Saturday, June 03, 2006
Lack of Productivity...
The full steam ahead idea is no more. Friday didn't go nearly as smooth as the first two days of work. We installed the lift kit on the back, and then removed the bolts, and installed the ubolts (as instructed). Duh. And we only noticed that because the bolts weren't long enough to reach the lock part of the lock nuts... the ubolts didn't quite fit the rear plates so they took a bit o' pounding, but we got 'em on. The front lift was already on when I arrived, bro and 7 yr old niece did that... excellent! The wheels don't look as insane when mounted on the cart, they look cool. Also noticed that the brakes ARE gonna be a problem, hopefully just new shoes as originally expected (but hoped it was just gonna be a cable thing). Mo' money...
I did end up taking off the other end of the motor housing, as my bro pointed out the brushes wouldn't go back into position if we didn't do that first. We got the new field coil in without incident, BUT he broke off a bolt from the end when reassembling the motor... grrrr... It's an easy fix for him at the "office" (a military motorpool) but still, I was hoping to get the motor back in already. (One bit o' good news is he does have some scrap diamond plate and I'll have one killer front end when we're done.)
THEN... as I decided to wuss out and go the wimpy route and just replace the copper contacts on the old speed board, I really fought with the new one to relinquish them... actually got three of them on, and then the "movable contact" just came off in my hand as I moved it to insert the last 2... grrrr... Which means I must replace it, (it was apparently about to fall off anyhow), which means I now HAVE TO remove the accelerator pedal linkage I was trying to avoid dismantling!! (make sense?) Sunuva... If I'd known that, I would have just replaced the whole speed board... duh (again). Removed the old solenoid as well, but of course the bolts were too short for the new one so the new one isn't in... I don't mind the lil' things... but lots of lil' things went askew.
But the bro is on vacation with the girls the next few weeks, and I have a sneaky suspicion that will translate into some things being done already when I arrive to work on it. (There is absolutley NO WAY I would have been able to do all of this on my own as I had originally thought and actually planned. So I guess the thieves kinda did my a favor, still wish they hadn't though.) Gotta get the bro a cool "attaboy" gift when this project is over...
So, note to those with old carts watching my progress (or lack there of)...
Check E V E R Y T H I N G before you begin, constantly during, and check again after! Even the smallest thing will set you back a few hours or even days (with parts ordering), and really mess with your head and enthusiasm. Even my ScopioticNeurosis couldn't prevent oversights... Until the next build day...
I did end up taking off the other end of the motor housing, as my bro pointed out the brushes wouldn't go back into position if we didn't do that first. We got the new field coil in without incident, BUT he broke off a bolt from the end when reassembling the motor... grrrr... It's an easy fix for him at the "office" (a military motorpool) but still, I was hoping to get the motor back in already. (One bit o' good news is he does have some scrap diamond plate and I'll have one killer front end when we're done.)
THEN... as I decided to wuss out and go the wimpy route and just replace the copper contacts on the old speed board, I really fought with the new one to relinquish them... actually got three of them on, and then the "movable contact" just came off in my hand as I moved it to insert the last 2... grrrr... Which means I must replace it, (it was apparently about to fall off anyhow), which means I now HAVE TO remove the accelerator pedal linkage I was trying to avoid dismantling!! (make sense?) Sunuva... If I'd known that, I would have just replaced the whole speed board... duh (again). Removed the old solenoid as well, but of course the bolts were too short for the new one so the new one isn't in... I don't mind the lil' things... but lots of lil' things went askew.
But the bro is on vacation with the girls the next few weeks, and I have a sneaky suspicion that will translate into some things being done already when I arrive to work on it. (There is absolutley NO WAY I would have been able to do all of this on my own as I had originally thought and actually planned. So I guess the thieves kinda did my a favor, still wish they hadn't though.) Gotta get the bro a cool "attaboy" gift when this project is over...
So, note to those with old carts watching my progress (or lack there of)...
Check E V E R Y T H I N G before you begin, constantly during, and check again after! Even the smallest thing will set you back a few hours or even days (with parts ordering), and really mess with your head and enthusiasm. Even my ScopioticNeurosis couldn't prevent oversights... Until the next build day...
