So what are you working on that’s NOT your DSM?

[JetMac]

Routine maintenance on my 21 tundra, got a 10+ hour road trip coming up on Friday. So just had new tires put on the truck last Thursday and getting it aligned now. Gonna do the plugs before the trip, just rolled over 60K so they’re needed anyway, brakes are fine, but most likely will swap the pads after the trip when I’ve got more time. Has a fresh oil change, and new trans fluid so that’s good.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I'm back building computer stuff for maintaining my 50 Y.O. personal computers. This morning I did a quick mockup of the LEDs to see if I could come up with a color scheme that might make it easier to quickly grasp if it's working and in not what might be acting up.

Parts arrived from California in the afternoon mail and spent the rest of the afternoon soldering until I reached a point where the LEDs are getting installed and I'll have to make a decision.

In between I managed to go do some touch up work on my TT but I won't be able to finish up the brakes until after back surgery and recovery.

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Best of luck on the outcome on surgery and make sure you take the time for recovery Steve!

 

[JetMac]

I finally gave up on other methods of security and went all out on cameras. I've installed a ton of motion sensor LED lights around the property to hopefully scare off any night lurkers. But my address is all over the internet and I have some very expensive bikes inside. So I figured the shop needs some cameras now. I must say that I'm very impressed with the Wyze cameras that I've picked up. I did have to run some extra electrical, but totally worth it. The cams are like $30? Or so each. High quality image day and night. It buzzes my phone anytime motion is detected during the hours which I've selected. I have the option of saving recordings onto an SD card or to upload on the cloud. I can open the app on my phone at anytime from anywhere and see the livestream from each camera. And the monthly subscription is very affordable. The subscription isn't necessary to install or use the cameras but I wanted the extra features for peace of mind. Makes me wonder why I waited so long!

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Also those scrapes on the aluminum trim below the camera were from a 1988 Honda GoldWing with extended CV antennas. The doors are only 7ft tall for this shop. I'm blueprinting another shop with 9ft doors in the back half acre, and I'll have to share that one soon

Yeah I bought my house back in January 2024 and the very first thing I added was a ring camera doorbell, I had my internet service moved over to the new place too while we were moving out of the rental and into the new place, but even though I only had the one camera it still gave me a greater peace of mind knowing I could lurk on camera when ever I needed or wanted. Since then, I’ve added more cameras like one at a time as I find deals online. Ring cameras aren’t cheap, but they have a great warranty and customer service and their cameras are pretty durable out in the weather. Now I have 6 cameras around my property and it’s the best investment for security I’ve ever made. My doorbell is wired to constant power, but my remote cameras around the property are all on solar panels and batteries. One thing I had to do was install a WiFi mesh system in my house, because the regular modem wasn’t strong enough to broadcast the signal to all of the cameras, so often times I’d come home to a camera that was offline and I’d have to reconnect it to the internet, but again once I installed my mesh system that covers like 5500 sq ft, I haven’t had a single issue with cameras loosing WiFi connection. Things have been great. We have a private pond on my property stocked with large mouth bass, bluegills, and sunfish and it’s been a problem with people coming onto my property to fish in my pond so I’ve got a camera way back behind the house looking directly at the pond and whenever I get alerts on my phone I can pull up the video feed and if they’re still there I can go on the mic and ask them politely to leave my property, most of the time - once they realize they’re on camera they don’t even argue and just pack their stuff and take off. I have signs posted all along my fence back by the pond (that’s not fenced) saying private property no trespassing, but you’d be amazed at how many people either don’t read the signs, or completely ignore them, or just don’t care the signs are even there.

 

[Ludachris]

I finally gave up on other methods of security and went all out on cameras. I've installed a ton of motion sensor LED lights around the property to hopefully scare off any night lurkers. But my address is all over the internet and I have some very expensive bikes inside. So I figured the shop needs some cameras now. I must say that I'm very impressed with the Wyze cameras that I've picked up. I did have to run some extra electrical, but totally worth it. The cams are like $30? Or so each. High quality image day and night. It buzzes my phone anytime motion is detected during the hours which I've selected. I have the option of saving recordings onto an SD card or to upload on the cloud. I can open the app on my phone at anytime from anywhere and see the livestream from each camera. And the monthly subscription is very affordable. The subscription isn't necessary to install or use the cameras but I wanted the extra features for peace of mind. Makes me wonder why I waited so long!

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Also those scrapes on the aluminum trim below the camera were from a 1988 Honda GoldWing with extended CV antennas. The doors are only 7ft tall for this shop. I'm blueprinting another shop with 9ft doors in the back half acre, and I'll have to share that one soon

Cameras are a solid option, but what happens when they just ignore the cameras and can't be identified? Are you expecting them to be more of a deterrent?

 

[JetMac]

Cameras are a solid option, but what happens when they just ignore the cameras and can't be identified? Are you expecting them to be more of a deterrent?

I’ll give you my take on it, 3 of my 6 cameras are spotlight cameras, so at night when the area my camera is looking at is dark and the camera detects motion it starts recording in night vision and turns on the spotlight to illuminate the area. Most of what I’ve seen, the person approaching doesn’t even see the camera until the lights turn on and by that time its too late, I’ve already got them on camera. The lights on the camera are so bright I doubt they even know it’s coming from a camera, they probably just think it’s a spotlight at night. During the day, I’d like to think they can be a deterrent if they see that I’ve got cameras up and I’d like to believe most people do see them, cause they’re hanging at the corners of my house under the eves, with 4W solar panels attached to them so it’s not like their invisible. I want people to know ive got cameras so they don’t try to mess with my stuff you know. Plus, my cameras prove I’m an honest person, if anything happened and we needed to get the law involved, it’s my word against theirs - and I can give them my story and video proof which proves my point or story again showing I’m being honest and have integrity. I can’t stand people who lie, there’s no reason for it - sorry for going off topic - was in the military for 16 years and I’m sorta brainwashed when it comes to that integrity and being a better person sorta thing.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

Cameras are a solid option, but what happens when they just ignore the cameras and can't be identified? Are you expecting them to be more of a deterrent?

I've never actually had an issue with anyone trying to steal (at this location), or even being on the property when they shouldn't. I'm just not taking the risk anymore with all the high end stuff coming through. If someone walks or drives in front of the cameras, which they'd have to if they wanted to steal anything, then I'll hopefully have clear picture of their face and/or tag number. I guess if they were all masked up and using a vehicle with no tag, it may just be a dead end police report. That's what insurance is for though . And I doubt I'd be the first target for anyone acting like that. I'm too far deep in a quiet neighborhood. But yes, I'd also think they're a deterrent. At least for anyone looking for an easy swipe.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Imma sneak down and fish your pond, but I promise to catch and release

 

[Widgmaster]

Someone slashed my tire at the building I live in. We have a big problem with homeless people trying to get in. One fellow tried to push past me, saying he lived here, but I know differently. It got rowdy. I said there's a park right there, young man .. He hit me in the back of the head four times. When I faced him, he kept swinging, but I blocked every punch he threw. I said, look .. I'm 74, and you're in your twenties, and you can,t even get a shot in. Don't you think you should move along? He left the area, and that's when the police showed up. They were giving me the gear for fighting on the Housing property. Thank God there was a lady who was sitting in her car and saw the whole thing. She said, " He was only defending himself and did not fight back. When I explained the whole story to the cop, he said, " Maybe you should have kicked his ass and taught the punk a lesson. Then, about two weeks later, there were some young men standing at the front of Walmart asking for spare change. I went up to the very boy who attacked me and gave him $10 bucks. You should have seen the look on his face, priceless. I told him there is a better way to live, and if he cared to talk about his situation, you know where I live. Can't blame a guy for wanting to get out of this cold
Edit... The building's video cameras captured the ruckuses, and they asked me if I was a boxer... LoL

 

[JetMac]

Imma sneak down and fish your pond, but I promise to catch and release

I’ll allow it, only because you said you’d promise to catch and release .

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Always, for others to enjoy Solomon. If I ever get there, I'll knock and beg you to go with me!
Same rules apply here!
I had to restock the pond last year since it went dry during our drought, but they are getting bigger. Bass and perch.

 

[JetMac]

Someone slashed my tire at the building I live in. We have a big problem with homeless people trying to get in. One fellow tried to push past me, saying he lived here, but I know differently. It got rowdy. I said there's a park right there, young man .. He hit me in the back of the head four times. When I faced him, he kept swinging, but I blocked every punch he threw. I said, look .. I'm 74, and you're in your twenties, and you can,t even get a shot in. Don't you think you should move along? He left the area, and that's when the police showed up. They were giving me the gear for fighting on the Housing property. Thank God there was a lady who was sitting in her car and saw the whole thing. She said, " He was only defending himself and did not fight back. When I explained the whole story to the cop, he said, " Maybe you should have kicked his ass and taught the punk a lesson. Then, about two weeks later, there were some young men standing at the front of Walmart asking for spare change. I went up to the very boy who attacked me and gave him $10 bucks. You should have seen the look on his face, priceless. I told him there is a better way to live, and if he cared to talk about his situation, you know where I live. Can't blame a guy for wanting to get out of this cold
Edit... The building's video cameras captured the ruckuses, and they asked me if I was a boxer... LoL

That’s awesome, and kudos to you for being the bigger man and being gracious enough to help another man when it’s warranted.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

You should've kicked his ass Larry

 

[pat white]

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my sled for friendly pond drag racing ...i like the sleeper look complete with mirrors ...90+ mph in 660 feet on snow pump gas ...still dialing it in

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[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Helping a little on this. It has some nice features.

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[Badge023]

We had 3 nice days in Jersey, so I spent them exhuming the Blue Turd from the garage and getting it ready for another summer.

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[CrackedDSM]

Need to get pictures, but my uncle just recently purchased a late 80's, early 90's Jeep Cherokee. It's something I mentioned I'd help him on and he took it as wanting a project for him and I.

It was actually pretty cool. He's been having a rough idle issue and misfire so first thing I did was pull plugs. Jeepers Creepers these plugs were horrible. Few minutes per plug with a wire brush and some brake cleaner had them shiny again. I lowered the gap a bit because they were gapped to like... .050, Lol. Checked firing order, and replaced a injector he had. Completely cured the misfire and it purred like a kitten, but it had trouble idling. I pulled the TB and cleaned it, and it helped a little but not entirely. So on a whim, I took the end of a 1/4 ratchet and tapped on the ISC motor...bam. Instantly fixed.

Gonna replace the ISC when we get it in the mail along with a new throttle body(the idle adjustment screw stripped out by a previous owner, I rigged it up temporarily).

Also did some wiring for him that he was super impressed by. Someone cut the stock wiring to the stock accessory fan, so it took me a few seconds to trace the wires, test it out, confirm it worked, and solder new wires/heatshrink new wires and tucked it up like factory.


Was super fun, and honestly the AMS Talon has taught me so much. I'd never have been able to diagnose like I did and do the work I did without it. Eternally grateful for it. The battery from the AMS Talon now lives in his Jeep because he needed a new one.

 

[jdxnc]

Not my DSM but FOR my DSM. I bought the billet PTT clutch alignment tool a few years back and it always pissed me off that the pin was smaller than the center hole of the flywheel(might be that my flywheel is an older revision), always made installing the transmission hit or miss. So today I made a little press fit sleeve for it, now it fits the flywheel perfectly.

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[BLACK'98DSM]

I've always used the plastic or nylon alignment tools and never had issues. Some can go for multiple uses just as good as the first. I may not be in tune with why you'd want a billet tool though!

 

[jdxnc]

I've always used the plastic or nylon alignment tools and never had issues. Some can go for multiple uses just as good as the first. I may not be in tune with why you'd want a billet tool though!

I have both, the nylon ones don't fit this flywheel either, the hole is larger than oem.

With a twin disk alignment is crucial, if the disks aren't perfectly aligned radially, then getting the input shaft through both disks is a huge pain, the nylon tools leave a lot to be desired here. I had the end wrapped in Kapton tape to build it up to be snug in the flywheel but it still had some play, no longer though!

 

[Ludachris]

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Spent time both days working on this. Yesterday I was able to drop the old transmission and bolt in the replacement - lining that thing up to the engine was fun. I still have to put the axles back in and reconnect everything but all of the hard stuff is done (I hope).

Man, I'm getting old. I'm sore all over

Just letting you guys know that the replacement transmission in the Corolla shifts much nicer now, in case you were on pins and needles waiting to find out. I also replaced the mounts (used the two that came with the trans and ordered the other two that didn't come with it), the engine side mount was really bad. The two mounts from RockAuto didn't line up all that well (I chose the best sellers too) and I had to grind one of the holes a little bit on both. Gotta love dealing with dumb ish like that.

I will need to do an overhaul on the suspension at some point - new bushings and ball joints, probably new shocks too. But that can wait a little bit.

I need to get back to working on the yard. My mother in law is planning to get married on our property towards the end of summer, so there's a bit of pressure to get all my landscape irrigation done quickly and get the watering situation and landscaping done before the summer hits and kills everything.

 

[pauleyman]

I may have picked up a new hobby. Ive been upset at the quality of lots of things. Ive started buying vintage items and lately that has been garage items. Ive got several older craftsman bench grinders and today I picked up a vintage craftsman drill press. Been looking for a year. The plan is cleanup and put it to service.

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[Ludachris]

I may have picked up a new hobby. Ive been upset at the quality of lots of things. Ive started buying vintage items and lately that has been garage items. Ive got several older craftsman bench grinders and today I picked up a vintage craftsman drill press. Been looking for a year. The plan is cleanup and put it to service.

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I wish more old tools like that would be refurbed and modernized when possible, and resold. Most of the tools made today are not built to last decades, or be repaired/serviced. They're built to last a couple years and then replaced with something new - everything is disposable these days due to hyper consumerism. Lifetime warranties do not mean what they used to. The problem is, some new tools have new engineering and/or features that older tools don't always have, making them appealing. I'd still love to have a bunch of older tools and equipment if I could.

 

[Canadian_CD9A]

This is more of what I’m NOT going to be working on. After getting my ass kicked at the gas pump the past while on my 2013 Infiniti G37x (12 mpg on premium in bumper-to-bumper traffic every day at $5.38/gal equivalent now), it was finally time to become a grown up and get something new and efficient.

Toyota has $11,500 off on PHEV Priuses right now, but I just couldn’t love it. I signed on the hybrid I needed instead - over 1/3 of the payment is money saved by getting 50 mpg on regular instead of throwing it away in the Infiniti. These are so damn nice, absolutely all the car you need for every day chores. More money and time for the Evo!

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[Stapl3]

I may have picked up a new hobby. Ive been upset at the quality of lots of things. Ive started buying vintage items and lately that has been garage items. Ive got several older craftsman bench grinders and today I picked up a vintage craftsman drill press. Been looking for a year. The plan is cleanup and put it to service.

Ive been doing the same. Picked this bandsaw up a couple weeks ago. Currently on the hunt for a huge pedestal grinder.

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[steve]

Holy Moly that is a big band saw. How deep is that throat and thickness capacity