Off Topic Anything 2023

RichieRichOverdrive wrote:

Check out this pile of carburetors at the atv boneyard! I only dug about halfway down looking for a carb for a buddy. Lots of good stuff in there.

Digging through a pile of carbs sounds like literal hell.

When it's for someone else and you're just vibing on a friday afternoon it ain't so bad. I'm glad I didnt need one though lol

Wonder what happened to  @Nevadablue.  He was a regular that disappeared mid ratrod build for his grandson.  Loved seeing the mountains out his back porch pictures.

He and I had been keeping touch via email but it's been awhile since we touched base, I should shoot him a email and find out!

Look what I just scored for $100! I'll definitely be turning it into an offroad and mud mower!



As you can see it has a new seat and a Peerless 2300! It also has the variable pulley but I don't think I'll have a hard time getting rid of that and swapping the rear pulley.

For now I'll probably stab my Honda G200 (6hp) test motor in so it's mobile and I can test stuff, I'd like to find a 13/14hp Honda or clone for the long term in hopes of hitting around 25mph!

That's a gem of a tractor.  Nice looking massey.  That thing have a 2300 with a variator?

It does indeed... I may actually keep it if it works well and belt slippage isn't an issue, might be nice to have inbetween gears sometimes. Time will tell!

Finally did an update to the FB site header image. Updated it to the current active staff tractors.

Thats some sweet tractors!
Also @MightyRaze why does my sig only shows in some of my posts? or will it be coming into play with my new ones from here on?

Not sure what you are referring to on the signature @Slipperz.  I do know the top post of page 2 and the pages that follow do not show the signature, it is a carryover post from the previous page so people know what you're talking about.

If you use the Add Reply button, , make sure the box is checked for attach signature in the options found below the send button.

In your profile under preferences, be sure "Always attach signature" is set to yes.  That way when using the quick reply box, it attaches your signature ot any post even the Add Reply automatically.

I hope that helps.

@MightyRaze
Thanks, I meant like where your projects are listed but it appears to have worked on my end so false alarm!

That's cool @MightyRaze, my rig looks like crap besides your guys', I really do need to lay a paint job down on it! Lol.

Brianator wrote:

That's cool @MightyRaze, my rig looks like crap besides your guys', I really do need to lay a paint job down on it! Lol.

Think what you may, I personally disagree. I think it looks perfect!

Header photo looks great Mighty!

It doesn't look like I'll be machining parts on my drill press anymore.... because I scored a small metal lathe!


It's a Myford ML10 and built between 1968 and 1972 in England,  it's obviously a hobby lathe but very well built. I got it for a really fair price with alot of spare parts, lots of tool holders and inserts, several precision measuring tools, a bunch of drills bits, taps, dies and several old wrenches and screwdrivers too!

I spend a bunch of time cleaning and oiling it before I started playing with it then decided to refurbish the ends of the tailstock centers because they were pretty beat, the one in the chuck was way worse than the other I'm holding.

I turned a couple of others pieces to test it and it seems to work great! The pin with the turned ends is something I did several months ago to make parts I need for the snowblower mount on my Roper 16T but I decided to keep turning it down for fun and then I guess I made myself a tapered punch out of some scrap round stock because why not!?

All in all I'm really happy about it, I've been waiting for a couple of years for the right deal to come along that was somewhat close to home and now here I am!

Well...


@Brianator You aren't the only one with a 250 2 stroke now! (Yours is way faster lol.)
Meet my new toy!
1996 Polaris TrailBoss 250
I got her running just needed a starter and a tune up. Found out once home trans was FULL of metal. Shes a little whiny for an atv trans but shifts fine. It has oil injection, but the pump is bad to that needs rebuilt same with carb has leak and randomly idles poorly but runs good. Only has F-N-R no low range so Putt Putt still has all of the work to do!
Sorry I know this is an Atv not tractor related just wanted to show!

That's awesome @Slipperz congrats! Looks to be in pretty shape too! They're alot of fun to rip around on, a buddy of mine has one and I was surprised at the get and go it has! The CVT is kind of nice and works well. You'll have a blast with that, enjoy and ride safe!

@Brianator I sure have so far! Yea this machine I always wear me helmet as its purty fast. It has its weird things that needs fixed but is definitely in good shape! Original seat still has the warning labels! I need to soon weld the engine mount as she is cracked clean thru so she is pretty shaky right now. So i will just pull her off and weld the two pieces back together. I personally love the cvt I know it's not the fastest trans setup there is it's just so smooth! My old 6x6 had one and I have driven manual atvs and always preferd my Polaris Cvt. (PVT yes, it is a little different then like a Can-am or Artic Cat. Idk how but they say it is lol.)
Thanks for the compliment!

Here's this weekends estate sale haul! Same one I bought the lathe from last weekend.


Another brand new in the (beat up) box Princess Auto special but this one's 15hp and was only $125! Also got 2 used winches (one working, one not) with all new fixings and wiring, a pair if scuzzy 12"GT wheels, and a small ammo box!

I love how the light is shining all around it like it's a good omen!

I get into a lot of trouble at those estate sales. Last time I went to one I came back with 200 dollars worth of vintage hand tools.

Well, kind of a somber day here.  Couple weeks ago we had a pretty massive storm hit out of the blue.  I was watching the storms, I was almost certain that it was going to miss us.  Then out of the blue an extension off the storm exploded just a couple miles from us. At least that is what it looked like on radar online.  None of the local stations were covering storms at that time.  I was just getting up to move the vehicles in. Unfortunately, the online radar even if it says "now" it is 5-10 minutes behind.  Before I got up the hail started.  I ran out and got our pickup in, holding a plastic tub lid over my head.  It suffered some good blows but only about 20 hits, 3-5 being serious.  (waiting insurance estimate).  My car on the other hand, I usually have to pull it around to the back yard onto the back porch.  That was not going to happen as I would have to get in and out of the car and open the gate.  At this time the hail was baseball sized with some larger.  Cutting this story short, it was considered a loss by insurance.  I had the option to keep it, but I would only get salvage price for it.  If I surrender it, I got more than I expected and more than double the trade-in value.  

I went ahead and surrendered it.  It was sad as the car had become part of the family it seemed.  It will be ok as I feel it was about 5 years out from serious repair on the transmission I think.  It had 207500 miles.  All but 3004 miles were put on by me.

So long friend...

That's a real bummer man, I get attached to my vehicles too and it's always tough to let em go

Hi! I just wanted to show what I think is an oddball with yall!
I just picked up this 1997 Chevy C2500 with 108k Miles on the clock.


She is pretty clean she needs a little work like tires, and it needs a blower motor, or the connection checked as none of my fan's work.
Now here is where I think it is a little weird. Even though it's a 2500, Chevy stuck a Vortec 305 in it!
I would have assumed it would have had at least the 350 in it but no, it's weird but not bad. Paired with the 305 is a NV3500 5 Speed Manual. This truck at least compared to my last truck is not slow by any means and feels quite powerful. Just thought I would share!

Nice score, a 5 speed even!

The seemily odd combination is fairly common in fleet/work trucks, especially Chevys, they're generally known as "1/2 heavies" because of being a slightly beefied up and more powerful 1/2 ton. Chances are it has a better airbox for more ponies and a higher gear ratio in the diff, possibly even a 3/4 ton diff, it could even have 3/4 ton balljoints. The build specs should be on a sticker in the glove box so you can look up all the codes to find out.

Test the blower motor itself, if it spins up I'd check the fuse and if it's good I'd change the blower motor resistor which SHOULD get it working... if not the control switch itself is most likely shot. I've seen all those fail independently in that genny of Chev.

Best of luck with yoir new whip!

Thanks @Brianator Yea I knew that the next truck I got had to be a 5 Speed!
Yea that is what I heard about this being a common combination for fleet use as this truck was a county truck for a city near me. Still seems super weird to me. I did check both fuses for that and my switches are good as I can hear southing click near the passenger side floor which is where I believe where the blower motor is, but I will check resistor so thanks for the tip! I do think this truck has 3/4 ton suspension parts like the bigger brakes and springs but haven't done super detailed looking yet.
Hope you have a great day!

I thought you all might like to see some literature I've come across in the last couple of weeks, I think the most interesting one is the "major engine failure analysis" but I like the fact I found an actual manual for The Warhorse & Silver Bullet (same tractors) too!