TIL: Today I Learned...

[Ranger850]

Today I learned what a "flotation" tire is.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

TIL not to use electrical cleaner on my styrene electrical connectors. I watched the plastic disintegrate in my hand. It was like in the movies when the mummy turns to dust.
The yellow pieces on the ground are what's left.

 

[Lefty]

I spent most of my weekend driving the Ranger both on the interstate and through a number of side rtreets in the Chicago suburbs. I saw a lot of cars and newer pickups. I may have seen one or two recently made generation 4 Rangers, but I did not see another older Ford Ranger the whole time.

There are plenty of them where I live in Saint Paul. This is, after all, where many were made. So, today I learned that older Rangers are becoming rather rare.

 

[Curious Hound]

TIL not to use electrical cleaner on my styrene electrical connectors. I watched the plastic disintegrate in my hand. It was like in the movies when the mummy turns to dust.
The yellow pieces on the ground are what's left.

Wow.do you know what brand connector that is? Looks like an Anderson Power Pole connector. I thought they were better quality than that.

On the other hand, your electrical contact cleaner did a wonderful job of cleaning all that pesky plastic away from the electrical contacts.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'd have to look to be sure, I recall CEC.

 

[Snoranger]

Wow.do you know what brand connector that is? Looks like an Anderson Power Pole connector. I thought they were better quality than that.

On the other hand, your electrical contact cleaner did a wonderful job of cleaning all that pesky plastic away from the electrical contacts.

That’s definitely an Anderson style connector… it may be an off brand version of it.

 

[superj]

that is crazy that it ate up the connector like that

 

[sgtsandman]

Low grade Chinesium was used when that connector was made.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I spent most of my weekend driving the Ranger both on the interstate and through a number of side rtreets in the Chicago suburbs.

Everyone knows you don't go near Chicago on the weekend... or any other day. If it's hot outside... they tend to shoot each other with higher frequency.

News said this morning... "at least" 25 shootings. Which means they have no idea how many.

 

[Lefty]

Everyone knows you don't go near Chicago on the weekend... or any other day. If it's hot outside... they tend to shoot each other with higher frequency.

News said this morning... "at least" 25 shootings. Which means they have no idea how many.

Good point.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

TIL why using heat on a bolt works. When heat is applied the metal expands in all directions. It is constrained by the hole so can expand only lengthwise. When the bolt cools it shrinks in all directions, so now its looser in the hole.

Also pictured are some methods of removing broken bolts.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Man... I had forgot about this thread.

We need to keep this one busier.

I learned... AGAIN... that I shouldn't put things off til tomorrow. Cause ya never know when the wife is coming home a day early!

 

[Rick W]

TIL there is a TIL thread. Not much else…

 

[Lefty]

I consider myself lucky. I've never had to use heat on this Ranger, even on the suspension. The worst was removing the bolts that hold the pickup bed to the frame. I used repeated applcatons of WD40.

 

[pjtoledo]

TIL (actually it was yesterday) that the traction control on a 2011 Buick Lucerne must be de-activated when using a mini spare tire.
the system recognized the small tire was spinning faster than the rest and slammed on the brakes for that wheel. it was smokin' in 3 miles.

pulled over to cool off and checked the owners manual, no mention of it under either spare tire or TC.