What bill?
What are you working on today?
- Thread starter Amkeer
- Start date
Yes
Only if you remove the y-pipe yourself. We don't know how to work on rusty cars out here!
Just curious if your department bills for responses.
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
Put new rear wheel height adjusters on a nephew's cheap Bolens push mower. The spring-arm parts weren't holding anymore. Used universal brackets from eBay and and had to drill a hole in each bracket to match them to the deck spacing.
Gotcha, no ours does not unless it's an extreme situation requiring a ton of foam or something like that. We are a fire protection district and are funded by a portion of property tax revenue rather than being membership based. It's kind of the best of both worlds guaranteeing a steady/predictable income every year that is enough to fund the department operations while not needing any full time staff. I feel for the membership based departments that have to operate on a few thousand dollars a year in membership dues and hoping to receive payment from non-members when something happens.
We do provide staff for a large special event in the area that happens every year and the venue compensates the department for providing trucks and personnel.
The funding we receive is enough to operate on but we rely heavily on financing when a large equipment purchase is needed, often from larger regional departments who will allow us to make yearly payments with no interest. Otherwise, for brush and wildland firefighting equipment the Missouri Department of Conservation provides a ton of equipment to small departments. They are a lifesaver for many depts.
Well, had one of those days. So, I went and did some string trimming at the end of the driveway and then brought out my old 2000 Polaris Magnum to pull the Swisher brush mower.
So, of course, as I start, the mower is shaking violently. One of the blades was seized and of course was a pain to free up. I dead lift the deck and prop it up with a 4x4.
Then, almost done the mowing and my quad is puking coolant everywhere. The stupid key switch (only power on/off) in the headlight pod Came undone, which kills power to the electric rad fan. So of course, low speed, tight turns, caused it to heat up. So I get some tools, fix that, now the handle bar switch wont work. I mess with the two wire harnesses but no dice.
Turns out the red kill/starter switch is acting up. The one I replaced a year or more ago. I'm going to burn the thing, most likely.
So, of course, as I start, the mower is shaking violently. One of the blades was seized and of course was a pain to free up. I dead lift the deck and prop it up with a 4x4.
Then, almost done the mowing and my quad is puking coolant everywhere. The stupid key switch (only power on/off) in the headlight pod Came undone, which kills power to the electric rad fan. So of course, low speed, tight turns, caused it to heat up. So I get some tools, fix that, now the handle bar switch wont work. I mess with the two wire harnesses but no dice.
Turns out the red kill/starter switch is acting up. The one I replaced a year or more ago. I'm going to burn the thing, most likely.
Besides working on the Chevy gave the 8n a tuneup. Just plugs and wires, the cap looks old but is brand new. Seems to have a narly sound now. Did some troubleshooting on the oil pressure gauge, getting oil just a bad gauge. Think the rpm/hour meter is ok just a bad cable. I’ll just get all new gauges eventually.
Been out road tripping since Wednesday. In Walcott IA the last couple days for the Truckers Jamboree. Visited John Deere Pavilion in Moline and got to watch the locking process at Lock 14 in Le Claire IA. Honestly catching a tug boat here has been the highlight of the trip so far-I’ve never seen this process before. Headed to the Michigan UP tomorrow to see some lighthouses and a couple state parks possibly. Later in the week I’m going to tour the Soo Locks.
Reboxed, Beck-Arnley cabin filters for the above. Filters manufactured by BNX TruFilter in Houston, TX. Hopefully these will fit the filter frame. ~$20/ea. Yeah, I forgot about the 5% discount. I need to up my game, especially when it covers part of the shipping costs.
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
Finished filling the X3 Trans with VRP ATF. Got interrupted by the not forecast rain yesterday. Easy peasey since the fluid temp required is 85F to 125F and the ambient temp is 85F. Just fill until it runs out, crank her up, continue filling until it runs out, put it through the gears, top off and plug it. None of that graduated beaker, magic measure, say the magic words and pray toward Germany bologna people lose sleep over.
Finished up the big turbo install and low pressure fuel pump upgrade and began gathering parts to add MPI to the GTI. This thing will be spicy after the tune is customized to the specific parts that have been added.
Everything got a bath this morning. RV still has some mold need to work on but got the moss off the 8n. Like to wash the new tractor after brush hogging. The old farm rig had alot of mud in it.
Worked on leveling one of the mowers decks. Guessing something is bent, measuring didn’t get it close at all, same procedure worked fine on the other. Its close enough and not digging in the ground at least.
Got the 4 big and one smaller stump dug out. All done finally. Now to fine tune the mini-ex.
Worked on leveling one of the mowers decks. Guessing something is bent, measuring didn’t get it close at all, same procedure worked fine on the other. Its close enough and not digging in the ground at least.
Got the 4 big and one smaller stump dug out. All done finally. Now to fine tune the mini-ex.
Forgot to share a side project from work: coworker asked me if I could replace the blower motor in his 2012 Focus because he had no interest in shoving himself under the dashboard 
For those not aware: replacing the blower in this particular generation Foci requires pulling the glove box, the ENTIRE BCM/fuse panel and it's bracket, the air recirc. door and it's actuator (that's held in place by 3 blind, tiny T25 screws), and finally twisting and removing the blower from inside the HVAC case. Re-installation takes two people working from both sides of the dash and a large dose of patience. Luckily, I tackled this on a muggy 90 degree day which helped immensely. On the flip side: book time pays 3.1 and I had it knocked out in a little over an hour using only hand tools. Still got it!
This guy did a great video, if anyone is curious: Focus Blower Motor Replacement
For those not aware: replacing the blower in this particular generation Foci requires pulling the glove box, the ENTIRE BCM/fuse panel and it's bracket, the air recirc. door and it's actuator (that's held in place by 3 blind, tiny T25 screws), and finally twisting and removing the blower from inside the HVAC case. Re-installation takes two people working from both sides of the dash and a large dose of patience. Luckily, I tackled this on a muggy 90 degree day which helped immensely. On the flip side: book time pays 3.1 and I had it knocked out in a little over an hour using only hand tools. Still got it!
This guy did a great video, if anyone is curious: Focus Blower Motor Replacement
I was asked to replicate this stamping die (bottom). I warned her I wouldn't be able to harden or heat treat but she insisted that's fine due to the nature of this process and material (I dunno so taking her word for it).
It's been awhile since I pulled out my radius gages (top) and hand filed a radius.
It's been awhile since I pulled out my radius gages (top) and hand filed a radius.
Wow, the in-dash/under-dash lighting work in that vid is incredible.Forgot to share a side project from work: coworker asked me if I could replace the blower motor in his 2012 Focus because he had no interest in shoving himself under the dashboard
For those not aware: replacing the blower in this particular generation Foci requires pulling the glove box, the ENTIRE BCM/fuse panel and it's bracket, the air recirc. door and it's actuator (that's held in place by 3 blind, tiny T25 screws), and finally twisting and removing the blower from inside the HVAC case. Re-installation takes two people working from both sides of the dash and a large dose of patience. Luckily, I tackled this on a muggy 90 degree day which helped immensely. On the flip side: book time pays 3.1 and I had it knocked out in a little over an hour using only hand tools. Still got it!
This guy did a great video, if anyone is curious: Focus Blower Motor Replacement
I have not done this particular job but I promise you it would have taken me six hours because I'm just that good.
I *almost* had to do the heater core in the previous gen Focus (2009) which requires complete dash (and usually front seats) removal. They sold the car before we got there, and I can't say I was upset.