Matt repairs a water soaked Onan generator; Yes he was able to make this run

 It is very fun and educational to go through with repairs of Matt, making almost junk equipment run agian  This time it was a water soaked Onan diesel generator.   It was really water soaked:   the air intake filter was filled water; and so with its oil, its fuel tank, its fuel, and fuel lines.  Even its internals.

Matt showed us methodically and patiently:

1.  How to power up batteries and the starter;

2.   Removal of water from the air intake

3.  Freeing the engine from water lock (opening exchaust valve vie the hims on the tappet to open the exhaust valve on compression stroke to vomit out water in the cylinder.

4  Removal of water from fuel tank and lines.   (Cranking up the engine after cracking up the bolts of the fuel lines

5.  Changing oil and replacing the filters

6.  Getting the engine to compress the fuel for ignition

And then success

VERY INFORMATIVE

Hydraulic cylinder repair by Matt at Diesel Creek

Matt showed how to repair the hydraulic cyclinders of D4 Komatsu bulldozer. He had deferred such repair for 5 years, although it cost him much in terms of lost hydraulic fluid that leaked.

As usual, it is demonstrated that disassembly was mostly hard and challenging.  He improvised:

     1.  How to remove the cylinder cover by welding a flatbar which he hammered;

     2.  Pulling out the internal rod by using a back hoe.

The seals and glands were bought from the store and Matt reinstalled them well.  

Summary of options for various repairs

 From what I have read so far on repairs, these are some of my thoughts:

1.  Vehicles and equipment that should be prioritized or given attention in repairs:

    1.  Those that were not used for a long time and probably used as nest and residence of mice.  Their nests and feces fouls up the intake and exhaust manifold, and feces cause corrosion.  Mice likes to chew plastic cover of electrical wires

    2.  Exposed to elements:    rain snow, sunlight, or overgrown with weeds

    3.  Those that are used constantly and heavy conditions

2.   Steps in repair and revival of vehicle or heavy equipment:

    1.  Removal of growth vegetation on the equipment

    2.  Clean the debris:  stones, grasses, rust dust on the equipment

    3.  Check fuel, oil and filters;   replace.   Check fuel lines:   for loose and leaking copper, plastic or rubber tubings.  Check for blockages, kinks and or stuck parts especially for injectors and fuel feed lines.  

   4.  Check and rewire electricals:    battery terminals, batteries, starters, 

   5.  If the motor is not stuck, try restarting.   Spray ether on intake manifold

3.   Process action on various items:

     Item                    Keypoints           Action         Other Options                     Preventive Measures

     Electricals

     1.  Spark plug    spark no spark  use other sp     use aprk indicator                 check use multimeter

                                                         no spark          replace spark plug, cable

                                                         no spark          replace ignition coil

   2.  Batteries          12.6 volt or ++ charge                                                          disconnect batteries when

                                 not charging    replace                                                         not used

                                                         check alternator

   3. Wiring           check loose connection   use new connectors                       put napthalene balls to 

                                                                      replace the harness                        drive off rats

3.  Fuel lines

    Leaks                                                     replace copper, plastic tubes            regular tpm for fuel filter

    Air in system                                         flush                                                 use trusted fuel brands

    Stale fuel                                              replace                                               add additives

    Water in fuel                                        drain the fuel tank

    Blocks kinks in lines                           replace lines

4.  Mechanical parts

     missing gear tooth                              replace;  machine shop

     loose bearings                                     replace                                                 lubricate often, clean

     loose fit                                               build up,, add washer/shim                  tpm, avoid corrosion

     broken shaft/axle                                replace, rebuild at machine shop          bullet proof repair

Matt, god of repairs; Pakistanis idol of parts machining?

One cant help but admire the works of Matt in Diesel Creek in salvaging junk equipment, resurrecting them from non functional state to one that roars and works.

As this post watched his work on Fiat Allis payloader (used as forklift)

1.  Removal of weeds with brush cutter and chain saw;

2.  Restoring electrical power, fixing batteries

3.  Fixing the fuel system;   making sure that fuel reaches the injectors

4.  Restarting the unit;  bypassing the starter, shorting the circuit and making the unit start after 12 years.

It looked impossible that Matt was able to do this in less than a day.  Perhaps, it was because the unit was under a warehouse so 

He and Pakistanis are as remarkable.  Pakistanis craftsman are known for their quick and easy repair of parts like shafts, gears and the like.  In record time.   Westerners typically will opt for a new off the shelf part, wire harness or assembly.

Had these videos been availabe before, I would have devoted more time for endeavors as this.   However that is contrary to bigger business and life purpose

Turbo failures can cause engine failures which can be caused by bad filters.

 Engine failures especially low power can be caused by turbo charger failures which can be caused by:

       1.  Non delivery of oil or coolant to the turbo;

       2.  Old oil non functioning oil filter

       3.  Carbon deposit on the turbo shaft due to sudden turning off of engine after a long drive (thus

            burning oil)

Be sure you take good care of turbo if your vehicle has one

Case excavator lost power due to malfunctioning turbo; be sure turbo has proper oil supply

 Matt found his newest acquisition, a Case excavator always on verge of stalling as he goes through its function.   It happened on  cold day, and he mistakenly had an open throttle, and this may have caused the turbo failure.

The solution is always turbo replacement and the challenge was removing the turbo from the exhaust manifold.  You need heating the nuts and bolts and they can get stuck in areas where there is plenty of cycle for heating and cooling.   

Thus do not turn off engine at once after a long drive as it will cook the oil cooling the turbo.   Install a turbo timer and or wait for 5 minutes before turning off the engine

Matt is a genius in doing the repairs

 Matt repaired the rear wheels and the brakes but his biggest problem was the third wheel - it would not lock.   How he repaired the thing was pure genius.  He just removed a pin and then wiggled it a little and then the thing worked.

Seized engine (for replacement) or just a busted bearing for PTO clutch

 This post watched a video of a lawn mower that does not turn.  The battery was juiced up and oil was added.  Still the engine would stop.  There was a heavy resistance in its turning.  

Here we see the importance of past experience and critical thinking.   The mechanic postulated it could be the PTO clutch assembly And true enough, there was a busted bearing that made it hard for the engine to turn.  When the clutch was removed (and consequently the bearing replaced) the engine turned well.   

Great repairs.  Great savings for the lawn mower owner

Black nail polish has been useful in touch repairs of carbon frames, rim brakes and RD

 A P40.00 black hair nail polish has gone a long long way in making cosmetic touch ups of scratches and exposed bare metals of the following:

1.  Rear derailleurs

2.  Carbon frames

3.  Brakes

4.  Chain ring.   

You keep the bike still looking good.

The vid is its use on cars:

Stale fuel causing engine failures

 In my review of videos on small engine repair (of lawn mowers) it was mentioned that common cause of engine failure was stale fuel due to winter storage.   It was mentioned that fuel should not be allowed to sit down for not more 6 weeks (60 days others say).   All of sorts of things happen to fuel:    water, some additives solidify, dirt ingested into the fuel tank.  

Such rubbish could be ingested into the intakek manifold and ultimately into the cylinders which could cause engine not to fire or stall.   

So after the long winter, or after long storage you have to spill the fuel and replace this How?

    1  By tilting the eninge?

    2  Or draining the tankk and carb?   (open the dome and bottom.

To solve the problem and go around stuck carb needle, lift the mower (the walk behind)  up.   

Ignition coil replacement

 This post has watched 3 videos on ignition coil replacement.   This was resorted to when diagnosis reveal:   there is enough fuel, there is no problem with fuel lines, and sparks do not show at spark plugs.   So the ignition coil could be defective.   The three instances were on:    zero turn hydraulic operated lawn mower, a walk behind lawn mower and a John Deere lawn mower.  The replacement is straight forward and easy,   The parts can be purchased from Amazon (Lazada too?)

The old Volvo mechanic advice on gasoline engine repairs was right and his advice is forever!

 Several decades ago we had a gasollne Datsun and when it conked out at Carebi I had the chance to call a mechanic around, a Concrete Aggregates specializing in Volvo machinery who obliged to repair the old Datsun car.  He said that so that I will save money and so that I will not disturb him (he is being petitioned to work at Canada for Volvo Canada) I should remember two things:

    When a gasoline engine conks out there are two possible sources:   fuel line and electrical

    1,  For fuel

         1.  Is there fuel in the tank

         2.  Is the fuel of good quality (like its not stale, no water or dirt, other contaminants?

         3.  Are the fuel filters:   inline or main filters functional (they could be blocked) allowing fuel to pass through?

        4.  Fuel lines:    are they clogged, kinked or allowing air in the line?

 2.  For electricity:

      1.  Is there electricity coming out into the spark plugs?

      2.  is the coil functional?

      3.  Is the breaker working?

      4  Is the spark plug working

In many of the repair videos that I watched today on small engine, lawn mower repair, these kept being repeated as a meaningful advice

Safety switches at John Deere tractor lawn mower

 It could be difficult to start a John Deere tractor lawn mower because of numerous safety switches:

       1.  Seat

       2.  Clutch pedal

       3.  PTO

       4.  Reverse

You cant start the machinery if any of the 4 are safety switches are on.  So be sure to make them closed switches so that you can operate them

Low readership; people do not bother with repairs

 This blog has been out for several months and total page views is only 40.  This means we all all ready live in use and dispose society.  I hope economy minded citizens like me, recycling minded citizens will see the light of the day and study repairing soon

Repairing worn out shoes

 I have a branded cross training shoes bought from a factory outlet in Laguna.  Over the years it became worn out and the soles separated from the upper.  So for this project I bought:   P29.00 worth of super glue and P43.00 super glue.  The supper glue didi not work out well.  So I had to resort to the shoe glue.

For the first try, there was separation noticed after this post biked to Pasig. So I had to reapply rugby (shoe glue)  This time I hope this works.

Repairing lawn mowers

 This post saw 2 videos on repair of lawn mower:   one was hydraulic,  one was simply a Kohler powered rider type lawn mower.   The hydraulic was more complicated but more robust.  The buyer handyman did to the hydraulic system:

    1.  The hydraulic assembly attached to the wheel was sent to a hydraulic shop for repairs and cost him $600.00.  For the hydraulic pumps, he did it himself.  All that he did was to replace the seals which had worn out over the years.  It looked complicated because it seemed hard to remove the shaft and there were so many parts and it took time to remove disassemble all of them.   As it is common with say bicycle hydraulic brake set repair, there was this snap ring remover.   It took probably weeks to have the lawn mower repaired,   However it gave the new owner months of enjoyable grass cutting.   He had a home made sun shade made for the lawn mower

   2.  The zero turn Kohler unit had these two problems;   wheels that seemed to leak air, and non firing second cylinder, and discharging battery.

      1.  For the tires, he initially tried to find the leak.  His final solution buy a new set of tubeless tires

      2.  For the battery, he bought a new one

For most Americans, it is throw away and buy a new one.   For the tires we will find a way to patch or get a set of interior tires.

For the one cyclinder that did not fire, using testers, after removing the air filter assembly, he found out that the left coil had no connection to the spark plug (there was no spark).  So he bought two new coils, installed and presto the lawn mower had 100% power again.   

So repair can give such helpful machine 3 to 5 years lease of life