Underground Lair of the Squankum
- Thread starter Squankum
- Start date
Gave the new Subaru its first tire rotation the other day. When I removed the first wheel I realized -- I'm not used to working on new cars!
The spare tire is not just full-sized, it's the same exact kind of alloy wheel and tire, meant to be part of a 5-tire rotation, extending tire life by 25%. (And ensuring a spare tire that's not too big in diameter, which would cause wear on all-wheel drive bits.)
Hey, look at the cotter pin on that rear suspension arm! Somebody in Japan has brought shame upon their village.
(I checked, this model is not assembled in Indiana.)
The next day, she let me know that the tire pressure light came on, that and a generic doom warning of "GET CAR SERVICED", which I'm sure is related to that. To see the pressures of the individual tires, I don't know if that is available on the big screen, but she can look at that on her app on her phone. And what we have going on here -- a "sleepy" tire pressure sensor on the spare that is now on the left front position -- sends everything into a tizzy and no pressure readings for any tire show in the app. Ay yi yi yi yi. I may have to buy a scan tool.
The 2013 BMW we have, I can even put a new sensor on a wheel (well, my Mexican tire shop can) and I can drive away and before I'm two blocks away the big computer has figured it all out.
When the Subaru comes home next I'll have to see if I can reset TPMS from the big screen in the car. Ms. Bilo couldn't find that but had other things on her mind that day. (And was worried there was a disaster afoot, while I kept reminding her that I put a tire pressure gauge in the driver's side map pocket and if you're that worried.... of course, that answer was not satisfactory.)
The spare tire is not just full-sized, it's the same exact kind of alloy wheel and tire, meant to be part of a 5-tire rotation, extending tire life by 25%. (And ensuring a spare tire that's not too big in diameter, which would cause wear on all-wheel drive bits.)
Hey, look at the cotter pin on that rear suspension arm! Somebody in Japan has brought shame upon their village.
(I checked, this model is not assembled in Indiana.)
The next day, she let me know that the tire pressure light came on, that and a generic doom warning of "GET CAR SERVICED", which I'm sure is related to that. To see the pressures of the individual tires, I don't know if that is available on the big screen, but she can look at that on her app on her phone. And what we have going on here -- a "sleepy" tire pressure sensor on the spare that is now on the left front position -- sends everything into a tizzy and no pressure readings for any tire show in the app. Ay yi yi yi yi. I may have to buy a scan tool.
The 2013 BMW we have, I can even put a new sensor on a wheel (well, my Mexican tire shop can) and I can drive away and before I'm two blocks away the big computer has figured it all out.
When the Subaru comes home next I'll have to see if I can reset TPMS from the big screen in the car. Ms. Bilo couldn't find that but had other things on her mind that day. (And was worried there was a disaster afoot, while I kept reminding her that I put a tire pressure gauge in the driver's side map pocket and if you're that worried.... of course, that answer was not satisfactory.)
Mundane shop maintenance last weekend. Did the annual oil change on the air compressor. Also put air in its tires, because they always leak slowly while looking normal.
Just showing this pic to show off the tip I invented: control a hose with the box end of a large wrench.
I covered it years ago, but when the drain plug hole is this big you can make your own "Fumoto valve" in the plumbing aisle of the hardware store. (Black background is just a comfy kneeling mat held up to block distracting floor clutter.)
Yeah, I'm a nerd.
Just showing this pic to show off the tip I invented: control a hose with the box end of a large wrench.
I covered it years ago, but when the drain plug hole is this big you can make your own "Fumoto valve" in the plumbing aisle of the hardware store. (Black background is just a comfy kneeling mat held up to block distracting floor clutter.)
Yeah, I'm a nerd.
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This weekend was also time for the annual changing of the box fan dust collector's filter.
Also changed the furnace filter for the house. No pic, mundane stuff, no strange static electricity welding marks this time.
Also changed the furnace filter for the house. No pic, mundane stuff, no strange static electricity welding marks this time.
Slightly More Than Picayune Project!
When I moved into this rental house, it had a pretty decent amount of shelving already in the garage/shop. Alas, some of it was built in a very, uh, thrifty fashion.
This top shelf section, the shelf was made of 1970's style paneling. Thin and saggy. No way to run a railroad.
(And yeah, I need to tidy up my collection of special-tools-in-blow-molded-boxes, label them, too.)
Huzzah! New, thick plywood. What made this slightly more than picayune is that when I break out the circular saw, I start moving very slowly, trying to get precisely the dimensions I want. Careful set up, scrap of board for a fence, clamps, etc.
Also, I found a quick and dirty solution to my collection of rolls of Gates vacuum hose. (I decided a few years ago to never have to stop a project and go to the store for something this mundane.) They had been sitting on top of that tubing box, making access very fussy. I recently bought some half inch steel tubing for a project that it turns out didn't require it, so until I get another spare broomstick, this steel tubing plus one nail will keep them up out of my hair. Hmm, I might even mount it perpendicular to the joists, right up against their bottom edges.
(That steel gate handle on that floor joist? I have no idea. Just no idea. From before my time. I leave it there in case someday I can figure out that puzzler.)
Much better! Tomorrow, another saggy shelf just like it.
When I moved into this rental house, it had a pretty decent amount of shelving already in the garage/shop. Alas, some of it was built in a very, uh, thrifty fashion.
This top shelf section, the shelf was made of 1970's style paneling. Thin and saggy. No way to run a railroad.
(And yeah, I need to tidy up my collection of special-tools-in-blow-molded-boxes, label them, too.)
Huzzah! New, thick plywood. What made this slightly more than picayune is that when I break out the circular saw, I start moving very slowly, trying to get precisely the dimensions I want. Careful set up, scrap of board for a fence, clamps, etc.
Also, I found a quick and dirty solution to my collection of rolls of Gates vacuum hose. (I decided a few years ago to never have to stop a project and go to the store for something this mundane.) They had been sitting on top of that tubing box, making access very fussy. I recently bought some half inch steel tubing for a project that it turns out didn't require it, so until I get another spare broomstick, this steel tubing plus one nail will keep them up out of my hair. Hmm, I might even mount it perpendicular to the joists, right up against their bottom edges.
(That steel gate handle on that floor joist? I have no idea. Just no idea. From before my time. I leave it there in case someday I can figure out that puzzler.)
Much better! Tomorrow, another saggy shelf just like it.
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When buying C-clamps, treat yourself. Get yourself the adjustable kind!
I was almost done with the new shelf boards when I realized the problem with this whole shelving unit is that every bay is very tall. So I added a shelf for smaller items, leaving plenty of room below it.
Hooray for my Metabo palm nailer!
This is a job I could have pulled off years ago with the most rudimentary of tools*, but most of these tools appeared in my life after having this garage and discovering GJ. And getting an air compressor! The Craftsman hammer dates back a few decades. (I also used my framing hammer, something I didn't even know existed until GJ clued me into Vaughn hammers, HJE, Wal-Mart and Ace stocking Vaughn, etc.)
Palm nailer just the thing for reaching into far, awkward spots. Also for driving finish nails to tack down the shelf boards on that second shelf, where there was no room for a hammer.
Really didn't do all that much work, but boy, it's a mess. A few more things get cut tomorrow, then I'll clean up.
________
* Back in my apartment era, I would have to build things on the sidewalk in front of the front door, using an old wood chair as my workbench and with short little hand saws. I have two large MDF bookcases that I built in those days that, when I look at them now, shock me at how good a job I did back then with so few tools and such primitive conditions.
I was almost done with the new shelf boards when I realized the problem with this whole shelving unit is that every bay is very tall. So I added a shelf for smaller items, leaving plenty of room below it.
Hooray for my Metabo palm nailer!
This is a job I could have pulled off years ago with the most rudimentary of tools*, but most of these tools appeared in my life after having this garage and discovering GJ. And getting an air compressor! The Craftsman hammer dates back a few decades. (I also used my framing hammer, something I didn't even know existed until GJ clued me into Vaughn hammers, HJE, Wal-Mart and Ace stocking Vaughn, etc.)
Palm nailer just the thing for reaching into far, awkward spots. Also for driving finish nails to tack down the shelf boards on that second shelf, where there was no room for a hammer.
Really didn't do all that much work, but boy, it's a mess. A few more things get cut tomorrow, then I'll clean up.
________
* Back in my apartment era, I would have to build things on the sidewalk in front of the front door, using an old wood chair as my workbench and with short little hand saws. I have two large MDF bookcases that I built in those days that, when I look at them now, shock me at how good a job I did back then with so few tools and such primitive conditions.