My activities for the month of stardate 20666 are/is

[NinjaPoodle]

The drugs aren't working are they?

[Smucky]

The drugs aren't working are they?

Possibly. But progress would've been no better without them either

[Smucky]

Spent so much time trying to figure out the route to getting apps listed on google play and also navigating the esp/"email service provider" options. So boring, so slow. So GAY

[NinjaPoodle]

[Smucky]

Can't get these studs out. Even with gigantic ice grips. So that's the job for today.

[Smucky]

We'll figure before cutting it off and drilling it I would clamp on it with the vice grips extra hard and try even harder. Seem to start turning. And then snap

[Smucky]

[Smucky]

Time to drill

[Smucky]

Dead center

Dead center

Dead center

Dead center

Dead center

[Smucky]

The metals have clearly become one. Guess I have to go look for a helicoil set for this size hole.

[NinjaPoodle]

The metals have clearly become one. Guess I have to go look for a helicoil set for this size hole.

Can't you just tap it with a larger thread?

Anyway, helicoils will do just fine as well.

[Smucky]

The metals have clearly become one. Guess I have to go look for a helicoil set for this size hole.

Can't you just tap it with a larger thread?

Anyway, helicoils will do just fine as well.

I might do that. AI girlfriend is telling me to try drilling it to 5/16 and then run a 3/8-16 tap through it. It might just line up right and recut/clean up the threads. So $7 for a tap (that is marked "made in India" (almost didn't buy it)), might as well try Might go out there later and see if I can fix it or make a bigger mess.

[Smucky]

Now typing on new phone

[Smucky]

Now typing on new phone

Curious about the camera since it has a macro mode now. This is the Alt key on my keyboard. guess it is pretty good.

[Smucky]

Any way, out to the tractor

[Smucky]

Tappa tappa tappa tappa

Seems to be working

[Smucky]

Fixt

[NinjaPoodle]

Fixt

PXL_20260825_062706735.jpg

Good,

When you bolt it all up together, always use copper paste on the bolts that risk rust together. Though the exhaust is a tough place for copper place, not sure it will survive. However, the copper should still be there.

[Smucky]

Woke up at 6am after a few hours of sleep. Was kinda horny so spermed in the wife
Shortly after that she had to get my son up and ready for school to catch the bus. But the bus never came so she had to drive him to school. And apparently you can't just dump your kids off in the front of the building and since it was one minute past start time they made her go inside to check him in. So she had to do that looking like she just rolled out of bed and super ratchet + morning breath.
What public schools, and the students in them, have become really pisses me off.

[Smucky]

Fixt

PXL_20260825_062706735.jpg

Good,

When you bolt it all up together, always use copper paste on the bolts that risk rust together. Though the exhaust is a tough place for copper place, not sure it will survive. However, the copper should still be there.

The AI girlfriend says:

When you reassemble, use stainless or plated studs and nickel-based anti-seize rated for exhaust temps — copper anti-seize breaks down too low for a manifold.

I'm thinking JB Weld > anti-seize

[NinjaPoodle]

I'm thinking JB Weld > anti-seize

[Smucky]

Spent all week trying to decide whether to use an email service for email for my apps, or just use my own smtp server. AI girlfriend talked me into just using AWS SES. So spent all last night creating an AWS account and going through all the forced multi-factor auth crap they force on you now So might have working "email stuff" later tonight.
But for now, need a nap.
Not sure if I should do 2ml or 5ml of THC today

[Smucky]

Today, went to hardware store and got some replacement bolts for the tractor exhaust. A regular bolt that I will cut into a stud. Then stainless nuts and washers. Couldn't find a stainless bolt/stud that would work and there is no air conditioning at this hardware store and was hot as FUCK in there so only had about 5 minutes to look around before critical sweat levels. I'll cut the bolts to size, get them installed, maybe jb weld them in place on the manifold side, not sure

[Smucky]

Today, went to hardware store and got some replacement bolts for the tractor exhaust. A regular bolt that I will cut into a stud. Then stainless nuts and washers. Couldn't find a stainless bolt/stud that would work and there is no air conditioning at this hardware store and was hot as FUCK in there so only had about 5 minutes to look around before critical sweat levels. I'll cut the bolts to size, get them installed, maybe jb weld them in place on the manifold side, not sure

PXL_20260828_161826567.jpg

Got the exhaust all on

Then hitched up to a plow to go play in the dirt. Mainly because I'm still trying to get the engine up to temp before re-torquing the cylinder head

It was already night, and was pulling out into the field holding a flashlight in one hand and the IR thermometer in the other and operating the steering wheel and 3 point hitch on mere magic. The exhaust manifold was at 230 and the engine at 130 at the start. As soon as the tips of the plow touched the dirt that hasn't seen rain in 7+ weeks, you could really feel the heat output start to increase. I was stuck between the two paths on how to break in new rings and cylinders, either baby it or drive it like you stole it. The dry concrete dirt forced me to pick the latter. So just ran the plow at the lowest that would allow the tractor to still go forward, and not in the low transmission range, we are in the high range and pushed the throttle towards FULL SEND

Watched the exhaust manifold temp quickly get to 300, then 400, 500, 600, finally peaking at around 680 before it started sputtering and acting like it had a clogged fuel filter (again). Had only made it half way around the field before having to slowly limp back to the barn. Had already changed the two filters, so changed the first one (again). But seemed to make no difference. I had also recently blown out the lines.

But I had one other idea... The "tank" on most old international harvesters are kind of a two tank monstrosity.
Most look like this:

vfj59gjrt90hjhdf.jpg (22.96 KiB) Viewed 2 times

On mine at least, the fuel "output" line is on the right side "tank". The fuel return is on the left. So once you drop below halfway, you end up with fuel sucking out of the right and being returned on the left. There is a "balance tube" (not shown) that connects the lower halves so fuel can still get between the two.

And once I pulled the sending unit on the right tank, I could see that tank was running dry even though there were several gallons on the left. So pulled the balance tube and blew it out and tried to shove a wire through it but it had too many bends. But seemed mostly good enough.

Got that back on and tried to make another pass. But at nearly the same spot, started sputtering again. Had left the sending unit out so I could look into the right side tank, sure enough balance tube was not flowing again. Got the idea to beat on the tube with the back of a screwdriver and that seemed to get it flowing again. From what it seems, the tank has a ton of rust in it and the finer particles just end up behaving like sand in a gravity fed pipe/drain. So a guaranteed clog
I managed to plow a bit more (50ft lol) before having to beat on the balance tube again. Did this for a few times before slowly limping back to the barn. Not sure what the plan is now. I guess I'll just go drop the $60+ to fill the tank most of the way up so I don't have to rely on the balance tube flow.

Also I just realized that the sending unit is on the right side which is the side that can run low. I should probably get a working fuel gauge, then I'll know the level in the tank without having to look