A very busy Saturday...
I was up just after 6am this morning, not being able to sleep any further. I had a lot of things that needed to be done, and I just wanted to get them done and over-with. The main thing was to repair two machines dropped off here on June 02: A roto-tiller and a string-trimmer. As I mentioned in the last entry, I was very surprised to find out I had lucked out and ordered parts in time for them to ship them out that day, so I wound up getting the parts yesterday instead of Monday as I had been expecting. It took a few hours, but I got both of the machines working properly, and called the customer to let her know they were ready. She'll be coming by tomorrow to pick them up and pay for the service.
A third machine that I tried to work on was more severely damaged that I thought. The customer had mentioned something about damaging the flywheel key, but that he'd fixed it but now it was running rough, or something. Well, I couldn't get the thing to fire up at all, and when I checked there was no spark. No Spark = Bigger Problems. I got the covers off the engine, and removed the starter-cup and nut that held the flywheel in place. That's when I discovered that I don't have a fly-wheel puller that's compatibile with Tecumseh engines, and I found out what the problem was. The customer wasn't kidding about the damaged fly-wheel key, but he sure as heck didn't "fix" it. The key is shorn off, and the flywheel is about 120 degrees out of place! I'm going to need to order a new key, and a fly-wheel puller (and/or Fly-Wheel Knock-Off Tool) to fix this.
I still have the Sears garden tractor to fix as well, and I should have called the customer about that, but I simply forgot and ran out of time. I also forgot to stop to eat this afternoon! I'd had a simple balonga sandwich for a quick breakfast, went out and fed the critters, and then gotten to work on the various engines. I didn't stop again until it was well past 8pm! I had a light supper of another simple sandwich, and a bowl of chicken-noodle soup.
Didn't get anywhere with the Upper-Link on the tractor's 3pt hitch. The JD dealership had a generic one for $35, but it had one end that was Class 1, and the other was Class 2. I needed one with Class-1 on both ends, but they didn't sell the end sections separately. So, I bought a second link, thinking I could just swap the ends around. Well, you can't. I should have realized, and the parts-guy at the dealership definitely should have realized, that the threads on the two ends are reversed! That way, when you rotate the centre shaft, it either screws-in or screws-out both ends at the same time. Now I have two upper-links that are totally useless to me, and it's safe to bet that the dealership will have a re-stocking fee if I try to return them (or at least one of them.) Trixstir and I are going to Swift Current on Tuesday, so I'll stop at the Peavey-Mart and see if they have the parts I need. At this rate, if we manage to get a garden in this year it will have to be things that grow and mature quickly. :/
Both the Dog and the Kidling were being a pair of idiots today. As far as trixstir and I are concerned, they're both lucky to still be alive after the kind of crap they pulled today. 'nuff said about that. :P
I'm surprised and somewhat amused by how similar the family is to Shrek: I'm like Shrek, Trixstir is like Fiona, and the Kidling is a lot like Donkey - Loud and annoying! ;)
Tomorrow will be spent getting the rest of the floor down in the Living Room. I just hope John actually shows up this time.
A third machine that I tried to work on was more severely damaged that I thought. The customer had mentioned something about damaging the flywheel key, but that he'd fixed it but now it was running rough, or something. Well, I couldn't get the thing to fire up at all, and when I checked there was no spark. No Spark = Bigger Problems. I got the covers off the engine, and removed the starter-cup and nut that held the flywheel in place. That's when I discovered that I don't have a fly-wheel puller that's compatibile with Tecumseh engines, and I found out what the problem was. The customer wasn't kidding about the damaged fly-wheel key, but he sure as heck didn't "fix" it. The key is shorn off, and the flywheel is about 120 degrees out of place! I'm going to need to order a new key, and a fly-wheel puller (and/or Fly-Wheel Knock-Off Tool) to fix this.
I still have the Sears garden tractor to fix as well, and I should have called the customer about that, but I simply forgot and ran out of time. I also forgot to stop to eat this afternoon! I'd had a simple balonga sandwich for a quick breakfast, went out and fed the critters, and then gotten to work on the various engines. I didn't stop again until it was well past 8pm! I had a light supper of another simple sandwich, and a bowl of chicken-noodle soup.
Didn't get anywhere with the Upper-Link on the tractor's 3pt hitch. The JD dealership had a generic one for $35, but it had one end that was Class 1, and the other was Class 2. I needed one with Class-1 on both ends, but they didn't sell the end sections separately. So, I bought a second link, thinking I could just swap the ends around. Well, you can't. I should have realized, and the parts-guy at the dealership definitely should have realized, that the threads on the two ends are reversed! That way, when you rotate the centre shaft, it either screws-in or screws-out both ends at the same time. Now I have two upper-links that are totally useless to me, and it's safe to bet that the dealership will have a re-stocking fee if I try to return them (or at least one of them.) Trixstir and I are going to Swift Current on Tuesday, so I'll stop at the Peavey-Mart and see if they have the parts I need. At this rate, if we manage to get a garden in this year it will have to be things that grow and mature quickly. :/
Both the Dog and the Kidling were being a pair of idiots today. As far as trixstir and I are concerned, they're both lucky to still be alive after the kind of crap they pulled today. 'nuff said about that. :P
I'm surprised and somewhat amused by how similar the family is to Shrek: I'm like Shrek, Trixstir is like Fiona, and the Kidling is a lot like Donkey - Loud and annoying! ;)
Tomorrow will be spent getting the rest of the floor down in the Living Room. I just hope John actually shows up this time.