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Post by pat perry on Jul 28, 2018 0:22:35 GMT 9
Whew! Gary, you dodged a bullet on that pump problem. Could have gotten marooned on the water if it seized up or done heat damage to the motor if it over heated.
Great to have the skills to troubleshoot and fix stuff yourself! Even better, you set the time it has to be made operational ready again.
Pat P.
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator 
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
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Post by Bullhunter on Aug 14, 2018 4:58:53 GMT 9
I see nobody has posted in here for a long time. Guess many have lost their maintainer skills. 
This morning was not that relaxing. Tractor brake & clutch broke Friday, so this morning I went to a local lawn & garden business that has lots of junk mowers and tractors. I was able to find the parts I need, and fixed my tractor. After the thunderstorms and rain, with the sun we are now getting the grass will start growing. Got to have the yard tractor ready. While there, and taking the break off the tractor's transmission I noticed the frame looks just like mine, which is damaged. So in a few weeks I'll go get this junked tractor frame with the engine missing and have me a winter project. I'll strip that frame of all parts, do some corrosion control treatments, and then switch over all my equipment/parts. On those chilly, rainy, snowy, days this winter I'll have something to keep my busy in my shop for awhile. Woodstove for heat, radio, and coffee close by makes it all good, plus the dog hangs out with me also.
BTW, I was lazy and hired a Tractor Mechanic to replace the brake assembly, and it lasted only 2 weeks. You know if you want something done right you almost usually have to do it yourself.
  
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
Location:
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Post by Bullhunter on Dec 26, 2020 3:00:50 GMT 9
I guess as a young 3 level I was pretty well a good maintainer from spending time on family farms. Grandparents, Uncles, and cousin all had dairy farms and I assisted in lots of machinery repairs. Learned to pay attention to detail.
My first assignment out of jet engine tech school was Norton AFB, CA working C-141's. I was working with a 7-Level SSgt and it was about Christmas Time. I'd been on base as of Dec 2, 1972. We were removing and replacing a fuel control on a TF-33 jet engine on a C-141, but I don't remember which engine.
We had the defective fuel control almost off when the new one arrived. The SSgt told me to unbox it which I did and he then told me to pull the protective plastic plugs which I did. Next he asked me to helped him drop the fuel control to the ground as they were fairly heavy. As we pulled the fuel control a small 1/4 inch nut fell and bounced somewhere. We set the old fuel control on the ground and the SSgt started search the ground for the nut. I told the SSgt that the nut had bounced and went inside the inlet port of the new fuel control. I don't think he believed me as he shook it upside down a few times and then said its not in there and we would get another nut when the truck came around. I made a comment that I know its in there. He replied, "I shook it and it did not fall out." He decided to press on and install the new fuel control anyway and told me to help lift it up. Being very new and following orders I helped. As he started to secure it I said, "What will happen when fuel pressure from the fuel pump pushes that nut deeper into the fuel control ?" He paused for a few seconds looking at me and I started to worry I was in-trouble for raising questions. He then said, "OK lets drop it and shake it more." We did and he shook it & shook it and then that 1/4" nut fell out. He then asked, "How did you know it was in the fuel control ?" I replied, "I saw it fall and watched it bounce into the fuel control inlet." He thanked me and we finished the job on time. After that we became good friend and he had me to his home for dinner several times. About a year later he got out of the USAF. I still got invites to his home until he moved away.
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Post by Jim on Apr 3, 2021 11:03:29 GMT 9
At 68 years old I think I still got my skills.  Still have my humor.
Damn, been busy most of yesterday and today. Belinda's package arrived two days ago by Fedx and I asked where mine was. He said that's all. I said, " I know you have a big shipment for me." He just climbed back in his truck. No since of humor or conversing with a customer. The next day he drove up and carried a big package to me. I chuckled and said, "I told you there was another package for me." He just got back in his truck. The man is void of character and any since of humor. After he left I thought to myself, I should have had him carry it to the door. There is always next time or I'll request UPS shipment. Yesterday after he left I assembled the de-thatcher and now waiting for some dry weather to try it out. Have lots of moss and I hope this gets it out.
I have a regular FEDEX driver that is outstanding. Rings the big dinner bell to let us know he is there. Most of the time I can catch him and he will put it in the lift for me to bring it upstairs. Name is Cody. |
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Post by LBer1568 on Sept 15, 2021 2:27:11 GMT 9
This picture shows the MA-1 "Yellow Barrel" Test unit. I went to factory school in Baltimore MD for this advanced testing unit. This was one of the first RADAR/IR test sets using digital removable memory disks. Prior to this tester we had no way of testing RADAR/IR tracking capabilities along with many other self test/certification capabilities. Working on this unit at Tyndall was a challenge. The removable disk was not a sealed unit and the high salt air was corrosive to disc. So how did we fix it? We took disk out and washed it with brush and blow dried it before reinstalling it. The barrel rolled up and over Radome and had alignment marks so it was accurate to test MA-1 capabilities. It created a Target, both for RADAR and IR and we could test tracking features as the target would move around physically to test alignment and tracking. It would also electronically change range for radar by changing time for radar return and change IR range by varying the intensity of heat source. We could also test the missile/Genie with the Barrel. Overall, just like MA-1 System, it was years ahead of other system. I also was responsible for training others in it's proper use. But I didn't have to train on it's maintenance. We had 4 of us go to Factory school. Two from F/L and two from Mock-up. Lorin  |
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
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Post by Bullhunter on Jan 5, 2022 11:00:06 GMT 9
Last week got stuck and my truck would not go into 4 wheel drive. The next day and all week the 4 wheel drive worked. Took it to the dealer today and they checked it out. Took awhile for them to get it to fail and it was some type of engagement motor down on the transfer case. Part is $300 and $200 to change it. Plus having the transmission fluid changed along with its filter. The dealership said they can't remember ever having a defective one and having to change it out. Its nice to have funds and just say fix it. I pick it up tomorrow. Never changed out one so they did not stock it.
I still have my maintenance skills, but getting too lazy to use them at times.
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Post by Diamondback on Jan 5, 2022 11:26:31 GMT 9
L ast week got stuck and my truck would not go into 4 wheel drive. The next day and all week the 4 wheel drive worked. Took it to the dealer today and they checked it out. Took awhile for them to get it to fail and it was some type of engagement motor down on the transfer case. Part is $300 and $200 to change it. Plus having the transmission fluid changed along with its filter. The dealership said they can't remember ever having a defective one and having to change it out. Its nice to have funds and just say fix it. I pick it up tomorrow. Never changed out one so they did not stock it.
I still have my maintenance skills, but getting too lazy to use them at times.And some of these new things aren't worth wrenching on yourself... like some GM models have the fuse box setup where you have to tear the entire vehicle apart around it to get to it. This is why I'd rather stick to "pre-electrocrap" vehicles that I can tear down in a home garage and rework to incorporate technology as *I* see fit... like repositioning things to make them more maintenance accessible like the very common mod on '80s Camaros/Firebirds to relocate the battery into the trunk. (Which also helped improve the factory 57/43 weight distribution and put more weight on the drive wheels...) It's funny, I grew up in the Electronic Age and have my face in a computer screen most of the day, and yet I still think this digital stuff is some kind of black magic and prefer things that I can disassemble and see how the moving parts interact... |
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Bullhunter
Global Moderator
318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
Currently: Offline
Posts: 7,445
Location:
Joined: May 2005
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Post by Bullhunter on Jan 6, 2022 2:43:25 GMT 9
L ast week got stuck and my truck would not go into 4 wheel drive. The next day and all week the 4 wheel drive worked. Took it to the dealer today and they checked it out. Took awhile for them to get it to fail and it was some type of engagement motor down on the transfer case. Part is $300 and $200 to change it. Plus having the transmission fluid changed along with its filter. The dealership said they can't remember ever having a defective one and having to change it out. Its nice to have funds and just say fix it. I pick it up tomorrow. Never changed out one so they did not stock it.
I still have my maintenance skills, but getting too lazy to use them at times.And some of these new things aren't worth wrenching on yourself... like some GM models have the fuse box setup where you have to tear the entire vehicle apart around it to get to it. This is why I'd rather stick to "pre-electrocrap" vehicles that I can tear down in a home garage and rework to incorporate technology as *I* see fit... like repositioning things to make them more maintenance accessible like the very common mod on '80s Camaros/Firebirds to relocate the battery into the trunk. (Which also helped improve the factory 57/43 weight distribution and put more weight on the drive wheels...) It's funny, I grew up in the Electronic Age and have my face in a computer screen most of the day, and yet I still think this digital stuff is some kind of black magic and prefer things that I can disassemble and see how the moving parts interact... Yep, wish I still had my 1966 plymouth Sattalite or my 1967 Camero RS. Both would be better. |
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Still have my humor.
