Zero Knievel

Why? Because I don’t want to spend a dime more than is necessary for something I don’t need or want?

When you’re far enough away, an antenna can only do so much. It’s a fairly large aerial, and if I have to replace it, I have to hire someone to install it. I’d rather buy a >$40 booster and call it a day if it works. I don’t even watch fucking TV, but mom won’t shut up about it.

The outdoor antenna we have should be adequate. The booster was always needed, and it’s simpler to upgrade the booster with a newer one and THEN replace the antenna if it still doesn’t work. We were fine until some channels went to a new antenna which transmits in the higher UHF band. Other channels don’t pose an issue.

Thoughts on this one? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084YQX5Q6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?SubscriptionId=AKIAJO7E5OLQ67NVPFZA&ascsubtag=894910262-2-528113852.1687804541&tag=shopperz_origin1-20

I want just the booster, not an antenna or antenna with booster. We can’t get certain channels because they are in a higher UHF band (although still identified in the VHF channel scheme). Our existing booster (from Radio Shack) doesn’t work in that range which is why we do well with some but not other DTV channels.

So, it comes down to the age old question, “Were you fucking with it?” 😉

My brush mower fouled the plug after a bad start. I didn't think that was possible, but change the spark plug and all is good.

Manual chokes are tricky sometimes. If the plugs are accessible, pull them and see if they fouled. Also, assuming it's electric start, parallel attach a second 12v battery to supply more than enough CCAs. See if that fixes it. Small bike often means small battery, and maybe your battery isn't putting out enough to both crank and properly spark. If it floods the motor, then you really struggle to get it to start.

I have the replacements still in their bags. There are spots of rust on those hangers. The replacements are spotless.

From what I can tell, some new bolts were used for the springs. I’m guessing some either sheared or had to be cut off. The mounts were otherwise okay.

Well, if one has proof that’s what happened…. Have to put the vehicle on a lift. Properly support the rear axle. Then start working on 20+ year old bolts in confined spaces. I’d easily have needed the whole day IF I managed to get it done on my own.

Well…what a difference. Before, the truck rolled noticeably in every turn. Now, hardly any roll at all. Definitely needed to be done. It will be interesting how much the bed does or doesn’t sag when I pick up a year’s supply of salt for the water softener. Only the springs were replaced, so on Monday I can see about returning the unused parts.

Happening in Chrome under Windows 10 and iPad.

Truck is done. $434.99 to install the springs. Took the guy 5 hours at $85/hour. Quite reasonable. I'll get a better look at how much OEM parts he had to change out, but I saw he did the rear hanger on the driver's side, and there is NO WAY I could have gotten tools in place to loosen the nuts mounting them to the frame. Commented that it was a bitch of a job, which I believe with over 200K and 25 years.

Perhaps, but most all metric sets stop at 19mm. Thankfully the U-bots are reusable. Mazda did this thing where they're flattened around the axle and slightly flanged at the ends. When I measured (best I could) for the order, it looked like I had 3" u-bolts, but that's too big. I have to reuse the originals because that's what fits.

Don’t have the right tools. Assholes at Mazda/Ford used an assortment of SAE and metric sizes. I got the u-bolts on the left side undone…which I thought would be the worst. However, the mount bolts on the ends use a 13/16 nut. I don’t have that in a closed end wrench, and after trying as much as I dared with an open end wrench, I decided it was smarter to pay my mechanic than to risk rounding off nuts with inadequate tools. I even had mom pick up a 90 degree impact wrench from HF in town, but it was too large to access the problem nuts. Yeah, I could look and buy a single 13/16 closed end wrench, but that’s a trip to/from town and if I need yet another tool…another trip…plus the risk of it fucking up anyhow. Sometimes, paying a mechanic is better than dealing with it yourself. I kid you not, I bought impact drive sockets after breaking a regular socket working on mom’s car with the impact gun. Every fucking place I could use an impact gun either is inaccessible (can’t get the tool in there) or had bolts so long the socket can’t sit on the nut…even with deep sockets.

I’ll know in a couple of weeks. Have yet to have them installed.

I’d guess 40+ years of emotional baggage.

That’s an option. If you have a metal worker near you, buy the best one you can find and have him fabricate it to be the size you need. Properly done, it should be more than strong enough.

Along those lines, I was wondering, “what stops you from buying the drop hitch and inserting it upside down with the ball installed accordingly?”

I wanted to attach pics for the supplier, but my work e-mail was lagging badly. Posted here, downloaded, remove pics. Clever workaround.

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And, yet, Amazon manages….

I find those too…but here’s the rub… Fuck that shit. No way that shipping charge is justifiable. Every site claiming to have this has insane shipping charges.

And they might know where I can find a replacement pad….