Shade tree mechanic! Whatcha workin on.

[NewYankeeSawmill]

Welp, we've been upgraded to a blown head gasket!
Replacing the injectors and re-setting the computer seemed to have a big impact (as did Mobil1 Fuel)... then I started getting a cooling system leak. Replaced the water pump, a hose, still squirting.
Sigh. That's miles above my pay grade. Thankfully a friend has offered to help. I just have to cough up for the parts and the beer. Works for me!

[Stephen1]

A friend and utube will fix that pretty quick. I blew a head gasket on my 93 bobcat years ago, that was above my pay grade also, needed a rad and the head had to be machined, actually they baked it in an oven for24 hrs as it had warped, straightened it and machined it. I was able to get it back installed and running with the help of tube. The machine shop laughed at me when they gave it backed to me and everything was in a box. I had given it to them all tagged and marked so I could just put it back on.......It went back together pretty easy. 

[Machinebuilder]

my current miserable mechanical job



That's the leaking hose going to the left lift cylinder. there is no way to get wrenchs on the hose to tube fittings in the machine.
I am still struggling to get the 2nd hose out, I only have about 3 1/2 hours in this job so far.

I hate working on Bobcat. there is so much in such a small space that is difficult to get to. it just started leaking too much to just keep adding oil.

[Magicman]

I had a kinda similar situation once and went back totally flexible. 

[Big_eddy]

my current miserable mechanical job



That's the leaking hose going to the left lift cylinder. there is no way to get wrenchs on the hose to tube fittings in the machine.
I am still struggling to get the 2nd hose out, I only have about 3 1/2 hours in this job so far.

I hate working on Bobcat. there is so much in such a small space that is difficult to get to. it just started leaking too much to just keep adding oil.

Looks awfully similar to the job I just did replacing the leaking transmission oil cooler lines on my F150. After messing around for way too long with flare nut wrenches, I buzzed the rusty old lines off with a zip wheel and put a socket on the fitting. If I'd thought of it earlier, would have saved an hour of cussing.

[rusticretreater]

Sometimes you gotta make the tool you need.  Weld it, bend it, grind it. Sometimes you need to remove other parts to get a good angle on it. Whatever it takes. 

[Resonator]

I put a new starter in "Old Rusty" the other day, my '07 Ram 2500, and it actually went pretty good. Used a 4x8 sheet of plywood to lay on, and drove the front wheels up on boards to give me a little more room underneath. The starter in there technically still worked, but to get motorvated need a little tappy - tap with a hammer.
Best part was since I had replaced this same starter a few years ago, the parts store covered the full cost under the warranty.

[SwampDonkey]

Locally, we could always get them rebuilt. Wasn't all that expensive back in the day.

[doc henderson]

should get my relined brake shoes back today.  now it will be cold!

[Old saw fixer]

When I worked at the local Chrysler Dodge Plymouth dealer('68 to '78) as a mechanic, the parts department stocked OEM new parts to rebuild starters, alternators, steering pumps, and more.
Those were the good old days!

[doc henderson]

This place relines brake shoes and can find old truck parts.  buck is the guy in charge.  they are 40 minutes away and they have a route to pick up and drop off.  they also give away calendars with pictures that could make any man or woman blush.  They apparently have a version for both genders and occasionally as a joke will give a truck driver the wrong one.  Old fashioned fun.

[Resonator]

Locally, we could always get them rebuilt. 

I know guys with all the tools and heated garage space that would rebuild them themselves, I tip my hat to them.  
Laying on the ground in the cold, needing to get the thing fixed and running, I just bolt on a new one.

[doc henderson]

these shoes are no longer available.  He had trouble getting cores and I told him, he can use mine.

[SwampDonkey]

Often it would be a tractor, or potato truck needed to farm. There was a day when stuff like that was fixed and you walked back out with it or the next morning picked it up. Same with saws, most of these John Deere dealers who carry Stihl saws, stock no parts at all these days. I could go to Harold a few years ago at his shop and I walked out with a fixed saw or he loaned me one until mine was fixed in a day or so. Don't expect it now. 

[doc henderson]

Sylven passed away, but he was the saw guy at the Amish dealer.  He would wonder if he had it, but almost always did.  On time I was out sawing and had my gooseneck and skid steer with me.  saw kept dying and then would run if I filled it with fuel.  he told me it was prob a crack in the preformed bend in the fuel line, but he went to lunch at 1:30.  Lunch for him was a packed lunch box and he sat on an old car bench seat in the lobby/front of the business.  Had to unhook the trailer as it was half full of unsecured wood.  wanted to finish, so I did not have to come back.  I got there and expected he could not finish it as it was 1:15. He tried to act grumpy but was OK if he felt you appreciated what he did.  He worked on it using a tool he made to pull in a new fuel line.  It had also broken the drive sprocket, and he replaced it and put it all back together.  took it out to check it with a tach and tuned it up.  He said, it is not throwing oil.  took it back in and took it all back apart to find a part plastic worm gear that pumped oil, packed with saw chips and oil and broken.  He found one on the shelf and fixed it.  still confirmed it was throwing oil.  I apologized for him missing lunch.  He said, no matter, I will go sit and eat for a half hour, no matter when it starts.  Old school.

[Nebraska]

Wish there were more like him.