Work Done 2025

[Whitenuckler]

Last weekend I helped my friend with a roof repair. After that he wanted some deserved rest time. He's coming up today to finish the chimney with me.

In the meantime, I've been swinging the Fiskaris, weather tightening the house a bit, cut some longer lengths of wood yesterday for splitting ....overall, trying to keep up. Weather has been down right wet, windy, and cold lately. It's put a damper on work and home chores.
I keep at it with a little here and there.......

re the weather I know what you mean. We had such a dry summer here. Lately, very rainy. I had some leaf work to do around the yard. Need to get some new gas for the snow blower. I get new gas twice a year, and put the older gas in my Jeep. If this rainy weather keeps up we could get alot of snow. I still need to load all my pellets into the garage before the snow flys.

 

[thewoodlands]

I did more outside work today, I covered 7 face cord of wood that won't be used this year. I still plan on covering another 6 if I have the covers.

I raked up another 3 loads of leaves and pine needles today, I also took the battery out of the trail mower, hopefully the trail mower gets tucked away tomorrow so I have room for the plow or bucket on the tractor.

I still have some weed eating that needs doing so I can tuck the utility trailer in there for the winter, at the moment it's in an area I usually keep plowed.

 

[all night moe]

2 more courses on the chimney will finish up the brick laying, and then pour a cement cap. We added about 4 courses of brick to the original height and 13'' of clay flue. It will stick out proud of the cap at 2'' and give a rain cap something to bite onto. This is why the previous liner failed....the chimney was never addressed.

Our work on the last 3 courses create a ''bell.'' The brick is stepped out, stepped out again, and then stepped back in for the last. A little bit of character for this old house. Looking forward to seeing the finished chimney, if this rainy weather holds off. Forecast isn't looking the best for today. We'll see what happens.

 

[Rusty18]

new 6” ss flex line (insulated) installed and first smoke test complete. Still have to install bloc off plate and going to secure liner to sop cap a little better than just a worm clamp but the hard part is done!

 

[thewoodlands]

The garage received more of a cleanup today with the trail mower getting tucked away. Second was putting the forks on the tractor, I moved some stuff out of the utility trailer. I took the forks off and then put on the FEL, I finally cleaned out the ashes from the outside fireplace, that went in the same area I've been dumping leaves. The last thing I did was covered 2 more face cord of wood.

I still have a few more areas that need cleaning up but they're out of the way.

 

[all night moe]

Called off working on the chimney. Forecast had looked pretty lousy for the day. My friend never even came up even though I had wanted him to come up just for dinner. Might have been better off anyways. The Miss had been barking at me all morning just to push my buttons.
I went outside and got the old fuel oil burn tank going. I keep it fairly loaded with a hinged lid. I can light it in the rain. Some more brush and rotten chunks of spruce and cedar went up in smoke. In-between loadings I split a little wood. About a half face...little less.

I went inside after the sporadic showers turned into full rain. The Miss was asleep, and there was peace.

 

[shortys7777]

Took care of a few dangerous ash trees out behind my parents house. My kids love to play back there and some of them have been blowing over with the wind.

 

[MRD1985]

Some great firewood there!

 

[MRD1985]

It's leaf season…

Spent 3 hours yesterday blowing and bagging. Tried mulching with the mower, but stuff is way too thick and just makes cleanup longer. So onto my usual method. Did about 15-20 bags yesterday and today had to suck it up and bag in the cool rain because we’re getting High winds tomorrow so all the stuff I had in piles would have been for nothing. Did another 25+ today, and called it quits. Just wanted to get the stuff in piles bagged. Now I pray they hold together long enough to get them to the street. Last pickup from the town is in 3 weeks. Have lots to do…as some of you may remember I do 150 bags or so a year.

 

[Turbo89]

Yea, leaf season is the worst. I did mine once already, but refuse to do them again until all the leaves have fallen. Same with my gutters, I did them about a month ago; but they need it again.

 

[MRD1985]

Yea, leaf season is the worst. I did mine once already, but refuse to do them again until all the leaves have fallen. Same with my gutters, I did them about a month ago; but they need it again.

They might have to do some late pickups, still a good amount of leaves on the trees . With the wind tomorrow will probably lose a bunch though

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

It's leaf season…

Spent 3 hours yesterday blowing and bagging. Tried mulching with the mower, but stuff is way too thick and just makes cleanup longer. So onto my usual method. Did about 15-20 bags yesterday and today had to suck it up and bag in the cool rain because we’re getting High winds tomorrow so all the stuff I had in piles would have been for nothing. Did another 25+ today, and called it quits. Just wanted to get the stuff in piles bagged. Now I pray they hold together long enough to get them to the street. Last pickup from the town is in 3 weeks. Have lots to do…as some of you may remember I do 150 bags or so a year.

My neighbor has a lawn tractor, no idea what brand, be he has a pull behind leaf attachment that sweeps the leaves into holder. The golf course behind the house uses a tow behind very large blower that blows leave 25 feet. Thick leaves go slow, less leaves go faster. Me I have a rake and a battery powered dewalt blower and a toro mower with a mulching blade. I use the rake and blower to get the leaves out to where I can mulch them. It can be a little time consuming but I really hate bagging leaves.

 

[Whitenuckler]

My neighbor has a lawn tractor, no idea what brand, be he has a pull behind leaf attachment that sweeps the leaves into holder. The golf course behind the house uses a tow behind very large blower that blows leave 25 feet. Thick leaves go slow, less leaves go faster. Me I have a rake and a battery powered dewalt blower and a toro mower with a mulching blade. I use the rake and blower to get the leaves out to where I can mulch them. It can be a little time consuming but I really hate bagging leaves.

I have a Toro too with the honda engine. It has the standard blade. Tell me more about this mulching blade. I can mulch, but it seems to strain the mower a bit, and makes a mess (dust ect).

 

[Turbo89]

I have a Toro too with the honda engine. It has the standard blade. Tell me more about this mulching blade. I can mulch, but it seems to strain the mower a bit, and makes a mess (dust ect).

Mulching blades are good, they chunk the leaves and grass into smaller pieces, I use one so I don’t have to bag and don’t leave debris behind with long grass.

If you have a bagger on a ride on, it will not work with mulching blades…. But that’s sort of the point, you could almost get away with not picking the remaining debris up.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Mulching blades are good, they chunk the leaves and grass into smaller pieces, I use one so I don’t have to bag and don’t leave debris behind with long grass.

If you have a bagger on a ride on, it will not work with mulching blades…. But that’s sort of the point, you could almost get away with not picking the remaining debris up.

I just have a push mower (powered wheels) with a bag. I have to empty the bag every 2 minutes. It still seems better than raking because I dump into the leaf bag, and use fewer bags. I am interested in a mulching blade now. I will have to check my manual.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

I have a Toro too with the honda engine. It has the standard blade. Tell me more about this mulching blade. I can mulch, but it seems to strain the mower a bit, and makes a mess (dust ect).

I don't recall which engine is on mine. I will have it out again after a few days. Mine is the Toro SMARTSTOW 21465 22 in. 150 cc Gas Self-Propelled Lawn Mower. It came with the mulching blade and it has a by pass lever that closes off the rear bagger. I get leaves that are about a quarter inch square. If the leaves are real thick I have to go over it again, but only if it's like a solid foot or so deep. Otherwise it cruises right through them. Saves me from bagging 20-30 bags. If I don't close the rear bag off it pretty much acts as a lawn vac, but the bag fills up too quickly to be of any use. Mine is a walk behind that is the self propelled based on how fast you ease it along. Works pretty good. My neighbor doesn't use a mulching blade and his yard looks as good as the golf course. I don't have that kind of time.

 

[Whitenuckler]

I don't recall which engine is on mine. I will have it out again after a few days. Mine is the Toro SMARTSTOW 21465 22 in. 150 cc Gas Self-Propelled Lawn Mower. It came with the mulching blade and it has a by pass lever that closes off the rear bagger. I get leaves that are about a quarter inch square. If the leaves are real thick I have to go over it again, but only if it's like a solid foot or so deep. Otherwise it cruises right through them. Saves me from bagging 20-30 bags. If I don't close the rear bag off it pretty much acts as a lawn vac, but the bag fills up too quickly to be of any use. Mine is a walk behind that is the self propelled based on how fast you ease it along. Works pretty good. My neighbor doesn't use a mulching blade and his yard looks as good as the golf course. I don't have that kind of time.

If I continue to bag do I need a mulching blade? I does mulch OK as long as I do the leaves before they get too thick and wet. I like a bit of moisture to keep the dust down. I hate getting all that dust on my engine.

 

[Burnin Since 1991]

If I continue to bag do I need a mulching blade? I does mulch OK as long as I do the leaves before they get too thick and wet. I like a bit of moisture to keep the dust down. I hate getting all that dust on my engine.

I'm sure it will be fine. I usually use my leaf blower on the lawnmower after I run it any time as it seems to kick up a lot of dust. But it has been really dry here the last few years. I had to stop mulching and outdoor cleaning due to the rain. and we had thunder and lightning last night.

 

[MRD1985]

My neighbor has a lawn tractor, no idea what brand, be he has a pull behind leaf attachment that sweeps the leaves into holder. The golf course behind the house uses a tow behind very large blower that blows leave 25 feet. Thick leaves go slow, less leaves go faster. Me I have a rake and a battery powered dewalt blower and a toro mower with a mulching blade. I use the rake and blower to get the leaves out to where I can mulch them. It can be a little time consuming but I really hate bagging leaves.

I have a Stihl BR800x backpack blower. The biggest they offer. I used to do
It with a small husqvarna hand held gas blower. Took me 4x as long. It was well
Worth the investment. I don’t own a riding mower…on the wish list
Though

 

[Turbo89]

I just have a push mower (powered wheels) with a bag. I have to empty the bag every 2 minutes. It still seems better than raking because I dump into the leaf bag, and use fewer bags. I am interested in a mulching blade now. I will have to check my manual.

Just hop on Amazon and type in the lawn mower make, model and “mulch blade”, should come right up. I did that a few years ago, and tossed them on with the electric impact. It took longer to lift up the dang riding lawnmower than it did to put the blades on.

I use my push mower with bagger and leaf blower / sucker to pull stuff from under shrubs and in the mulch bed. It still sucks, but way better than raking.

 

[NickW]

I replaced the driveshaft and blower fan in my truck today ('05 Dodge 1 ton diesel with 397,655 miles). Vibration is definitely better but still present over 70 and bad over 75; fan works again but only on high, so the switch is probably bad too. A new switch came in the kit but I didn't put it in yet, wanted to test just the fan then got cold and irritated. Skipping it for now, just trying to keep it on the road a little longer... Put the switch in on a rainy day and drive a little slower than I used to on the rare occasion I might be on the freeway. 🙄

 

[Whitenuckler]

I replaced the driveshaft and blower fan in my truck today ('05 Dodge 1 ton diesel with 397,655 miles). Vibration is definitely better but still present over 70 and bad over 75; fan works again but only on high, so the switch is probably bad too. A new switch came in the kit but I didn't put it in yet, wanted to test just the fan then got cold and irritated. Skipping it for now, just trying to keep it on the road a little longer... Put the switch in on a rainy day and drive a little slower than I used to on the rare occasion I might be on the freeway. 🙄

Did the driveshaft include all new bearings? My 2012 Jeep GC had major rear drive shaft issue last year. It got so bad I couldn't drive it. I think my mechanic said it was all one assembly. Anyway,it was expensive, but fixed it. I probably should not have tortured the poor V6 pentastar towing an overloaded travel trailer.

 

[NickW]

Did the driveshaft include all new bearings? My 2012 Jeep GC had major rear drive shaft issue last year. It got so bad I couldn't drive it. I think my mechanic said it was all one assembly. Anyway,it was expensive, but fixed it. I probably should not have tortured the poor V6 pentastar towing an overloaded travel trailer.

Yes, new carrier bearing and u-joints included. Honestly the price wasn't bad at $500+/- and theoretically "premium" and factory balanced, but it is aftermarket not OEM. It's really not a bad job to do either.

Considering I've done the u-joints half a dozen times or so and the carrier bearing 3 times I think, I figured it was time to try a different route. A bit disappointed I can't drive 80, but with a 21 year old vehicle with almost 400k miles what can I really expect without going down a rabbit hole.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Yes, new carrier bearing and u-joints included. Honestly the price wasn't bad at $500+/- and theoretically "premium" and factory balanced, but it is aftermarket not OEM. It's really not a bad job to do either.

Considering I've done the u-joints half a dozen times or so and the carrier bearing 3 times I think, I figured it was time to try a different route. A bit disappointed I can't drive 80, but with a 21 year old vehicle with almost 400k miles what can I really expect without going down a rabbit hole.

Do you think the vibration is now coming from elsewhere now? You should be able go 80 for sure and have no vibrations. Maybe wheels and tires? Does the steering wheel shake? I've had many the vibrations due to chitty balance jobs or bad wheels

 

[NickW]

Do you think the vibration is now coming from elsewhere now? You should be able go 80 for sure and have no vibrations. Maybe wheels and tires? Does the steering wheel shake? I've had many the vibrations due to chitty balance jobs or bad wheels

Could be. Might see if my son can get it in to the shop (he works at Goodyear) when we head down in a couple weeks.