Other kinds of shop work
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 5:59 pm
From time to time I mention my "Farm / Mechanic shop. Actually it is far more than that. Yeah, it's a bit of a disaster but I am gaining ground on it this month. Last month you couldn't have put a bicycle in there but over the last few weeks I have been moving one of my trucks, both vans and a couple of tractors in and out for work. While my official "woodshop" is in the basement I do still keep some wood stuff in there. Generally more in the nature of rough carpentry tools where I do work on farm buildings and stuff like gates etc. I also keep my masonry tools there, my sheet metal tools, plumbing stuff, electrical tools and I can do some machining work. Those fit in around a lot of auto mechanics tools, my blacksmiths shop (and welding equipment) and my tire and battery shop.
Somehow this month has become brake month. I just finished rebuilding the front disk brakes on my oldest pickup truck (1983 F-150) and changing and balancing all 4 tires, which included cleaning down the wheels and painting all of them. I also did a fluid and filter change on its AOD transmission and a throttle rod adjustment.
Then the newest Chrysler T&C brakes started making noise. Just the little depth warning squeaking thingy. I bought a set of pads and put it on the job list. I decided to drive the older T&C until I got the brakes installed on the other one. We headed to town for lunch and as I came up over the top of a railroad overpass where you can't see the other side until you crest the top there was a line of cars stopped in the oncoming lane and headed for my lane was a small confused dog.
I didn't want to hit the dog and I especially didn't want to hit him with a whole line of cars watching. 
Now you have to understand here that a half mile back I had just bragged to my wife about how well that old van was running and driving and about how little I had ever had to do to it. You really should know to never brag on one... I hit the brakes hard and while it did quickly slow the car by the time I reached the small dog the brake pedal was hitting the floor. Fortunately at this point the dog thought out the situation better and spun back toward the proper sidewalk. 
We were just a couple of blocks from the place where we most often eat lunch so I proceeded slowly on with my foot over the emergency brake pedal (those work well). My wife made a couple of calls and found a family member that could give us a ride home after lunch. At home I loaded in a few extra tools and supplies in addition to the big box of tools I keep in the vehicles along with a floor jack and some jack stands. We were within about a half mile of a batch of auto parts stores. I figured I would find out what was causing that big puddle of brake fluid and go get the parts. We moved the van to another spot that didn't have a puddle and got under with a light and said OH! Crap! (or something in that neighborhood)... Yes, of course the leak was in a tiny space up above the fuel tank. Pulling the tank was going to be required and I had no desire to do it in that parking lot. We called our son and made arrangements for him to trailer the van home that evening. I still have not fixed it yet, too many other things going on this past week. I had an antique tractor show to set up at this weekend and my shop dance card was full. Today I was resting up from a busy week and weekend. Tomorrow I'll put it in the shop and drop the tank to see what it needs. I will also install a new small relay that controls the cooling fans that I have been putting off for a while.
BTW, I did sneak in the newer van and install the new brake pads.
.
Somehow this month has become brake month. I just finished rebuilding the front disk brakes on my oldest pickup truck (1983 F-150) and changing and balancing all 4 tires, which included cleaning down the wheels and painting all of them. I also did a fluid and filter change on its AOD transmission and a throttle rod adjustment.
Then the newest Chrysler T&C brakes started making noise. Just the little depth warning squeaking thingy. I bought a set of pads and put it on the job list. I decided to drive the older T&C until I got the brakes installed on the other one. We headed to town for lunch and as I came up over the top of a railroad overpass where you can't see the other side until you crest the top there was a line of cars stopped in the oncoming lane and headed for my lane was a small confused dog.
I didn't want to hit the dog and I especially didn't want to hit him with a whole line of cars watching. Now you have to understand here that a half mile back I had just bragged to my wife about how well that old van was running and driving and about how little I had ever had to do to it. You really should know to never brag on one...
I hit the brakes hard and while it did quickly slow the car by the time I reached the small dog the brake pedal was hitting the floor. Fortunately at this point the dog thought out the situation better and spun back toward the proper sidewalk. We were just a couple of blocks from the place where we most often eat lunch so I proceeded slowly on with my foot over the emergency brake pedal (those work well). My wife made a couple of calls and found a family member that could give us a ride home after lunch. At home I loaded in a few extra tools and supplies in addition to the big box of tools I keep in the vehicles along with a floor jack and some jack stands. We were within about a half mile of a batch of auto parts stores. I figured I would find out what was causing that big puddle of brake fluid and go get the parts. We moved the van to another spot that didn't have a puddle and got under with a light and said OH! Crap! (or something in that neighborhood)... Yes, of course the leak was in a tiny space up above the fuel tank. Pulling the tank was going to be required and I had no desire to do it in that parking lot. We called our son and made arrangements for him to trailer the van home that evening. I still have not fixed it yet, too many other things going on this past week. I had an antique tractor show to set up at this weekend and my shop dance card was full. Today I was resting up from a busy week and weekend. Tomorrow I'll put it in the shop and drop the tank to see what it needs. I will also install a new small relay that controls the cooling fans that I have been putting off for a while.BTW, I did sneak in the newer van and install the new brake pads.
.