2011 at the Hammond Barn

[RHClarke]

It has been an interesting few weeks to say the least. Bob was down but not out with his ticker acting up, Guy had some parts of his leg replaced, and my knees decided to pack it in for a few weeks. I am not sure how Grant has been faring, as I saw him once these past weeks. Bob seems to be doing quite well, Guy is on the mend and my knees have improved. So much for the walking wounded.

Barn wise, Grant moved his truck out of the barn and into its winter storage shed. Bob moved the trusty tractor into the barn. We cleaned up around and in the barn so that we could actually work in the barn now that the cold weather is upon us. Bob and Grant nailed together a new wood crib to replace the large crib that fed Lucifer. Lucifer's feed was changed from a fiber (wood) centric diet to a fat (oil) centric diet. The wood starts the fire going, and the oil keeps us nice and warm.

When my knees allowed, I trekked to the barn to work on some of the Pilot HUP parts. Anything that could fit into the cabinet sandblaster got cleaned up nicely. This past Saturday was very quiet with Bob out Christmas shopping and Grant at work. Guy was out to show off his new cane, and my knees have returned to a less sensitive state. The weather was quite nippy (-10 oC), so I fired up Lucifer.

The rest of Saturday was spent cleaning dirt out of one of the support channels that run the width of the rear compartment by the rear door. With the aid of an air nozzle and a trusty Shop-Vac, I managed to clean out years of sand, gravel and cement that had accumulated. The bad news was that the cleaning exposed where the cement reacted with the metal and moisture to eat a hole in the channel. This hole did not show up when I did the frame off sandblasting of the truck. After some poking and prodding, a good sized lump of cement came away with a good chunk of rusted metal. I'm not much for upside down welding, so I think I will line the hole with metal glue and press a metal plate over it. The underneath part will be sprayed with rocker panel coating. The final task of the day was to remove two metal bars that had been welded to the rear of the compartment. These bars were welded to the tabs that hold the two wall mounted bucket seats in the HUP.

Once that fun was completed, I took the HUP for a run over the snow covered trail. The braking and clutching action reminded me that the knees were still a bit sensitive, so the joy ride was called off and I returned the HUP to its shelter. Unfortunately, I had to head home early so that the missus could get to work early - this being the busy time of year for retailers.

Hopefully, Bob and Grant can fill in some of the blanks over the past few weeks.

Photos:

1 - Sandblasting fodder
2 - The boys playing "crib"
3 - The barn - a study in winter
4 - HUP repair site
5 - The hole in the channel

[Bob Carriere]

....and no heat......

Lucifer needed bypass surgery...... the oil line got plugged...... pipe thread for the line going through the firebox had the thread stripped so we invented a new better way of dripping oil into the fire....... took most of the day but it is now loaded up ready to be fired on my next day off.

Moved another crib full of firewood to the house ready for onloading into the basement chute.

Grant and I went for breaky at the restaurant only to run into some folks I work with at the office...... funny she didn't recognise me at first ... not wearing my usual suit and tie.

Ran out of time and energy but had enough to bring in the Xmas tree and let it thaw out a bit before decorating this week.

Another weekend gone. Back to the salt mines tomorrow.

Bob

[Grant Bowker]

Yesterday was an exercise in making the basement of the house stink by painting the driveshafts. not worthy of photos.

They are now sitting on the floor next to the completed transfer case. 4 of the 6 bearings and races needed replacing along with all input/output seals and speedi-sleeves on the yokes. The previous owners had a love of RTV sealant and used it in place of all gaskets when they put the case together. The lack of gaskets made most bearing adjustments too tight, the front drive hardly turned. I now understand why the manual advises to keep the shims for each cap together as a starting point for adjustments. It makes life much easier if you work from a "too thick" shim pack to "just right" rather than the other way round - I didn't understand how much easier until after doing the first adjustment the hard way. Also after the fact, read the manual for the C60X and realized they had a different (better?) procedure - rather than trial and error they tell you to place the adjustment cap onto the shaft and bearing (no shims) and measure the gap between the cap and the housing. Also, it is surprising the difference in feel having the seals rubbing on the shafts makes. The manual is right that bearing adjustments should be done without seals in place to be able to feel for drag and free play.

One of today's tasks was working on repairing my hedge trimmer. It isn't needed right now but on the last hedge for the year (had to finish with an electric trimmer - don't want to do any more of that) it sheared the driveshaft at a weld just after the centrifugal clutch. The stub of the shaft remained threaded into the clutch drum located down a well in the housing that made gripping the stub next to impossible. I used our tested technique of welding a nut on to provide a grip. I was nervous about the heat from the weld cooking the seal and lube in the bearing so had an air line ready to speed the cooling after welding. Once the nut was welded and cooled, it was a fairly simple matter to jam the clutch drum in the housing and put a socket on the nut to back out the nut and stub. The same technique has worked on multiple bolts sheared flush (including throttle bellcrank studs corroded/frozen into the block). Now to buy a new driveshaft and put it in place.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Grant

Sealing the shims on the transfer case has come up before, at the time I did the transfer case on the HUP I could not find the shellac type sealant that had apparently been used originally. Well I think I have found a source for it in the Permatex line http://permatex.com/products/Automot...c_Compound.htm has anybody tried this and is it a very thin liquid that will seal without adding thickness?

As to repair of the hedge trimmer, isn't repairing it, it let alone have the skill necessary to carry out the repair going against the new consumable based product design. All kidding aside I hate having to replace something the logic tells me can be repaired.

Cheers Phil

[Grant Bowker]

For the moment, the shims were stacked dry. If leaks develop I will give the sealer a try and let you know. Another way might be to buy shellac flakes and disolve them in alcohol to make your own sealer. One source of shellac flakes is http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/pag...at=1,190,42942 but there have to be similar woodworking supply companies in other countries.

For the hedge trimmer I definitely want to repair rather than replace. It's a long reach gas powered unit, pretty much commercial strength. It wil do 1/4 inch all day without noticing it, is rated to cut 3/4 inch and can work it's way through 1 inch cedar. It has also been known to cut chain link fencing that was hidden in the hedge, not my favourite sound but it has happened. I hate to think what it could do to a finger. The speed of production compared to even a fairly good electric trimmer has to be seen to be believed. Aside from the general principle of not liking to toss something that still has life and the challenge of making it right, a replacement would be $US500 plus shipping online, probably twice that in Canada (have I mentioned that I don't like some Canadian retail practices?) - I would rather put the money to CMPs.

[Bob Carriere]

...they all do.

Grant..... I purchased some shellac at Sterling flea market a few years ago..... still good in the old fashion glass bottle.

Bob

[RHClarke]

The Night Before Christmas - the Hammond Barn version
With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore (author of the original poem)

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the farm
Not a creature was stirring, not even at the Hammond barn.
The trucks were parked by the barn with care,
In hopes that St Blitz soon would be there.

The Rotters were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of split rims danced in their heads.
And the cats in the shelters, and the mice in the packs,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
Bob sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window he flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to the barn down below.
When, what to his wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature CMP truck, and eight tiny beer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
He knew in a moment it must be St Blitz.
Swerving and bouncing through the snow he came,
And he belched, and farted, and called them by name!

"Now Keiths! Now, Labatt! Now, Pilsner and Victoria Ale!
On, Carlsberg! On, Coors! On Dublin X and Black Label!
To the top of the barn! To the top of the wall!
Now drink away! Drink away! Drink away all!"

As dry heaves that after the hangover do us try,
When he meets with an obstacle, bounced to the sky.
So up to the barn-top the old coot flew,
With the truck full of beer, and St Blitz too.

And then, in a twinkling, Bob heard a distinct tap
The popping and spinning of a small bottle cap.
As he entered the barn, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Blitz came with a bound.

He was dressed in coveralls, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with grease and soot.
A bundle of tools he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a mechanic, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how black rimmed! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like dumplings, his nose like a raspberry!
His stern little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a cigar he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of naval jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old git,
And Bob laughed when he saw him, and almost did shit!
A wink of his eye and a twist of a cap,
Soon tossed him a beer that landed in his lap.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the tool boxes, then turned with a smirk.
And laying his finger inside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up Lucifer’s chimney he rose!

He sprang to his truck, and to Bobby did whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But Bob heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Motoring to all Rotters, and to all Rotters a good-night!"


I won't be giving up my day job - yet! Merry Christmas from the Rotters!