New Welder

Everlast PM 256 multiprocess welder. 250 amp stick, AC-DC tig and 60 amp plasma cutter. I can not believe how affordable this is. Wanted a plasma cutter for a long time and figured I'd never have a tig setup.
Everlast web link

Welding tip and tricks did videos of of an Everlast welder with a front end like the PM256

Video link



All this stuff comes with it. Plasma torch, stick electrode holder, ground clamp, foot pedal, tig torch (water cooled!), argon regulator, air filter, spare plasma consumables, and hoses to hook up the gas parts.
Tried out the stick function with 1/8" 7018. It sounds different than my Miller Thunderbolt on DC. The Thunderbolt has a 60 hertz hum to it where the PM256 makes more of a hiss. I think it is because the inverter runs at a higher frequency. They weld pretty much the same. This european style electrod holder is different than a Tweco like I'm used to but I like it.
Fiddled with the plasma cutter and had air pressure issues that are my fault. This reminds me of Luke Skywalker's light sabre.
Welder fleet. The Thunderbolt is redundant with the addition of the PM256.

Weather pics

Storm season in Nebraska.

Toro snowblower auger brake

This brake pad runs against the auger drive pulley when the auger is disengaged. It is no longer available and is worn down almost to the metal. The original is glued on. Cut a piece of hardboard to replace it.

JB weld epoxy should hold the replacement on.

Here is how it fits and it seems to work! A short vid below.

Visitor's in a GMC

Walt and Sarah Halley stopped by on their way to Montanna. We had a great time, Walt and I went to U-Pull-It parts and got parts of wire looms with connectors for GM ECU's and a computer controlled HEI distributor.

Walt educated me on the EBL flash engine control computer he is fixing to install. Made by DynamicEFI this fits inside the GM computer and allows programming without burning chips. We didn't have enough time.............http://www.dynamicefi.com/

Toro snowblower rescue

I saw this snowblower set out for trash pickup. I asked and was told "have at it" by the owner. It is missing a few pieces but looked like a fun project and I know someone who needs one. It was built in 1980 by the serial # and is a 421 two stage model 38010.
The impeller had a lot of slop in it's bearing. Here it is split open for access.
The impeller bearing is a sleeve bearing in a self aligning mount.
There is a change in the design, the new style has a screw to keep it from spinning in the mount. Same bearing used in a lot of different blowers up to at least 8 hp. The old one had some cracks in it and was .020 out of round. Less than $11 new!
Here is the drive, its a rubber rimmed wheel that presses on a disc in different places to change speeds and direction. It looks like it will still work fine.
Skids were worn through. Going to weld some straps on for new shoes.
New shoes ready to go. Great to have good tools.
Wire brushed off the rust and used Rustoleum rust reformer before painting. Use the liquid reformer, spray stuff is glorified paint. One of the shear pins was missing so only one side of the auger turned. The shear pins are 1/4 grade 5 bolts 2 inchs long. I replaced them both.
The thing will split apart like a hinge to work on it.
Wheels are held on with spring pins, easy to take off and get at things.
Putting pieces back on. Still need to remake the gas tank brace. It does run.

Kickstart lever fix

Motorcycle kickstart lever cracked in three places. Started to vee out the cracks.

Broken out piece.


Squeezed back in place

Some good old Nebraska mud in the threaded hole keeps any weld splatter out


Copper wire acts as a chill to keep the detent ball hole open. Steel weld filler won't stick to copper.

Good to go.

Quick trip to Minnesota

We ended up in Detroit Lakes MN. No parking on the lake...
Sue walked longer than I would go on this path.
Found a shade spot just outside the park. GMC in the center of the pic.
There was a farmers market going in the park. We got aspargus and bread for lunch.
Redwood Falls Minnesota. The falls were man made ;_)

The dash ac compressor clutch belt was slipping everytime the clutch cycled. I taped up the outside air inlet to keep any outside air from coming in with the selector in vent. The Onan fired up and ran both roof airs so we were OK. Looked at the weather before we left and the front didn't move like it was supposed to. We were a couple hundred miles on the hot side of it. I try to avoid heat, can get plenty of that at home. Would have went west into North Dakota if I had up to date weather maps. This trip was the longest we've run the generator for air conditioning.
Tightened up the ac belt first morning after stuff cooled off. Then the dash air worked too.

Dan And Teri

My friends Dan and Teri were having transmission shifting problems with their GMC. I went to their home and we worked at it until it was found that swapping governors cured it. Took the non working governor back home and I think fixed it. Photos here
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=5470
Swapped the fixed governor in my GMC and it seems to be OK now.

Wind bells

Susie and I made some some wind bells out of out of date compressed gas cylinders. Here is how they sound.

Setting toe

Adjustable gage
Marking tires

Big Sky shop alignment

These are the tools for alignment. I've had the Auto Pro tool for years and the turn plates about 5 years. The plates make it much easier and you can get a repeatable 20 degree swing rather than using the steering wheel as a guesstimate.
My beautiful and able assistant is holding the range pole for elevation readings where the tire contact points are marked on the concrete. That way all the contact points can be shimmed for level. Big Sky shop is not level.
On the plates ready to adjust. The right front was set at zero elevation and every thing else shimmed to match. It took a 2 7/8 shim (wood ) under the left front and various other shims for the back wheels.
I followed the master Bob Drewes's settings 3 1/2 caster, right camber 1/8, left camber 1/4 and toe out of 1/32. Toe might be more like 3/32 - hard to get a repeatable measurement.
I really like how it drives. I notice the wheel wants to return to center after a turn more than it did before.

Offset Bushings for upper A arms

Pushing old bushing out.
Pushing new bushing in.
Unhinged with upper A arm out.
Putting these offset bushings in will change the range of adjustment for + caster and let the camber be unchanged. The half moon pieces are sections of 1 1/2 pipe cut to fit in the arm to prevent distorting it while pressing bushings in and out.