I have to admit I love tools nearly as much as I love using them.

I like having and using tools that make the mistakes that happen when working on stuff, on me. It keeps you honest about your abilities, as you can't blame poor tools.

 

Have sets of all those 'special' drivers too. Even a 1mm - 5 point star bit to dismantle iphones. What surprised me is security Torx screws in early eighties ! I met those about this century.

 

Have sets of all those 'special' drivers too. Even a 1mm - 5 point star bit to dismantle iphones. What surprised me is security Torx screws in early eighties ! I met those about this century.

Kids today think everything is new.

 

Solved Wife compaint today, washing machine spin cycle going berserk and getting noisier every time used.
Tub Suspension rods required replacing.
Happy wife, happy life!

 

Replaced a faulty valve feeding the steam generator unit for a shower. Cut the old one off with a pipe cutter and replaced with a Shark Bite (tm) stop valve.

If you haven’t used them, Shark bites are great. Just push on the pipe end. No tools, no sweat, no leak.

 

Refused to dump my failing humble 900W microwave oven that I prefer to any of maaany brands, finally found today a donor after a long wait. Advertised free at my neighborhood facebook marketplace because its turntable motor died.
Mine is now a 1KW after a successful transplant. Replaced the transformer, magnetron and capacitor. Happy ! Works !



Bonus, got spare microswitches, some terminated wiring, a double 2 speed squirrel cage blower as donor was an undercabinet type, and the control panel/timer to drive whatever. Goldstar donor to Danby recipient.

 

I've only had to do one microwave repair and it was a simple one. Open the chassis, wiggle the wires around, pull the connectors loose and reseat them, and it was back to working. In fact, it's still working but the wife had to have a new under cabinet/over stove/more compact model instead of the old still working/table top/rather large/antique/boat anchor model.

 

Summer car tuneup. AC is intermittent. Replaced the clutch relay and topped off the R134A.


Contact were smoked.
Replaced with a real Japanese model and converted the old relay to a test unit with a soldered jumper.


Ran a full DIAG with the scanner.

Only had a few CAT Converter warnings that I cleared. Too bad the HVAC system is still totally analog on the old Honda. The from air mixer motor is also stuck.

 

Pulled the mode/mixer motor for hot/cold air flow. Used a few Ty-Raps to force the activator arms to the cold position. Nice cold air instead of hot. Motor seems to be OK. So wiring, controller of transistor block. Fuses are all good.

A real pain to get to. Don't think I will need heat for the next few months so the hack will stay in place for the summer.

 

Repaired my power amplifier. It lives in the pantry under the shelves where cleaning products are kept. First I knew of a problem, was a Residual Current Circuit Breaker tripped and I traced it to the amplifier. When I got time to look at it, I found that half a gallon of hand cleaner had run into it.
So I hosed it down and left it in the sun to dry, and it works!
I think it was saved by not being switched on at the time, and 230V was only present as far as the on/off switch.
(Not my tidiest bit of work, but I did make it in 2004, and its design has "evolved" over the last 20 years)

 

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So I hosed it down and left it in the sun to dry, and it works!

Brilliant! But did you put it back under the cleaning supplies?

 

b

Brilliant! But did you put it back under the cleaning supplies?

Yes, but I've put a sheet of perspex under the cleaning supplies.

 

Repaired my power amplifier. It lives in the pantry under the shelves where cleaning products are kept. First I knew of a problem, was a Residual Current Circuit Breaker tripped and I traced it to the amplifier. When I got time to look at it, I found that half a gallon of hand cleaner had run into it.
View attachment 351051So I hosed it down and left it in the sun to dry, and it works!
I think it was saved by not being switched on at the time, and 230V was only present as far as the on/off switch.
(Not my tidiest bit of work, but I did make it in 2004, and its design has "evolved" over the last 20 years)

Did you use ordinary tap water? ... or distilled water?

 

Did you use ordinary tap water? ... or distilled water?

Tap water, out of the garden hose, gallons of it until it stopped being frothy!

 

Yes, but I've put a sheet of perspex under the cleaning supplies.

The lovely wife Morticia suggested a tent over the amp. I would have switched the shelves.

 

The amplifier was a late arrival in the pantry. It was banished there after the cleaning products had found their home on the shelves because it was too ugly for the lounge (hope I'm not next) and it was noted that speaker sockets could be installed in the lounge and cables taken through the wall into the pantry. I should have kept quite about the my new masonry drill. . .

 

Dropping off scrap metal at the local recycler and see a newer looking Dewalt table saw. After a quick inspection I threw it into the truck, suspecting motor burnt. Once I got into it, I see new motor, switches, but it throws breaker on power up. A bit of research confirms that power has been connected wrong at switch. Reconnect and all's good. Now to sell my smaller model of the same saw.

 

Dropping off scrap metal at the local recycler and see a newer looking Dewalt table saw. After a quick inspection I threw it into the truck, suspecting motor burnt. Once I got into it, I see new motor, switches, but it throws breaker on power up. A bit of research confirms that power has been connected wrong at switch. Reconnect and all's good. Now to sell my smaller model of the same saw.

Participate in the Gift Economy by giving it away. Your bigger model you got for free. Look up Buy Nothing Project in your area.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1B8GK9Kraq/

 

2008 Toyota Yaris would not start. Clicks, but engine does not turn over.
Starter motor and battery recently replaced.
Cleaned the washer type connector that is bolted on to the starter motor, feeding 12 V straight from battery.
Starts now.

 

Fixed the grey Samsung USB FDD drive, but unfortunately the black Teac drive still can't scan the disks... You can't win all the time, unfortunately.