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Post by 90GTVert on Apr 19, 2020 23:53:22 GMT -5
I got the bracket and crossover (with 1/8" NPT bung) welded in today. My welding helmet stopped darkening at the end. Got light and dark spots in my eyes, but finished what I was doing. Just took the helmet apart thinking maybe I could replace the batteries and get it going again, but they're attached quite well and to really thin strips that seem like they want to break with me messing with them. This thing is 10+ years old and wasn't expensive so I guess new helmet it is.
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Post by 90GTVert on Apr 20, 2020 21:50:33 GMT -5
GoDaddy is being screwy and I can't upload pics for the last few days so I've just been using the insert image button. On top of that, when I tried today they give me a recommendation for a domain name that is "a good fit for you". They think I should buy "bench.racing". F U GoDaddy.  Made these big "nuts" and got them tacked into the frame. Nuts are 5/8" thick. I figured 3 of those M8x1.25 should be plenty to hold even this tank and ~1 gallon of fuel.   |
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Post by geoffh on Apr 21, 2020 10:36:03 GMT -5
Yeah uploading pictures has been driving me nuts ,last week I was a guru now I,m a gibbering wreck and have given up until the grandkids can come round take the hiss out of me.
Geoff
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Post by 90GTVert on Apr 22, 2020 17:02:55 GMT -5
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Post by 90GTVert on Apr 24, 2020 19:43:51 GMT -5
The welding helmet and headgear were both "guaranteed" for delivery by today. The helmet still shows that USPS is waiting for it. The headgear shows no updates beyond being accepted by USPS. Both big sellers with near perfect feedback scores and no messages about delays. Of course anything that I've ordered over the last month that I didn't care about getting right away has arrived as usual. I told the seller of the helmet that they either need to expedite shipping or I need a refund so I can order from someone that will ship, but they haven't responded yet.
I've been messing with other stuff though, which is also at a point where welding would sure be handy. I'll prob end up taking the current helmet apart again. It's doing nothing at all anyway so no risk of breaking it at this point. The new helmet (assuming I ever get it) has a replaceable battery, which makes way more sense to me unless you're trying to stay in business by making things throwaway items.
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Post by oldgeek on Apr 24, 2020 21:39:56 GMT -5
The welding helmet and headgear were both "guaranteed" for delivery by today. The helmet still shows that USPS is waiting for it. The headgear shows no updates beyond being accepted by USPS. Both big sellers with near perfect feedback scores and no messages about delays. Of course anything that I've ordered over the last month that I didn't care about getting right away has arrived as usual. I told the seller of the helmet that they either need to expedite shipping or I need a refund so I can order from someone that will ship, but they haven't responded yet. I've been messing with other stuff though, which is also at a point where welding would sure be handy. I'll prob end up taking the current helmet apart again. It's doing nothing at all anyway so no risk of breaking it at this point. The new helmet (assuming I ever get it) has a replaceable battery, which makes way more sense to me unless you're trying to stay in business by making things throwaway items. Unusual for me my Amazon orders have been arriving early despite them saying it will be here at a later date. I have been ordering quite a bit of stuff, nothing delayed at all so far. Even fedex showed up today when they originally said next Monday. Historically they NEVER make it here on time. |
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Post by 90GTVert on Apr 24, 2020 23:10:21 GMT -5
No luck with the current helmet. Tried replacing 1 battery only (no damage done at that point) and that did nothing. Broke 3 different wires/connections off of a circuit board trying to get the other off. Not a chance that I'd get those tiny things soldered back on. Trash can it is.
I actually had 3 eBay orders. The helmet, the headgear and a step drill (my HF one dulled out drilling the frame). All guaranteed Fri. None showed. I just looked at the tracking on the step drill and that just shipped Thur. 3 different sellers in 3 different parts of the country. The step drill doesn't really bother me. Now that I've said that, I'll need to drill a 1 3/8" hole tomorrow.
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Post by Kenho21 on Apr 24, 2020 23:21:25 GMT -5
I’ve had a constant stream of orders, probably 5-10 a week (mostly scooter stuff haha), for the past couple months and since about a month ago, none of my USPS orders have been arriving on time. I’ve had three USPS orders lost or damaged by them as well.
Lately, I’ve only been ordering from sellers (E.g. Scooter Tuning, Amazon, ebay, etc.) that I know will or will force their sellers to take responsibility for failed shipping. Ultimately it is the seller’s responsibility to choose a shipper that will get the package delivered.
I always choose a carrier other than USPS if given the choice.
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Post by 190mech on Apr 25, 2020 4:21:33 GMT -5
We always have an old school non autodarkening helmet around the shop,so when the modern ones DO fail,the job will get done..I found out recently that lots of helmets use solar cells to charge the battery(s) and just setting them outside in the sunlight will bring the batteries up again..
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Post by 90GTVert on Apr 25, 2020 7:06:22 GMT -5
The seller replied that their shipments are delayed due to COVID. Pretty much what I expected. Then said it has been shipped "so kindly have a wait" and that shipping is just not updated by USPS as it should be. Checked the tracking number just now and it arrived at the post office at about the same time that they sent that reply. So rather than just apologizing for a delay and owning up to it totally, they blamed the post office that didn't even have the package.
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Post by 90GTVert on Apr 26, 2020 23:42:41 GMT -5
I've got an aftermarket LED tail light for Harleys. Not a Harley guy. Just cheap and high rated. Made a back plate for it since it's meant to install on a stock base on HDs. Needs the spacers and nuts tacked on for easy removal/installation.   The HD light has an angle so it would be odd if mounted to a straight up surface. I made an adapter of sorts to go into the frame with an angled end for the tail light base to eventually be welded to. I made it from a 1.75" solid steel rod. That was fun.   I made an additional bracket for the rear area to help hold a rack and tacked that on.  I found an 8"x12" x0.25" sheet of aluminum for under $20 shipped that could work as a rack.  Changed the shape a bit and added some slots for tying down things.  It still looked too plain, so I decided to put more of a design into it. Probably a mistake. This is as far as I've made it. My 20 year old jigsaw that I've never liked is really acting up. The blade popped out maybe 15 times just cutting these sections and I have to fight it to get it to take roughly the path that I want sometimes.  Now, in addition to the welding helmet and the jigsaw acting up, the tripod that I always use in the garage is broken. Only good news is that my Harbor Freight work gloves are now touch screen friendly.  |
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Post by Kenho21 on Apr 27, 2020 1:22:45 GMT -5
With Brent’s supply chain beginning to breakdown, it’s time to start raking this whole COVID thing seriously folks. I need this for quality entertainment.
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Post by 90GTVert on Apr 30, 2020 12:47:06 GMT -5
The helmet and headgear came in a couple of days ago. Pretty happy with both. The headgear with it that's said by many reviews to break in short order does feel cheap. The combo is better than my old helmet. I can see a little better for starting a weld and while welding, since the darkness adjustment actually makes a noticeable difference on this one. Part numbers shown just in case it's of use to anyone.   I got the filler neck and bung welded in.  That's where it all turned to crap. I hooked up a pressure tester and found a group of small leaks in the pickup tube connections to the cylinders. All centered around the area that's hard to get to or see for welding. The first side went OK. Took a few tries, but no biggie. Then I spent all day off and on yesterday on it and it still has a couple of pinholes... plus a big bunch of weld. I was welding for a few then cutting grass a bit and then welding and so on, because I was frustrated with it already. Back at it today. Getting nowhere. I thought I may grind off a lot of the weld and retry on the troubled side of the pickup, but first I found some small leaks on the rest of the tanks. I got a few patched. A few leak anyway every time. Weld, grind, test. Leaks again. Weld, grind, test. Leaks again. Weld... You get the idea. I don't even want to look at it right this second. When I started thinking about hitting it with the BFH, I came inside. I don't get like that much anymore. I just figure I can get it, put the time in... but I've got quite a bit of time and some money and 30 minutes of video of the tank building already edited as I went so I could stay up to date... and I can't get it to seal so it's a giant hunk of scrap metal ATM. They're all pinholes. I'm sure I could JB Weld seal it. Was hoping not to go there. I knew this was going to suck, but I kinda figured no more than a day and it would be done. Now I don't even know that I can do it at all. |
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Post by Kenho21 on Apr 30, 2020 14:04:11 GMT -5
The helmet and headgear came in a couple of days ago. Pretty happy with both. The headgear with it that's said by many reviews to break in short order does feel cheap. The combo is better than my old helmet. I can see a little better for starting a weld and while welding, since the darkness adjustment actually makes a noticeable difference on this one. Part numbers shown just in case it's of use to anyone. I got the filler neck and bung welded in. That's where it all turned to crap. I hooked up a pressure tester and found a group of small leaks in the pickup tube connections to the cylinders. All centered around the area that's hard to get to or see for welding. The first side went OK. Took a few tries, but no biggie. Then I spent all day off and on yesterday on it and it still has a couple of pinholes... plus a big bunch of weld. I was welding for a few then cutting grass a bit and then welding and so on, because I was frustrated with it already. Back at it today. Getting nowhere. I thought I may grind off a lot of the weld and retry on the troubled side of the pickup, but first I found some small leaks on the rest of the tanks. I got a few patched. A few leak anyway every time. Weld, grind, test. Leaks again. Weld, grind, test. Leaks again. Weld... You get the idea. I don't even want to look at it right this second. When I started thinking about hitting it with the BFH, I came inside. I don't get like that much anymore. I just figure I can get it, put the time in... but I've got quite a bit of time and some money and 30 minutes of video of the tank building already edited as I went so I could stay up to date... and I can't get it to seal so it's a giant hunk of scrap metal ATM. They're all pinholes. I'm sure I could JB Weld seal it. Was hoping not to go there. I knew this was going to suck, but I kinda figured no more than a day and it would be done. Now I don't even know that I can do it at all. I have zero welding experience, but a lot of experience messing things up. Hopefully it’ll be one of those things that just goes smoothly soon or it’ll be one of those things that sucks the whole way through. At any rate, it’ll be over at some point lol. Like you said, just put in the time. |
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Post by 90GTVert on Apr 30, 2020 18:39:04 GMT -5
I went back out and worked on everything other than the x-over tube for a bit. I've got that stuff sealed now. There's a big but though. I haven't ground anything down. Some of it doesn't need it, but a few spots do.
I started giving it 10-15 seconds of the propane torch just before starting to weld. I don't know that the pre-heat matters, but I could see moisture disappearing from the area, even after wire wheeling and blasting it with the air compressor. Also tried to use high voltage the best I could. I blew through for the first time (of the sealing stuff) while doing this. About a 1/4-3/8" hole. It's sealed now, but again not ground down.
I've been cranking it up to 10psi to be sure I find stuff. Only intended to test up to 5-7psi like a 2T leak test. Even with the one side of the x-over having a few pinhole leaks, the needle still doesn't move very much on the pressure gauge. I guess tomorrow I'll see what I can do with the crossover area. Then if I get that to seal I'll be grinding down a few areas and seeing if it will still seal.
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