Garage Gazette

General Category => GENERAL DISCUSSION TO INCLUDE OFF TOPIC => Topic started by: gtermini on May 02, 2021, 12:51:40 PM

Title: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: gtermini on May 02, 2021, 12:51:40 PM
I had a sweet job with the state for about 7 yrs prior to last spring. 3 yrs ago there was a changing of the guard in the admin above my position. A new middle manager was hired that made it up in her head that having a research support machine shop for a large university was a waste of money and building space.

Several attempts to eliminate my position were made, but halted due to large pushback by the research faculty. Then came COVID. The whole place was shutdown in early March. By May, I had a gut feeling I'd never go back to work there. In June my feeling was confirmed by a bullschit phone meeting (as happened to millions of others across the US and world).

 I was pissed, but not surprised. I circled my wagons and laid low for awhile. Odd jobs trickled my way, but nothing serious over about 6 mos. I wasn't hurting, so I just screwed off a bunch mostly. By Christmas, I was beyond bored.

I have a good friend in the heavy equipment repair business. Around February he was was asked to do some extensive repair work on at least 4 623 Cat scrapers. I hounded him to help, and he finally caved. I was initially supposed to just come over and do a little welding on them, but the scale of the project has turned into much more. It's almost more than two guys can do working full time.

So after a few weeks, it was starting to look like Sanford and Son in the barn where the magic happens. I really needed a toolbox, preferably with a crane attached. Working out of the bed of an F250 was getting old. Through the power of CL, I located a beater old 91 topkick about 50 miles away. The price was right and a deal was struck on Friday. It needs a bit of work, but should be serviceable for my needs for a while.

Class 6, so non-CDL. 3116 Cat. 6 speed. Air brakes. 8000 lb 20 ft crane. 3/5 of a gazillion miles. Hardly will do 55 downhill with a tail wind. Earl Scheib overhauled so it looks OK from 50 ft away, but rusty up close. Best of all, no payment book!
(https://i.imgur.com/d3e2UT3l.jpg)

Anyways, here's a few projects....

Floor link rebuild and stiffening. Couldn't get the banana boat bend out, but it clears underneath so it'll run.
(https://i.imgur.com/oVjEXzyl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SCTgHlTl.jpg)

Prepping for new floor scraper wear edges on the ejector
(https://i.imgur.com/WB9fafll.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XOT3Ouul.jpg)

D5 TSK track skidder track frames for complete undercarriage. Miles of cracks and worn trough spots
(https://i.imgur.com/aWfV9oWl.jpg)

The pivot housing had previously been welded, but they just went over the crack. Took a bit of gouging to get the trash out and find the bottom.
(https://i.imgur.com/9kAr2W8l.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rXrlasel.jpg)

15lbs of .052 dual shield later
(https://i.imgur.com/CnyxvyOl.jpg)

Impressed with the milwaukee 1/2 hi torque. Got that roller tighter than a 4 ft breaker bar could. 1-1/2" fine thread.
(https://i.imgur.com/y4BiTogl.jpg)

1st scraper split for a cushion hitch rebuild, another one in the wings.
(https://i.imgur.com/0F4ApY8l.jpg)

Roading one of them out to the shop right through the middle of town.
(https://i.imgur.com/L57wyU6l.jpg)

Broken roller bolts on the D5. Pic represents 4 hrs, but both threaded holes were saved.
(https://i.imgur.com/s8CRfPNl.jpg)
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: slip knot on May 02, 2021, 01:09:06 PM
That service body will come in handy if you keep after the heavy equipment. That crane is a real life saver. I help my neighbor our some and without that crane these two old men just couldn't do it.

BTW, you might want to weigh that truck after you get your tools in it. That CDL may not be far behind.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: DeadNutz on May 02, 2021, 01:21:40 PM
Glad to hear that you are getting along fine after losing the nice gig. It is a shame to see the university research program crippled by a bean counter CEO. I suspect you are in your element though doing the air arcing, grinding, welding and saving pieces that needed your skill to avoid the scrap bin.
I wish you all the best in your new endeavor.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: walrus on May 02, 2021, 05:58:40 PM
Nice work truck. Crane will be a back saver for sure. Don't you have to have a license for air brakes? or maybe its some kind of cert.?
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: goodfellow on May 02, 2021, 06:01:03 PM
Great news and glad you found a new path in your career -- good luck!
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: muddy on May 02, 2021, 07:52:30 PM
Glad you found employment. Keep the pictures coming!

Sent from the twisted mind of the mudman

Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: jabberwoki on May 03, 2021, 06:03:07 PM
You should post up those pix of the old shop you used to inhabit?
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: jeffmoss26 on May 03, 2021, 06:07:58 PM
sweet, best of luck. I am fortunate that the locksmith business continues to be steady...I am constantly busy in the shop and my coworkers are doing tons of service calls and installs!
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: Heiny57 on May 03, 2021, 07:13:08 PM
Good to hear you landed in a good place.   :08:
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: skfarmer on May 03, 2021, 08:08:17 PM
Good for you. Sounds like interesting work.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: gtermini on May 03, 2021, 10:51:33 PM
Thanks for the kind words, guys! I don't think this is my forever gig, but it's something interesting to do in the meantime.

In Oregon, there's no air brake endorsement for non-CDL licenses. Under 26k rigs are basically treated as cars, except with much more expensive registration. They're less on the DOT radar, despite being commercial vehicles.

Jab, I'll see what I can do about old pics.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: fatfillup on May 04, 2021, 10:25:46 AM
Congrats on the new gig.  Have many customers who are self employed in a service truck.  I also know 2 who started out that way and were hired by a customer at at $40 per hour and the company rents the service truck from them.  Works out real well for  an older paid off service truck.  They even pay for the fuel and some of the repairs.

Note , I dislike bean counters too.  They have a way of ruining a good company environment by only looking at dollars and cents. 
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: TexasT on May 06, 2021, 12:14:00 PM
Not real sure what you did before but the new thing looks pretty fun. Way to have a good enough plan that yo it didn't have to take the first thing that came along. If there is one thing certain, it is that nothing it certain.

Truck looks like a real nice rig.
Be safe out there. Doesn't look too safe if something goes wrong. That stuff looks heavy.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: oldnslo on May 06, 2021, 05:26:51 PM
Glad to hear of the transition, and new shop rig. Best of luck with the new gig. I'm digging the repair pics. Keep 'em coming!
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: Lookin4_67GalaxieConv on May 07, 2021, 12:18:54 AM
You've got skills that guarantee you'll never be out of a job. 
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: gtermini on May 07, 2021, 11:36:49 PM
Finally figured out why the parts orders for the D5 undercarriage kept coming wrong. The track frame has been stretched to 8 rollers from 7 somewhere in it life. Joys of finding parts for old junk.  :lol_hitting:

Had a small steel order this week. They're pretty proud of it these days. Not much of a bundle showed up for $500!
(https://i.imgur.com/sZ9ec4Ol.jpg)
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: DeadNutz on May 08, 2021, 09:35:37 AM
Prices are skyrocketing on steel, lumber and other durable goods. My neighbor complained about spending $50 for a sheet of 3/8" plywood a couple of days ago and the wife had to pay $75 per sheet for 3/4 ply this week. I also researched some 2" 4-1/2 threaded rod for her yesterday and about fell out of my chair when I saw the prices.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: gtermini on May 08, 2021, 11:36:19 AM
It's nuts. 3/4 CDX plywood is over $100 a sheet here. My friend that works for a sawmill and timber company said they're making more a week than they used to a month. No sign of things sowing down either.

Used cars are also through the roof. The owner of a large dealership locally told me to seriously consider selling your car outright if you have a 16-18 nicer used model. Then wait 6-8 mos and buy a 20-21 low mile used for the exact same money when the bottom falls out. He said the flood of new cars is 30-60 days out waiting on computer chips.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: Lookin4_67GalaxieConv on May 08, 2021, 06:31:43 PM
What do you think the sales market is like for a 2003 Frontier with 190K on the odometer?!   :))
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: gtermini on May 08, 2021, 06:54:24 PM
Probably better than you'd think...
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: gtermini on June 01, 2021, 10:35:23 PM
Been trying to get the wiring unfuk'd in the topkick. Cut about a 30 gallon trash can of wires to nowhere out. Got some basic functions working as they should again. It's a work in progress.

(https://i.imgur.com/FUbvLhsl.jpg)

Still working on the track frames. About have all the cracks fixed and have them back together.

(https://i.imgur.com/Zi96gcvl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/W5oQ12Kl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/oouM8xHl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rwBH6sVl.jpg)

Cutting the bottoms of the rock guards to put new wear strips on. Tried to cut a couple standing up to counter heat warping, but nothing worked perfect. Close enough for what they are though.

(https://i.imgur.com/ts2WV6kl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ijhRuyFl.jpg)

Line bored the equalizer pivots with a funky setup borrowed from some rock crusher guys. They were originally bare bores, but found some bushings off the swing tower on a 420 backhoe to cut for and press in.

(https://i.imgur.com/3hrvU56l.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/QDfZkCnl.jpg)

Had a 305.5 mini excavator show up with a locked track. They'd been using it as a wheelbarrow to haul scoops of gravel 500 yds up and down the slope of the landfill setting vent pipe. Said it started clunking and didn't make it back to the trailer before locking solid. No reman unit for these, and a new on comes with the integrated hyd motor. All for the low price of $6k. Had it next day luckily.

(https://i.imgur.com/R074wYFl.jpg)
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: john k on June 02, 2021, 08:46:10 AM
Looks like hard, heavy work, but real satisfying when the trashed overloaded iron is fixed and out the door.   Used to be and out of shops that did work on this scale, made my car and light truck work look so puny.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: fatfillup on June 02, 2021, 09:31:37 AM
Looks like hard, heavy work, but real satisfying when the trashed overloaded iron is fixed and out the door.   Used to be and out of shops that did work on this scale, made my car and light truck work look so puny.

Deal with a lot of heavy equipment guys, they measure repair job length in days and and weeks not hours :c029:
Plus repair bills can run in 10s of thousands of dollars

Tough work with varied skill sets required and now with emissions they need to be scanner kids too :91:
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: jabberwoki on June 02, 2021, 08:31:38 PM
Least they`re getting a good job My boy G is no slouch.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: gtermini on July 19, 2021, 10:50:23 PM
Been Busy....

Track frames got finished and mounted with a few minor hiccups. Machine owner said it pulls wood like a freight train now. I think it's going to work on one of the fires.

(https://i.imgur.com/INkhhuUl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yAUxSKOl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/CTzKf36l.jpg)

623E getting a bath before a bunch of work. It's a train wreck and will be back in Oct for extensive work including a hitch. Had broken frames in the back. Trashed steering and can cylinders. Worn floor rails. and plenty more issues.

(https://i.imgur.com/AmY7DoNl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9VK5Wvbl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Cy2GPWwl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hqjbBuXl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/O6x4jjul.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/weMDDuEl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5pKoanrl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/d3O0zkPl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SvY7KXrl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/81Kj9Yil.jpg)

Tightening elevator chain by taking links out.
(https://i.imgur.com/8ddBaTkl.jpg)

Genius having glass on a work light...

(https://i.imgur.com/QCxJ6Xql.jpg)

Got kicked out of the scraper hut so the farmer can store seed until the fall. Hope to be back sooner.

(https://i.imgur.com/YZ4eFwvl.jpg)

Finished the hitch on the 623B and sent it off during the brutal hot 110+ week we had. Hope it stays under 100 the rest of the summer.

(https://i.imgur.com/YYl33axl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/c2gNjZDl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4T2pWPSl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yv7cI7ml.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zZxSIUsl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1Kf74cBl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/KBB5sXpl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7GTOySFl.jpg)

Broke down and bought the milwaukee 1/2 and 3/8 kit. They are insanely powerful. Like snap 1/2 grade 9 cat bolts in a fraction of a second. Being top heavy is the only downside.

(https://i.imgur.com/HKSsYj2l.jpg)

Friend sent these pics of a 320 down for a mud soak in Tulelake, CA. I think they got it out.

(https://i.imgur.com/xjOkaRRl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LbG1i9bl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/doESaaAl.jpg)

Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: muddy on July 20, 2021, 05:40:38 AM
Never get why guys keep trying trying after it's obvious it's stuck....

Sent from the twisted mind of the mudman

Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: walrus on July 20, 2021, 05:49:40 PM
Thats some big equipment with plenty of power to break crap or wear it out. Cool pics
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: slip knot on July 20, 2021, 08:22:48 PM
Looks like the service truck is working out for you. Those cranes are great. I won’t order a service truck without a crane now
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: jabberwoki on July 20, 2021, 08:44:42 PM
Are you enjoying the challenge G?
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: gtermini on July 20, 2021, 09:47:53 PM
I'm not hating it. Working pretty easy hours most of the time and being close to home is nice. It's taken a lot of changing to go from working to the thousandth to ±1 inch on most things.

Service truck is OK. I need to finish a bunch of work on it to make it more useable. And of course, the crane could stand to be double the length and capacity.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: DeadNutz on July 20, 2021, 10:21:22 PM
Glad to hear you are doing well Grayson as I have been wondering. It must be fun cutting out and grinding weld repairs done by a previous person who didn't know how to do it properly. Is the engineering dept at the college missing you?
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: fatfillup on July 21, 2021, 07:30:17 AM
It's taken a lot of changing to go from working to the thousandth to ±1 inch on most things.

I'll bet that does take some adjusting.  A machinist mindset is definitely different then a mechanics. 
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: gtermini on October 19, 2021, 11:17:29 PM
Did a 3406A inframe in another 623B in August. Claimed they had no idea what happened. Came in from a job on a piece of steep ground and the inside of the cab stunk like burned brakes. Turbo wheel had blown up and the pieces were in the charge cooler. It dropped 3 out of 4 valves in #4 and had been chewing on the chunks for more than a few minutes. I make no judgements...

Roughly $15k in parts. Used genuine Cat everything.

(https://i.imgur.com/NBlhA6Nl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/O99vHNul.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dqWO05Ml.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NFlEWL4l.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/BmjLf4ml.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/9rDM9iml.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5hT9JBRl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/8cnVtrRl.jpg)

Learned a $450 lesson about not air arcing towards the back window on the Jimmy  :-[

(https://i.imgur.com/1pyB9EDl.jpg)

Did a rush fix-up job on a stainless conveyor to feed a wine press just before crush. Mounted the hopper and added some stiffeners.

(https://i.imgur.com/NMJZbojl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/46BRKaAl.jpg)

Telehandlers are a giant barrel of suck. Extension cylinder gland nut had backed off and was about to pop out at 1300 hrs. I think the factory guy forgot to torque it.

(https://i.imgur.com/DioFDpMl.jpg)

Did a upper elevator bearing on the machine that got the engine before it left. 30 tons wouldn't push the chain pins out. Had to heat and beat.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ggh53pGl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aAhO5S9l.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/TWaFSURl.jpg)

The Testing Grounds in the pond below the quonset hut

(https://i.imgur.com/WRaUuOrl.jpg)

Built some dike and worked on a pond for a farm. Nice change from twisting wrenches on it.

(https://i.imgur.com/F7Zk9xrl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/JHojFIZl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/6N1Icf7l.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/4uR7GRjl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/igsU8xYl.jpg)

Found a blown out bearing on the bottom of the JD scraper elevator the farmer owns. All obsolete parts. Going to be an extensive winter project.

(https://i.imgur.com/ulyd2KOl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RLfNam7l.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Ma22sXtl.jpg)

Got an orphaned CNC plasma running (sort of) that was given to a friend. He's 78 and was super excited about it as he used to run a commercial burn table at a steel supplier in the 70s. His excitement has quickly faded as he's seen the programming involved to make it move. It isn't the 9 key pad and single line readout his dinosaur machine had.

(https://i.imgur.com/yMvmdBpl.jpg)

Saw this Coastal giant salamander while out mushroom hunting last week.  Found about 5 lbs of chantrelles also.

(https://i.imgur.com/m8izMuUl.jpg)
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: fatfillup on October 20, 2021, 04:13:11 AM
Darn, you have been busy.

Wide skill set needed for what you are doing plus a big investment in tools
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: goodfellow on October 20, 2021, 06:33:23 AM
Darn, you have been busy.

Wide skill set needed for what you are doing plus a big investment in tools

+1 -- very impressed with your depth of projects. That CAT motor looked like a disaster -- good job.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: DeadNutz on October 20, 2021, 08:54:17 AM
Thanks for the update Greyson as I always wonder how you are doing.
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: slip knot on October 20, 2021, 09:14:57 PM
Some impressive projects there.

How do y'all cook them salamanders?
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: gtermini on October 21, 2021, 09:06:51 PM
Some impressive projects there.

How do y'all cook them salamanders?

Sauteed with butter and bacon of course.  :character0029:
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: slip knot on October 22, 2021, 07:55:02 AM
 :)). Everything is better with bacon
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: gtermini on November 16, 2021, 11:36:15 PM
Had some rain over the past couple weeks. Filled the incomplete pond in a hurry and flooded the river. It's back down now.

(https://i.imgur.com/1wz5fxQl.jpg)

Split an IR roller to do the center hitch bushing. Volvo deals parts for them now and the prices make cat parts seem cheap.

(https://i.imgur.com/kB9DDopl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gOPNuTMl.jpg)

Bought a 1944 Axelson 16 X 54 lathe because there was a list of stuff I needed one for. Impressively overbuilt machine by any standard. about 5500 lbs without tooling. Had to go rig it out of the building about 25 miles away. It was at auction from a prune and cherry pitting facility that closed due to owner retirement. I don't think it had been used in 15 yrs. Probably payed way too much, but the circumstances were right.

(https://i.imgur.com/intreDal.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/TS0lWYIl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yAEYdhhl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/KxS67nPl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EU4vaPHl.jpg)
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: walrus on November 17, 2021, 06:26:45 AM
You certainly need the correct stuff to work on the heavy equipment you work on. What are you making with the lathe?
Title: Re: Next Chapter Work Thread
Post by: DeadNutz on November 17, 2021, 08:44:32 AM
Good lathes like that in good condition with tooling don't come up very often. When they do they bring a premium price.