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11
Eric Holder
2024 May 30, 4:04pm
Eric Holder
2024 May 30, 4:04pm
WookieMan says
Finally you guys are starting to appreciate SF Bay Area dry-no-heat climate. :D
NuttBoxer says
We were in San Diego for a graduation, and I forgot how uncomfortable 70's are in the sun with the humidity. By contrast, got back and felt just fine in 100 degree weather. I'll take the dry any day.
It's easier to cool a house. Being outside 100ºF is worse though. Humidity is a natural sauna. Dry heat just burns you up and you have to drink copious amounts of water. Golfed Quintero north of Phoenix about 16 years ago when it was 115ºF. Awful. Couldn't even swim in the pool as the water was too hot.
I'll take FL, GA, AL, etc humidity at 90-95ºF all day every day. Dry heat is like being cooked in an oven. It sucks.
Finally you guys are starting to appreciate SF Bay Area dry-no-heat climate. :D
12
mell
2024 May 30, 6:03pm
Eric Holder says
No doubt it's the best. Dry heat is easier on you all else being equal, but 90 and humid certainly better than 120 and dry.
WookieMan says
NuttBoxer says
We were in San Diego for a graduation, and I forgot how uncomfortable 70's are in the sun with the humidity. By contrast, got back and felt just fine in 100 degree weather. I'll take the dry any day.
It's easier to cool a house. Being outside 100ºF is worse though. Humidity is a natural sauna. Dry heat just burns you up and you have to drink copious amounts of water. Golfed Quintero north of Phoenix about 16 years ago when it was 115ºF. Awful. Couldn't even swim in the pool as the water was too hot.
I'll take FL, GA, AL, etc humidity at 90-95ºF all day every day. Dry heat is like being cooked in an oven. It sucks.
Finally you guys are starting to appreciate SF Bay Area dry-no-heat climate. :D
No doubt it's the best. Dry heat is easier on you all else being equal, but 90 and humid certainly better than 120 and dry.
13
fdhfoiehfeoi
2024 May 31, 7:14am
fdhfoiehfeoi
2024 May 31, 7:14am
As someone who's experienced both, I disagree. 106 yesterday, and noticed I wasn't the only one not running AC when I drove..
14
SoTex
2024 May 31, 8:04am
SoTex
2024 May 31, 8:04am
mell says
It's been beautiful here in norcal/wine country. The cold and wet winter lasted well into spring and thus the summer temps so far have been tempered in the 70s and 80s so far, with 90s next week. Daily pool time reboots nicely from all the tech and trading stuff.
15
SoTex
2024 May 31, 8:05am
SoTex
2024 May 31, 8:05am
NuttBoxer says
The houses on my street in Tucson all had swamp coolers with no AC when I was a kid.
As someone who's experienced both, I disagree. 106 yesterday, and noticed I wasn't the only one not running AC when I drove..
The houses on my street in Tucson all had swamp coolers with no AC when I was a kid.
16
WookieMan
2024 May 31, 8:24am
WookieMan
2024 May 31, 8:24am
NuttBoxer says
I know you're in AZ. Have family and friends down there. No chance in hell the AC wouldn't be on at 106ºF. That's voluntary torture. I get into this argument with my one buddy from Texas who moved to IL. He says the dry heat is better. Guess what he bitches when we get to AZ for a golf trip and he's fucking getting torched? The heat.
The AC runs constantly any time I'm in AZ in the spring to fall times. People literally have to COOL their pools to make them functional. I'll take 90-95ºF in the summer here with humidity over 106ºF in AZ 10 out of 10 times. Rather be in a sauna/steam room than an oven getting baked. Sweating is good for you as long as you're hydrated.
As someone who's experienced both, I disagree. 106 yesterday, and noticed I wasn't the only one not running AC when I drove..
I know you're in AZ. Have family and friends down there. No chance in hell the AC wouldn't be on at 106ºF. That's voluntary torture. I get into this argument with my one buddy from Texas who moved to IL. He says the dry heat is better. Guess what he bitches when we get to AZ for a golf trip and he's fucking getting torched? The heat.
The AC runs constantly any time I'm in AZ in the spring to fall times. People literally have to COOL their pools to make them functional. I'll take 90-95ºF in the summer here with humidity over 106ºF in AZ 10 out of 10 times. Rather be in a sauna/steam room than an oven getting baked. Sweating is good for you as long as you're hydrated.
17
Eric Holder
2024 May 31, 9:18am
Eric Holder
2024 May 31, 9:18am
WookieMan says
Heat is heat. I know a guy in his 40s who suffered a heatstroke resulting in a heart attack while doing very mildly physically challenging activity in a 90-100F dry desert heat - he was shooting his rifle from a prone position under a canopy. Not even walking to the targets - driving his truck back an forth. Good thing there were other people shooting nearby so he was able to flag them down and they took him to the hospital. The fact that the heat was dry is a small consolation for him.
NuttBoxer says
As someone who's experienced both, I disagree. 106 yesterday, and noticed I wasn't the only one not running AC when I drove..
I know you're in AZ. Have family and friends down there. No chance in hell the AC wouldn't be on at 106ºF. That's voluntary torture. I get into this argument with my one buddy from Texas who moved to IL. He says the dry heat is better. Guess what he bitches when we get to AZ for a golf trip and he's fucking getting torched? The heat.
Heat is heat. I know a guy in his 40s who suffered a heatstroke resulting in a heart attack while doing very mildly physically challenging activity in a 90-100F dry desert heat - he was shooting his rifle from a prone position under a canopy. Not even walking to the targets - driving his truck back an forth. Good thing there were other people shooting nearby so he was able to flag them down and they took him to the hospital. The fact that the heat was dry is a small consolation for him.
18
fdhfoiehfeoi
2024 May 31, 11:56am
fdhfoiehfeoi
2024 May 31, 11:56am
Same age, mowed my lawn and picked all the devil weed(really nasty spikey seeds, don't know the name), with a push mower last weekend. Mostly in the sun, high of 100.
Glad your buddy is ok, but he's kind of a pussy.
Glad your buddy is ok, but he's kind of a pussy.
19
WookieMan
2024 May 31, 12:58pm
WookieMan
2024 May 31, 12:58pm
NuttBoxer says
Why do you have a push mower? I don't even care about the heat besides dry being worse than humid. Can't call someone a pussy if you don't make the $$$ to get a rider or zero turn.
Fact is everyone justifies their climate. Fact is I'd guess 90% of you haven't even left your own climate zone. So most are just talking out their ass. Been to all lower 48 and most the Caribbean and Mexico. AZ and NV are awful. Same with SE CA. Death Valley is just a funny name.... said no one. Come to the midwest or southeast first before spouting off.
Same age, mowed my lawn and picked all the devil weed(really nasty spikey seeds, don't know the name), with a push mower last weekend. Mostly in the sun, high of 100.
Glad your buddy is ok, but he's kind of a pussy.
Why do you have a push mower? I don't even care about the heat besides dry being worse than humid. Can't call someone a pussy if you don't make the $$$ to get a rider or zero turn.
Fact is everyone justifies their climate. Fact is I'd guess 90% of you haven't even left your own climate zone. So most are just talking out their ass. Been to all lower 48 and most the Caribbean and Mexico. AZ and NV are awful. Same with SE CA. Death Valley is just a funny name.... said no one. Come to the midwest or southeast first before spouting off.
20
stereotomy
2024 May 31, 1:03pm
stereotomy
2024 May 31, 1:03pm
Picked up a Snapper Pro for $250. It sat in a shed for 10+ years - the wheels still had the flashing from the molds. Carburetor is probably shot, but fuck, this is a $1500 mower.
21
SoTex
2024 May 31, 9:33pm
SoTex
2024 May 31, 9:33pm
stereotomy says
No matter how much I wind up wealth-wise (which isn't much so far in the grand scheme of things) I will always admire a deal gitter.
Picked up a Snapper Pro for $250. It sat in a shed for 10+ years - the wheels still had the flashing from the molds. Carburetor is probably shot, but fuck, this is a $1500 mower.
No matter how much I wind up wealth-wise (which isn't much so far in the grand scheme of things) I will always admire a deal gitter.
22
RWSGFY
2024 May 31, 10:33pm
RWSGFY
2024 May 31, 10:33pm
NuttBoxer says
Ah, the bravado. How original.
Same age, mowed my lawn and picked all the devil weed(really nasty spikey seeds, don't know the name), with a push mower last weekend. Mostly in the sun, high of 100.
Glad your buddy is ok, but he's kind of a pussy.
Ah, the bravado. How original.
23
Tenpoundbass
2024 Jun 1, 12:11pm
Tenpoundbass
2024 Jun 1, 12:11pm
stereotomy says
That is a marvelous machine! I used to work on Snapper mowers, back in the day.
What is so great about them, is the simplicity of the drive train. There isn't any gear boxes, pulleys, gears, sprockets, chains or belts to go bad.
Well belts do drive the blades how ever, they connect to the same shaft that holds the drive disk.
The whole mechanism is just a drive disk with a slight conical contour from the outer diameter to the center point. This is part of the engine crankshaft. The axle has a rubber disk that is adjusted from the inside to the outside of that rotation, providing more or less torque.
The carbonator should be a float and bowl style. If that's the case, a little carb cleaner and a air nozzle on a shop vac, should sort that carburetor out.
Cut a cereal box gasket and seal it with some silicone.
Picked up a Snapper Pro for $250. It sat in a shed for 10+ years - the wheels still had the flashing from the molds. Carburetor is probably shot, but fuck, this is a $1500 mower.
That is a marvelous machine! I used to work on Snapper mowers, back in the day.
What is so great about them, is the simplicity of the drive train. There isn't any gear boxes, pulleys, gears, sprockets, chains or belts to go bad.
Well belts do drive the blades how ever, they connect to the same shaft that holds the drive disk.
The whole mechanism is just a drive disk with a slight conical contour from the outer diameter to the center point. This is part of the engine crankshaft. The axle has a rubber disk that is adjusted from the inside to the outside of that rotation, providing more or less torque.
The carbonator should be a float and bowl style. If that's the case, a little carb cleaner and a air nozzle on a shop vac, should sort that carburetor out.
Cut a cereal box gasket and seal it with some silicone.
24
stereotomy
2024 Jun 2, 8:11am
stereotomy
2024 Jun 2, 8:11am
Tenpoundbass says
I've had a Pro Snapper before - loved that machine. The needle jet for the original carb has a viton cap that swelled during storage with 10% ethanol gas for 10 years - this caused the mower to require running partially choked because the needle tip was too fat, starving the carb for gas. The replacement needle jet has no cap. Normally, there's a needle jet gasket separate from the jet. If the needle jet won't seat, it'll leak gas. The viton-capped jet is no longer available. I hate gas leaks.
stereotomy says
Picked up a Snapper Pro for $250. It sat in a shed for 10+ years - the wheels still had the flashing from the molds. Carburetor is probably shot, but fuck, this is a $1500 mower.
That is a marvelous machine! I used to work on Snapper mowers, back in the day.
What is so great about them, is the simplicity of the drive train. There isn't any gear boxes, pulleys, gears, sprockets, chains or belts to go bad.
Well belts do drive the blades how ever, they connect to the same shaft that holds the drive disk.
The whole mechanism is just a drive disk with a slight conical contour from the outer diameter to the center point. This is part of the engine crankshaft. The axle has a rubber disk that is adjusted from the inside to the outside of that rotation, providing more or less torque.
The carbonator should be a float and bowl style. If that's the case, a little carb cleaner and a air nozzle on a shop vac, should sort that carburetor out.
Cut a cereal box gasket and seal it with some silicone.
I've had a Pro Snapper before - loved that machine. The needle jet for the original carb has a viton cap that swelled during storage with 10% ethanol gas for 10 years - this caused the mower to require running partially choked because the needle tip was too fat, starving the carb for gas. The replacement needle jet has no cap. Normally, there's a needle jet gasket separate from the jet. If the needle jet won't seat, it'll leak gas. The viton-capped jet is no longer available. I hate gas leaks.
25
Tenpoundbass
2024 Jun 2, 8:37am
Tenpoundbass
2024 Jun 2, 8:37am
stereotomy says
It's a shame, we keep loosing superior technology to crappy cheap disposable engineering.
I hate carbs with rubber valves and diaphragms. They are pure junk, and just as hard to find replacement parts that are a 100% match as obsolete float carb parts. Or they aren't serviceable at all.
stereotomy says
That's why I only use ethanol free gas from Home Depot, it's made for small engine operations. Now I'm starting to see non ethanol fuel at the gas pumps, it's about a dollar more. But $4.70 a gallon is better than $17 or $20 the gallon can goes for at Home Despot. The ethanol free gas is gentler on the plastic and rubber parts in the cheap shitty carbs they make today. Had Snapper used zinc float pins with a removable brass needle seat, there wouldn't be a problem just clean the parts.
The viton-capped jet is no longer available.
It's a shame, we keep loosing superior technology to crappy cheap disposable engineering.
I hate carbs with rubber valves and diaphragms. They are pure junk, and just as hard to find replacement parts that are a 100% match as obsolete float carb parts. Or they aren't serviceable at all.
stereotomy says
The needle jet for the original carb has a viton cap that swelled during storage with 10% ethanol gas for 10 years -
That's why I only use ethanol free gas from Home Depot, it's made for small engine operations. Now I'm starting to see non ethanol fuel at the gas pumps, it's about a dollar more. But $4.70 a gallon is better than $17 or $20 the gallon can goes for at Home Despot. The ethanol free gas is gentler on the plastic and rubber parts in the cheap shitty carbs they make today. Had Snapper used zinc float pins with a removable brass needle seat, there wouldn't be a problem just clean the parts.
26
fdhfoiehfeoi
2024 Jun 2, 9:38am
fdhfoiehfeoi
2024 Jun 2, 9:38am
RWSGFY says
So you favor people who can't take the heat moving to the desert, then collapsing under minimum strain, over people acclimating themselves to the heat so they don't just sit inside for months on end? Sounds cucked...
105 this weekend, mowed the lawn again. Less weed pulling, but did go over some of the weeds I don't pull several times to cut back the trailing pieces. Probably helps that I drink a lot of water using those bottles that keep it cold for hours.
Ah, the bravado. How original.
So you favor people who can't take the heat moving to the desert, then collapsing under minimum strain, over people acclimating themselves to the heat so they don't just sit inside for months on end? Sounds cucked...
105 this weekend, mowed the lawn again. Less weed pulling, but did go over some of the weeds I don't pull several times to cut back the trailing pieces. Probably helps that I drink a lot of water using those bottles that keep it cold for hours.
27
SoTex
2024 Jun 2, 9:40am
SoTex
2024 Jun 2, 9:40am
Tenpoundbass says
Quick Trip (QT) stations in Texas have those. You should always pump a few gallons into your car first though before filling your gas can or residual ethanol will contaminate it. You can tell by shaking it up and pouring it into a jar. It'll form a bi-layer. That's actually another way to make your self some ethanol free gas - suck off the gas layer.
I bought this generator last year because Texas is going green: https://generatorbible.com/generators/champion/_201176/
After I broke it in and let it run out of gasoline (I have heard the tanks rust if you don't use gasoline before propane etc.,.) I took a few things apart and drained the carb and some and left things open for a week or so to get that last bit of vapor out. When I couldn't smell anything anymore I added a bit of transmission fluid and hand cranked it to mix it around. This is supposed to protect it due to the detergents in the fluid. You'll get a puff of smoke when you crank it up after that.
Meanwhile this month I've been looking at trucks and I think I've settled on a Ford F150 Powerboost. That thing IS a generator that runs 7.2KW continuous because you're actually pulling from the battery and not the engine. The engine kicks on periodically to keep the battery charged. It's more efficient than the generator I bought and pretty much all gasoline generators. Slightly less than a good diesel generator though. Quieter than both.
Even my ethanol free gas cans I add fuel stabilizer to and intend to only keep it for about 6 months. I was about to dump it into my car but forgot and filled up after a gun show yesterday.
Now I'm starting to see non ethanol fuel at the gas pumps, it's about a dollar more.
Quick Trip (QT) stations in Texas have those. You should always pump a few gallons into your car first though before filling your gas can or residual ethanol will contaminate it. You can tell by shaking it up and pouring it into a jar. It'll form a bi-layer. That's actually another way to make your self some ethanol free gas - suck off the gas layer.
I bought this generator last year because Texas is going green: https://generatorbible.com/generators/champion/_201176/
After I broke it in and let it run out of gasoline (I have heard the tanks rust if you don't use gasoline before propane etc.,.) I took a few things apart and drained the carb and some and left things open for a week or so to get that last bit of vapor out. When I couldn't smell anything anymore I added a bit of transmission fluid and hand cranked it to mix it around. This is supposed to protect it due to the detergents in the fluid. You'll get a puff of smoke when you crank it up after that.
Meanwhile this month I've been looking at trucks and I think I've settled on a Ford F150 Powerboost. That thing IS a generator that runs 7.2KW continuous because you're actually pulling from the battery and not the engine. The engine kicks on periodically to keep the battery charged. It's more efficient than the generator I bought and pretty much all gasoline generators. Slightly less than a good diesel generator though. Quieter than both.
Even my ethanol free gas cans I add fuel stabilizer to and intend to only keep it for about 6 months. I was about to dump it into my car but forgot and filled up after a gun show yesterday.
28
WookieMan
2024 Jun 2, 10:11am
WookieMan
2024 Jun 2, 10:11am
just_passing_through says
Never ever had an issue with small engines or cars with ethanol. I think it's BS, but no issues. I deal with legit winters compared to most here. I think it has more to do with engine quality versus ethanol or fuel. I have a Honda push mower, John Deere zero turn and NEVER had an issue starting them or running them. I check the oil once a year and take them in once every 3-4 years (not the Honda pusher).
You're doing something wrong if you can't keep a small engine running. I won't push mow though. Done with those days. One corner of the yard, soon to be my mom's problem. Took the fucking pool out last week. My buddy landscaper snapped the god damn gas line to the pool heater. So no stove top or dryer. I have plenty of grills but I want to kick his dick into his pancreas. Legit landfilled $1k worth of equipment and snapped a gas line. He's on my shit list. Borderline end of friendship... I'm pissed. I don't need the money, it was just the definition of retardation. I can't sit there and watch contractors. I'd start barking at everyone on the job site.
It's a sad state of affairs with manual labor. It's bad. Not just this job either. I don't think people understand the "fuck it" Mexican/hispanic culture. Sure they're hard working. No, they don't know WTF they're doing. Mow a lawn, fine. Anything beyond that is generally bad news.
Quick Trip (QT) stations in Texas have those. You should always pump a few gallons into your car first though before filling your gas can or residual ethanol will contaminate it.
Never ever had an issue with small engines or cars with ethanol. I think it's BS, but no issues. I deal with legit winters compared to most here. I think it has more to do with engine quality versus ethanol or fuel. I have a Honda push mower, John Deere zero turn and NEVER had an issue starting them or running them. I check the oil once a year and take them in once every 3-4 years (not the Honda pusher).
You're doing something wrong if you can't keep a small engine running. I won't push mow though. Done with those days. One corner of the yard, soon to be my mom's problem. Took the fucking pool out last week. My buddy landscaper snapped the god damn gas line to the pool heater. So no stove top or dryer. I have plenty of grills but I want to kick his dick into his pancreas. Legit landfilled $1k worth of equipment and snapped a gas line. He's on my shit list. Borderline end of friendship... I'm pissed. I don't need the money, it was just the definition of retardation. I can't sit there and watch contractors. I'd start barking at everyone on the job site.
It's a sad state of affairs with manual labor. It's bad. Not just this job either. I don't think people understand the "fuck it" Mexican/hispanic culture. Sure they're hard working. No, they don't know WTF they're doing. Mow a lawn, fine. Anything beyond that is generally bad news.
29
stereotomy
2024 Jun 2, 10:33am
stereotomy
2024 Jun 2, 10:33am
Ethanol will kill older small engines because the seals and jets are not compatible with the hydroscopic properties of ethanol. Multi-piston vehicles like cars can better handle ethanol gas. There are multiple tests on video where ethanol gas wrecks single-cylinder small engine carburetors. If you use it every day, no problem, but let it sit for more than a few months, and it shits the bed.
I run old school machines, because the American Iron is far superior metallurgically to the Chindian shit. It rusts nice and even on the surface, not like these sulfur-concentrated rust cancers like the Chindian shit develops.
I run old school machines, because the American Iron is far superior metallurgically to the Chindian shit. It rusts nice and even on the surface, not like these sulfur-concentrated rust cancers like the Chindian shit develops.
30
stereotomy
2024 Jun 2, 11:12am
stereotomy
2024 Jun 2, 11:12am
Tenpoundbass says
I've got an ultrasonic cleaner for the carbs. If the carb is too damaged, or some carb designs prevent you from accessing pinhole air chambers, it can't be cleaned effectively once they are contaminated, so new carb it is (running only ethanol free gas). It's a Halbro carb, made in China (probably early 'naughties vintage) - no access to the pinhole air ports.
stereotomy says
The viton-capped jet is no longer available.
It's a shame, we keep loosing superior technology to crappy cheap disposable engineering.
I hate carbs with rubber valves and diaphragms. They are pure junk, and just as hard to find replacement parts that are a 100% match as obsolete float carb parts. Or they aren't serviceable at all.
stereotomy says
The needle jet for the original carb has a viton cap that swelled during storage with 10% ethanol gas for 10 years -
That's why I only use ethanol free gas from Home Depot, it's made for small engine operations. Now I'm starting to see non ethanol fuel at the gas pumps, it's about a dollar more. But $4.70 a gallon is better than $17 or $20 the gallon can goes for at Home Despot. The ethanol free gas is gentler on the plastic and rubber parts in the cheap shitty carbs they make today. Had Snapper used zinc float pins with a removable brass needle seat, there wouldn't be a problem just clean the parts.
I've got an ultrasonic cleaner for the carbs. If the carb is too damaged, or some carb designs prevent you from accessing pinhole air chambers, it can't be cleaned effectively once they are contaminated, so new carb it is (running only ethanol free gas). It's a Halbro carb, made in China (probably early 'naughties vintage) - no access to the pinhole air ports.
31
SoTex
2024 Jun 2, 12:11pm
SoTex
2024 Jun 2, 12:11pm
WookieMan says
I did all that to prevent the engine fuel from gumming up the carb mostly. It's more likely (with potential for rust) if your gas has ethanol in it. From what I understand anyway. Additives help some but it's very little work to protect it.
Never ever had an issue with small engines or cars with ethanol.
I did all that to prevent the engine fuel from gumming up the carb mostly. It's more likely (with potential for rust) if your gas has ethanol in it. From what I understand anyway. Additives help some but it's very little work to protect it.
32
SoTex
2024 Jun 2, 12:17pm
SoTex
2024 Jun 2, 12:17pm
stereotomy says
I guess it's seals. I did not know that. Well sort of. I'd heard of that happening to older cars.
Ethanol will kill older small engines because the seals and jets are not compatible with the hydroscopic properties of ethanol.
I guess it's seals. I did not know that. Well sort of. I'd heard of that happening to older cars.
On television and in my conversations with locals, I kept hearing complaints that temperatures were getting hotter and hotter. They now use a heat index where the actual air temperature, the humidity, and the wind speed are factored in to get the exact temperature which is always much higher. I suffered in the heat. It limited my mobility outside. For example, when I came to the house where I started life, I wanted to make the three-block walk I always made every day with my mother to the large cemetery. I had to drive in my air-conditioned car.
In this awful heat, air conditioning is not a luxury, it can literally be a matter of life and death. Texas moved to privatize its electricity grid. There are big weaknesses. A few years ago, the electricity grid collapsed during frigid winter temperatures one February. Up to 300 people died.
As temperatures get higher, more electric power will be consumed to keep the cooling systems working. We could see more and more grid collapses. This could be fatal for people with medical conditions and vulnerable older people. The heat also produces more volatile weather conditions. This includes violent and volatile weather. As I was driving toward my hotel near Houston International Airport. I found myself in the middle of a violent thunderstorm including big hail balls. When I arrived at the Sheraton Hotel, it was a dark and dead building. The Texas power grid does not hold up well in this violent weather. Repairs take a long time.
When I left the hotel to go to the airport 14 hours later, the power was still out in the hotel. I arrived at the airport terminal around 3:30 A.M. I expected to find a virtually empty building. It was packed with people. They all had flights canceled due to the bad weather. Some had slept in the terminal for many hours.