Quote from: MacWa77ace on June 19, 2023, 11:39:17 AM

Quote from: MacWa77ace on November 09, 2022, 08:13:25 AMThis Toro of mine is incredible, other than the transmission going just recently it has never failed to start on the slightest of pulls. [hope I didn't just jinx it] AND I bought it used at least 14 years ago. Only maintenance I've done on it is change the oil, plugs, air filter and sharpened the blade. Y

So I still haven't fixed the transmission on the Toro. A new transmission costs $99 and probably an hour's work. So I'm telling myself that I'm 'in training' pushing that thing around my yard without the power drive in the heat of the Florida summer.

OK, so...

Found a transmission on the Jungle Web for $41. Went to swap it out last month and turns out they put the bevel gear on backwards so it turns in reverse. It's not the wrong part, I went into the reviews for it and a few people had received it with the gear reversed. So I'm just going to flip it myself.

But for now I just ended up taking the old transmission out so I don't have to push against its friction while using this walk behind self drive without the self drive. And when I did that and put the wheel gear covers back on, I unknowingly cracked and broke the steel 'washer' that holds the plastic cover on. So the next time I used the mover, the washer fell off, which left the wheel bolt loose, so the wheel fell off about a minute after I started mowing with it.  How I cracked a steel washer is beyond me. So I just left off the gear cover completely for now. OMG the mower pushes so much easier when I'm not pushing against a broken transmission.  Should have done that 3 years ago when it went out, if I did I'd still be alive now, allegedly.

Anyhow, I then ordered a set of those specialized washers, a new set of transaxle hubs and bearings because the old ones were pretty shot, a new belt, because if I'm replacing everything I might as well replace everything transmission related.

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Flipped the worm gear, the pin holding it was cheap metal so getting that back in all the way didn't happen... But fixed.

Then used my vise and a flat bracket to press the bearings in the tranasaxle hub. To be safe I stuck the bearings in the freezer overnite, and then heated the hub with a heatgun real good before pressing them in. I might not have had to do those extra steps.
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This is that crazy washer that cracked/split.
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And of course in the middle of the repair, that new snap ring pliers that I bought from Hobo Freight broke. So had to run back to HF and exchange it. I also bought the cheaper version for $5 and used that one instead of the $15 one that broke after 3 uses. I was literally putting on the last ring when it broke. 

Anyhow, , my walk behind mover is no longer a push mower.

I wash my car or fill my pool to make it rain. Regard me!

OT: 4 new tires on Oreo today.

Quote from: MacWa77ace on August 11, 2026, 03:39:55 PMIt's insurance, ...

I prefer to see it as prohibitive voodoo.  Having it better ensures I won't need it.

It's insurance, ...

Renewed our roadside assistance plans on both vehicles for another 5 years.  This includes unlimited towing and tire & wheel road hazard coverage that includes replacement.  A careful reading of the plan seems to make me think it would also cover tires and wheels while on certain trails, such as out at Moab, if the road is maintained "by state or local authority".

Actress Brenda Fricker passed away July 16th, 2026 at the age of 81.

Her best known films were "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York", "Angels in the Outfield", and "My Left Foot".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Fricker

Actor Reggie Bannister passed away on August 9th, 2026 at the age of 80.

He was best known for his role in the "Phantasm" series of horror films.

Cause of death is listed as complications from Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Bannister

Electricity is starting to become a thing of the past in Cuba. The struggle is near impossible as power drops to a couple of hours a week at best.

Everything is in short supply; food, medicine, water every essential you can think of that relies on refrigeration, pumping, transmission or transport. The only thing they have in quantity is misery and lots of it.

This article offers a look at grid free life:

https://www.wlrn.org/americas/2026-08-10/as-blackouts-stretch-for-days-life-in-cuba-revolves-around-small-bursts-of-electricity

Quote from: Anianna on August 10, 2026, 07:22:46 PMJackie, of the Big Bear eagle pair has passed away.  She was observed ill and rehabbers tried to save her, but she was too far gone.

Aww, man.

Once they made that announcement of her condition getting worse despite treatment, I had a bad feeling she wasn't going to make it.

Jackie, of the Big Bear eagle pair has passed away.  She was observed ill and rehabbers tried to save her, but she was too far gone.