Redneck/SF Engineering

[freerider04]

Anyone who's been on a ship might like this one

After having a P-100 pump crap the bed during a drill, we devised a new way to make foam using 2 P-1 dewatering pumps.

Take 1 P-1 and set it up for suction overboard, and discharge into the P-1 pump can (preferrably the plastic square one)

Set the other P-1 up for suction from the first pump can, and discharge to wherever you need foam.

Start 1st pump, puor half a can of AFFF (the 5 gal cans) concentrate into the pump can. When pump can is appx 3/4 or more full, start the second pump.

Viola, instant foam. It's a pretty low quality, low pressure foam, and dissapates kinda quickly, but it will put out fires and provide a vapor barrier.

Add 1/2 can of AFFF about every minute to keep it up.

[Longstreet]

I am not sure if this fits this thread, but I think the tip will be greatly appreciated - especially those of you who ride.

Next time you accidently melt your rain gear or the rubber from your boots on the pipes of your bike, try using Easy-Off oven cleaner. Silly me melted part of my Chuck-Taylors on my pipes due to pushing the kickstand down. I tried just about everything to clean off the black smudge that they left. Nothing worked. I finally heard about using oven cleaner and gave it a shot. Not only did it take off the black smudges, it also removed the smudges from the boots my dear girlfriend wore two years prior to.

And to top it all off, my bike smelled lemon clean.

[Diablo Blanco]

another time we had a SAW that was missing a pin to hold the pistol grip in. Someone had used 550 cord to replace the pin but the SAW kept going run-away on us. I took a closer look and noticed the problem was the bolt wasn't catching on the trigger latch. Using some baling wire and my leatherman I tightly wound the wire between the grip and main body. Worked perfectly.

[chipw]

Saw this on another blog and thought it fit here nicely.

Using a hybrid auto as an emergency generator:

http://lifehacker.com/5118575/use-a-...ency-generator

[Bill Harsey]

Originally Posted by Brush Okie

Chain saws open doors FAST!

And might discourage most folks from trying to hold it closed against you.

Great posts here.

[mark46th]

I worked with a great scrounger in Thailand. One day, he talked the Air Force at NKP out of 3 old Chevy Pickup trucks to use for targets and Demo training. The Air Force even delivered them on a flat bed. He cannibalized the needed parts from two to make one perfect running truck. We did use the other two for targets and Demo. But it was a vehicle not on the books so every time we heard a helicopter, we had to go hide it in the jungle. We also got a message from the B team that we were using too much fuel, so we had to buy our own gas for it.

[Longstreet]

My brother (who is a motorcycle technician and extremely mechanicaly inclined) told me about a time he was in the Caribbean visiting his friend. The car they were using developed a crack in the fuel tank and they needed to get it repaired as it was leaking gas. They took it to the local shop and were told that they did not have a replacement and it would take some time to order in a new one. It was then recommended that they visit the 'old man on the hill' and he would fix it. So they literally went up a hill and visited the 'old man'.

The old man looked at the tank and then said the crack needed to be welded. Rather than empty the tank, he hooked up a hose to the exhaust pipe, turned the car on and then put the other end of the hose into the gas tank. He let the car run for a number of minutes and then welded up the hole - without it exploding

Understandably, my brother was 'concerned' about the event and kept his distance as much as possible from the car. He later realized that he did not have to worry. Due to the car's exhaust being pumped into the gas tank, all of the oxygen was pushed out. And given combustion needs oxygen, there was realitively no chance of the tank exploding.

Although he would never do such a procedure himself (unless absolutely necessary) my brother told me that he was impressed with the ingenuity that the old man had. He also said it was amazing to see how people adapt to the situation at hand and working with what they have at their disposal, what they can overcome.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Longstreet

My brother (who is a motorcycle technician and extremely mechanicaly inclined) told me about a time he was in the Caribbean visiting his friend. The car they were using developed a crack in the fuel tank and they needed to get it repaired as it was leaking gas. They took it to the local shop and were told that they did not have a replacement and it would take some time to order in a new one. It was then recommended that they visit the 'old man on the hill' and he would fix it. So they literally went up a hill and visited the 'old man'.

The old man looked at the tank and then said the crack needed to be welded. Rather than empty the tank, he hooked up a hose to the exhaust pipe, turned the car on and then put the other end of the hose into the gas tank. He let the car run for a number of minutes and then welded up the hole - without it exploding

Understandably, my brother was 'concerned' about the event and kept his distance as much as possible from the car. He later realized that he did not have to worry. Due to the car's exhaust being pumped into the gas tank, all of the oxygen was pushed out. And given combustion needs oxygen, there was realitively no chance of the tank exploding.

Although he would never do such a procedure himself (unless absolutely necessary) my brother told me that he was impressed with the ingenuity that the old man had. He also said it was amazing to see how people adapt to the situation at hand and working with what they have at their disposal, what they can overcome.

I would not try this at home boys and girls.

The over pressure in the tank, while it may not push liquid gasoline out, may be pressing gas fumes out, which is what really "explodes".

And remind me not to lend you and your brother my vehicle.

Now JB Weld would have been a better fix, IMHO.

TR

[perdurabo]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

I would not try this at home boys and girls.

The over pressure in the tank, while it may not push liquid gasoline out, may be pressing gas fumes out, which is what really "explodes".

And remind me not to lend you and your brother my vehicle.

Now JB Weld would have been a better fix, IMHO.

TR

This reminds me of an old USAF flight line initiation where a been-around would take a virgin airman over to the fuel depot, spray a liberal puddle of jet fuel (JP-4? JP-6) on the ground, stand in the middle of it smoking, while the airman looks on in horror as the been-around drops his cigarette onto the puddle.

(The cigarette was extinguished by the "kerosene")

[XJWoody]

If one has misplaced the chuck key for a drilling device, one can place a like-sized bit in the chuck hole, and lever upon it with a flat blade screwdriver to loosen or tighten. I've heard this referred to as a 'navy yard chuck key.'

One can often size a too-large wrench down using coins, a flat blade driver tip, or other durable shim stock.

A stripped phillips/hex/torx headed fastener can sometimes be slotted to accept a flat-blade driver. A hacksaw (or a small segment of a hacksaw blade clamped in pliers) or a small file can be used to make the slot.

[RichL025]

Originally Posted by XJWoody

A stripped phillips/hex/torx headed fastener can sometimes be slotted to accept a flat-blade driver. A hacksaw (or a small segment of a hacksaw blade clamped in pliers) or a small file can used to make the slot.

If you have something nearby the screw that you can brace your hand on, a dremel with a cutting wheel works well for this.

RL

[XJWoody]

Earlier in this thread, Mr Harsey mentioned that one can charge vehicle batteries with a DC welder.

Field DC welding can also be done, using vehicle batteries as the power source. Basic terms, one 'shorts' the battery, using jumper cables for the ground and hot leads, and welds with a SMAW (stick) welding rod. 12v is pretty wimpy, 24v (two 12v in series or one 24v) is getting there, and 36v (3x12v or 24+12) will put out some real heat. Not the ideal setup, but could get one out of a jam, and is somewhat portable.

Basic needs include : two or three charged 12v batteries, (or one 24v) several sets of jumper cables, leather gloves and a couple pair of 'good' dark sunglasses (a shielding lens/hood is ideal, but...)

There is also a COTS wire-feed spool-gun kit (flux core or solid wire with shielding gas) sold under the trade name Ready Welder: http://www.readywelder.com/


Don't kill all your prime mover batteries, and a note: If your trail buddy comes along, asking to borrow your battery, and some sunglasses... don't be generous and hand over your new Gargoyles... he will wear yours over his. Guaranteed.

[Longstreet]

I would not try this at home boys and girls.

The over pressure in the tank, while it may not push liquid gasoline out, may be pressing gas fumes out, which is what really "explodes".

And remind me not to lend you and your brother my vehicle.

Now JB Weld would have been a better fix, IMHO.

TR

I may have misread the idea behind this thread and if I have my appologies. I was under the impression that we are to share ideas that were rather 'unconventional' and worked. When I made my post I was not recommending anyone try the tactic of welding a fuel tank with fuel in it - just that it can be done to a certain degree of safety. Obviously this should only be done if it is absolutely necessary.

I cannot explain the science behind it as I am not a mechanic, welder or physicist. I had heard previously that the strategy is 'somewhat' sound, but I could never back it up with real evidence. When my brother actually saw it performed and explained it to me, the rumours proved to be true.

I did speak to my brother again about using JB Weld and he said that was more of a 'hack' way of fixing the problem. He went on by saying to truly fix the tank, it must be replaced. Given he has over fifteen years in the motorcycle industry, worked for several dealerships (including Harley Davidson and numerous Japanese brands), was a 'tech's tech' for Yamaha and has now gone on to work for an aerospace company (that produces satellites for NASA and the famed Canada Arm), I'll take his advice.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Longstreet

I may have misread the idea behind this thread and if I have my appologies. I was under the impression that we are to share ideas that were rather 'unconventional' and worked. When I made my post I was not recommending anyone try the tactic of welding a fuel tank with fuel in it - just that it can be done to a certain degree of safety. Obviously this should only be done if it is absolutely necessary.

I cannot explain the science behind it as I am not a mechanic, welder or physicist. I had heard previously that the strategy is 'somewhat' sound, but I could never back it up with real evidence. When my brother actually saw it performed and explained it to me, the rumours proved to be true.

I did speak to my brother again about using JB Weld and he said that was more of a 'hack' way of fixing the problem. He went on by saying to truly fix the tank, it must be replaced. Given he has over fifteen years in the motorcycle industry, worked for several dealerships (including Harley Davidson and numerous Japanese brands), was a 'tech's tech' for Yamaha and has now gone on to work for an aerospace company (that produces satellites for NASA and the famed Canada Arm), I'll take his advice.

I'm just fixing it long enough to get home. I have a JB Weld kit in my truck right now, as a matter of fact. Just in case. I hope I never need it.

At the same time, I am in no particular mood to visit the afterlife in route to my quarters.

I understand the theory behind using CO to remove the combustible oxygen from the tank. You can also purge it with nitrogen, or any of the other inert gases. What you cannot do is to keep the gas from getting hot and going to a gaseous state, especially once the heat is applied, which may overflow the tank and allow fumes to spread in the area outside the tank, which if you are still conscious and breathing while welding, is probably O2 saturated. In fact, there will probably be fumes coming out of the hole in the tank as well as the neck. This moves the category of this advice to the, it might work, or it might kill you category. Kind of like the stuff McGiver did, it might work once in a while, the rest of the time, it will leave you pretty messed up. Maybe the old guy had done this a few times before, maybe he had done it quite often. Eventually, IMHO, the odds are going to catch up to you.

Incidentally, many fuel tanks today are plastic for strength and weight issues. I would not plan on throwing a torch to one of those, but the JB Weld just might get you home.

If I had an epoxy kit, or the village repair guy with a torch, and I needed to use the vehicle again, I would put my money on the JB being good enough to get me home, and the torch could stay and wait for the next guy.

I will be keeping an eye on YouTube to see how many times this trick is tried.

Thanks for your contribution.

TR

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

I'm just fixing it long enough to get home. I have a JB Weld kit in my truck right now, as a matter of fact. Just in case. I hope I never need it.

At the same time, I am in no particular mood to visit the afterlife in route to my quarters.

I understand the theory behind using CO to remove the combustible oxygen from the tank. You can also purge it with nitrogen, or any of the other inert gases. What you cannot do is to keep the gas from getting hot and going to a gaseous state, especially once the heat is applied, which may overflow the tank and allow fumes to spread in the area outside the tank, which if you are still conscious and breathing while welding, is probably O2 saturated. In fact, there will probably be fumes coming out of the hole in the tank as well as the neck. This moves the category of this advice to the, it might work, or it might kill you category. Kind of like the stuff McGiver did, it might work once in a while, the rest of the time, it will leave you pretty messed up. Maybe the old guy had done this a few times before, maybe he had done it quite often. Eventually, IMHO, the odds are going to catch up to you.

Incidentally, many fuel tanks today are plastic for strength and weight issues. I would not plan on throwing a torch to one of those, but the JB Weld just might get you home.

If I had an epoxy kit, or the village repair guy with a torch, and I needed to use the vehicle again, I would put my money on the JB being good enough to get me home, and the torch could stay and wait for the next guy.

I will be keeping an eye on YouTube to see how many times this trick is tried.

Thanks for your contribution.

TR

TR,

When my wife got her motorized wheel chair. I had to get a "hitch and lift"put on the back of my car to transport it. When I went to get it installed,they told me that they had to weld the back half of the hitch to the body of my car because they couldn't bolt it down like they normally do and then they welded that back part and used a "shield" to protect themselves while they did it...........

GB TFS