Ready to learn

[mikea]

Hi all. I'm what could be called a shade tree mechanic. Always looking for new ways to get things done. I do as much work on my Silverado as I can. I also have a motorcycle that I do all the wrenching on. I have found a lot of good ideas herre and look forward to trying some out.

[Frank S]

What kind of shade tree do you have lol

[mikea]

Hi Frank and thanks for reply. I guess nowadays trees in most towns are not very big or lacking of shade. I jave a portable shed for my bike i park in and big enough to work in except for truck. I do manage to get things done that i can do without a lot of "special" tools. Their are a lot of good ideas on here that i would like to try.

[Frank S]

The reason I asked was because in my day I have preformed a number of under the shade of a big old tree repairs. Just last week I rescued a Ford 755 Backhoe that the guy who owns it told me if I could get it running I could borrow it basically for now on, from the clutches of certain death. It had been parked under a huge old Elm tree for more than 5 years. After checking and adding to all of the fluids and airing up all of the tires I connected 2 batteries to it, and NOTHING. Going directly to the starter only yielded a loud buzz. With limited tools on hand I Pulled the starter only to find that the drive was frozen solid to the armature shaft I spent half an hour freeing that up then tested it before reinstalling BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ SO I tore deeper into it Pulled the brush plate off only to find everything corroded another hour cleaning this time it worked put it back on tried to start the tractor again It turned over but no matter of fussing cussing and fiddling was going to make this diesel bust off Finally I pulled the side of the injection pump off to find the rail was stuck. I got that freed up and put back together Try to start 1 more time 5 minutes later I was driving it out of the woods
My buddy with me said I always knew you were a closet shade tree mechanic

[mikea]

Spent 15 years in a rock quarry and a few of them as a mechanic. Got fairly familiar with diesel engines. Not bad yo work on just bigger. Rule of thumb was for a previously running machine 2 things would keep it from running. 1 is air and other is fuel. Kinds liked tearing one down and rebuilding it. Don't know if i could do that now. It's been 20+ years since i did that kind of work.

[Frank S]

Spent 15 years in a rock quarry and a few of them as a mechanic. Got fairly familiar with diesel engines. Not bad yo work on just bigger. Rule of thumb was for a previously running machine 2 things would keep it from running. 1 is air and other is fuel. Kinds liked tearing one down and rebuilding it. Don't know if i could do that now. It's been 20+ years since i did that kind of work.

I hear you. This is kind of a baby machine for me as well. years ago I would be happy as a fat hog at a full slop trough just sitting with 5 other guys hard face welding for months on end on the same bucket or crawling down the bore of a giant hydraulic cylinder to build up and polish out gouges that had been left there when the piston came in contact due to bad seals.