Potpourri starting Feb 22, 2010

[kd6vpe]

Oh boy,
I almost missed this Dusty. I am not online as much to busy looking for work but I must make sure you know my prayers are with you this time around again. And do make sure you don't prolong your recovery time by playing in the shop to early again. You take care.

[lv2wdwrk]

Dusty, wishing you well with your surgery. I will be thinking of you while the wife and I are cruising the Hawaiian Islands next week.

[moose]

Dusty, I was not aware of your surgery when we corresponded today. I'm really sorry you are having to go through this again. I hope this time around that recovery will be quicker. They don't generally waste much time starting post surgical therapy with joint replacements. Thank you again for the information earlier. Please keep the forum updated with your progress.

Ashbury

[dusty]

I've been put on restriction and I'm about to go stir crazy. To prevent that I've been searching out some of the 'small tasks' that require no lifting to keep my mind off this agonizing wait til surgery tomorrow.

Aaaah, the leaf blower. That's not heavy. Once I get it down on the bench SWMBO should have no problem.

I use the leaf blower when I clean the shop out (spring and fall cleaning). No leaves here so it doesn't get used otherwise.

It runs but it sorta pulsates rather than run at a constant speed. A visual inspection reveals a couple of broken parts on a circuit board attached to the side of the motor. There are part numbers (I think) but they don't seem to cross. The number appears to be PX1N404. Thought I'd find that online or at the Radio Shack but no luck. Radio Shack used to be the place to go for electronic parts but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. They are very specialized and no longer stock a wide variety of small parts.

Went looking for Allied Radio but that doesn't exist - at least here in Tucson.

Oh well, I didn't really want to fix this today anyhow. I just thought I did.

[ATTACH]8001[/ATTACH]

The little black component on the left side of the circuit board is broken.

[mickyd]

I've been put on restriction and I'm about to go stir crazy. To prevent ......

It runs but it sorta pulsates rather than run at a constant speed. A visual inspection reveals a couple of broken parts on a circuit board .....

Circuit boards on a leaf blower!!!! What's the world coming to? I can't stand electronic boards in my yard equipment. I don't want them. I don't want electronics controlling my accelerator and braking system in my car either!! Hey, call me old fashion!!

[dusty]

Circuit boards on a leaf blower!!!! What's the world coming to? I can't stand electronic boards in my yard equipment. I don't want them. I don't want electronics controlling my accelerator and braking system in my car either!! Hey, call me old fashion!!

Hey, Mickyd, this is not a new leaf blower. I would guess it is fifteen years or more old. Rectifier diode technology has been with us a while. I just hate to discard anything that can be fixed.

[mickyd]

Hey, Mickyd, this is not a new leaf blower. I would guess it is fifteen years or more old. Rectifier diode technology has been with us a while. I just hate to discard anything that can be fixed.

Thanks for straightening me out. Like you, I always try to fix stuff, then I throw it away.

[dusty]

Thanks for straightening me out. Like you, I always try to fix stuff, then I throw it away.

I do that a lot, too. Throw it away after I have tried to fix it. But not this one. At least not yet. I found two finda similar diodes in the scrounge box and they fix the rectifier problem. Then I took a baling wire lesson, using nylon lacing tape and secured the brush holders in against the armature and it now runs at a constant speed.

How long - that's another thread for later. A lot later, I hope.

[mickyd]

Anyone still use a folding wooden ruler? I was reading a Wood Magazine e-letter and they had it listed as a 'measuring must have'. Went on to say 'Get the kind with a sliding extension for dead-on measurement inside cases and boxes.'

[charlese]

I have a folding ruler. It's in the tool chest with other antique tools. It's not the sliding kind. It's not used - just stored!

Speaking of sliding rules to measure the inside of boxes, etc., takes me back to the Thread not too long ago about "Adjustable Story Sticks". No marks for inches, quarters, eights, sixteenths needed, but very accurate!:D https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=4157&highlight=story+sticks