What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[ekrampitzjr]

my little red ranger will be hitting the junkyard with my son today. he said that was his plan for today when we were messing with putting the hardtop on the wrangler yesterday afternoon

I assume you mean to get parts and not to junk the Ranger, right?

 

[superj]

yup, parts hunting. not parting

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So I ended up going in search of a set of valve spring retainers and locks. I remember taking them off the one cylinder that I messed up the valve springs and I remember saying that they needed to be put somewhere safe so they wouldn’t get lost. Well… I can’t find them now. I searched up at my buddy’s garage at least three times and around home at least three times. A little haha funny, the destroyed valve springs are still exactly where I left them at my buddy’s garage. Had I not tried to be smart maybe the retainers would still be sitting next to those. The little old parts store that I ended up at in my quest was able to supply me with the retainers and locks for the one pair of valves for $5. Used, but they look brand new. Also, I came across something else there…

 

[sgtsandman]

So I ended up going in search of a set of valve spring retainers and locks. I remember taking them off the one cylinder that I messed up the valve springs and I remember saying that they needed to be put somewhere safe so they wouldn’t get lost. Well… I can’t find them now. I searched up at my buddy’s garage at least three times and around home at least three times. A little haha funny, the destroyed valve springs are still exactly where I left them at my buddy’s garage. Had I not tried to be smart maybe the retainers would still be sitting next to those. The little old parts store that I ended up at in my quest was able to supply me with the retainers and locks for the one pair of valves for $5. Used, but they look brand new. Also, I came across something else there…

You'll find them after the engine is back together and you no longer need them. Never put anything away so you don't lose them! They ALWAYS GET LOST!

 

[Vindictus]

I stopped to see if my motor arrived yet it's here

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

You'll find them after the engine is back together and you no longer need them. Never put anything away so you don't lose them! They ALWAYS GET LOST!

Probably. Yet another reason why I need my own garage for working on stuff. They are probably keeping the 2.9l intake I can’t find company. I was going to see if there’s still an EGR block off plate on the spare 2.9 intake…

 

[sgtsandman]

Probably. Yet another reason why I need my own garage for working on stuff. They are probably keeping the 2.9l intake I can’t find company. I was going to see if there’s still an EGR block off plate on the spare 2.9 intake…

I "relocated" parts bags from work so I can tie the hardware to the part they belong to or write on the bag tag what they belong to. It prevents lost parts 90% of the time but isn't fool proof and I can make a pretty good fool.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I "relocated" parts bags from work so I can tie the hardware to the part they belong to or write on the bag tag what they belong to. It prevents lost parts 90% of the time but isn't fool proof and I can make a pretty good fool.

Oh, I’ll do things like threading bolts back in to holes when I take something apart and whatnot. I’ll put stuff into containers, cans, etc and store it nearby or organize it in cardboard “trays” like beer comes in. Part of the problem I’m fighting is that some things get worked on at home and some at my buddy’s. I have no good, handy place at home to put things, so they get put in vehicles, under tarps, in the garage or house (the garage here has dad’s ‘79 F-150 and stuff for the house and my stuff is largely unwelcome because there really isn’t any room left), down at my property, or in my shed.

It’s usually not a huge problem, just a largely annoying one when I’m actively working on a particular project. But remember, I tore into the green Ranger, ran into problems, had the red Ranger blow up and pulled it down by my green one to hurry up and fix up, then returned to the green Ranger project just in time to end up with concussions and another delay. So any resemblance of organization went out the window long ago. I get pissed off every time I open the cab or bed of my green Ranger and get confronted with a massive pile of parts and tools. I’ve tried to keep most of the stuff that doesn’t belong out of there, but there’s still stuff that got put there because I didn’t have anywhere else to put it.

 

[Blmpkn]

Worked on the green Ranger. Our wonderful Harbor Freight Titanium welder that has had considerably less than two spools run through it, suddenly decided that it wasn’t going to feed hot anymore, but will run cold feed just fine. I’m betting some inner circuitry fried.

Ran up to my buddy Paul’s and borrowed his little welder. Fought with it for an hour, broke the weld at least a dozen times before the last broken bolt finally unscrewed. Tried it on the one broken bolt for the trim plate on top the intake but wasn’t having any luck. Not all that worried about that one right now. Aside from drinking a couple gallons of water, that was all that got accomplished. At this rate maybe I’ll have it back together for next summer.

Hot feed? Cold feed? Learn me on this. I just bought the Titanium 140 a few weeks ago, Ill be pissed if it burns up in 2 spools.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Hot feed? Cold feed? Learn me on this. I just bought the Titanium 140 a few weeks ago, Ill be pissed if it burns up in 2 spools.

Hot feed would be when you pull the trigger to weld, since the gun is then energized, it’s “hot” and feeds the wire out. I opened up the top cover and when you pulled the trigger the wheel would twitch and act like the wire was jammed in the liner or tip. So naturally my first inclination was to check that stuff, especially since the tip had some buildup. Cleaned that up and still no go.

Scratched my head, then reached in the top cover and hit the “cold” feed switch, which is for feeding a new spool of wire through the liner and out the gun. Since it feeds quickly (basically max speed) and doesn’t energize the gun, it’s “cold”. My tap on the cold feed switch promptly kicked a couple inches out of the gun. Pulled the trigger a couple times and got nothing. Tapped the cold feed and it zinged out more. Pulled the trigger and nada. So it’s not a liner or tip problem, it’s a hot feed problem.

Just talked with someone else today who had one burn up in less than one spool of wire. I’m gonna say I’m done buying their junk. Eff China and Harbor Freight.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Just noticed we are on page 420…

 

[Blmpkn]

Hot feed would be when you pull the trigger to weld, since the gun is then energized, it’s “hot” and feeds the wire out. I opened up the top cover and when you pulled the trigger the wheel would twitch and act like the wire was jammed in the liner or tip. So naturally my first inclination was to check that stuff, especially since the tip had some buildup. Cleaned that up and still no go.

Scratched my head, then reached in the top cover and hit the “cold” feed switch, which is for feeding a new spool of wire through the liner and out the gun. Since it feeds quickly (basically max speed) and doesn’t energize the gun, it’s “cold”. My tap on the cold feed switch promptly kicked a couple inches out of the gun. Pulled the trigger a couple times and got nothing. Tapped the cold feed and it zinged out more. Pulled the trigger and nada. So it’s not a liner or tip problem, it’s a hot feed problem.

Just talked with someone else today who had one burn up in less than one spool of wire. I’m gonna say I’m done buying their junk. Eff China and Harbor Freight.

Damn that sucks. @scotts90ranger I'm pretty sure Is who turned me on to the Titanium welders... he's had good luck with his for years and years so I didn't bother buying the extra warrantee lol.

When was your welder purchased? When was the other one that burnt up purchased? Mabey there was a bad batch of components or something. What model welder?

 

[Roert42]

I’ve never bought something from harbor freight that hasn’t broke at the worst time. They even managed to screw up making jack stands.

One job tools is the best I hope for.

That being said, check your wiring from the switch on the stringer. Try and bypass it, could be something simple like that.

 

[Blmpkn]

Mabey I'll just open this ones box, return it, and get the warrantee for my replacement lol. I think 3 years was like 90$..

Mabey the 90$ will prove to be a waste of money... but its certainly better than having to fork over another 450 -__-

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Damn that sucks. @scotts90ranger I'm pretty sure Is who turned me on to the Titanium welders... he's had good luck with his for years and years so I didn't bother buying the extra warrantee lol.

When was your welder purchased? When was the other one that burnt up purchased? Mabey there was a bad batch of components or something. What model welder?

I had heard good things when we got it. It’s the Flux 125. Probably 2-3 years old. Got it for doing exhaust or fixing mower decks and whatnot. I have an older Lincoln PowerMig 200 that takes 44# spools for my heavy welding. Plus oxy-acetylene and an ancient Lincoln AC-225 stick welder.

At this point, I’m probably going to take a stab at fixing the HF junk, but I’m gonna start looking for a Lincoln. #weldred