How to Fix Stuff

[Bronze]

It's part of the inner tub and looks like cast aluminum

Yeah, that's the drive block. Not uncommon for that thing to crack. I believe I had changed mine on an old Kenmore I had years ago. Not uncommon for the drive tube itself to break around those ears that sit in the drive block. Again, not a show stopper repair. As far as I'm concerned, there are no show stopper repairs on these older top load agitators (DIY or hired). Worth every penny to keep repairing them.

And for the record, my wife was talking to her friend the other day. She told her I fixed her wash machine and mentioned ours is a workhorse and worth repairing instead of buying the new junk. Her friend said she just had hers fixed and the repair guy told her the exact same thing. I've heard this repeatedly.

 

[CMD-Ky]

Two years ago, I was putting up a rolling barn door and ask for help painting it. I got good advice here. Today, the paint is still on and holding up well through two winters, summers and some hard use. No peeling or chipping. They still look great.

If @AstroTurf ever comes back: Pickling is the answer to successful painting galvanized steel. Thanks AT.

 

[rob33]

I'm redoing ceiling lighting in my basement. I'll need to add a couple junction boxes. 1 power in and 2 lines going out to power addition lights. So 3 14 gauge wires in the box.

So, how many wires can I run through one of these. Not how many will fit, I know I can get 2 through BUT how many is code/legal to run through one of 'em.

View attachment 971001

I started out in the Navy as a electrician in my younger days, by most codes one wire per connector. The reasoning for is heat, I know it sounds like over kill, but it's one for first places a insurance company looks at should something happen.

Also, Not knowing you whole situation: Unless you are using MC wire, with just romax you can use a plastic or fiber box and staples

 

[LAwaters]

Need some help with a pressure washer part replacement. How do I remove the staple-shaped pin that’s holding the old inlet assembly (shown in the first pic). The replacement inlet (2nd pic) shows the grooves that the pin slides into.

Any ideas?

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Need some help with a pressure washer part replacement. How do I remove the staple-shaped pin that’s holding the old inlet assembly (shown in the first pic). The replacement inlet (2nd pic) shows the grooves that the pin slides into.

Any ideas?

View attachment 975674

View attachment 975675

I'm pretty sure those just pry out. Put a flathead screwdriver into the bottom of the "U" and tap the end of the screwdriver lightly or even just wiggle the screwdriver. Reassembly would probably be putting the "U" back into positioning and tapping the end of the "U" lightly with a hammer.

 

[LAwaters]

I'm pretty sure those just pry out. Put a flathead screwdriver into the bottom of the "U" and tap the end of the screwdriver lightly or even just wiggle the screwdriver. Reassembly would probably be putting the "U" back into positioning and tapping the end of the "U" lightly with a hammer.

Thanks — makes perfect sense. I started with that approach but couldn’t budge it. Then I started wondering if there was some trick to it that I wasn’t seeing.

 

[FranC]

Thanks — makes perfect sense. I started with that approach but couldn’t budge it. Then I started wondering if there was some trick to it that I wasn’t seeing.

Do you have a pry bar?

 

[LAwaters]

Do you have a pry bar?

I used a screwdriver and tapped on it with a hammer and got the pin out. Then a wrench around the tube and tapped the wrench with the hammer. Worked perfectly. My hand strength isn’t great anymore, but the hammer did the trick.

The job is done!

 

[LAwaters]

I'm pretty sure those just pry out. Put a flathead screwdriver into the bottom of the "U" and tap the end of the screwdriver lightly or even just wiggle the screwdriver. Reassembly would probably be putting the "U" back into positioning and tapping the end of the "U" lightly with a hammer.

You were exactly right. Thanks for your help. Got the replacement part in. All done!

 

[Bronze]

You were exactly right. Thanks for your help. Got the replacement part in. All done!

Good, now replace my leaf spring bushings.

 

[LAwaters]

Good, now replace my leaf spring bushings.

Absolutely! Ummm… what are those?

 

[hittman]

Words you don't want to hear from your mechanic. " I always wanted to try to do one of those".

 

[CMD-Ky]

Words you don't want to hear from your mechanic. " I always wanted to try to do one of those".

I would add your doctor and your lawyer.

 

[Bronze]

Absolutely! Ummm… what are those?

The bushings go in those eyes at the ends (plus a shackle not in the photo). Then it bolts to the truck frame and rear axle. It's the rear suspension. Now that you have been trained, get on it!

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

Man did I do something REALLY stupid this morning.

I have this old Craftsman Chipper/Shredder. It's probably about 25+ years old. Yesterday evening I used it and when I was done I wheeled it back into the garage and draped the burlap debris-catcher bag over the hopper where you dump-in small brush for shredding. Well, this morning before I put it back in its proper place in the garage, I started it up to let it run dry (there was enough gas for probably 5 minutes of work but not enough to actually siphon out). Started it, and when I walked away about 10 feet I heard it go "KER-CLUNK" and it just stopped.

I was like "WT?" as I walked back over to it and then I remembered I had the catcher bag draped over the hopper, and you know what that means . Looked deep down into the hopper and sure enough there was the burlap bag bunched up in there.

I was sooooooooo pist (and still am) - not just because I made such a stooooopid mistake and not just because I knew the bag was likely ruined - but because I had to open this damn thing up to get that bag out of there as it was wrapped around the shredder blade shaft and I couldn't get it out no matter how hard I tried. GAWD do I HAAAATE having to take that machine apart. Done it numerous times in the past trying to shred certain types of clippings that would just wind around the shaft and bind it up eventually.

As I was dismantling the shredder to get the bag out, I had some hope that maybe, JUUUUUUUUUUST MAYBE, the bag is still OK and can still be used. Nnnnnnnnnnnnnope...she's a goner.

Without the bag, the chipper shredder is useless. A few years ago I tried to use a tub to catch the debris when I misplaced the bag, but that doesn't work. First of all, the the velocity of the shredded debris flying out just destroys the tub and even if I were to use a metal tub, the debris just flies everywhere out of the tub.

I've been looking around for an affordable bag suitable for my chipper, but what I'm finding is either too expensive, or too cheap-looking that I doubt it would last very long. This one's rather affordable, however one review states that air can't get through it well enough so it doesn't actually get filled with debris, rather just air, even after they melted holes in it, so I'm skeptical. The other 5 reviews are positive but are shady as he|| given that they say absolutely nothing specific about the product.

I don't use the chipper/shredder often (maybe once every 2 years), but when I do use it, I really need it.

Well, RIP 247.797851...at least for now.

 

[Bronze]

Man did I do something REALLY stupid this morning.

I have this old Craftsman Chipper/Shredder. It's probably about 25+ years old. Yesterday evening I used it and when I was done I wheeled it back into the garage and draped the burlap debris-catcher bag over the hopper where you dump-in small brush for shredding. Well, this morning before I put it back in its proper place in the garage, I started it up to let it run dry (there was enough gas for probably 5 minutes of work but not enough to actually siphon out). Started it, and when I walked away about 10 feet I heard it go "KER-CLUNK" and it just stopped.

I was like "WT?" as I walked back over to it and then I remembered I had the catcher bag draped over the hopper, and you know what that means . Looked deep down into the hopper and sure enough there was the burlap bag bunched up in there.

I was sooooooooo pist (and still am) - not just because I made such a stooooopid mistake and not just because I knew the bag was likely ruined - but because I had to open this damn thing up to get that bag out of there as it was wrapped around the shredder blade shaft and I couldn't get it out no matter how hard I tried. GAWD do I HAAAATE having to take that machine apart. Done it numerous times in the past trying to shred certain types of clippings that would just wide around the shaft and bind it up eventually.

As I was dismantling the shredder to get the bag out, I had some hope that maybe, JUUUUUUUUUUST MAYBE, the bag is still OK and can still be used. Nnnnnnnnnnnnnope...she's a goner.

Without the bag, the chipper shredder is useless. A few years ago I tried to use a tub to catch the debris when I misplaced the bag, but that doesn't work. First of all, the the velocity of the shredded debris flying out just destroys the tub and even if I were to use a metal tub, the debris just flies everywhere out of the tub.

I've been looking around for an affordable bag suitable for my chipper, but what I'm finding is either too expensive, or too cheap-looking that I doubt it would last very long. This one's rather affordable, however one review states that air can't get through it well enough so it doesn't actually get filled with debris, rather just air, even after they melted holes in it, so I'm skeptical. The other 5 reviews are positive but are shady as he|| given that they say absolutely nothing specific about the product.

I don't use the chipper/shredder often (maybe once every 2 years), but when I do use it, I really need it.

Well, RIP 247.797851...at least for now.

Not good.

 

[CMD-Ky]

Send that bag to the General, he'll fix it or re-purpose it.

Man did I do something REALLY stupid this morning.

I have this old Craftsman Chipper/Shredder. It's probably about 25+ years old. Yesterday evening I used it and when I was done I wheeled it back into the garage and draped the burlap debris-catcher bag over the hopper where you dump-in small brush for shredding. Well, this morning before I put it back in its proper place in the garage, I started it up to let it run dry (there was enough gas for probably 5 minutes of work but not enough to actually siphon out). Started it, and when I walked away about 10 feet I heard it go "KER-CLUNK" and it just stopped.

I was like "WT?" as I walked back over to it and then I remembered I had the catcher bag draped over the hopper, and you know what that means . Looked deep down into the hopper and sure enough there was the burlap bag bunched up in there.

I was sooooooooo pist (and still am) - not just because I made such a stooooopid mistake and not just because I knew the bag was likely ruined - but because I had to open this damn thing up to get that bag out of there as it was wrapped around the shredder blade shaft and I couldn't get it out no matter how hard I tried. GAWD do I HAAAATE having to take that machine apart. Done it numerous times in the past trying to shred certain types of clippings that would just wind around the shaft and bind it up eventually.

As I was dismantling the shredder to get the bag out, I had some hope that maybe, JUUUUUUUUUUST MAYBE, the bag is still OK and can still be used. Nnnnnnnnnnnnnope...she's a goner.

Without the bag, the chipper shredder is useless. A few years ago I tried to use a tub to catch the debris when I misplaced the bag, but that doesn't work. First of all, the the velocity of the shredded debris flying out just destroys the tub and even if I were to use a metal tub, the debris just flies everywhere out of the tub.

I've been looking around for an affordable bag suitable for my chipper, but what I'm finding is either too expensive, or too cheap-looking that I doubt it would last very long. This one's rather affordable, however one review states that air can't get through it well enough so it doesn't actually get filled with debris, rather just air, even after they melted holes in it, so I'm skeptical. The other 5 reviews are positive but are shady as he|| given that they say absolutely nothing specific about the product.

I don't use the chipper/shredder often (maybe once every 2 years), but when I do use it, I really need it.

Well, RIP 247.797851...at least for now.

 

[CMD-Ky]

It looks well maintained.

Man did I do something REALLY stupid this morning.

I have this old Craftsman Chipper/Shredder. It's probably about 25+ years old. Yesterday evening I used it and when I was done I wheeled it back into the garage and draped the burlap debris-catcher bag over the hopper where you dump-in small brush for shredding. Well, this morning before I put it back in its proper place in the garage, I started it up to let it run dry (there was enough gas for probably 5 minutes of work but not enough to actually siphon out). Started it, and when I walked away about 10 feet I heard it go "KER-CLUNK" and it just stopped.

I was like "WT?" as I walked back over to it and then I remembered I had the catcher bag draped over the hopper, and you know what that means . Looked deep down into the hopper and sure enough there was the burlap bag bunched up in there.

I was sooooooooo pist (and still am) - not just because I made such a stooooopid mistake and not just because I knew the bag was likely ruined - but because I had to open this damn thing up to get that bag out of there as it was wrapped around the shredder blade shaft and I couldn't get it out no matter how hard I tried. GAWD do I HAAAATE having to take that machine apart. Done it numerous times in the past trying to shred certain types of clippings that would just wind around the shaft and bind it up eventually.

As I was dismantling the shredder to get the bag out, I had some hope that maybe, JUUUUUUUUUUST MAYBE, the bag is still OK and can still be used. Nnnnnnnnnnnnnope...she's a goner.

Without the bag, the chipper shredder is useless. A few years ago I tried to use a tub to catch the debris when I misplaced the bag, but that doesn't work. First of all, the the velocity of the shredded debris flying out just destroys the tub and even if I were to use a metal tub, the debris just flies everywhere out of the tub.

I've been looking around for an affordable bag suitable for my chipper, but what I'm finding is either too expensive, or too cheap-looking that I doubt it would last very long. This one's rather affordable, however one review states that air can't get through it well enough so it doesn't actually get filled with debris, rather just air, even after they melted holes in it, so I'm skeptical. The other 5 reviews are positive but are shady as he|| given that they say absolutely nothing specific about the product.

I don't use the chipper/shredder often (maybe once every 2 years), but when I do use it, I really need it.

Well, RIP 247.797851...at least for now.

 

[cats5365]

nm

 

[cats5365]

I think you could probably sew it back together. It wouldn't be fun, or pretty, but I think you could close up those holes well enough to make it work again.

If you have a cobbler or someone with an industrial sewing machine, they could do it pretty quickly. If not, I would hit up a fabric store for some heavy duty thread, like for sewing jeans seams or upholstery, any color would work. Get a large upholstery needle with a large eye that can fit the thread and punch through the bag fabric. A mattress stitch might be best, but I think a simple whip stitch would work too.