How'd it go today?

[Dave Shepard]

I'm declaring February beat an engineer month. Sometimes they just make things harder February they need to be. A headlight bulb in my Golf should be a 30 second job. It isn't because they put a fuse box in the way. The fuse box could be just a half in smaller and it wouldn't be a problem. Just friggin' why?

 

[Burnham]

Ain't it the truth.

Last summer I replaced the headlight assemblies on my 2003 Toyota Tundra as they were sun faded and foggy looking. Took about 20 minutes each, and I went slow and easy so as to be sure not to break any 20+ year old plastic fittings.

They looked so good that I decided I should do the same with my 2010 Subaru Forester. The lenses on it are not near as bad as the Tundra's were, but I was enthusiastic.

As with my prep for doing the Tundra's work, I checked out YouTube videos of the process. And quickly lost all enthusiasm. You have to remove both wheel well liners so you can remove the whole front bumper so you can remove the entire grill before you even begin to remove the headlight assemblies, which require removal of all manner of air intake bits and bobs, the windshield washer tank, etc., etc. It's a 4-hour job if you've done it 10 times before. I expect it would take me half again longer on my first try.

That project is on the way back burner now . Thanks, engineers.

 

[Cobleskill]

Just changing a headlight bulb can be a major project now. I plan on buying an old vehicle from down south if I need another one. Shipping is quite cheap. Newer vehicles are just getting more and more stupid.

One of those headlight buffing kits might do the trick.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Youd be surprised how much you can get on older head light lenses with just some crome polish treatment.

 

[Dave Shepard]

I buffed the computer screen on my sawmill with some baking soda toothpaste I didn't like. Worked very well.

 

[davidwyby]

Deet will clean headlights

 

[Cobleskill]

Bug spray? Never heard that one.

 

[Burnham]

I tried several different treatment methods over the last half dozen years on the Tundra. Most worked a bit more or less, but none lasted very long.

Never tried DEET .

 

[treebilly]

Spent most of the day cleaning up a work area for a large removal in a tight”ish” area. We removed the tree that was on the building at the end of last week and now a preemptive removal of another before it fails. It’s along a rail road and on their ROW. Lots of trash and scrap steel everywhere. Along with all the scrub that grows there. I had enough time after clean up to get up in the tree and get a good tie in and a good rigging point set as well as cutting the BS out of the tree to make rigging quicker. Left throw lines so we can get up there as soon as we get to the job tomorrow. Also we are in a heat wave. It made it to a balmy 23*F this afternoon. Supposed to be about the same temperature at start time tomorrow. Hoping I get another climber tomorrow so I can run ground control. Hate to say it but I’ve put in my 30. It’s time for others to step up.

 

[Burnham]

I know what you mean, brother. In my last few years with the USFS, I was about done with finding any fun in dragging that 084/60 in. bar and chain out through the brush. Even downsized to the 42 in. b&c, it was a task. Younger bodies still had the steam...I liked being the wisdom dispensing old fart by that point.

 

[davidwyby]

I like 36” or less

Cuz they don’t make lightweights over 36”

Not yet anyway, working on it. 42” carbon fiber inserts.

 

[treebilly]

Had a climber for part of the tree. He was uncomfortable taking the top which I understood. It had to be cut at a weird dogleg that positioning sucked. I ended up saying “don’t worry, pappy will show you how it’s done”. I did it and finished the tree. I was able to find a small area to flop wood onto and mitigate risk of the bounce hitting the building. I’m tired and sore but it’s done. Now a quick shower and off to BJJ to get my ass kicked some more.

 

[Burnham]

I can recall something sorta similar happening on a few occasions with me, that Stihl 084, and a much younger sawyer than I .

 

[SkwerI]

Old guys rule! They know how to get shit done! Don't piss them off by diddle-phucking your way around a job because one of them may show you up and take you to school on how it is done!

Same thing for me today. Removed a 5' diameter oak that had been topped several years ago. Not a lot of brush but rotten leads and trunk. The climber did great getting the tops down, but when he started into the bigger wood time started to stand still. When he FINALLY got it to 10' off the ground I told him I would handle the rest. Whipped out my 395xp and did pretty good for a while until the composting core trashed my chain. But the solid wood was thin enough that we finished it with smaller saws. We cut 2-3' tall rounds and they all broke apart when I pushed them off with the loader. Got it all wrapped up in good time.

 

[treebilly]

Well I was able to hold my own at BJJ tonight. I was able to get quite a few submissions with no taps from me. I almost felt like I was good at it. Just got home and realized that I must now have a garage cat.

She’s a decent critter. Comes in the house for a few minutes and usually wants back outside. Lately she’s been hanging in the garage which is fine. I’ve received several trophies in the last few days. This thing hunts constantly. She even tangled with a ground hog this summer.

 

[Kaveman]

Tortoise shell cats are typically great hunters, in my experience. Mackerel Tabbies are always contenders, but the best are blues and blacks.

 

[treebilly]

You’re right Kavey. Also they are not known for being affectionate. For some reason she only really allows me to hold her.

 

[Kaveman]

Again, that holds true for her coloring, which is her genetics. Again, this is just my experience.