Just had this given to me today! a pack rat buddy (worse than me even) got aggravated at the fumbling and manipulating that he had to do, late yesterday afternoon to get to one of his 2 gas powered generators when a storm killed his power; so in his aggravation he decided to get rid of his golf cart; I got a frantic call this afternoon to "Come n get it outta here";
I thought he was joking; as I knew he'd spent some "good" money, not only buying it a year ago but in buying fix up parts for it; the forward/reverse switch was $185.... 3 weeks ago he had the gas tank boiled (not even coated!) at a cost of $50;
(somethin I can do here for nothin', with the aid of the acid from a couple of discarded batteries and some Arm&Hammer and water, for an after-rinse) I have about 1/2 a quart of Bill Hirsch gas tank coating/sealer here, left over from coating from all the Briggs and Strattons' tanks I've had this summer with raunchy stale gas in them that have found me lately.... perfect. just about enough to seal this one, being it's freshly "boiled";

It ran when he got it but its sat; and I guess the carb got plugged; He was asking me and another buddy about a "clutch issue" about 3 months ago (he's not the most mechanically "able" guy I know) but our mutual buddy who was there that day with me, went thru the clutch and the problem isn't there; its the carb!

I coulda used this thing almost every day this week; my calves and knees are still sore; Tues I went to a farm consignment sale; and walked the rows several times often briskly in trying to catch what the auctioneer had going 2 rows away from where I was; the mutual friend that went thru the clutch on this golf cart, is moving at the end of Sept and I went to the auction to "dummy bid" some of his stuff higher; he had taken alot of stuff there to "liquidate" before the move......

today I went to a Threshermens show; tomorrow I'm going to a car show. Sunday will be back to the Threshermens show. (Tractors, old school farm implement demo's, steam engines, plow demo's, tractor pulls, and such)

Its a 1973, 3 wheel model (they made 4 wheelled ones too) with the steering wheel; thru the 60s and into the 70s they also made a "tiller steering" version; and any cart made after 1982 with the H-D name on it was "made-for" H-D and their name applied; kinda like the Colt was for Dodge.

the worst part? the PO's horrible attempts at fiberglass repair; it looked so much better as it was when he got it, than now; "Tiger Hair" slathered onto fiberglass mat; no resin, no penetration of the Tiger Hair to the mat; steel straps bolted and then fiberglassed ofer to fix a cracked front fender then painted like a train car in a rail yard by graffiti artists; no, worse.
I got new points condenser and a carb kit with it; and even the shop manual; so the worst of it once I get it to run will be the body work.
At this point I think it better to find a pair of repl. fenders (used would be OK)
Anyone know of any of these laying around or that deals in parts?

:mad: Friday nite, my son went to a HS football game. I went wood-splitting.
We got home, I was here on the 'puter, he was on the couch telling me of how the game went, I was telling him about my day, and what I wanted to accomplish this weekend (WITH his help hopefully)
I had asked him if the 2 "typical" kids he hangs out with were there; nope they went and did their own thing.
As we were talking, his phone rings; his "usual 2" buddies were wanting him to bring out the Ramcharger to "pull them out" as they were "stuck"
How? as dry as its been? all the grass is brown and the corn ain't far behind; it's beyond bone dry; and the caller owns a 4X4 Cherokee.
I went with him to see where his buddies were; they walked a set of RR tracks to meet us at the road;
see, they decided to follow some RR tracks to see "where they came out"; they claimed to be 1/4 mi back off the road; Nick (my kid) and I followed them (on foot) to see where this "stuck" Jeep was;
the grade was increasingly steep, leading away from the tracks; and the river rock was sliding out just underfoot; I can imagine under the weight of a Jeep.
well I guess, he started sliding downhill and tried steering to counter; then the back started sliding downhill so he wound up staraightening out and gravity took over, and he wound up 90* to the tracks; they came to rest in a gulley, about 50' from the tracks.
then he called Nick; "what are you doing"
"what would you expect me to be doing at 11:30? I'm home gettin ready for bed"....
"could you bring your Ramcharger out? I'm kinda.... stuck".
and on the way out there Nick said something about his buddy saying "I guess your Dad knows now, too... huh?" I guess the other kids didn't want me to know;
and Nick says something to me about these 2 not asking him to "hang out" anymore, but when they have mechanical trouble or "need something".....

Once we got to the crossing they had walked to I told Nick that at least on this night I was glad that he wasn't "hanging out" with them.

on the walk back from the road, there was talk about "didn't you put it in 4WD"..... "Yeah, the back wheels just spun; didn't seem like the front was doing much"...
so we reach the stuck Cherokee; and; youve all heard the saying "over a barrel"; yup; he happened to go down right where there was a 55 gallon drum laying there and he had gone over it! the drum was wedged under the Jeep just behind the front axle..... the front tires were hanging 8" in the breeze. while the back bumper was stuck on the berm with the back wheels barely touching at max suspension travel...

So I tell them that there ain't anything to do now; it's about midnight, we can't see what we are doing, wait til morning.
So as we head home Nick's alternating between asking them what they had going Sat, and asking me 1) can they spend the night and 2) can the owner of the stuck Cherokee take my wife's Cherokee home for the night.... SAY WHAT!?>!!@ are you kidding me???
the one kid lives in the neighborhood and his parents were already calling him wondering where the F#** he was; as IL law restricts kids underage drive time; basically their licenses are null and void between like 11PM and 6AM.... I took the Jeep owner home about 12 mi away and Nick keeps hounding me to "do something" to get his buddies out of their little "problem"; I told him "OK, tomorrow morning call and give him the # of this tow truck guy I know; let him pay the consequences";
I had "other places to be" Saturday morning; so that and knowing something about tresspassing on RR right-of-way I had no intention of doing anything beyond what I had so far (get the kids home Fri night)

well among my "running" my phone was "Grand centarl station"

the tow guy called Nick (why IDK; he wasnt there and it wasnt his Jeep) to meet him and show him this stuck Jeep; I'm guessing the Jeep owner had somethin to do w/ that....
well the tow driver told Nick what he knew about RR right of way and that 1) he wouldnt be able to do anything as his truck dont have outriggers and he was afraid of losing his tow truck in the gulley as well;
and 2) if he DID take the job, that his buddy may as well just cough up the title as this was gonna be an expensive recovery for whoever came out..... (and the Jeep is quite tired and rusty, so its value might well = the cost to retrieve it)

so among the calls; Nick asking me what to do; wanting to help his "buddy"; interested buyers of stuff I had listed on CL; Nick again; the wife wanting to know what was going on; Nick again....
I had an idea how to get it outta there but didn't want to because of where it was.......

---------- Post added at 02:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:26 PM ----------

well I "caved"; and made some calls myself; located a couple Hi Lift jacks (avid 4 wheelers will know what I mean) got home and loaded up my truck; we packed all we could in the back of a wagon and walked back to where the Jeep was; it took all the 3 of us had to get thru the tall brush pulling that wagon by hand; I jacked the Jeep off the barrel; put a car ramp (think what you have around for doing oil changes in the driveway) under the LF tire; the idiot owner "couldn't" get the one under the RF as it was on top of some heavy brush that was sprouting out every which way; and was in a hurry to get that drum out; I was trying to hold him off til I had it stable so it would not fall; a Jeep on 2 Hi-Lifts is NOT very stable; was wobbling more than "Weebles"; but he insisted on playng w/ gettin the drum out under a wobbly Jeep. luckily the barrel was empty and came right out; as I tried to set it down using the ratchet mechanism of the jack I instead just "pushed it over" off the jacks because I was afraid it would fall anyway before I could "let" it down;
I was then able to drive it out about 150' down the gulley and into the farm field on the other side (out of RR Right of way) and back to the road thru the 8'+ tall brush; I had Nick walk ahead to advise me of any hazards I may encounter which would get us (again) stuck; we made it out OK. and putting the gear we carried in the Jeep sure beat carrying it out by hand!
only casualties (so far) were a rear axle brake line and a dent in a fender that is now worse; I was worried about the Jeep falling on someone, rolling, getting "spotted" by someone from the RR; and more; I coincidentally ran into a long time buddy taht works for a RR (competitor to whose tracks we were near) who told me of what kind of trouble we coulda all been in just for being there; IF we'd been "spotted"; more reason I didnt want to be there; I'm glad we were able to get it out from the "farm field" side of the gulley.... but if someone had seen us there in the field; and called the owner..... we coulda been in trouble for tresspass there too.... so far all is quiet;
IDK how I get caught up in this stuff; getting to "help" people out of situations like this; I mean it was my son's friend... I don't mind helping them out; but I don't like the possibility of getting myself into big-time trouble to do so....
and I fixed the kid's brakes this morning; as well as some "other" work the Jeep was needing anyway for a while.....

what I'd like as the Jeep owner's friend's Dad, is to make this kid realize how much trouble he "ccould have" been into; as well as his passenger on the joyride; AND Nick and me as well, just for being out there to "help" him......
this kid's Dad I dont know; he's being raised by just his Mom; I asked once about Dad and all I was told was "I don't talk to that side of the family hardly at all":......... so IDK if his parents are seperated divorced; if his Dad may be dead? no clue....
but I know his Mom must have her hands quite full raising a teenaged boy alone.....
I don't really want "money" sort of pay for helping him out, for either this weekend or the other times I worked on that Jeep; the radiator (I put all the parts on, the kid bought what ever I sent him to the parts store for) the water pump and T stat, the new hoses and belt, the tuneup....... but I'd like to make sure he realizes what a huge mistake this joyride "could have been" and the consequences he could have faced;
though when I told Nick to call him to get his a$$ over here to help me bleed the brakes since I already had the line changed; Nick told him taht he'd better bring me "something"; that's not really what I want and feel bad taking money from his friends as little as that may be for all I have done for this kid, pertaining to his vehicle;
and I hope in having him here getting his hands dirty he's learned something about vehicle repair too.....
I want him to "pay" somehow; I don't work for the school, so I can't give detentions; I'm not his Dad, so I cant ground him; and no I'm not gonna call the school to get him "called down" for another "talk": I've done plenty of that to him this weekend. I don't want to report it to the RR since there was really no harm done; but I want to "scare" him a bit to make him think about his actions a bit beforehand.

I'm thinking of making him do something like the Jap guy did to the Karate Kid (I know that was "training" not punishment) or Tom Sawyer having to whitewash the fence sort of thing.......... the kid hasn't told his Mom (just that the Jeep was "broke" and at my house)
I dont know the kid's Mom; and IDK if it's "my place" to go tell her; that's the kid's job ultimately....

I've been kinda busy lately (not the moneymaking kind) between my mother in law getting hit by a tornado a couple weeks ago,
I hauled alot of logs from downed trees to be split into 20-25 pickuploads of firewood (maybe a few $ there but not til it dries out; "next year" like the Chicago Cubs), slowly helping my son get his Ramcharger roadworthy,(personally my ambition has been severely lacking there, very unlike me) have talked to a few people about possibly getting off Dis. and back to a real job, but seeing the $15-18/hr jobs of a few years ago, if available are now $9/hr (won't even cover the mortgage) not to mention the "damaged goods' you've been hurt-we dont want you" BS,


can't do anything right it seems /unappreciated/ by the wife and kid for starters, I can't get them to do the simplest of tasks; I'm met with either"I forgot"; this is the 1st I've heard of you asking this" "why can't you... you're home all day".... (that one is getting OLD) and being expected to stay here and play "molly maid" which ws never one of my strong points...........

and having to basically clean up at the in law's house single handedly because my 2, B I L's run to either the shower or an air conditioned restaurant at the 1st hint of sweat; and then all they can do is b*tch at what I do and wonder how I can "Still be out there; it's too hot"
and, while I'm the one on Disability from a chainsaw accident; I'm doing all the saw work and climbing; they are afraid of chain saws because I was hurt....yet I was the 1st one out there with one in hand! how's that??.

they pull some of the cut offs out of my way til they feel sweat(then they leave).... and them not knowing much, yet all they can do is complain about me having a gardentractor, yard wagon, saws, and other things in "their" garage, that I brought there to help THEM; and hounding me to get it outta there;

Then, I mentioned renting a stump grinder and "splitting" the cost, after a "ambulance chaser" tree pro came around w/one and wanting big money for even the small ones; so after I mentioned a price to the one BIL that it would be worth my while to go rent a machine myself if we could get enough interested people; and HE goes around and "arranges" with everyone for me to do the job for 2/3rd of that; because he has never rented a pc of equip of any sort (I wound up having to rent 2, from 2 different yards when the 1st one crapped out) nor has he ever done that sort of work; meaning I barely broke even on the deal; got almost nothing for busting my @$$ all day; after paying for gas for my truck and the machines and then having to bring it home and do another 80 mile round trip the next day so as to prevent "late charges" since I could not count on them to return it 4 miles (8 miles round trip for them; he's too "busy" doing nothing) he ran his mouth, I did the work, and had to "honor" what he went and told everyone.......

have not hardly had the Fury out this year, since doing 1/2 of Power Tour (though I did wind up w/those antique plates on it because they are cheaper)
son not listening; standing around like part of the furniture completely dumbfounded when I try to explain anything to him, wind up having to do everything for him to see anything accomplished, yet he's hounding me to get his truck insured so it can actually see some drive-time, I find myself being very "short" w/patience w/him knowing how much more I could ((and would) do at 17; while he stands there wanting it to magically fix itself; I spend 20 min explaining a step that should take even an inexperienced person maybe 5 minutes and it seems I'm speaking "Greek" til he sees me get aggravated and do it for him....

I bought this rust free Aspen in the same probably ill advised Westward road trip we took earlier this year (that my kid bought the Ramcharger); and it just sits; as does the Fury and my orig Volare project; (I bought the Aspen as a reference of sorts to help "motivate" me and so I can see how the Volare is supposed to go back together; and then to maybe follow the Volare as my next project; I have been finding more interest lately in farm/tractor shows than car cruises and shows;
got enough lawnmowers to finish clogging up the garage as if 3 cars inside don't do well enough; 2 commercial zero turns w/2, possibly 3 more on the way, plus about 6 push mowers, (I have gotten them all going) and find myself lately "addicted" to Craigslist and local classifieds looking for parts/other non running ones to "join" them; ("yeah; I'm gonna sell them/make money")

I have the Aspen up for sale, largely since with it here, I have NO space to work on the Volare, even though I have a 30X36 garage, and am wondering if the Volare (or as many pieces as I can, and have accumulated over the years) and the Fury (runs/drives/is insured but sits) should join the Aspen in the classifieds? I know I'll be sorry as soon as I did do that. I don't feel any "attachment" to the Aspen but do, to the Fury and Volare.

My son wrecked my wife's 1st Cherokee last Christmas; (ice under 4" of unplowed snow, single vehicle spin out/rollover) we replaced it with another Cherokee. we have him listed as "main driver" on my truck, the only non full covered vehicle we have and instead of the Cherokee, they jacked up my truck rates; it already cost me more than insuring both a 97 Cherokee and a 97 Wrangler w/full coverage; it was in the driveway when the kid rolled the Cherokee; yet they put "the hit" on my non fully insured truck, (it still has more than minimum required to be sure; just no "collision") that I normally drive myself.

I went and priced insurance elsewhere for the house and vehicles (not because of that; I have other, older reasons to be upset w/ State Farm; and the length of time my MIL waited for a freakin adjuster after being hit by a tornado while we watched neighbors insured elsewhere get paid out and complete their repairs while she waits and waits..... we're finished w/ them) what about places like Grundy/Hagerty/Ampac Chrome fo the Fury; or would they insure a 78 Fury; not like it's a HemiCuda....

anyway I rec'd a ticket a few months back; the pig wrote me "local ordinance" instead of on a "STATE" ticket and lied, telling me that the difference was that when written "local" that it would not reach my record; that he had "done me a favor" by writing it local; (even though the "fine" goes to the same county office either way I wondered how could the State NOT "find out") so I just paid "the fine only" no traffic school and no "extra" for supervision; so how could this "local" violation now be screwing me?
I didn't think Illinois' DMV went by points; but when I went to "Country" for a quote they told me we had 8 points as a household so they could not be competitive; 3 to me for that ticket (ferken lyin' cop) and 5 to my son for the wreck; he was ticketed; but the ticket was dismissed because the cop who wrote him, (different one; mine was local cop, a county away, his was a county officer here in our home county) didn't show up. Is this "point" system thru the State? I've never been assessed "points" on a ticket (or no judge has mentioned it anyway) and there is no mention in the Rules of the Road book; I looked. or strictly an insurance company gimmick? It was on the acc. report that he was ISSUED a ticket; but there was no way at that point to know what the outcome would be (the ins co of course got the report) so does that mean that just the mere issuance of a ticket regardless of outcome is license for them to screw me?

due to lack of being able to find a decent paying job, thinking of going back to school but no idea for what, despite more than plenty of work around the house to keep me more than busy w/o looking for more broken stuff to bring home/ mess with, when I'm home, I fart around a while in the garage or yard, then come back to places like this (on my @$$ in front of the computer or out driving around) when I should be out doing something right here; if the phone rings and someone else wants me to do wahtever, I'm gone; even for things that looking back, were silly for them to call me for.... I still like wrenching and fixing, but find myself not being as willing to do some things as I used to be (easy not very labor intensive things at that) and my motivation is disappearing..... though I find myself looking at more and more tractor related stuff that I "want" definitely more so than "car stuff"..
I find service info harder and harder to find; I'm tired of having to go buy a Haynes book for every car I touch; I search online for hours and come up dry; w/o an expensive online subscription; I'm in the middle of a head-job on a 97 Monte Carlo (no money for me because of who it's for) and can't even find out head torquing instructions so I had to go buy another $25 book;
I can't begin to count the quantity of hours spent at "buddy's garages" til wee hours working on things mechanical; but it never seems to reciprocate here; my house needs work; that I have the materials here; again no ambition for my own stuff......

I'd like to finish up my house and sell; and move further out into the cornfields, hopefully gaining me a few acres; but my non working status kills me there too.