Sometimes I think I should have named my channel FarmFix101. Seems like I'm always fixing something! Have an awesome weekend everybody! Did you like this video? Let me know in the comments, and don't forget to give it a thumbs up! Cheers!
It wouldn't matter what you named this channel, everything you do is value added. I can't tell you how much I have learned from you and I'm sure I'm not alone. Not only are you showing how things are done, you are breaking it down (for us simple folk) and explaining why it's done a certain way. Thanks a million
Good stuff. I wouldn’t trust the garbage they make on forged and fire though 🥴 haha. Used to be a forging process engineer and a lot of what they do is cringe.
The multi-sized drill bit trick is great. And I have an old John Deere chain saw (re-branded Stihl I think) that has the same problems as your power washer, so I think I'll take a look at it again :)
If you can get a small hole drilled but the bolt still wont come out, you can carefully try tapping a small torx-bit into the hole and use that for extraction.
I'm 52 and never had to buy any appliances, lawn equipment or grills to name a few categories of what other people throw away for me to fix and use or sell. My father is who is responsible for that even though he's a marine biologist and still working at 83. This channel is one I feel lucky to have had suggested so thank you for taking the time to share your skills and knowledge.
Farm craft is all about fixing things so the name is appropriate. Working on a farm requires lots of fixing and maintaining of tools. Great content as always my friend
Granddad always taught me NOT to use soldering flux when working on electronic components, because it's acid based, and it can spatter onto other components and cause them to fail. So, rosin core solder is the better bet. With your battery fix, you're probably plenty fine, but when Granddad learned this lesson, he was replacing a resistor or whatever in a radio, and many times after his first "fix" he had to replace other components as they failed. I love the channel, and I'm constantly amazed at all the things you know how to do. Thanks for sharing all your expertise!
I owned and operated restaurant appliance services in Palm Springs, CA and in Port Angeles, WA for years and took on everything they threw at me. I loved it, did well at it, made good money and never, ever had a boring day. Watching you reason your way thru things on this and many other videos is like watching myself from over my shoulder. Great fun and thanks.
Ok… the left-hand drill bit was actually impressive. The rest of these I’m like “Hey I’ve done that and it works awesome!” But that one deserves the Big Johnson award!
I love being able to fix things. My eldest son (16) thinks I’m cheap and should just buy new but when I explain if I fix more things there’s more pocket money for goodies, he gets it. I get great satisfaction from fixing things cheap or free 🙂
Happy Labor Day John to you and your wife and daughter! I wanted to say that the carburetor fix was NoT boring at all. If I didn't have your channel, I don't know how I'd learn all this stuff! I'm so glad that you are on YT! ☺️
Hey John, thanks for sharing! Couple of ideas... When you cut he connector off the NiCad battery - you cut them both - this shorts the battery and even for a short duration is less than good for them. The other thing - is the pole saw - could have used a hose clamp, I never like those aluminum castings. I have also used stainless wire-ties to add an extra grip to them that is stronger than the base aluminum casting... On the sledge - if the hole is too big I use metal shavings in the epoxy to add (strong) volume. Works great and doesn't absorb epoxy or expand - but it is super strong and bites well.
15:37 since its a low volt pack and only ni-cd cutting both wires at the same time like that isn't dangerous, but don't do that with any lithium batteries of any voltage lol, it'll give ya a lil scare.
Yep, bring back "make do and mend", the thing of the past. Although I'm of the era, age and i have to say competence to do just that still, within limitations.😏😏
Not a big long, complicated fix like the lift piston. BUT ... it contained all the required elements. A story AND a lesson. As a result, I got the same enjoyment from watching and learning. This farmer is the Leonardo Da Vinci of Farm Craft. Thumbs up, once again.
I enjoy watching what you get into on the farm. I have 26 acres which is a non-working old farm in Virginia that I tinker with when I have spare time. I have a lot of the same equipment - tractors, excavator, saw mill, water stove, etc. and it's educational to see how you take care of problems that arise. You've got some mad skills on the lathe to just "make" things when needed. Your fascination with seals is comical. Keep 'em coming!
It’s always good to pick up new Tips. You can’t have enough knowledge when you have to fix your own stuff, every bit of knowledge adds to your experience. Great job. 🇬🇧🔧👍
You know, John, I was out on my morning bike ride and letting my mind wander, and it suddenly came to me why I enjoy your channel so much. Back in the very early days of This Old House, Norm Abrams had a great way of presenting the day's subject(s) and he engaged with the audience and made what he was doing come to life as he explained it. In many ways you do the same thing: You engage your viewers and you introduce us to new stuff, and we learn because you keep it simple. Then I thought, maybe your channel name should have been named 'This Old Farm,' but then said, "Naaah, he's doing OK with FarmCraft101. Again, clear presentation and explanation, great balance of video and audio, very worthwhile way to spend my time online. (I especially liked the cutaway drawing of the grease gun. The seemingly complex was made exceedingly simple! Thanks!)
Amazing how much you can fix around the house, l think 80% of small engines go into the trash from dirty carbs and old gas. Found three Stihl chainsaws at our local recycling/ trash: two had bad gas, and the third had been run on regular gas without oil (🫣) and received a Chineseium short block.. Makes my day when you upload ..Thanks for another great video..
Be careful when you cut both leads of a battery at the same time 😅. On this small battery it doesn't really matter, but on a big one it could be interesting ;)
I was going to say the same thing. I did a lot of radio controlled airplanes and cars with lithium ion polymer batteries with high discharge rates as a hobby so that made me cringe hard. I've seen those weld themselves to your cutters and then blow up lol
I always find your videos interesting, and I usually learn something useful for this non-farmer. Your delivery is excellent. I just wanted to say thanks for your good work.
Always a pleasure to see a video from you🙂 Just a remark, never cut both wires at the same time on a lithium pack, I ruined my pliers by doing so. The arcing destroyed the edges before the built-in security on the battery pack cut the power off...
Great video! I just picked up a 15 year old Troy Bilt "Pony" tiller. I had no idea if it would run because there was no pull cord and the starter was seized, but I took a leap of faith and bought it anyways. After tinkering around for a couple days, I now have a fully functional tiller that starts on the first or second pull every time. It feels good to fix stuff!
How about eliminating the Ni-Cads altogether? Run a flying lead from the battery connector down through a hole in the case to whatever connector you'd like to hook up to a 6-volt pack of, say, D cells. When you go out to use your scales, you take the battery pack with you and bring it back to the shop when done. "Instant recharging!" You could even make up a spare. It even works when the AC fails. (You want to be able to weigh your cows in the dark, don't you?)
What a bunch of UN-related cobbled together items to fill up a video. I loved it! Even my wife followed it and was impressed. I especially liked the idea that you could replace a wooden handle with a fiberglass one - never knew that there was a kit for that....Keep up the great work!
Good video. I love fixing things, finding a work around or way to improve it. A company I used to work for used sledges to drive stakes for large tents for events and parties. We had a lot of young guys who swing wild, are tired all the time, or just dont care because it's not their equipment. The company would take a piece of pipe, just long enough to protect the part that usually gets hit, that would slide down the handle, and weld it to the sledge head. Makes it a bit heavier, but no way they're gonna tear up the handles nearly as fast.
You know, that is what sets us older timers apart from modern folk. We fix what is broke instead of going out and buying another. Being a small farmer makes that even more necessary since how much you make depends on how much you have to spend on equipment repairs subtracted from farm income. That can zap you down to nothing very quickly if you can't do the majority of your own repairs.
Watched a couple of videos tonight -- some good stuff - very similar situation here. Family farm something always needs fixing, By myself most of the time. keep it coming. Old backhoe needs some bushings, JLG lift needs work - windmill needs work - no commercials yet!!
Your lawn chair look to be in better shape than mine! How’s the feet. They have really nice replacements! You really have a lot of great content! Thank you!
I liked your trick with the left hand drill bits. One: drill small then go up 1 or 2 sizes. Two: The best was to use the dye grinder to center the mark . In the past i used a center punch, though i do believe the grinder did a better job. And three: was the torch for some heat! Bravo, Bravo!!!!
With my personal seasonal equipment like lawnmower and pressure washer, end of season I drain the fuel and run it for a while with synthetic fuel then leave it full with the synthetic. I haven't needed a carb clean/rebuild in years. It's expensive but my time is worth more to me.
I always try Mechanic in a Bottle purchased from Home Depot when a small engine does not run well. With fresh gasoline it works super almost every time. Wonderful miracle product.
quick tip: when soldering wires, be sure to only use rosin solder flux made for wiring.. Do not use plumbing flux made for copper pipe, as it acidic and will eventually eat the wires and cause failure. You didn't say what type of flux you used, but it looked a lot like plumbers flux. Rosin Flux is usually liquid.
On your broken bolt. i like to heat them for the expansion between the metals then add some penetration oil (PB's) then let it sit a few mins. Spray some more and almost always it comes right out. A quick tap to follow the threads and clean them out and good as new..:)
Great Video. All my splitting mauls and sludge hammers get fiberglass handles for the last 10 years. I've never broke one. The Epoxy thing is so easy too! Recently I replaced a handle on a scoop shovel with fiberglass (rivets, not epoxy). Seems ok, but haven't used it yet.
If i may suggest, when checking the needle and seat function, if you turn the carb upside down with the float, needle, and seat installed, and blow into the fuel inlet port, you should not be able to push any air through with your mouth. If you turn the carb right side up, and blow into the fuel inlet port, you should be able to push air through with your mouth. Quick and easy way to test if those parts are functioning properly.
Just another tool would be a bolt extractor instead of just a left-handed drill bit. Project farm does a good job showing which one is the best. I have used them a lot being an airframer on helicopters.
Great Job! You are clearly very experienced in fixing stuff!! You handle each situation with knowledge and a good diagnostic approach! I fix quite a bit of stuff as well and like watching others do it - thinking i will learn something and sometimes i do!! Really liked your videos on the man lift repairs!! Very Well done there as well !!! Thanks !!
Always gotta be careful with a solid metal float needle, because there's almost certainly a rubber seat for it in the carb. Which will blow out and fly across the shop never to be found if you blow through the fuel inlet instead of the valve seat. Ask me how I know. Though I did happen to find that needle seat a few years later when I was looking for something else under the work bench😅
Just a heads up if you've never seen them before, they make a new thing that is heatshrink and solder mixed in one. When you heat it up to heatshrink a little tube of solder in the middle melts into your splice and permanently connects them together. Coolest thing ever.
I don't like how they joint together (solder seems to need more heat than the plastic likes). I do like the heat shrink crimp connectors from the same folks on Amazon.
@@Farmall450 I doubt they're as good as fluxing and soldering the joint then heatshrinking but they are better than just a splice with some electric tape that's for sure.
The grease that’s hard in the grease gun can dry out over time if the spring pressure is left on the tube of grease. I always pull the plunger t-handle all the way out and lock before placing on the shelf. Since I started doing this my grease has never dried out from the oil being squeezed out of the grease.
John please if you are going to run a pressure washer have water flow to the pump. They hate running dry, I mean you wouldn't run your Johnson dry would you? Or would you 🤔
If you're having issues with butt splices failing, fill the splices with "NOALOX", then crimp the wires and put heat shrink over the splices extending 1" back onto the wires each side, and restrain the splices to something solid with zip ties. I used to work marine electronics on cargo freighters.
I love all your videos although I didn't learn anything this time. Once in awhile you come through. 😉 I'm glad people like you are spreading good knowledge. I wouldn't have done anything different except maybe for stubborn jets on carbs run some stripped down single speaker wire. Or buy a fancy pick set lol. Nothing like getting it done with what you have. The key is to having what you might need. 👍
Good stuff. I finally gave up my 15 yr old Stihl Combi this year. I pulled that carb out multiple times and I think ethonal gas basically eats all the rubber bits. I switched to a Dewalt 60V combo trimmer and I love it. My only regret/project is figuring out how to get a pole saw attachment to fit it.
I love watching your videos, I watched ones about excavator repairs, hydraulic repairs, teleporter repairs, pressure washer repairs, generator repairs and so on... My point is, do want a second set of eyes to look at the next thing you purchase to save some time in the future?? :)
First up, love your vids...I'm farm raised myself and still do most things myself on my smaller farm block. One thing I learned is you never stop learning, and I find myself picking up new tricks with each of your videos, so thank you. I thought you might appreciate one 'fix' I made to my Yanmar B27 excavator...I was sick of being thrown around all the time (I'm using it in sub optimal locations), but solved that by buying an expired 6 point racing harness, welded a bar at the top of the ROPS to bolt the shoulder straps to, and a steel eye just below the seat for two lower straps...result, safe and secure and easy to get out of. I highly recommend this if you're working on uneven terrain or slopes.
John, I think you left shavings in the pole saw when you put it back together. Don't know that it will hurt anything since the bearings are sealed but I thought I'd say something just in case. I appreciate your videos. Always entertaining and educational.
Great video! Very useful to me - thanks! Do you think you could make a video on the most popular uses of a multi meter? Instruction by example is something I find that you do well.
