so waht ya doin today?

[CZ93X62]

Well, it is raining intermittently today. It is cool, too--after 2 weeks+ of real estate-selling weather hereabouts. There are still a number of roadways closed or in bad repair from last year's HAMMERING by rain and snow in mid-February. We can always "use" the rain, but it would be nice to have a year off from washouts and destruction.

The BLM routes in the desert are thoroughly trashed, though I-10 is just fine. A few of the main arteries are all right, but many of the miners' meanders and quail hunter's two-tracks are just plain obliterated. I have managed some shots at jackrabbits and coyotes by working power line roads, aqueduct routes, and 75 year old tank marshaling routes north of Desert Center that have withstood the ravages of time, wind, and weather.

There aren't many flowers blooming in the desert so far this year. The super blooms from 2017-2019 kinda spoiled us, but there is still some understated color out there.

 

[Rick]

Well, happy birthday Michael!

Rick, you deserve an ATV, I'm kind of surprised John hasn't worn you down into getting one already. Now you'll have to clear some paths on your new lot just to hav an excuse to ride, and probably to find more firewood to cut for next year.

The one I got is actually quite similar to John's, smaller and a different brand but most all of the same everything. John's however is more of a limo than a UTV. Mine has no doors as an example. This has a 3500# winch but also has quite a small battery, not too sure how well that will work out. This was definitely not a need to have but will come in handy and no doubt be some fun too.

Happy birthday Michael! For your birthday I bought me a UTV.

 

[Bret4207]

Our UTV also has a tiny battery and a 3500 winch. I try not to think of the winch as "real" winch, but as more of a glorified come-along. We used it the other day to snake out a dead elm and we snubbed on a stump. I got the brilliant idea to cut the brush away and lop off the stump. I did it alright. I also found out the steel winch cable is exactly the same color as frozen brush and that half blind old guys can cut right through a winch cable without even noticing! We got-er-done, but my point was between the tiny battery and dubious quality of the made in China "3500 lbs max developed pull" winch, I took it pretty easy and gave the winch a break every 15 feet or so. It never got hot, but I didn't push it. We also made sure to let the UTV run a good 20 minutes afterword to let the batt re-charge. I once made the mistake of over working the battery and charging system on my old Ford tractor with the 13K electric winch I have for that. It has what I believe is a 60 amp Delco 10SI alternator and a standard truck battery of about 750cc amps. I've never smelled an alternator get that hot or seen an ammeter get pegged so far past the normal charge indication. I think the tractor ran about 90 minutes before the ammeter got down into the normal "OK" range. Those things can really draw some power!

Had out #1 fastest ever trip tot he ER today. Gord was cutting wood in the wind and got a gob of crap in his eye. I tried flushing it out, but no joy. We went to the local ER and were in and out less than 1/2 hour! Couldn't believe it, not a meth head or drunk to be seen!

 

[462]

Rick said: "Happy birthday Michael! For your birthday I bought me a UTV."

A rifle for me and a UTV for you -- I ought to have birthdays more often.

 

[Rick]

Rick said: "Happy birthday Michael! For your birthday I bought me a UTV."

A rifle for me and a UTV for you -- I ought to have birthdays more often.

Please don't. I couldn't afford more than once a year.

 

[Brad]

Damn Michael, I didnt get myself anything for your birthday. I feel very bad about that now.
I did mess around on the mill for a few hours.

 

[358156 hp]

I got my electric bill the other day. My electric bill for Febr. of last year was double this years Febr. bill. Go figger. It was 60 today here in the center of the Universe, It should be slightly higher tomorrow.

I just know that March is going to be a total pain weatherwise.

 

[Ian]

Brad, you can get me something for Michael's birthday. Failing that, mine's in a couple of weeks.

 

[Rick]

Well I'm not too sure I'm real happy with Michael's birthday present. I'm thinkin I'll see what their return policy is. Eeegads, I spent 34 years in the Teamsters and drove just about everything there is with wheels and a steering wheel but I ain't ever tried to drive anything like that. First problem is the type of clutch, takes a fair RPM to engage and when it does there is no easing into it, your in full giddy up go mode instantly. Took it for a test ride over in the new acre, bad idea. Second problem with it is it takes nearly 3 full turns of the steering wheel to make a full right or left turn, eat your Wheaties cause that's one tough job. Then when ya do get the wheel turned and need to just pull forward or back up just a little to make a 3 point turn, well that ain't happening cause any throttle at all and it's in full giddy up go mode again and there better not be a tree there. I drove about 1/3 of the way into that acre & tried to do a 3 point turn, well with an 8 or 9 point turn and getting soaked in sweat I gott'er turned around.

 

[Ian]

Yeesh. I'd be pretty disappointed with that too.

 

[Rick]

Well . . . I no more than post that and the manager of the store pulls up out front with a trailer with two more of these UTV's loaded but the next model up, he was returning stuff from the show and making another delivery. Says he had forgotten something when he dropped mine off & he came back to get it. He looked and it wasn't here. Told him how displeased I was with it having driven it for a full 1/10 mile and explained why and I want to return it. He says no problem we'll do what it takes to make ya happy. Cool says me. Then he says these two on the trailer are the next model up I'll unload one and you can drive it and compare. Not cool says me, I looked at these at the show and they are $1,500-$2,000 more, I ain't spending $1500 more not even close. He says he can work on that also. Me says you will have to work a lot cause I ain't spending another $1,500. He says the company main office is in KC and he is spending the next week there in meetings with the big wigs and will work it out. He will call me Friday when he gets back and will also come pick this one up then.

So I drove it, world of difference, clutch works properly and ya can ease into the throttle. It also has power steering and it's actually possible to steer it. He says yours has power steering. Me laughs, yep it sure does I says but it's power steering by Armstrong. It's also 10 inches longer and there is no chance it will fit in my shed.

 

[fiver]

sounds like he is really trying to make things good in more than one way.


I really gotta quit taking people down to Pocatello.
[you know it's bad when the 2 year old can pronounce the word perfectly]
first I had to buy the wife brunch.
then we had to go to the wal-mart, then 19 different thrift and antique stores.
finally the lumber store for the son in law, and one more stop at some thrift shop next door to sportsmans warehouse.
wal-mart cost me money, lunch cost me money, the lumber store cost me money, sportsman's warehouse cost me more than the rest of them put together money. [fortunately not new rifle or scope type money but still..]

their primers are all marked down.
Winchesters were marked 22.99 a brick.[all of them lr-sr-lp-sp] like not sale tag marked, just regular price tag marked.
I got 2 Bricks of Federal shot shell primers for 21.99, plus all the extra 100rd packs they had on the shelf.
they didn't have any wincheter shot shell primers, but they did have about 6-7 packs of CCI's and CCI mag's marked 1.99.
they even had a couple of powders marked down to realistic prices, nothing I wanted or could even use though, and I noticed a bunch of red tags on the reloading dies as I walked past that aisle.

I don't know what to think about the price crash on the primers.
I can't recall ever seeing them go down.
but if it is what I think it might be then maybe the price of some powders just might follow suit.

 

[Rally]

What brand UTV Rick?

Fiver,
Are you thinking somebody bought somebody else?

 

[freebullet]

Bret
I'm sorry you have those dreams. The compassionate service you provided is appreciated. Finding the ability to accept the things we can't change & know we did our best is a difficult chore.
They make these little squirt type bottles of eye wash, have the little cup & work slick. Can get online cheap. We have to keep something on site when labor is around. They also make saftey & saftey sun glasses.

Rick
Glad he's willing to work with you. Maybe the first one just needs some adjustments? Getting the better one even for a bit more is often not a regret. Buy once cry once?

Rb
Hope the Mrs. heals up quick. Hard to watch them suffer.

Ian
dang a week for the results. I'dve imagined they'd be done by midweek. No rush or anything it's only enormous news.

Fiver
what is your thought on the decrease? Glad to hear the wifes getting around. Did you look for pewter at the thrift shops? Occasionally get missing/broken pcs for 2-3$ a pound.

We got some extra ak mags for Micheal's b-day. Guess we'll keep'em here in free for now Ne. happy birthday! Your welcome to try them out if your passing through.

Today
We did some carpet repairs. These folks cut the carpet in a half moon shape to facilitate home water mitigation. Half moon carpet seams...do you see those often??? If your going to cut your carpet with intent to save it.
A. Remove the door/pins fold the carpet & no cut will be needed or...
B. cut it as straight as possible, with as sharp a blade as can be had, & at the narrowest point to allow access. Bona fide carpet blades less than 10$ a row cutter only 15-20.
It turned out great but seems silly to sabotage your own stuff.

 

[462]

We got some extra ak mags for Micheal's b-day. Guess we'll keep'em here in free for now Ne. happy birthday! Your welcome to try them out if your passing through.

Glad to be of help.
Thanks for the offer, though we've no plans to ever be out that way.

 

[Rick]

Rick
Glad he's willing to work with you. Maybe the first one just needs some adjustments? Getting the better one even for a bit more is often not a regret. Buy once cry once?

The one I bought does need an adjustment. As in it's address.

The one I bought that's going back is larger than I wanted, the next size up will not fit in my shed. As it is with this one the riding mower has to stay out in the weather. Only other option would be to put it in the garage and leave the truck out in the weather, and hail storms. The one I bought will go in the shed with the hood touching the bench in the back, leaves a 1/2 inch clearance to get the door shut. The next model up is about a foot longer.

 

[Ian]

Maybe they can throw in a bugger shed as part of the deal.

 

[freebullet]

Move work bench &/or add another shed? Carport for utv?

Go ahead & get the bigger one, I will let you park it here.

 

[Rick]

Maybe they can throw in a bugger shed as part of the deal.

Yep, one of those bugger sheds would help.

Brad just has to stop giving typing lessons.

 

[Tom]

I've woke up remembering every detail of a dream and how incredibly weird it was. In about 10 minutes all I can remember is that it was weird but not a single thing about it.

Pretty much the same for me. Usually very bizarre dreams and an hour later I couldn't tell you what they were about.