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What did YOU do today?


Rick W

Lil Big Rig
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Age
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Atlanta
Vehicle Year
1997 1987
Make / Model
Ranger XLT x2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 & 2.9
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
97 stock, 3” on 87
Total Drop
N/A
Tire Size
235/75-15
My credo
Never put off ‘til tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely
I struggled if I should put this in what did you do today or what did you do to your Ranger today. “Do“ implies that you got something done. That really didn’t happen. And what I did to my Ranger, was I put over 35 miles on it going to the office depot that’s 3.8 miles from my house.

I have a beautiful HP 7740 printer. 11 x 17 all in one print, scan, etc. It’s absolutely gorgeous. It doesn’t print, but it’s a real beauty. I need the 11 x 17 for my engineering work.

When I bought it several years ago, coincidentally, there was an HP rep in the store when I went looking. When asked about using remanufactured ink or refilling the ink, he said “HP doesn’t like it, but you can do it.“. So I bought it. I’ve been very happy with it for the first four or five years.

Then HP started doing updates that have nothing to do with the functionality of the printer, they are to defeat the aftermarket ink cartridges, which are 1/3 the cost of the HP cartridges, and there is no discernible difference in the quality of the printing.

Up until a week or 10 days ago, I could push a few extra buttons, and the remanufactured cartridges would still work.

Side step, I bought a new computer/laptop because my old one kept choking on “not enough storage.” I had it about a month and a half and still hadn’t changed my stuff over, so I bit the bullet and went to the computer store and they changed everything over and set it up for $150. Money well spent.

While they were doing it, they looked at the memory in my old computer which I want to keep and use for a sign cutting machine for graphics for my toys, and they said it really didn’t have a problem with the memory, but almost 40% of it was HP stuff. When they took out everything except the actual printer drivers, the old machine worked fine.😖😖😖

I hooked up the new one to the HP printer, which was working fine with remanufactured cartridges a week ago, and I got an error message.

In the last two days, I have bought about $150 in genuine HP cartridges, and I have spent almost 6 hours on tech-support on the phone. Lincoln got to ride around in the truck, but on the fifth trip, he was a little bored. And now all the cartridges appear to function properly except the red cartridge. And I did get another red cartridge and swapped it out.

IMG_3692.png

If you look at the top, you’ll probably immediately realize that this call was incredibly swift because I had already learned a lot of the system from the previous two phone calls.

I firmly believe, if I spend enough money, in the next two or three days, I will be able to print a single sheet of paper.

🤬🤬🤬

If not, I think I’m going to put my big toe and granddaddy‘s vice and crank it until it’s flat as a sheet of paper while I put a salty pretzel in my eye as deep as my ear. It will take less time, be less painful, and just as productive.

Later tonight, I’m going to see if I can rig something to reach inside and clean the printer side contacts for the red cartridge…..
 
Last edited:

alwaysFlOoReD

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Yep, I'm having a similar problem with my laser printer.
 

pjtoledo

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I struggled if I should put this in what did you do today or what did you do to your Ranger today. “Do“ implies that you got something done. That really didn’t happen. And what I did to my Ranger, was I put over 35 miles on it going to the office depot that’s 3.8 miles from my house.

I have a beautiful HP 7740 printer. 11 x 17 all in one print, scan, etc. It’s absolutely gorgeous. It doesn’t print, but it’s a real beauty. I need the 11 x 17 for my engineering work.

When I bought it several years ago, coincidentally, there was an HP rep in the store when I went looking. When asked about using remanufactured ink or refilling the ink, he said “HP doesn’t like it, but you can do it.“. So I bought it. I’ve been very happy with it for the first four or five years.

Then HP started doing updates that have nothing to do with the functionality of the printer, they are to defeat the aftermarket ink cartridges, which are 1/3 the cost of the HP cartridges, and there is no discernible difference in the quality of the printing.

Up until a week or 10 days ago, I could push a few extra buttons, and the remanufactured cartridges would still work.

Side step, I bought a new computer/laptop because my old one kept choking on “not enough storage.” I had it about a month and a half and still hadn’t changed my stuff over, so I bit the bullet and went to the computer store and they changed everything over and set it up for $150. Money well spent.

While they were doing it, they looked at the memory in my old computer which I want to keep and use for a sign cutting machine for graphics for my toys, and they said it really didn’t have a problem with the memory, but almost 40% of it was HP stuff. When they took out everything except the actual printer drivers, the old machine worked fine.😖😖😖

I hooked up the new one to the HP printer, which was working fine with remanufactured cartridges a week ago, and I got an error message.

In the last two days, I have bought about $150 in genuine HP cartridges, and I have spent almost 6 hours on tech-support on the phone. Lincoln got to ride around in the truck, but on the fifth trip, he was a little bored. And now all the cartridges appear to function properly except the red cartridge. And I did get another red cartridge and swapped it out.

View attachment 122395
If you look at the top, you’ll probably immediately realize that this call was incredibly swift because I had already learned a lot of the system from the previous two phone calls.

I firmly believe, if I spend enough money, in the next two or three days, I will be able to print a single sheet of paper.

🤬🤬🤬

If not, I think I’m going to put my big toe and granddaddy‘s vice and crank it until it’s flat as a sheet of paper while I put a salty pretzel in my eye as deep as my ear. It will take less time, be less painful, and just as productive.

Later tonight, I’m going to see if I can rig something to reach inside and clean the printer side contacts for the red cartridge…..
have you tried online searching, HP forums?
 

Rick W

Lil Big Rig
Supporting Member
Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
Joined
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Messages
3,470
Reaction score
6,234
Age
69
Location
Atlanta
Vehicle Year
1997 1987
Make / Model
Ranger XLT x2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 & 2.9
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
97 stock, 3” on 87
Total Drop
N/A
Tire Size
235/75-15
My credo
Never put off ‘til tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely

Brain75

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Joined
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Location
Colorado
Vehicle Year
1990
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Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Tire Size
215/70R14
HP used to do their own tech support in house, one of their support sites was the Ft Collins CO facility. I'm pretty intimately familiar with HP printers and I will say their last decent printer was when Techtronix was still in business. They were trying to compete with the Techtronix Phaser printer (photo quality) - we are talking 1995 ish... everything they have ever made since is crap, no better than anyone else's cheap made in china fast and "low cost".
 

Blmpkn

Toilet enthusiast
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Location
Southern maine
Vehicle Year
2023
Make / Model
Ford Bronco
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Engine Size
2.3
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2.5"
Tire Size
285/75/18
My credo
Its probably better to be self deprecating than self defecating.
1000000282.jpg
1000000283.jpg


Unboxed my TwEECer yesterday 🤗

Not a lot of stuff for quite a bit of money lol.

The control unit itself, a couple cables, and a 5 position knob to switch between tunes.

I won't be messing with the tuning myself.. I'll be paying the folks who put the kit together for remote tuning once I pick up a laptop. I bought the fancier RT version that allows for a wideband and data logging since some sort of forced induction seems like a potential down the line aways...

The kit isn't model specific for anyone curious.. it'll work on any Ford EEC setup from 84-04.

Excited. Gotta get a laptop now.
 

alwaysFlOoReD

Forum Staff Member
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Location
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Vehicle Year
’97, '06
Make / Model
Pontiac, Dodge
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
2.2,5.7
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Started working on the base of my new to me lift. It was bolted to 2 concrete anchors outside for who knows how many years. All but 2 bolts broke when removing. Lots of rust to be dealt with. And.... The temp is dropping to -18C for the weekend. Ahh well, its been sitting waiting for a year already, what's another few weeks? 🤬

IMG_20250116_151713701.jpg
IMG_20250116_151723059.jpg


On the right of the deck is the base I'm talking about. I can rebuild.... But I don't like grinding and welding when its that cold out...
 

JoshT

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1999
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Engine Type
V8
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
View attachment 122419View attachment 122420

Unboxed my TwEECer yesterday 🤗

Not a lot of stuff for quite a bit of money lol.

The control unit itself, a couple cables, and a 5 position knob to switch between tunes.

I won't be messing with the tuning myself.. I'll be paying the folks who put the kit together for remote tuning once I pick up a laptop. I bought the fancier RT version that allows for a wideband and data logging since some sort of forced induction seems like a potential down the line aways...

The kit isn't model specific for anyone curious.. it'll work on any Ford EEC setup from 84-04.

Excited. Gotta get a laptop now.
What you using that on? Keep us updated on how it goes. I've got a SCT X4 to use for the 99. Original plan was to go Moates, but when they closed up shop I went with the SCT that I've used successfully in the past. If I get into changing things much or trying to tune myself I may switch over to TwEECer.

Started working on the base of my new to me lift. It was bolted to 2 concrete anchors outside for who knows how many years. All but 2 bolts broke when removing. Lots of rust to be dealt with. And.... The temp is dropping to -18C for the weekend. Ahh well, its been sitting waiting for a year already, what's another few weeks? 🤬

View attachment 122458View attachment 122459

On the right of the deck is the base I'm talking about. I can rebuild.... But I don't like grinding and welding when its that cold out...
I probably aught to consider going that route. I want a shop and a lift. I could get a used lift, a pad poured, and a carport put up over it for a lot less and a lot quicker. We don't get freezing and snow like that around here, so a few tarps could work for closing it in during bad weather.
 

Blmpkn

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Location
Southern maine
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2023
Make / Model
Ford Bronco
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Engine Size
2.3
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2.5"
Tire Size
285/75/18
My credo
Its probably better to be self deprecating than self defecating.
What you using that on? Keep us updated on how it goes. I've got a SCT X4 to use for the 99. Original plan was to go Moates, but when they closed up shop I went with the SCT that I've used successfully in the past. If I get into changing things much or trying to tune myself I may switch over to TwEECer.



I probably aught to consider going that route. I want a shop and a lift. I could get a used lift, a pad poured, and a carport put up over it for a lot less and a lot quicker. We don't get freezing and snow like that around here, so a few tarps could work for closing it in during bad weather.
I'm putting it in my '96.. which was SUPPOSED to be a winter beater.. but relatively quickly started to identify as some sort of restomod "race truck" lol.

Big things for that little truck this year I hope, fingers crossed.
 

superj

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ranger edge
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182 ci of tire shredding power
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2WD
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-2
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2, so far
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My credo
drives a stick shift ranger
Put up some of that prefab metal fence from lowes to let the dog be able to get on the porch to the shed.

20250118_145920.jpg
 

Rick W

Lil Big Rig
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Age
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Location
Atlanta
Vehicle Year
1997 1987
Make / Model
Ranger XLT x2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 & 2.9
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
97 stock, 3” on 87
Total Drop
N/A
Tire Size
235/75-15
My credo
Never put off ‘til tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely
For you younger guys who are just getting started. Every time I see one of you guys get a lift, whether it’s new or ancient, ready to go or a rebuild, I drool.

When I originally built the garage/shed of miracles in the backyard, it was basically a relatively normal two car garage, except it was about 4 feet wider and about 6 feet deeper, with a tiny bathroom (5’ x 30”?) in the corner (commode, and a laundry tub).

It was 90% done when I got hit with the Dunwoody tornado. Giant pine tree came down the corner. When we fixed it, I added 20-25 feet off the back. I used that to store what was left of my furniture and stuff until we could rebuild the house which took over a year. I built it 9‘8“ clear on the inside. If I went over 10 feet I would’ve had to use two by sixes for the wall.

I have very few regrets, but excellent hindsight like most folks. If I had it to do over, when I did that extension, I would’ve raised the roof to about a story and a half or a story and 3/4. On one side I would’ve built a little heated storeroom/office. I would’ve probably stubbed the bathroom up there as well.

But on the other side, I would’ve done it with a clear path upwards. Not having the head room is the only reason I didn’t get a lift 20 years ago. I can’t imagine how much I have spent on shops for stuff I could do myself, and/or how many busted fingers and elbows working on my back. I bought the right hand muffler and exhaust pipe for the town car for less than $80, and I’ve got to take it somewhere and probably spend 150 or 200 to have them put it in.

The bathroom downstairs has a 220 V wall heater. It could take the bathroom from freezing to 90° and under five minutes. That was the minimum allowed by code. I’ve used five dollar portable space heaters from Goodwill almost since I’ve had it. I have two in there, set it slightly different temperatures, so if one dies the pipes still won’t freeze. And I check it regularly in the winter time.

Another tip for the do it yourselfers. I cruised through the local Hvac supply regularly after the thing was built, and I looked at their junk pile. Twice I found whole house HVAC units that were in pretty good shape, but not exactly what I was looking for. The third time I found a horizontal 115,000 BTU Furnace with the squirrel cage. It was missing two relays and the main gas valve, but they let me take it. Of course I bought the relays in the valve. When I checked it out electronically on the table, the squirrel cage was rubbing the side of the sheet metal box. So I think somebody bought a new furnace because there friendly HVAC guy told him it was shot because of a $2.50 bearing. But I was wrong. There was nothing wrong with the bearing, it was just a little bit out of alignment.

When my house was one story, it had a 95,000 BTU furnace. I put in dual units when I added the upstairs. That 115 in the shed of miracles will heat it up to a comfortable 60 or 65° on a 20° day in about 30 minutes. The garage is not insulated, and I only run it when I know I have to be out there on a very cold day. It’s the best free furnace I ever got.

Rick’s story time, hope it helps somebody
 

Rick W

Lil Big Rig
Supporting Member
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Age
69
Location
Atlanta
Vehicle Year
1997 1987
Make / Model
Ranger XLT x2
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 & 2.9
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
97 stock, 3” on 87
Total Drop
N/A
Tire Size
235/75-15
My credo
Never put off ‘til tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely
heaven and hell…

Oh, and I jinxed myself. One of the torsion springs on my 16’ x 8 steel insulated million pound garage door broke right in the middle. I know that door sounds crazy after the way I just described slapping my garage, but some rich guy bought that $2,200 door (1998), didn’t like it, and I bought it from the door company scrap pile for $600. Everything was still in the boxes.

I got a replacement spring at the local “real” hardware store, the 80 year-old place that has everything in two sizes in three colors.

I spent a few hours cleaning the front of the garage out today, so I have a place to put the ladder for replacing the spring, and I had an epiphany!

For me, heaven is going to be having a garage with everything I need, with everything where it belongs, with plenty of space and nothing in the way, etc., to do a project that I WANT to do.

Hell is pretty much what I’ve got now. I have a garage with plenty of space, with everything I need, but it’s so messy, there’s no place to work and I can’t find anything, and the only projects I have is crap I HAVE/HATE to do!

🤬😂🤬😂
 

97RangerXLT

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Anderson, IN
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Make / Model
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Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
31"

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