What did YOU do today?

[97RangerXLT]

Drove back from KY. traffic was not too horrible.

While I was in KY I went to Georgetown and saw the oldest in use bridge (c. 1789) and the birthplace of bourbon.

AJ

 

[Betty White]

Washed n waxed, then fell asleep

 

[Bgunner]

Squirt had his first official vet visit yesterday. He had an appointment for last week but there was a car and motorcycle accident right in front of the vet office that the police shut that section of road down. As we were on our way we got a call from the vet telling us the appointment had to be canceled.

Squirt has gained about 8lbs. since we got him and now weighs 18lbs. Other than the normal poop sample coming back positive he is healthy and energetic. We gave him his last dose of parasite killer last night so we wait a month for another sample to be tested. Because of this both dogs can not poop in the same area because Major may get them. Squirt needs to be brought out front where Major can just run out in the back yard.

Major is doing better with Squirt and not pawing as much but right now we need to be helicopter parents when they are together which can get a bit exhausting. Keeping them separated is a job in itself as Squirt climbs gates and pretty much tries to go where he wants as soon as you turn your head. This is nothing unexpected from a puppy so all is well.

Here are some other shots of Squirt:

Like a typical puppy he's up your butt at all times.

Hoping that the pics bring a smile to someone's day.

 

[scotts90ranger]

last weekend I finally stripped the metal off the 3 wood orchard ladders I've had just sitting around for almost 8 years (I think $20 auction find the wife wanted, used for wedding décor...) that were well beyond their lifespan, they've just been leaning against the tractor lean to with reed canary grass and a grape plant making a mess... Anywho, the grape is now nearly unsupported so tonight I started making brackets to mount to the shed out of angle iron to bolt to the 4x4's. So far I've extracted two 3' long strips of 2" angle, of course reused... had some nasty black paint that was sticky and melty with the wire brush on the grinder. I thought it would be good to follow with the flap disc which of course plugged up but then I found a neat trick, turned that grinder on and used the other grinder with a wire brush on and cleaned the flap disc up , worked great!

 

[racsan]

Mowed right after work & decided to go get a pizza for supper. Took my escape & it did its thing where it felt like the road was very rough, I was on a backroad but its a road I drive every work day so I knew it wasn’t just the road. Its done it a time or two before but it was worse, and it didn’t want to stay in overdrive either. I did have the a/c on and there was a few minor hills but when I got into town for the pizza I noticed I would slow down automatically when I let off the gas. It was better when I got home but thought Id check brake/hub temperatures. Everything was normal but right front wheel had blistering paint. A year ago I had issues with the other front caliper so Ive placed a order for some parts. I didn’t bother about a rotor the last time but this time I think I will, new pads again and of course a caliper & flex hose. And right before the monthly mortgage payment is due. No tractor parts for me this week or next I guess!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

last weekend I finally stripped the metal off the 3 wood orchard ladders I've had just sitting around for almost 8 years (I think $20 auction find the wife wanted, used for wedding décor...) that were well beyond their lifespan, they've just been leaning against the tractor lean to with reed canary grass and a grape plant making a mess... Anywho, the grape is now nearly unsupported so tonight I started making brackets to mount to the shed out of angle iron to bolt to the 4x4's. So far I've extracted two 3' long strips of 2" angle, of course reused... had some nasty black paint that was sticky and melty with the wire brush on the grinder. I thought it would be good to follow with the flap disc which of course plugged up but then I found a neat trick, turned that grinder on and used the other grinder with a wire brush on and cleaned the flap disc up , worked great!

Fireball Tool did a thing comparing ways to clean up flap disks...

 

[scotts90ranger]

My brother got his irrigation pump in yesterday but the pump was making a bad noise and asked me to help today... got over there and the business end bearing on the motor was going out. We were initially hoping something had gone up the suction pipe but nope... we got the pump back out and started looking into it and apparently NAPA had the bearings in stock... I mean three times more expensive than online but we were able to do it today so worth it... Given it was intimidating since neither of us had taken apart a 7? hp electric motor and pump but everything did come apart fine, even went back together and even worked amazingly... would have been nice if it didn't take like 7 hours but it would be much quicker next time...

During this I was able to take the '97 Ranger on some spirited field driving, was much smoother at 30mph than at 15... good ol TIB .

 

[Maritime Drag Racing]

Finalized my "To Do" list for the 2025 race season list this AM and it's pretty short so I'm not in a panic yet - there's still 54 more days to get a couple of days worth of upgrades / maintenance done to this pain in the ass....

EDIT: Actually got the two biggest changes done already - new rear leaf springs and relocated lower shock mounts.

 

[sgtsandman]

I got most of the fluid and brake work done on the 2014 Escape yesterday but a rear caliper spring broke (with the end still in the caliper, of course). I got the the spring out and got new ones from O'Reilly's after breaking a couple punches, and having to go get new ones. So, the caliper is back on the car and ready to have the brake line bled and the cleaning, lubing contact points, and reassembly can be done.

While I was out getting the other stuff, I also picked up a low profile ratchet so I can get at the drain/fill plug on the rear differential. Ford sure does love to make things more difficult than they need be when it comes to differentials...

Oh, and it looks like the turbocharger oil return line sprung a leak (thus why the oil pan bolt was so dang tight). So, I'll have to take care of that at some point. $110 from a dealership. Slightly less at Rock Auto. Amazon has them for $88.

The car needs to get back together so Jessica can drive it to Cleveland tomorrow. So, the oil line can wait. Apparently the previous owner drove it for a while like that and didn't know what the fix was, so dumped it.

Oh, and a few of us met up at Jerry's Curb Service for an enjoyable meal and company, and to freeze our butts off because, PA weather.

 

[Blmpkn]

Finalized my "To Do" list for the 2025 race season list this AM and it's pretty short so I'm not in a panic yet - there's still 54 more days to get a couple of days worth of upgrades / maintenance done to this pain in the ass....

EDIT: Actually got the two biggest changes done already - new rear leaf springs and relocated lower shock mounts.

View attachment 127211

54 more days!? Jeeze.. hang in there.

My local track opens up next Saturday.. can't wait.

 

[Blmpkn]

Whelp.. 'ranger sunday' was mostly a bust thanks to some smoked step drill bits and my forgetting to bring a piece of steel with me for my 2nd patch

Oh well, progress is still progress! Next weekends labors will be much more fruitful.

 

[racsan]

decided to work on the tractor today, pull top plate to upgrade hydraulic cylinder piston, drop pump out the bottom to put a new releif valve in & get all the old oil out, The oil looked really bad, might of been older than I am, found that the control arm to the pump valve is badly bent somehow, haven’t been able to source a new one. It did work before, just mainly wanted to change the oil & put a couple of new parts in. Might get it all back together before the escape parts come in.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Started out the day going to an auction with my mom, found some tools nothing big but definitely worth the $51 I paid... in the middle the wife called and said the stupid cat drug a rabbit into the house, somehow about half the size of the cat, bleeding everywhere of course... I ducked out early to salvage some of the day after losing most of yesterday but I grabbed a pickup tool from the shop and was able to corner the rabbit and get it outside .

After that I jumped on the mower and got some of the taller stuff I've been leaving since there were a lot of daisy's in it (why not, the bees should have liked it) and went until the wind picked up then jumped on the tractor and moved some dirt with the box scraper. Then I painted the grape trellis things, I'll install them tomorrow then probably get pictures.

 

[sgtsandman]

The Escape got finished yesterday. Rear differential gear oil got sucked out and new oil put in. The first 4 ounces had quite a bit of glitter in it but cleared up with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th (I had to use my brake bleeder since my other fluid extraction tools would work).

Drove the thing to get the transmission up to temperature, pulled it in the driveway, removed the driver's front tire so I could let the excess ATF drain out, caped it off after it got to a slow drip, and put the wheel back on. Next oil change, I'm going to do the transmission again. The fluid that came out the inspection/fluid level hole was still pretty brown. This thing was definitely owned by a "I've never had to do anything to it but change the oil" type person.

At least the brakes looked pretty new, even if they weren't lubricated correctly. Too much on the pad contact points and absolutely nothing on the slider pins. Not to mention the caps for the rear pins were missing.

I also smelled antifreeze while checking the transmission fluid level. So, I'll eventually have to investigate that.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

After putting it in the barn for safekeeping while we were gone... I decided to wash my F-150 on my way to work.

Vultures decided to start roosting in there while we were gone...