What I have fixed today

[Phil]

Afternoon late, sitting at my workbench, contemplating my navel, minding my own business.
There was a loud CLICK and the lights above the bench were dead.
Check DB board, earth leakage tripped. Reset and lights back on.
Wife suddenly appears with her extension lead, the end bit where the iron plugs in had blown!
Open up, the one screw had loosed and caused a short. Screw it apart, cut wires shorter, strip ends, fit into holder and screw tight. Test it, works ok. Return lead.

That must be at least 1.5 points

 

[Doug]

No hot water from my combi boiler.
Had a spare diverter valve reconditioning kit.
Removed, stripped, rebuilt and re fitted.
Time for a shower
Cheers, Andy

You have my sympathy Andy, our combi started leaking from the plate heat exchanger just before Xmas, it was 17 years old & the exchanger was right at the back of the boiler so easiest way to get to it was to take the boiler off the wall by the time I got it stripped down I figured it was easier & more practical to put a new boiler in than mess around with parts that were 17 years old.
The new boiler is quite a a bit bigger (output) so the present Mrs B is very happy with increased performance of the hot water, me I’m just happy to have the workshop nice & warm again.

 

[toolsntat]

You have my sympathy Andy, our combi started leaking from the plate heat exchanger just before Xmas, it was 17 years old & the exchanger was right at the back of the boiler so easiest way to get to it was to take the boiler off the wall by the time I got it stripped down I figured it was easier & more practical to put a new boiler in than mess around with parts that were 17 years old.
The new boiler is quite a a bit bigger (output) so the present Mrs B is very happy with increased performance of the hot water, me I’m just happy to have the workshop nice & warm again.

It would have been nice and convenient to stand up and do the job but the boiler is only 8" up from the loft floor and my knees and legs don't do crumpled up no more
Thankfully the valve is moderately accessible from the front.
Having a new boiler in the old upstairs airing cupboard is on my to do list this year, last year and the year before that and, and.......
Cheers, Andy

 

[Accipiter]

Would this count as being *suitable* for this topic/threads...?

"Fixed" (so nearly usable ) this door that I've had since around 1989/90..

 

[Steve Maskery]

I'm not sure that this as something I have fixed, but something that has fixed itself (for now).

I have an array of LED batten lights, 6 in the big barn where my machines are and 6 in the smaller barn, next door where my workbench is. I bought them in the UK but did not install them until I got to France, 3 years ago. 5 year warranty.

To start with, they were great. No issues at all. Then one of them started to flicker. Then another. The vendor was good. I replaced the two battens.

Now one of the battens in the big barn had started to do a slow fade in and out, and also the same with one in the workshop. Then the barn one sorted itself out, Hurrah! But not for long. Boo! And then it stopped altogether. Both have been out for a few weeks now.

So this week I have bought pack of 5, figuring that it is only a matter time before others need replacing. Same sort of product, different brand.

So there I was, in my workshop, beavering away with only 5 of the 6 lights working. I hear Postie pull up. I go outside to take receipt of the delivery and what do I find when I come back inside? The ^**^&$%** duff batten is now shining brightly! It was mocking me! It literally started working as its replacement was being delivered. And to add insult to injury, the one in the barn showed up for work today as well.

I'm not paranoid, it's just that all the world is out to get me.
S

 

[GaryR]

Here's what I have not fixed today. A 1970's era Sunbeam Mixmaster mixer. Belonged to my wife before I met her. Sometime in the last couple of years it developed the symptom of starting up when it was plugged in, could not be turned off, could not adjust the speed. We rarely use it so I just ignored the problem until it was time for Christmas baking. Wife asked me to fix it. After poking around online I found that the symptoms could be caused by either a bad capacitor or a bad resistor. I opened it up and found this:




Which I believe is a bad resistor. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell these are no longer available new and only rarely available from parts machines. I'm kind of stuck for now.

 

[AndyT]

I'm not sure that this as something I have fixed, but something that has fixed itself (for now).

I have an array of LED batten lights, 6 in the big barn where my machines are and 6 in the smaller barn, next door where my workbench is. I bought them in the UK but did not install them until I got to France, 3 years ago. 5 year warranty.

To start with, they were great. No issues at all. Then one of them started to flicker. Then another. The vendor was good. I replaced the two battens.

Now one of the battens in the big barn had started to do a slow fade in and out, and also the same with one in the workshop. Then the barn one sorted itself out, Hurrah! But not for long. Boo! And then it stopped altogether. Both have been out for a few weeks now.

So this week I have bought pack of 5, figuring that it is only a matter time before others need replacing. Same sort of product, different brand.

So there I was, in my workshop, beavering away with only 5 of the 6 lights working. I hear Postie pull up. I go outside to take receipt of the delivery and what do I find when I come back inside? The ^**^&$%** duff batten is now shining brightly! It was mocking me! It literally started working as its replacement was being delivered. And to add insult to injury, the one in the barn showed up for work today as well.

I'm not paranoid, it's just that all the world is out to get me.
S

It's Resistentialism in action Steve, well known in France since the 1940s.

Les choses sont contre nous!

REPORT ON RESISTENTIALISM H ATRED of one's father at Victoria. Clapham, » 23 Apr 1948 » The Spectator Archive

a nightmare of cream-painted plumbing and baths in the sky. Sorrow and Angst over the fish in the dining-car. Then Dover, looking guiltily northwards at the death of the spirit. After the suicidal WI. milk- bars, the red-haired men on the trams, what heart's-ease to be in Paris once more—to see...

archive.spectator.co.uk

 

[Doug]

Fixing someone’s -up, I’m fitting a media wall at the mo that my customer supplied, neither he or the media wall supplier considered how the under shelf light fittings & wiring was going to be concealed.
Also the shelves are 900mm wide & are showing signs of drooping before anything is placed on them, the solution is to glue & domino a strip of MFC to the front edge of the underside of the shelf



I’d never have thought I’d be spending a Saturday evening gluing up shelves when I was in my twenties

 

[toolsntat]

Fixing someone’s -up, I’m fitting a media wall at the mo that my customer supplied, neither he or the media wall supplier considered how the under shelf light fittings & wiring was going to be concealed.
Also the shelves are 900mm wide & are showing signs of drooping before anything is placed on them, the solution is to glue & domino a strip of MFC to the front edge of the underside of the shelf

View attachment 38857

I’d never have thought I’d be spending a Saturday evening gluing up shelves when I was in my twenties

You're in your twenties?
WOW!

 

[Doug]

You're in your twenties?
WOW!

I had a big paper round as a kid Andy, Staffordshire

 

[Accipiter]

@Steve Maskery ... know how you feel... I'd a 5ft batten (1 of 2) in my workshop that stopped working... Cause: Doing some renovations and working on covering up the rafters, moved the batten out of the way to a safe place but happened to catch it. It swung on the cable, flickered and stopped...

Bought a 6ft to replace it, wired in and that 'flickered'! Brain f$^t was "maybe it's the cable?". Replacing the cable it works... So, tried the duff one with new cable... that bu%%er worked! Now I've 2x 5ft and a 6ft in the 'shop.... loads of light ️

 

[Pete Maddex]

Here's what I have not fixed today. A 1970's era Sunbeam Mixmaster mixer. Belonged to my wife before I met her. Sometime in the last couple of years it developed the symptom of starting up when it was plugged in, could not be turned off, could not adjust the speed. We rarely use it so I just ignored the problem until it was time for Christmas baking. Wife asked me to fix it. After poking around online I found that the symptoms could be caused by either a bad capacitor or a bad resistor. I opened it up and found this:

View attachment 38853
View attachment 38852

Which I believe is a bad resistor. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell these are no longer available new and only rarely available from parts machines. I'm kind of stuck for now.

Do you have a value for the resistor and its power rating?

this one seems to be suggested as a replacement https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDet...0XCQvmsnPF98FoJHV7cCVmpwZboe7q_fhZ-tF3qlVBODw

Pete

 

[RogerS]

Here's what I have not fixed today. A 1970's era Sunbeam Mixmaster mixer. Belonged to my wife before I met her. Sometime in the last couple of years it developed the symptom of starting up when it was plugged in, could not be turned off, could not adjust the speed. We rarely use it so I just ignored the problem until it was time for Christmas baking. Wife asked me to fix it. After poking around online I found that the symptoms could be caused by either a bad capacitor or a bad resistor. I opened it up and found this:

View attachment 38853
View attachment 38852

Which I believe is a bad resistor. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell these are no longer available new and only rarely available from parts machines. I'm kind of stuck for now.

Looks more like a capacitor. Resistors are much smaller

 

[duke]

Fixing someone’s -up, I’m fitting a media wall at the mo that my customer supplied, neither he or the media wall supplier considered how the under shelf light fittings & wiring was going to be concealed.
Also the shelves are 900mm wide & are showing signs of drooping before anything is placed on them, the solution is to glue & domino a strip of MFC to the front edge of the underside of the shelf

View attachment 38857

I’d never have thought I’d be spending a Saturday evening gluing up shelves when I was in my twenties

Keeps you out of trouble.

 

[RogerS]

Here's what I have not fixed today. A 1970's era Sunbeam Mixmaster mixer. Belonged to my wife before I met her. Sometime in the last couple of years it developed the symptom of starting up when it was plugged in, could not be turned off, could not adjust the speed. We rarely use it so I just ignored the problem until it was time for Christmas baking. Wife asked me to fix it. After poking around online I found that the symptoms could be caused by either a bad capacitor or a bad resistor. I opened it up and found this:

View attachment 38853
View attachment 38852

Which I believe is a bad resistor. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell these are no longer available new and only rarely available from parts machines. I'm kind of stuck for now.

Here you go Gary.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1647129411/sunbeam-mixmaster-governor-capacitor

And on eBay US

New Sunbeam #10-2065 Mixmaster Capacitor for Model 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 | eBay

Here's a rare governor capacitor for those great old Sunbeam Mixmaster stand mixers, models 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 12. I also have Sunbeam Mixmaster and toaster service manuals available. They're direct, high quality scans of the original factory service manuals my Dad and I used for decades!

www.ebay.com

 

[duke]

This walker was a dump find about 8 years ago. My wife said I have a problem with bringing crap home from the dump. Told her that they are very expensive to buy new and you never know when one of us needs it. Fixed the brakes on it today.

 

[Pete Maddex]

Looks more like a capacitor. Resistors are much smaller

It’s a resistor you can see the coil of resistance wire. Size isn’t anything to do with components.

Pete

 

[RogerS]

It’s a resistor you can see the coil of resistance wire. Size isn’t anything to do with components.

Pete

Good point Pete. Have to confess to never seeing a resistor like that before.

Gary…what is the model number or type ?

 

[AndyP]

be careful with that walker Scot. In-laws have something similar. If only one brake is applied they have a tendency to slew to one side.

 

[duke]

Yea, I have noticed that Andy.

 

[GaryR]

Here's what I have not fixed today. A 1970's era Sunbeam Mixmaster mixer. Belonged to my wife before I met her. Sometime in the last couple of years it developed the symptom of starting up when it was plugged in, could not be turned off, could not adjust the speed. We rarely use it so I just ignored the problem until it was time for Christmas baking. Wife asked me to fix it. After poking around online I found that the symptoms could be caused by either a bad capacitor or a bad resistor. I opened it up and found this:

View attachment 38853
View attachment 38852

Which I believe is a bad resistor. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell these are no longer available new and only rarely available from parts machines. I'm kind of stuck for now.

I at first thought it was a capacitor, based on this image and description. The size is exactly the same as the burned out piece. I bought one and installed it, but that did not fix the problem. But as the note suggests, the capacitor and resister are sized similarly and the capacitor is the lower one. The burned out one I show above is the upper one, so I assume now that it is the resistor and what I have now is a mixer with two capacitors, one of which may still be bad, and that I now need to replace the resistor.

 

[fuse]

This walker was a dump find about 8 years ago. My wife said I have a problem with bringing crap home from the dump. Told her that they are very expensive to buy new and you never know when one of us needs it. Fixed the brakes on it today.View attachment 38867

nice work
Dont go looking for coffins though

 

[fuse]

What I have failed to fix today
In the process of mending something for someone else I dropped my 'portable' vice.
It survived but now the jaw now has to be pulled out manually instead of automatically following the screw.
The culprit was a sheared off cotter pin
Ive partially reassembled it
Ive got to make something to compress the spring and its washer down below the hole so I can put a new pin in
I was thinking of a long forked lever- unless someone has a better (easier) idea
The spring is pretty strong and the fork would have ti be long and slender
The pair of screwdrivers trick didnt work...
The screw is around 15mm diameter for a sense of scale.
The recess is too narrow and deep to get a proper spring compresser in
The lower front of the sliding jaw is radiused so theres no surface for a clamp to register upon.

 

[Accipiter]

Would you be able to get some long nosed pliers in to compress the spring down? I'm just wondering if you can then the washer may be able to be slid down below the hole so the new cotter pin can be inserted...? Difficult to offer any other solution... sorry.

 

[fuse]

Didnt think about pliers and there was a pair right in front of me
Ill give them a go when I get the new pin
Thanks for that!

 

[GaryR]

I at first thought it was a capacitor, based on this image and description. The size is exactly the same as the burned out piece. I bought one and installed it, but that did not fix the problem. But as the note suggests, the capacitor and resister are sized similarly and the capacitor is the lower one. The burned out one I show above is the upper one, so I assume now that it is the resistor and what I have now is a mixer with two capacitors, one of which may still be bad, and that I now need to replace the resistor.

OK, I think I have this figured out, now. After a series of emails with a guy who specializes in repairing these mixers, I found that I had been reading instructions for a different model of this mixer. That degraded cylinder was indeed the resistor. He said the covering often flakes off but that the resistor in that condition usually works as well or even better than an intact one. Unfortunately I had tossed it so I need a new one anyway. The problem is the capacitor, which on my model is a wafer style rather than a cylinder and is located further into the guts of the machine. I dug in and found that the capacitor had indeed burned up. You can see the scorch mark.


Neither resistor or capacitor are available new, but repair guy keeps a stock of salvaged and reconditioned parts and he's sending me what I need.

 

[Accipiter]

Well.... not sure about posting this but... it's not woodwork related (as suggested when @Lurker started this thread ) and I'm hoping it's a 'fix' ...

I've a (small) fish pond with 5 Wakin goldfish, 2 green Tench and numerous minnows (unable to count and the only ones that seem able to breed successfully)... Checking out the pond today - too cold to feed - and notice 1 upside down... Mmm... got him out to check and decided it "could" be swim bladder issue. Quick search gives a treatment of 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to 4.5l of water for 15~30 minutes... Gave it a try .... 30 minutes later: checked and he's a bit lively... back in the pond and he swam away... Calling it a "Fix" but...

Sorry... no pics... to busy trying to resolve and didn't think at the time about posting here

 

[Cabinetman]

Well.... not sure about posting this but... it's not woodwork related (as suggested when @Lurker started this thread ) and I'm hoping it's a 'fix' ...

I've a (small) fish pond with 5 Wakin goldfish, 2 green Tench and numerous minnows (unable to count and the only ones that seem able to breed successfully)... Checking out the pond today - too cold to feed - and notice 1 upside down... Mmm... got him out to check and decided it "could" be swim bladder issue. Quick search gives a treatment of 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to 4.5l of water for 15~30 minutes... Gave it a try .... 30 minutes later: checked and he's a bit lively... back in the pond and he swam away... Calling it a "Fix" but...

Sorry... no pics... to busy trying to resolve and didn't think at the time about posting here

Well done, good fix! I have been banging on about people’s lack of Magnesium for a few years now, and Epsom Salts is a quick way of getting it into the body, a handful in a hot bath works wonders.

 

[Phil]

be careful with that walker Scot. In-laws have something similar. If only one brake is applied they have a tendency to slew to one side.

Agree with you.
Our medical appliance store "rents" them out just for the cost of cleaning and repairing.
Wife lent her mothers to neighbours.
There must about 30 people here using those walkers, I see a number of them walking past late afternoon from my garage window.

 

[Accipiter]

Well done, good fix! I have been banging on about people’s lack of Magnesium for a few years now, and Epsom Salts is a quick way of getting it into the body, a handful in a hot bath works wonders.

Thanks Ian. I did a water check to make sure things are where they should be and the checks were spot on - no issues. I've not been feeding them as it's too cold so it's confusing as to what the cause was in this one of the five... Took a look late morning and he's swimming around like the others... no idea what would have caused a swim bladder issue at this time of year

 

[RogerS]

This morning woke up to no heating. Early investigation showed all controls working as expected but further fault finding put on hold due to surgery appt. Fresh back from there proved power getting to the boiler. The test switch fired the boiler up OK. Conclusions something amiss in the control unit but as I couldn’t see how to dismantle it further, what with the overheat sensor tubes and all concerned I’d make matters worse so call-out to the boiler man.

Went back indoors to turn the power back on to the boiler and noticed that I had zero water pressure. I’d bled a radiator yesterday evening as it was only heating up right at the bottom. All seemed good at the time. So re pressurised the system and rewarded by the sound of the boiler starting up.

Does beg the question why it was working OK last night but not this morning. Unless because I bled it when the system was hot that was enough to keep the under pressure sensor from kicking in

 

[Cabinetman]

Perhaps when you bled it all last night you forgot to repressure it and you had let the dial drop too much?

 

[RogerS]

A few beers can do that

 

[GaryR]

OK, I think I have this figured out, now. After a series of emails with a guy who specializes in repairing these mixers, I found that I had been reading instructions for a different model of this mixer. That degraded cylinder was indeed the resistor. He said the covering often flakes off but that the resistor in that condition usually works as well or even better than an intact one. Unfortunately I had tossed it so I need a new one anyway. The problem is the capacitor, which on my model is a wafer style rather than a cylinder and is located further into the guts of the machine. I dug in and found that the capacitor had indeed burned up. You can see the scorch mark.
View attachment 38966

Neither resistor or capacitor are available new, but repair guy keeps a stock of salvaged and reconditioned parts and he's sending me what I need.

The new goodies arrived yesterday and I installed them today. The mixer works, now. No pix so you'll just have to trust me.

 

[RogerS]

......

Does beg the question why it was working OK last night but not this morning. Unless because I bled it when the system was hot that was enough to keep the under pressure sensor from kicking in

I have a leak somewhere Boiler failed to fire up this morning as no water pressure in the system. There is no leak in the house as far as I can see (luckily) but since Bodger buried a lot of the pipes in concrete, that there is no visible leak doesn't mean that there isn't one in the house. It could be outside inside the boiler but since it's been raining eternally it is impossible to say if it is the boiler or notas there is so much surface water swilling about.

 

[Lurker]

Is it coincidence that “the leak “ has developed over the past few days?
Or have you inadvertently disturbed something.

 

[Mike G]

I have an old Galaxy (diesel), and it's been struggling to start on colder days this winter. Obviously the "glow plugs" (pre-heat plugs) needed replacing. I rang my independant garage guy, and asked what my chances were of doing it successfully myself.......and he said I'd be lucky if I got 3 out of the 4 out, and don't be surprised if I only get one or two out. But, he said he wouldn't do any better himself, so I may as well have a crack. Apart from dropping one of the little nuts which hold the electric cable on, it went perfectly, and I got all 4 out and the new ones in. And the car started instantly. I was rather pleased.

 

[toolsntat]

I have an old Galxy (diesel), and it's been struggling to start on colder days this winter. Obviously the "glow plugs" (pre-heat plugs) needed replacing. I rang my independant garage guy, and aksed what my chances were of doing it successfully myself.......and he said I'd be lucky if I got 3 out of the 4 out, and don't be surprised if I only get one or two out. But, he said he wouldn't do any better himself, so I may as well have a crack. Apart from dropping one of the little nuts which hold the electric cable on, it went perfectly, and I got all 4 out and the new ones in. And the car started instantly. I was rather pleased.

You're hired.....
Any good with a Transit

 

[RogerS]

Is it coincidence that “the leak “ has developed over the past few days?
Or have you inadvertently disturbed something.

The service engineer came out to find a tool he’d lost from the last visit……..nah…he’s

 

[RogerS]

Is it coincidence that “the leak “ has developed over the past few days?
Or have you inadvertently disturbed something.

The CH pipes are nowhere near where I’ve been working