Movin' on Up!

(long break)
3/13

Been a while, but it's also been slow progress. A couple of weeks ago my truck A/C seemed to pack it in, so I had a bit of a fiddle at it, and found something "not quite right"...


That's peering up above the fan box, and appears to be a residence fit for a vermin inhabitant.

I could sometimes get the fan to turn on, but it would "click" synchronous to the fan speed, then stop altogether.

On removal of the fan itself, and closer inspection, I found the problem.

Funny-looking Texas hamster...


It's paw was hanging out, tapping on the internal lip of the fan housing. Apparently, the imbalance was enough to trigger the overtemp protection in the motor circuit.

3/13
I did finally get the bathroom exhaust fan/lights wired up and running-


Our pony is much shorter than the neighbors'...


About time to change the rainwater filter, I guess...

The ceiling fan instructions said "this is a two-person job"; who writes those instructions anyway?


Quite a fiddle getting all those blade and bars connected. Time to run the power cord...


Quite nice. On "6", you can feel a real nice blast anywhere you sit/stand. You've got to lower it to 2 or 3 if you don't want your Ping-Pong game disturbed. Still, plenty of breeze at the lower speeds. I like it. Only $250 at Lowes (60"); that's 12' from the floor at the peak of the framework, no need for the longer downpipe with the amount of air this thing is capable of pushing.

3/13 was a L-O-N-G day, with some cleanup chores interspersed with "real" work. The kitchen is stocked with basics, so I eat lunch here all the time now.

On my lunch break, dreaming of a day in the not-too-distant future, listening to The Moody Blues' "Tuesday Afternoon" on a Monday afternoon (it's just as good, any day of the week)


Installed a cheap scope on the little Marlin .22


Hadn't done this in a while, and needed to learn what the result of each click on the adjusters would do, so it took 9 shots to sight it in...

Once and for all, I removed the already-loose brake caliper pivot bolt and Loctite'd it in place. No more "climbing uphill" when starting out in reverse.

* * ACCESS NORTON CONTENT ALERT! * * Note pair of unlaced OEM chrome steel Dunlop WM2-19 rims for Commando (front disc setup)


(Glad I was FINALLY able to squeeze in a bit more Norton Commando content)

My oldest son gave me an "almost new" power washer that would die under load. I got it fired up, but had no spray tips to test it with. Should be fine.


Hauled the generator over to the south end of the main runway to chop down a couple of small Mesquite trees, Sawzall blade broke just before the first limb fell...

STILL 3/13!
Home Depot delivered a stack of sheathing and a stack of both standard drywall & green board, plus mud, tape, corner bead, etc. (on the left, under the wing)


"Moonrise". Nice.


My middle son (in the middle) and oldest grandson & granddaughter showed up to lend a hand; ferrying sheetrock from the stack to the upstairs.


I did pick up some cable and a breaker yesterday, and connected the 2nd floor water heater, just didn't get a photo of it (not much to see, really)

3/14
A lot of work got done yesterday, but not a lot of photos were taken. Mostly moving large rocks from places I want to mow with the tractor, and none of the rocks were especially photogenic...

GFI outlet installed above the bathroom vanity.


Water heater connected and tested. This marks the end of the barndo's planned electrical work. Now I can cover everything up with sheathing and/or sheetrock.


Installed the TV that my oldest son, Jason gave us; hung it so it can be seen from all the bunkbeds. (yes, I know - it will have to come down to hang the sheetrock)


I was hauling rocks from near the road where I intend to mow, down to the creek area; then it hit me - "why don't I mosey up the opposite side of the pasture and take a photo of my place from up there?" The grass is decidedly greener on OUR side! The day ended with the rocks, I'm done.


11 acres sure looks small from up here...

3/19
Yesterday was a good day, nice and chilly, so I never broke a sweat doing A/C ductwork.

Started with putting up the shower curtain, so the bathroom is 100% useable (even though the sheetrock isn't done yet)


Installed the 2nd A/C return air filter grille, just need the "blank" one for the other side of the wall...


My favorite place to work, especially with nobody on standby. You can just make out the shelf for the ducts, on the left.


It's not nearly as dodgy, the second time...

3/19
Bathroom register boxes in place with ducts attached... (tub, toilet & vanity spaces)


3 bathroom ducts look cool together, somehow reminds me of the Blue Angels doing a maneuver with three smoke trails.


Game room boxes in place with ducts attached...

3/19 and all caught up...

The bunkroom was tricky, I need to build a "furr-down" to box out the flex duct here...


I count 15 ducts (only because I know the first 4 are on the backside). I know, the shelf is not perfectly level; too bad. It'll "disappear" once I spray paint it grey.


These will need permanent support strapping, tape won't hold that weight over time.


So that's it so far. Now we can comfortably sleep 10 inside the building and 4 in the camper, the kitchen is fully operational, and 2-1/2 bathrooms with hot water can handle 6 people using the facilities in privacy at the same time.

Maybe a Texas Nortonista rally...

Stay the course! Looks great!

grandpaul said:

A/C drain done.
View attachment 104923

Sink drains done; this one was easy...
View attachment 104924

This one was not so easy! Rube Goldberg trap setup, it all works with no leaks.
View attachment 104925

Click to expand...

I enjoy following your Build GP and am quite envious.
Let's just say this will get redone at some point.

Good progress and keep them coming.

MichaelB said:

I enjoy following your Build GP and am quite envious.
Let's just say this will get redone at some point.

Good progress and keep them coming.

Click to expand...

The double p-trap will just need more frequent cleaning. Shouldn't technically be an issue beyond that.

Time to get caught up again...
3/25
Good long work day, but scatter-shooting chores. Met with the painter to get a quote, so finishing sheetrock & paint is coming soon! Wasted well over an hour trying to locate any hardware staples in the shop, trailer, and container, NO JOY. Will buy some tomorrow.

I think I over-bought insulation! A couple of bundles will go back.


FINALLY adjusted the doorframe and installed a knob on the 1/2 bath door in the hangar area.


Installed a real nice LED light over the workbench.

3/25

Straightened out a wrought iron chair that the steel erectors ran over. I used a floor jack to separate the bent parts, which broke the welds holding the seat to the rocker frame. That actually made it easier to straighten, then I welded it all back together. Works great.


Made a tow hitch for the ATVS to properly tow the ultralight. Not a bad use for scraps; I've had that hitch tongue bouncing around in 3 different shops, for over 6 years!


3/27
REALLY good day at the ranch today! Took Sally, Tally & Alex with me and we got to work cutting and stapling up strips of insulation. Turns out I accidentally busted open a bale of 24" width batts; should have been 14". Anyway, we "made do". Also put up a few sheets of drywall, and I replaced the wooden dowels on the ultralight tow hitch with proper anodized tubing. Everybody left before 6 (I rode the Legend home); Jeff flew in just after 6:20 and did a few low passes then landed and chatted a while. Then he took off and buzzed the patch a couple of times before heading home to get back before dark. Really beautiful evening.

Sally had stapling duty.

3/25
Tally had batt-cutting duty


Sally even climbed up the scaffold to install the 2nd level insulation batts!


A solid hour's insulating work (including the wall on the right). NEXT TIME, I'm getting the 14" batts so we don't have to cut the width!

3/27
Sally FINALLY talked me into getting a new(er) truck. 2017 Chevy Silverado Z71 1500LT with V-8 and four FULL SIZE doors. Too bad it's a short bed, but we just couldn't find a truck that ticked ALL the boxes (this was close enough)


3/28
The big wall was a ton of work. 3 sheets of drywall, too.


All my workers took off and left me alone. Less than 20 minutes later, Jeff's beautiful Quicksilver MXL sport with Hirth engine buzzed the hangar; VERY zippy!


I was able to show jeff my new and improved ultralight tow hitch, with proper anodized aluminum tubing instead of wooden dowels.

3/29
L-O-N-G day, lots of driving, and a good amount of work. Had an appointment at the DPS office in Marble Falls (made it over a month ago) and it turned out I needed to have a copy of my social security card (never mind the fact that I had my existing license with photo, government-issued VA photo ID, and government-issued passport photo ID). So, TWO round trips (right at 150 miles total); at least I was able to acclimate to the new pickup, it's nice. I had some nice Mediterranean food (kebab & hummus) at a local food truck, good stuff! I also picked up a sheetrock jack at Harbor Freight and knocked out the game room insulation & sheetrock.

Worst part of my day was receiving the news that my very good friend, Andy Cripe (Corpus Christi) passed away suddenly; we had just toured the Haas motorcycle museum in Dallas in December, and I had plans in place to help him at the check-in booth at COTA during the Moto GP weekend. VERY sad...

It turns out you STILL have to lift each sheet onto the jack before you can lift it up to the wall or ceiling...


I scratched my brain for a minute and came up with a solution for working solo - I screwed in a screw at either end, into the nearest studs, just above the sheet below where the next sheet goes, then got up on the scaffold, tipped the sheet into place, and screwed it in. This sheet was pre-cut for the A/C grille.


2nd pre-cut sheet was easier, since I had a workable system figured out. Each subsequent sheet got a bit easier, including the dance with the jack, scaffold, and ladder.

3/29
South wall done.


East wall, 2nd row was easy, just one cut-out for the light switch.

The mis-matched color sheetrock was some pieces left over from the downstairs.

Top row of the east wall took some measuring to clear the roof joists. I ALMOST started installing the first sheet without insulation! I don't like taking sheets down and putting them back up, they're never as snug after that. End of a long, sad day...

Andy and I haver been riding together and working at rallies all over central and south Texas for at least 15 years. He had a nice modern Triumph Triple touring bike, then two Moto Guzzis in a row (identical). He put on over 200,000 miles just in the time I've known him, ministering with CMA all over Mexico and the Southern U.S.

I snapped this photo of him examining a wild custom bike at the Haas M/C museum in Dallas, last December...


Rest in Peace brother Andy; Godspeed.