front fork...

Got the front fork tacked together today.  Started the drilling with 3/8" pilot holes and almost didn't make it through with a 1/2" bit - until I adjusted the speed and torque on my drill press.  Had to do a bit of reaming and filing to get the axle holes right.  Largest bit I have is 1/2" and the holes are 5/8".  It went pretty smoothly but I ended up snapping the bit near the end of the process because I got a little too aggressive using my hammer drill.  61,68,49,0,B   

topped off again...

Woke up before light this morning to the sound of rain. Had to get up and put my tools under cover (so they won't get rusty) and close the windows on the truck.  Drizzled for 3 hours and all my tanks are topped off again.  Although I didn't check the road today...I'm hoping the really bad spot is still passible.    61,68,50, .46",B

the right round...

Tried out the new cutting wheels on some 3/16" steel plate and it was like slicing butter with a steak knife.  Started working on the front fork beginning on where the axles will attach.  Whenever I need to mark a radius, I look around til I find something round that is just the right size.  62,71,53,0,B

trumped...

Well...it's over.  I have taken a lot of flack on Facebook over the past year debunking stupid rumors from both sides of the aisle.  The debate always ended abruptly with no counter points or facts - just me being accused of supporting the opposition even though my disclaimer has always been: "I am a conservative Christian constitutionalist.  I support neither candidate nor do I even vote.  You cannot truly know the enemy if you base your opinions on stupid lies."  That being said - the people have spoken...at least about half of them did.  Less than 20% of eligible voters chose the nominees and less than 60% of eligible voters chose the next president.  I stopped voting years ago (and joined nearly half the population) because I got tired of choosing between the lesser of two evils.  I believe that in this election, even that choice was unavailable.  Perhaps someday in the future I will vote again, but not until there is a definite clear choice instead of only the perception of the lesser of two evils.  And don't give me that "If you don't vote - don't bitch" nonsense.  That is a moot point given the circumstances of this election.  Give me a good option someday and I will be first in line at the polls.

So the gate has swung once again and Republicans will be back in charge for awhile.  But Trump? Really?  Is that the best you could come up with?  At least we won't have to listen to years of how the election was rigged.  Outside of his campaign slogan "Make America Great Again", I can't remember once hearing Trump say anything that made much sense, wasn't an outright lie, or just immaturity masquerading as "political incorrectness".  It is sad to think that such a wild card could be the only way to defeat Hillary.  I am going to go out on a limb here and say I could have gone for Ted Cruz but since he wouldn't have been such a vindictive ass (like Trump has been) - there wouldn't have been nearly as much negative press for Clinton and I don't think he would have squeeked by in the general election.  Of course if you go along with most of the Clinton rumor mill...how could she possibly lose (even to Trump) if she is SO powerful and the government is SO corrupt?  And what about all those rigged election machines from Soros?  And where are her global elitists that ordained her so they can take over the world?  And why didn't "Killery" just have Trump killed?

Now we get to listen to Democrats bitch and moan for at least the next 4 years (which I have to admit secretly pleases me a little) while we wait and see how the trump card plays out as to the Donalds' rapidly changing policy positions throughout the campaign.  Will he stay true to his quote from The Art of The Deal?
"You can't con people, at least not for long. You can create excitement, you can do wonderful promotion and get all kinds of press, and you can throw in a little hyperbole. But if you don't deliver the goods, people will eventually catch on." 
57,62,52, .04",B

gotta backtrack...

Made a slight error yesterday.  I didn't double check the bearing depth on the new wheels before I welded the axle ends together.  Seems I came up about a half inch short.  I need a little more room beyond the shaft collar to add a washer and a cotter pin for some don't need that wheel to fall off redundancy.  Gonna have to cut the parts apart and make the adjustment.  Problem is, all I have left in the way of cutting wheels for my angle grinder are 3/16" thick ones.  Getting nice precise cuts with these is like trying to slice tough meat with a butter knife.

Fortunately, I just ordered some 1/16" cutting wheels from Harbor Freight last week and they will be here tomorrow.  I ordered 3 packs of these and checked of course for a coupon code (which you should always do before ordering from HF) and found one for $2 off each pack.  67,73,55,0,B

axle ends...

Got the rear wheel axle ends welded together today...a rod in a pipe in a pipe in a pipe - to go from the 1" fiberglass axles to the 5/8 wheel bearings.  One of my pipe sections had to be ground down .05" to fit it all together nice and tight.

Turns out that "nice rain" from a couple of days ago wasn't so nice after all - thanks mostly to the inconsiderate neighbor.  The new flow he has created with his earthwork just about took out a whole section of my road.  Luckily I can still squeak through and the ranch should be out soon to clean it all up ahead of hunting season.  The neighbor was busy marching around today - not repairing the damage he caused to the road, but spray painting his numerous line markers purple to ward off would-be trespassers - kind of like a cat pissing to mark his territory.  God forbid someone might actually set foot on his property!  Of course he is well within his rights to do as he pleases on HIS PROPERTY, but littering the landscape with gates, border markers, and no trespassing signs is a little excessive in an area that gets so little traffic.  74,84,51,0,B    

May God continue to bless Ben...

For I am blessed to be a steward of His creation.

Psalm 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.  11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.