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Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Gettin' 'er Done (Rolls Royce and the GMC)
Gettin' 'er Done [message #254000] Tue, 01 July 2014 14:09 Go to next message
George Beckman is currently offline  George Beckman   United States
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I like to get things done. That doesn't mean I do them, I just like to get things done.

Right before the trip from California to the Branson Rally, last fall, the speedometer quit. This made me grumpy because I have fuel injection and without the speedometer working I don't have Lean Cruise; I don't have my MPG reading. Upon examination, I began to realize that the speedometer gear, where the speedometer cable attaches, was wallowed out inside. The second night out I cut up a soda can and made some shims to shove in with the cable tip. The speedometer worked and I was a happy man.

Since that time I jammed more soda can slivers in the back of the speedometer gear. Manny to the rescue. I had a good one on my work bench, along with other unfinished projects. I like to keep my unfinished project handy.

Today, because I like to get things done, I put the new part in... after months of procrastination. I suppose because I finally got the new fan clutch in a couple of weeks ago I was inflamed with checking things off my list.

As I lay under the coach, admiring my work, I could see grease zerks. If I twisted my head I also could see my grease gun under my work bench. It is warm today and the cement was cool in the barn so I rested a bit, deciding if I wanted to do one of my unfavorite jobs. I decided to grease the motor home. After all, it was already on jack stands.

As I was twisting and turning, grunting and straining, I remembered an article in the paper about a fellow with a Rolls Royce in the next town over. The article said it had a pedal on the floorboards you could push to send grease to all fittings.

If I had one of those pedals I could get things done. Maybe I could mount one by my chair, in the house.


'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254002 is a reply to message #254000] Tue, 01 July 2014 15:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Keith V is currently offline  Keith V   United States
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George Beckman wrote on Tue, 01 July 2014 14:09
...

As I was twisting and turning, grunting and straining, I remembered an article in the paper about a fellow with a Rolls Royce in the next town over. The article said it had a pedal on the floorboards you could push to send grease to all fittings.

If I had one of those pedals I could get things done. Maybe I could mount one by my chair, in the house.


sounds like another unfinished project getting started...


Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254003 is a reply to message #254000] Tue, 01 July 2014 15:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
djester is currently offline  djester   United States
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George, I'm confident we could be friends. I like the way you think. Smile

Dave


David A. Jester Indianapolis, In 1975 Palm Beach djester@comcast.net
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254012 is a reply to message #254000] Tue, 01 July 2014 17:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
cbryan   United States
Messages: 451
Registered: May 2012
Location: Ennis, Texas
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That's funny. I really want to do things for myself and not hire someone. However, because of that I put up with loads of unfinished projects. Couldn't list them all, unless I went through the clutter. It's embarrassing. I have a rear view monitor still in the box. One of those that mounts as the rear view mirror. I was going to replace it but someone noted that having the mirror was handy so the passengers (juvenile) could be checked on. So, now two mirrors.

The Duesenberg automobiles squirted oil automatically using a "real McCoy" type of automatic oiler used in locomotives. Every ten miles or so, it squirted oil into every suspension wear part. So it said, but I don't know how they got oil to the universal joints on the drive shaft.

I like that idea of having a pedal mounted near the Lazy Boy! Gave me a kick. Nice idea. Maybe you could rig one of those applications where you could grease the MH while you were overseas. Just bring up the app and push a button.

Nice post.

Best,



Carey from Ennis, Texas 78 Royale, 500 Cadillac, Rance Baxter EFI.
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254019 is a reply to message #254000] Tue, 01 July 2014 18:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kerry pinkerton is currently offline  kerry pinkerton   United States
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Location: Harvest, Al
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George Beckman wrote on Tue, 01 July 2014 14:09
...If I had one of those pedals I could get things done. Maybe I could mount one by my chair, in the house.


I knew I liked you for some reason. Laughing

Now the hot setup would be to tie it to the recliner so every time you recline it gives a little push. If you don't want to have to deal with the grease line running across the living room to the coach, you could do a wireless thing.... humm...think on that for a while George and add it to your list of things not to get done. Shocked


Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254022 is a reply to message #254000] Tue, 01 July 2014 18:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
SteveW is currently offline  SteveW   United States
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Hmmm...

I think I'm related to you guys.

The number of my unfinished projects - all of them completely cool and legitimate projects - is pretty large. Really large actually.

Yea... and with lots of the components still new in the original boxes...

Not only GMC projects either. Other vehicle projects, motorcycle projects, home repair projects, fabrication projects, garden projects...

Dang.

Steve W
1973 23'
Southern California



Steve W 1973 : 23' Southern California
Re: [GMCnet] Gettin' 'er Done [message #254025 is a reply to message #254022] Tue, 01 July 2014 19:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
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Y'All wouldn't be talking about the kitchen pantry slide-outs I built last
month, would you? I mean, after all, it's only 3+ years since I finished
the rest of the kitchen and bought the materials for those.

Maybe Y'All need an encouraging wife like mine: I started the project the
day after SHE got the $2500 estimate to HAVE it done. :-(

Fortunately, SHE doesn't have any open GMC projects -- mine don't count.

Ken H.


On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 7:50 PM, Steve Weinstock
wrote:

> Hmmm...
>
> I think I'm related to you guys.
>
> The number of my unfinished projects - all of them completely cool and
> legitimate projects - is pretty large. Really large actually.
>
> Yea... and with lots of the components still new in the original boxes...
>
> Not only GMC projects either. Other vehicle projects, motorcycle
> projects, home repair projects, fabrication projects, garden projects...
>
> Dang.
>
> Steve W
> 1973 23'
> Southern California
>
>
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Ken Henderson
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www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254073 is a reply to message #254000] Wed, 02 July 2014 01:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
glenn2726 is currently offline  glenn2726   United States
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Location: Topeka, Kansas
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Senior Member
You know when you think about it I don't know when we find the time to work on our GMCs, owning a home and other vehicles takes up most of our time..maybe we should sell the house and rent an apartment (let someone else do the repairs and pay the taxes)...we could also sell the other vehicles and just take a cab or public transportation when we need to go somewhere (let someone else pay for the insurance, tags, taxes,payments and do the driving for us). Now everyone is happy, plus we have all that time we have been wasting on the house, other vehicles and working to pay all the taxes to spend working on the GMC...
I remember a fellow employee one time who was going through his second divorce and reminiscing about how everything he'd paid for (vehicles, house, furniture, etc..)being divided up with his ex's. I told him that maybe this time it would be better to just rent a house, car, all the furniture, appliances, tv's etc.. that way next time it would be a lot easier to divide up..lol...Glenn


Glenn W Topeka, KS 1974 GMC 26 ft. Color:Camel Interior:Canyon Land Side Bath, Rear Sitting Area
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254077 is a reply to message #254073] Wed, 02 July 2014 04:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
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Senior Member
Are you kidding me. When do I have time to get anything done? I'm just treading water trying to keep with what breaks.

My Blazer has been sitting in my garage for 5 weeks now waiting for me to start replacing the intake manifold gasket.
I started cleaning out the garage so I would have plenty of room to work on the Blazer. The clean up is still not finished because of other unplanned things that pop up.
My mother's Honda quit.
My house AC quit.
My windshield buddy called and asked me to run to the windshield warehouse for several sets of GMC windshields. That was a 200+ mile trip.
Laurie's Jimmy brakes quit. That took me 2 late evenings.
My invalid brother's AC quit in his Honda.
The fluorescent lights in my garage quit. It took two trips to Menard's and back to fix that.
Two days ago on one of the trips to Menards, my Colorado AC quit with it 90 outside and the humidity at 120%. I just came in from fixing that now. I had to bootleg a part together while I wait for a new one I'm ordering.

I can not do most of the work during the day because the weather here is worse than Georgia (except without all of the bugs there).
I was suppose to put in several truck loads of gravel in my driveway last month and I have not started that yet. I still have the winter cab and heater installed on my tractor.

I was going to go up to B.C. next week. I doubt that will happen as I will not have my Blazer fixed by then.

So be happy that you found time to work on your GMC.



Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254097 is a reply to message #254077] Wed, 02 July 2014 09:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
cbryan   United States
Messages: 451
Registered: May 2012
Location: Ennis, Texas
Karma: 3
Senior Member
Ken,

Sorry you are having that periodic avalanche of things that break. I find that Murphy is constantly in the wings, but he seldom visits without revealing lots more than one big problem. If Murphy wasn't like that, it would depress the used car market.

I remember that ad with Chuck Yeager saying, "Replace your oil filter. Never wait for trouble." Who's he kidding? It's all I do. Wouldn't have a motorhome of any kind without needing a huge challenge. No need to wait, trouble is already here.

At work, I start a lot of days getting unexpected things done just to get to the point where I can start on my planned work. If it's happened once, it is into the thousands of times by now.

I hesitate to say this, but I guess I wouldn't have it any other way. Failing magic wands, this process keeps me learning, and obviously I have a long way to go. A long way.

Good luck with working through the punch list. Thanks for getting those windshields. If I ever get things sorted sufficiently, I would like a couple of those picture windows. But too many things on the punch list first!

I don't know why, but this thread has been one of the most enjoyable I have ever seen on the forum. Truer words never spoken, folks coming out of the unfinished project closet.

I wonder what is someone's longest unfinished project that was actually finished. KenH has the record for the moment. Three years after buying the materials. I bet SHE likes the pull out spice rack! Was that the part you painted black? Or was that one more project?

Thankfully,

Best,


Carey from Ennis, Texas 78 Royale, 500 Cadillac, Rance Baxter EFI.
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254102 is a reply to message #254000] Wed, 02 July 2014 10:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
SteveW is currently offline  SteveW   United States
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Registered: June 2005
Location: Southern California - Ora...
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Senior Member
"I wonder what is someone's longest unfinished project that was actually finished. KenH has the record for the moment. Three years after buying the materials. I bet SHE likes the pull out spice rack! Was that the part you painted black? Or was that one more project? "

Three years is child's play...

I have an electric oil filled towel warmer that's been in the box - waiting to go up on our master bathroom wall for four years easy. And I purchased insulation for our attic a few years ago... that's been an ongoing project as I have to move junk to get at the walls / floors to install it. We've been talking about a kitchen remodel for so long that the current "Harvest Gold" formica countertops are back in style !!

I feel like a viable competitor in this one... bring it on !

Steve W
Southern California



Steve W 1973 : 23' Southern California
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254106 is a reply to message #254097] Wed, 02 July 2014 10:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
midlf is currently offline  midlf   United States
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Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
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cbryan wrote on Wed, 02 July 2014 09:44


I wonder what is someone's longest unfinished project that was actually finished. KenH has the record for the moment. Three years after buying the materials. I bet SHE likes the pull out spice rack! Was that the part you painted black? Or was that one more project?


Well we bought the GMC in the fall of 07. With any luck it will be useable, and thus "done" (at least as much as any GMCMH is ever done) tomorrow, if all goes well. So far that is 7 years.


Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
Re: [GMCnet] Gettin' 'er Done [message #254110 is a reply to message #254077] Wed, 02 July 2014 11:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
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Ken,

The root cause of the problem in my opinion is that unfortunately for me at 67 I can't get done what I could at 27! Or even 57!

I suspect you (and the rest of us old bastards) are in the same boat!

My Dad used to say; "the mind is willing and able but the body just doesn't cooperate."

Regards,
Rob M.


-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Burton

Are you kidding me. When do I have time to get anything done? I'm just treading water trying to keep with what breaks.

My Blazer has been sitting in my garage for 5 weeks now waiting for me to start replacing the intake manifold gasket.
I started cleaning out the garage so I would have plenty of room to work on the Blazer. The clean up is still not finished because
of other unplanned things that pop up.
My mother's Honda quit.
My house AC quit.
My windshield buddy called and asked me to run to the windshield warehouse for several sets of GMC windshields. That was a 200+
mile trip.
Laurie's Jimmy brakes quit. That took me 2 late evenings.
My invalid brother's AC quit in his Honda.
The fluorescent lights in my garage quit. It took two trips to Menard's and back to fix that.
Two days ago on one of the trips to Menards, my Colorado AC quit with it 90 outside and the humidity at 120%. I just came in from
fixing that now. I had to bootleg a part together while I wait for a new one I'm ordering.

I can not do most of the work during the day because the weather here is worse than Georgia (except without all of the bugs there).

I was suppose to put in several truck loads of gravel in my driveway last month and I have not started that yet. I still have the
winter cab and heater installed on my tractor.

I was going to go up to B.C. next week. I doubt that will happen as I will not have my Blazer fixed by then.

So be happy that you found time to work on your GMC.

Ken Burton - N9KB

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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254112 is a reply to message #254106] Wed, 02 July 2014 11:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Neil is currently offline  Neil   United States
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Unfinished projects...with 4 old Alfa Romeos there are no finished projects!

When I was dating what ultimately became W-2 she admired my 1963 Giulia Spider (second car I ever owned, purchased in mid 70's) and allowed as how she would look good driving it.

I immediately took it completely apart to the last nut and bolt,had everything restored, painted, chromed.

This was my tactic to keep her out of the driver's seat.

Nine years later I am about 6 months away from back on the road.

Oh. And she doesn't want to drive it anymore.

So even at this point I consider it a successful project.


Neil
76 Eleganza now sold
Los Angeles
Re: [GMCnet] Gettin' 'er Done [message #254117 is a reply to message #254112] Wed, 02 July 2014 11:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
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Location: Sydney, Australia
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Neil,

Hmmmm, what kind of help can I use from a Lawyer in LA; this is a perfect email to use as BLACKMAIL! ;-)

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428


-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org [mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Neil Martin
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2014 11:13 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Gettin' 'er Done

Unfinished projects...with 4 old Alfa Romeos there are no finished projects!

When I was dating what ultimately became W-2 she admired my 1963 Giulia Spider (second car I ever owned, purchased in mid 70's) and
allowed as how she would look good driving it.

I immediately took it completely apart to the last nut and bolt,had everything restored, painted, chromed.

This was my tactic to keep her out of the driver's seat.

Nine years later I am about 6 months away from back on the road.

Oh. And she doesn't want to drive it anymore.

So even at this point I consider it a successful project.
--
Neil

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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Gettin' 'er Done [message #254127 is a reply to message #254117] Wed, 02 July 2014 13:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Neil is currently offline  Neil   United States
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Rob,

She has heard this story...

I got her riding Harleys instead.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showing-off/p31745-motorhome-and-trailer.html

And, let me just say, always better to NOT need a lawyer.


Neil
76 Eleganza now sold
Los Angeles
Re: Gettin' 'er Done [message #254153 is a reply to message #254000] Wed, 02 July 2014 16:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
cbryan   United States
Messages: 451
Registered: May 2012
Location: Ennis, Texas
Karma: 3
Senior Member
This thread is a riot!



Carey from Ennis, Texas 78 Royale, 500 Cadillac, Rance Baxter EFI.
Re: [GMCnet] Gettin' 'er Done [message #254215 is a reply to message #254127] Wed, 02 July 2014 23:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
Neil,

I'm impressed!

A blockhead with a Thunderheader! Bet you don't ride behind her much, eh?

Regards,
Rob

-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org [mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Neil Martin
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2014 1:04 PM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Gettin' 'er Done

Rob,

She has heard this story...

I got her riding Harleys instead.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showing-off/p31745-motorhome-and-trailer.html

And, let me just say, always better to NOT need a lawyer.
--
Neil

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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Gettin' 'er Done [message #254219 is a reply to message #254110] Thu, 03 July 2014 01:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
George Beckman is currently offline  George Beckman   United States
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USAussie wrote on Wed, 02 July 2014 09:00
Ken,


My Dad used to say; "the mind is willing and able but the body just doesn't cooperate."

Regards,
Rob M.



When my dad retired he said, "I'm like the old guy who got up in the morning and didn't have a whole lot laid out and by evening he had some of it done."


'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
Re: [GMCnet] Gettin' 'er Done [message #254226 is a reply to message #254219] Thu, 03 July 2014 07:08 Go to previous message
midlf is currently offline  midlf   United States
Messages: 2212
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Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
Senior Member
George Beckman wrote on Thu, 03 July 2014 01:21


When my dad retired he said, "I'm like the old guy who got up in the morning and didn't have a whole lot laid out and by evening he had some of it done."


When I was working I used to say "if by friday I got to what I wanted to do on monday it was a good week."

Now it's "if by the 30th of the month I get to what I wanted to do on the first it is a good month,"


Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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