What did you do today?

[The Metal Butcher]

Dad and I started to take apart an MF40 backhoe to fix his MF40 backhoe. Jury is still out what parts get moved to what tractor. What that matter, what makes the tractor? Gonna be so much of one going into the other. Or maybe both to make a new one?

[Bob Engelhardt]

Last year I started a repair on my '52 MG, but I didn't finish it until today (story of my life). I had all the pieces saved, except one of the last screws was too short. I must have used the long-enough one somewhere earlier. No problem, I figured, I have lots of screws in my collection. Except this one was 1/4-26 (BSB - British Standard Bicycle). After considering a number of options, I did this:



The pieces are soldered, but not just by their butts - there's a 1/8 spine running through them. Solder should be more than strong enough - there's not much tension on this screw.

[ChazzC]

Replaced one of the rodent traps by the outside door: the old one had bloody grey fur & bones stuck in it.

[Tim Clarke]

Replaced one of the rodent traps by the outside door: the old one had bloody grey fur & bones stuck in it.

Sounds like some other creature got a free lunch!!

[Richard P Wilson]

Last year I started a repair on my '52 MG, but I didn't finish it until today (story of my life). I had all the pieces saved, except one of the last screws was too short. I must have used the long-enough one somewhere earlier. No problem, I figured, I have lots of screws in my collection. Except this one was 1/4-26 (BSB - British Standard Bicycle). After considering a number of options, I did this:



The pieces are soldered, but not just by their butts - there's a 1/8 spine running through them. Solder should be more than strong enough - there's not much tension on this screw.

What you've got, from a 1950s MG will almost certainly be British Standard Fine (BSF), although its dimnsionally the same as a 1/4" British Standard Brass (BSB) which is also 26TPI. BSB isn't British Standard Bicycle. Cycle threads are BSC, British Standard Cycle, and yes there is a 1/4" x 26TPI one of those as well, but be aware that BSC threads are a 60 degree thread form, not a 55 degree thread form like most other threads of British origin, including British Standard Whitworth, British Standard Fine and British Standard Brass.

Unless you are super picky, 1/4" BSF, 1/4" BSB and 1/4" BSC threads will interchange as far as basic fasteners go.

[Bob Engelhardt]

What you've got, from a 1950s MG will almost certainly be British Standard Fine (BSF), although its dimnsionally the same as a 1/4" British Standard Brass (BSB) which is also 26TPI.
[...]

You clearly know much more about it than I do. My knowledge is from a quick Googling, knowing the diameter and pitch. Revisiting that Googling, I see that BSB isn't foremost. I dunno ... brain fart, I guess. Thanks for the enlightenment.

[Richard P Wilson]

No worries. I've grown up with the vagiaries of the UK's thread systems. Trouble is that those of us who are familar with it are all getting old and dying off.

[ChazzC]

Sounds like some other creature got a free lunch!!

I guess I shouldn’t have tried being cute: the lump was attached to the head that was inside the trap mechanism.

The real funny part is that three days before the trap was empty - I know because I looked at it when I opened the door so the Terminix guy could do his annual inspection of the basement.

[ChazzC]

Semi-annual HVAC system check is first thing tomorrow, so I had to move the mobile bandsaw chest, Shop Vac cart and miscellaneous mobile storage out of the way:


Clear path to the door (in an emergency I can get out in less than 30 seconds, but doing it neatly so I can move freely takes a little longer).



Can still walk around the core storage & utility area, just can't do any work.



Per the service techs, this is sufficient space for what they need to do (it is normally only about 24" wide).

[danlb]

Two successes today.

First success was prompted by the fact that I forgot to buy catsup at the store this weekend. This coincided with the ripening of our tomato plants in the garden. I picked a couple of pounds of Early Girl tomatoes and added a couple cups of Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes. I added appropriate spices and flavorings and during a whirl in the food processor. Nothing was measured, I just added the balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, sugar, etc to taste. The taste was good but it was too thin. After 30 - 40 minutes of cooking it was down to 1/2 of the original volume. It was also just the right consistency. I wish that I had written down the recipe. Hienz is just not going to be satisfying after the home made one.

Second success was prompted by the sudden death of our fancy 8 year old microwave oven. It had strange symptoms, so I looked up possible causes and several were of the "replace the fuse" or "replace the thermostat" category. Given the 50% chance of success, I opened it up, checked all the components that I could. No joy. I did, however, have power where it was supposed to be. I resorted to my favorite last ditch effort. I reconnected all the parts of the wiring harness that carried power or that were connected to the safety switches (door, overheating, etc). That fixed it.

Now to head to the store in 106 degree weather. Sigh. Can't win them all.

Dan

[Dave C]

I fought a thirty minute battle with corroded D cell batteries stuck in a Mag-Light flashlight. No amount of banging the tube on a wood block would get the things to move. I don't know what to try next but so far not so good.

[NiftyNev]

Buy a proper flashlight.

[mklotz]

I fought a thirty minute battle with corroded D cell batteries stuck in a Mag-Light flashlight. No amount of banging the tube on a wood block would get the things to move. I don't know what to try next but so far not so good.

Try drilling a hole in the middle of the bottom of the exposed battery and inserting a long deck screw. Use something like a gear puller to pull on the screw.

Vinegar may help to dissolve some of the corrosion. However, my experience is that the batteries swell when they leak and nothing can budge them.

In the future, use Energizer batteries. They leak far less often than Copper tops or the cheapies.

[eKretz]

I fought a thirty minute battle with corroded D cell batteries stuck in a Mag-Light flashlight. No amount of banging the tube on a wood block would get the things to move. I don't know what to try next but so far not so good.

If the batteries are Energizer or Duracell try dialing them on the phone or going to their website next. They will replace your flashlight if their batteries leaked and damaged it.

And they ALL leak, every brand these days. Another item that went to crap after production moved overseas. I have recently found a couple old electronics items sitting in a box that still had the batteries in since about 2001. One set of Energizers and one set of Duracells. Neither had a hint of leakage or corrosion at all. All the batteries said "Made in USA" on the side.

[ChazzC]

If the batteries are Energizer or Duracell try dialing them on the phone or going to their website next. They will replace your flashlight if their batteries leaked and damaged it.

And they ALL leak, every brand these days. Another item that went to crap after production moved overseas. I have recently found a couple old electronics items sitting in a box that still had the batteries in since about 2001. One set of Energizers and one set of Duracells. Neither had a hint of leakage or corrosion at all. All the batteries said "Made in USA" on the side.

I've converted most of my flashlights to LED's which seem to help, and use Lithium batteries in the small ones that don't get much use (longer shelf life and haven't ever had one leak).