The grapes of wrath?

Seen Model A's run on less, so has @monkeyswrench

 

[monkeyswrench]

I've seen a leather belt polish a crank journal to a mirror finish.
Thought I'd throw that out there.

Dan'l

Shh

I've used lapping compound with leather, then toothpaste, then a final with metal polish and terrycloth. The first bit is going to be removing the bearing material from the journal, and see how it looks.

I think if the bearing stacked up the big end of the rod took a beating.

So Emery cloth the crank and JB weld the rod bearings in place??

What would they have done in The grapes of wrath?

If the crank cleans up, and mics out round, can pop bearings in and platigage it...and also see if there's a gap between bearing and cap when pulled. If there is, possibly file the cap faces and suck it upa little tighter. It won't be quick and easy, but I thing doable. The good thing, when it initially stuck, it was at idle. As far as I know, it never completed a rotation with the bearings stacked.

 

[Rajobigguy]

Shh

I've used lapping compound with leather, then toothpaste, then a final with metal polish and terrycloth. The first bit is going to be removing the bearing material from the journal, and see how it looks.

If the crank cleans up, and mics out round, can pop bearings in and platigage it...and also see if there's a gap between bearing and cap when pulled. If there is, possibly file the cap faces and suck it upa little tighter. It won't be quick and easy, but I thing doable. The good thing, when it initially stuck, it was at idle. As far as I know, it never completed a rotation with the bearings stacked.

This.
I think you’re on the right track now. That crank is probably ion nitrited and the bearing surface is harder than the hubs of hell. Once you’ve removed the bearing material it will likely clean up with just a good polishing. If the big end of the rod is deformed it will probably be in cap ( mostly ) so if you were to lap it on the flats you may be able to correct most of that.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Night before last daughter asks when she should change oil in her car. "When the sticker says on the windshield"
Blank stare.
Luckily she wasn't too far over. Problem is, yesterday morning she was going to Kingman to take a test for Arizona DPS. So, guess what I was doing at 7am...when it was 14 degrees.

She said the test was pretty easy. The next part is case study, and a presentation on it at headquarters in Phoenix. We'll see, but she may be starting off in Kingman. Weird, but DPS has room to go up, and offices all over the state. For this position, they have openings in Yuma and Kingman.

 

[ltbaney1]

Night before last daughter asks when she should change oil in her car. "When the sticker says on the windshield"
Blank stare.
Luckily she wasn't too far over. Problem is, yesterday morning she was going to Kingman to take a test for Arizona DPS. So, guess what I was doing at 7am...when it was 14 degrees. View attachment 1472310
She said the test was pretty easy. The next part is case study, and a presentation on it at headquarters in Phoenix. We'll see, but she may be starting off in Kingman. Weird, but DPS has room to go up, and offices all over the state. For this position, they have openings in Yuma and Kingman.

hey at least you got somewhere nice comfy to lay and do it

 

[monkeyswrench]

hey at least you got somewhere nice comfy to lay and do it

I like to call it "prehistoric pebbletech". I got home a little bit ago, and found out she got her callback for the second round of interviews and testing. So, that's a win

 

[TimeBandit]

I've got my 3 daughters trained.

I do your LOFR on the 5's, or don't call me when you have a problem.

Every 5,000 miles. Oil, filter and rotate.

 

[ltbaney1]

I like to call it "prehistoric pebbletech". I got home a little bit ago, and found out she got her callback for the second round of interviews and testing. So, that's a win

hey a win is a win. congrats to both you and her.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I've got my 3 daughters trained.

I do your LOFR on the 5's, or don't call me when you have a problem.

Every 5,000 miles. Oil, filter and rotate.

Well, to be fair, this is the first car she's had that didn't need repairs every 3-5k. Her 83 Chevy usually needed something, then her Saturn Vue was a bit better, but not great. This is her first "big girl" car. This is the Kia that was for sale by an inmate. Not new, but hardly any miles and super clean. My daughter has about doubled the miles on it...it now has 16k on the clock, and not any leaks or seepage anywhere. It was a perfect transitional car to finish college, and get her to interviews.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Played twister and moved stuff around. The original inverters were like bricks, one on a shelf above the other, and then an open area in the top third, which had relays and breakers on both sides. So, reconfigured and rerouted stuff to the rear wall. Yesterday I mounted the cleats, and mocked up the new whizzbang inverters. A little more tweaking, and I think they'll be good.

The coach was missing some hubcaps and hardware. The new stuff is on it's way, but decided to see if I could get the wheels a bit brighter. The one on the right I polished up a bit. Alcoas need to be shiny! One wheel down, 5 to go..

 

[monkeyswrench]

Coughing up a lung this morning, and it's a bit chilly. Kind of on a deadline for RV, so went out and wanted to at least identify a few networking cables. Existing ones should fly for new inverters, but needed to know which was which. Using the same wire tracer deal that has become invaluable on this project, I got started.

I'm sure IT and professionalsguys have a tool for this. I am neither of those, and like to use the tools I have more than buying new ones now. So, for you youngsters, this is a home wall jack. From back in a time phones had cords, and were attached to the buildings. Antiquity... Well, they plug into other stuff, and have terminals. Attach the toner lead, and go inside with the beeper deal. Sorted those out.

Had an issue with masking tape though. Apparently it doesn't like sub-freezing Temps, and screwed with me. The inverters came with a sticker pack, printed on 3M label material

I cut little tabs from the remnant material, and made super sticky tabs.
Right about this time, someone messed with the antenna here in Prescott Valley...it got "staticky"

First snow of the year, really late. Damn Florida people stole it I guess?

So, inside warming up for now.

 

[monkeyswrench]

This morning, got two pics over text from the guy that owns the big motorhome.

At first I thought he sent it by accident, I had no clue what the hell this was. Then my phone rang.
The brass doohicky is a theaded piece, that runs a carriage on some gnarly wood working mill thing (owner is a cabinet manufacturer) Brass piece is stripped. New part unobtainium, and even then, complete teardown of the machine to replace. I am on a conference call with the boss and the maintenance guy. I find out the machine is what I call a money maker. Any tool that basically prints money when running. Down time is bad for everyone.

Que the Jeopardy theme song... I tell them I can draw it better than explain it. Hang up, and sketch a rough idea. Send this a few minutes later:

Messy as hell, but it conveyed my idea. After a few more minutes, I texted my revised idea after reviewing his parts diagram:

Really some bizarre stuff I run into. This isn't anywhere near my wheelhouse. Pretty abnormal in general I'd say. This is also a machine in Alberta, Canada. I hope they get it up and running.

 

[ltbaney1]

now hit him with a "consultation fee" if he is being a pain in the ass about other stuff. if he is cool he will remember you did what you could to pull him out of a jam and make sure you are taken care of.

 

[monkeyswrench]

now hit him with a "consultation fee" if he is being a pain in the ass about other stuff. if he is cool he will remember you did what you could to pull him out of a jam and make sure you are taken care of.

He has to be the friendliest, nicest guy you could meet. If he were a bit younger, I'd try to set him up with my daughter. I've been really lucky when it comes to work I've picked up, through here and word of mouth. Everyone's been great ( with the exception of the 37 Ford guy a few years back. He stiffed me on money...still love the car though).

 

[monkeyswrench]

I sent that to the RV owner. Making headway, but running short on time. The comm wires I traced were crap, damaged where the went through some sheet metal. The joyous part, these wires were put in before the coach was skinned. So, going to have to get real creative...it's gonna suck.

Last week, I did 11 or 12 inspections. That's really good, because the weather was crap. A couple days looked like this:

As you can see, working outside on other people's high-end electrical components wasn't happening.

Remember the Matrix I did the transmission on? The lady is 75, and on oxygen since a bout with pneumonia last year. Driving a stick was killing her. She found a 2wd Saturn Vue for 3k, and it's automatic. She asked if I would sell her car.

Listed it at the end of the week, when the weather was clear. I asked 2700, took 2300. She was figuring it would only fetch 1200 or so, so she was real happy when I dropped off money today.

I'm coughing up a lung, sick as a dog...actually, my dogs never get sick, so that's BS. Leaving to drop of the money, one of my customer/friends called. Asked if I could look at his forklift...and give him some ideas on "something else". No pics, but when I get back here in a few, I'll share a story.

I was cutting onions on the way home from there...

 

[monkeyswrench]

So, I look at the vintage, 30ft Champ forklift. It needs a tuneup something fierce, but the 6cyl flathead Chrysler seems solid. Then we walk over, by his garage. Low and behold, a 2005 Subaru WRX. Sun faded blue, a dinged up quarter panel, mint interior. "So what's the story?" It's his son's best friend, a neighbor kid. He pops the hood, and rodents had eaten every wire...all of them to the plug ends! The guy showing me this,is the same one I did rodent repair on his car not long ago.

Here's where the onions come in. The kid with the car lives with his grandma. A few years back, his father had a massive heart attack and died. He wasn't much older than 30, electrician in Cali, died one morning getting ready for work. His wife, kids mom, went off the deep end. Kid starting high school, different state, both parents gone...he's had a rough go. So, my friend has been helping out. Being a father figure in some ways. The kids father had just bought the car, and I think did some YouTube videos on getting it back together. Kid wants to do it, but doesn't know where to start.

By the time I left, friend had ordered an engine bay harness off of eBay...150$. I told him to keep me updated, and give me a call if they need help.
A lot of people helped and still help me out...

This kid's a nice boy, met him a few times. Had no clue of his story, but I'll be happy to help.

 

[OLDRAAT]

Kindness is always a virtue and you represent it well.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Kindness is always a virtue and you represent it well.

I still feel as I fail on a lot things...so I keep trying.

 

[TomD]

I still feel as I fail on a lot things...so I keep trying.

You are a good man!

 

[monkeyswrench]

F'k electrician stuff! Figured the Canadian wouldn't like cables running in the open, so had to fish new cables in the wall behind the medicine cabinet.

Now, sparky's will know these are fish sticks. I only own these from running rca's and Amp wiring, and not wanting to pull interior....but I have them.

This thing works like the Chinese finger traps from carnivals. As you pull, it grips tighter. The fish sticks are just fiberglass rods, so you can arch them through a hole and down the wall. In my case, shove them down to an access hole I made in the cabinet below, attach ends and grabby thing, and pull up. Sounds easy, but aligning that rod with a 2x2 square 5ft down...not really. Well, not for me anyway.

Since I didn't want to do it twice, I taped the second cable behind the first. Kind of gives it a taper still.

 

[monkeyswrench]

It's 8:45 at night, do you know where your monkey is?

This Monkey is underneath a motorhome, running cables! Owner comes into town next week. I don't want his dune trip to be messed up because of me.

 

[JayBreww]

F'k electrician stuff! Figured the Canadian wouldn't like cables running in the open, so had to fish new cables in the wall behind the medicine cabinet. View attachment 1476086
Now, sparky's will know these are fish sticks. I only own these from running rca's and Amp wiring, and not wanting to pull interior....but I have them. View attachment 1476094
This thing works like the Chinese finger traps from carnivals. As you pull, it grips tighter. The fish sticks are just fiberglass rods, so you can arch them through a hole and down the wall. In my case, shove them down to an access hole I made in the cabinet below, attach ends and grabby thing, and pull up. Sounds easy, but aligning that rod with a 2x2 square 5ft down...not really. Well, not for me anyway. View attachment 1476097
Since I didn't want to do it twice, I taped the second cable behind the first. Kind of gives it a taper still.

I purchased this camera and attached it to my sticks when I run wires through walls. I can then navigate the sticks through existing holes.

Endoscope Camera with Light,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR7MKHF9?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[monkeyswrench]

I purchased this camera and attached it to my sticks when I run wires through walls. I can then navigate the sticks through existing holes.

Endoscope Camera with Light,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR7MKHF9?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Luckily, I don't do much like this...even worse, this thing has 2x2 steel wall studs. All the existing wire headed up or down was in a square plastic band type deal. They were packed, as apparently the ac feeds and a bunch of other stuff ran in them. Nightmare...

 

[monkeyswrench]

Okay, the whizbang inverter controller deal, has what they call a "smart shunt". I think it somehow measures the juice from the battery bank to the load. Honestly, I have no clue. The smart people at NAZ (the solar suppliers to the world...and the Chicken) said I needed it, so it's going in.

Now, the trouble is, the folks that make the equipment, don't make a cable long enough for my layout. Main lug I need to connect to is essentially at the rear bumper, controller is going where the old one was. So, had to get creative...

It's a 4pin, 4 wire deal. So, I cut the cable, and made it so I could run a cat5 cable. Now, I didn't come up with this idea on my own. I went digging through NAZ Solar's forums. Apparently, anything over 30ft can be sketchy, but I'm under that. Apparently people install these units in this configuration in yachts and motorhomes all over the world. Lot's of info, but lot's to dig through as well.

Before I installed it, I checked continuity at all points to make sure I didn't screw up the wiring sequence...none of this is easy to get to later. Also made some big ass battery cables, and installed a main shutoff switch for the house batteries.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I've lit off a lot of motors that were scabbed together with leftover junk. I've hit the button, that may or may not actuate the two nitrous solenoids...on the same crappy engine, in a car with questionable brakes and tires...

I don't think any of those had me as nervous as today. Hell, I was more anxious than a 16yo boy with his date after prom...

Have I mentioned electricity scares me? 12v, no problem...well, until it's massive. This is a herd of 6v batteries, made into a mega 12, wired to stuff that adds a zero, and makes it AC. This is F'n black magic shit.

Yessir, I was sweatin' bullets, like Pops just found the empty bottles and the condom wrapper...

I powered up the system...




Nothing let out the magic smoke! A couple hiccups to work out, but I'm on the right track!

Currently running them just to charge the bank. The batteries were showing 11.9. Haven't been charged since purchased in October. Tomorrow I'll finish fighting with some things and mount everything up.

I'm going to have a cigarette and shot of whisky I think.



Once my pulse calms down...