DanD

OK you guys talked me into it; Citywide it is. LOL It's not going to be busy here at the shop today and the 50 Chevy needs to stretch her legs and blow the cobwebs out her exhaust. All I have to say is. ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dan.

Thanks guys will check them out. Dan.

Negative? I didn't take it that way; always open too suggestions. Dan

Thank you ^^^^

Has anyone dealt with United Propeller & Machine in Orillia, for a prop repair? My nephew's prop on his 75 hp Mercury hasn't been hit or anything; it's just starting to get ratty around the edges with a bunch of hairline cracks starting. Figured I'd get it fixed for him before one of those cracks turns into a chunk missing. Or does anyone have a recommendation for another shop? Dan.

Good stuff!!! Dan.

If you're going to be driving on the streets with a plow/can opener hanging on the truck; you'd best check what your insurance will be? Dan.

There's nothing wrong with the machine; it's the weekend worriers that give them a bad name. Dan.

Thanks for the advice. The mechanics of building this thing doesn't worry me; it\s getting the water conditioned properly will be a learning curve. Dan.

True enough Terry. Some of the stunts I've pull in cars, I shouldn't be here either. It's just that I have had so many friends and family hurt or killed on bikes; I just don\t want to see any more. Each to their own. Dan.

A good friend of mine has rode for many years, never had a crash; until three weeks ago. On a secondary road, just putting along, no other traffic in sight. He felt something not right with the bike, starts slowing down and at 60klm the rear tire blew. Spits him, his wife into the ditch with the bike landing on top of them. They both lay in the ditch for at least an hour; before someone found them. He has a broken arm, collar bone, three ribs, a puncher-ed lung and to top it all off a torn aorta. They may need to go and open his chest up, if it doesn't start to heal on its own. His wife not so many broken bones; but her helmet was split wide open; yup brain damage. She still in critical care; they waiting/hopping the swelling goes down without surgery. If it does she's looking at long tern rehabilitation at Park-wood hospital here in London. Hopefully she can get some of her motor skills and speech back? What do I think of motorcycles; take a guess. Dan.

Yea that could work and I already have a bunch of ratchet straps. We've tried trapping our own minnows, all we were getting was two or three overnight. That's until someone stole our trap. The pond aerator that I'm looking at, draws in air from a floating hose and it has an internal filter. That filter should look after the fish crap; I just need to research what chemicals I need to break down the ammonia from the urine. Not sure of the make and model of freezer; I haven't bought it yet. My son is using the same temp controller, i'm getting. He has hooked up to his home made Keezer; three years now, with no refrigeration issues. The beer coming out of the keg's tap is at a constant 38° Dan

The tank would live in the back of the truck, while in use; empty it only weighs 150. Friends have a fish pond in their back yard; for the winter months, they transfer all the fish into a freezer in their garage. They been doing that for years and the tank/freezer has held up well. Mind you it's sitting stationary. As for possession limit; you're allowed 120 bait fish, per-person. I don't think it would be an issue having 2 bait limits in one tank; as long as there are 2 receipts and 2 people claiming them. Wouldn't it be the same as having 2 limits of walleye in one live-well and 2 people to claim them? I'll check with the ministry. Yes I'm thinking of putting a few baffles in; that can be removed when not travelling. I was also thinking of having 2 banding straps put around the outside of the freezer's shell. The type of banding they use to strap a lift of lumber together. Thanks for the input people; it's all food for thought. Dan.

Yea you right; but it'll also make a great beer cooler; when not used as a bait tank. LOL Dan.

A week ago we were up at Elk Lake for our annual fishing trip. We knew that the camp we were staying at didn't have minnows; so we stopped in New Liskeard and picked up a couple dozen. Man the walleye went nuts for them; but when we ran out, none of us wanted to make the hour and half round trip to get more. That's where the idea of making a bait tank out of a used apartment sized chess freezer. I've found a 5 cu' one on Kijiji for 60 bucks. Amazon has a temp controller for 55 bucks and Lowes has an aerator/filter assembly for about 65. I know there's cheaper aerators; but I want the filter and the 250 gph. So for under $200.00 I can build a portable bait tank; that could hold 10 or 12 dozen minnows. The new truck has a built in inverter; but it's only rated for 150 watts (1.36 amps) which is all but useless. I have another 2000 watt inverter installed in the ice hut; I could scoop that to run the freezer while travelling. The freezer has a 1.8 amp draw rating and the aerator's draw is less then a 1/4 amp. Not sure what the start up draw is in the freezer's compressor? What pitfalls does anyone see with this idea? Dan.

You hard core guys are going to laugh at this; but for 75 bucks, Canadian Tire's wetskins have worked very well for me. I use the jacket all the time, as a wind breaker; the inner liner allows it to breath; so I'm not soaked from sweating. The one I'm using now is on its 6th year; other then a couple of hook catches in the pants; it's in good shape. http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/wetskins-waterproof-2-pc-rainsuit-navy-0783358p.html#srp Dan.

Right or wrong, when this guy requested the location; I would have PMed the guy and tell him the wrong lake. Mike likely knows of some dead water somewhere, that could be reached in the same time frame as the real location. Let the putz go on his happy way. Dan.

All fluids should be replaced, power steering, brake, transmission, coolant along with the motor oil. There's no doubt that they (other then the coolant LOF) are moisture contaminated. If possible get a transit plate on it, so it can be driven to a garage for a safety inspection; before you commit yourself to the van. Have the shop do an assessment of belt and hoses and other non-safety items. Also remember that a safety certificate means that the vehicle passed the MTO minimum requirements on the day of inspection. Ask the shop what items just passed; things that may need some attention in the near future. Once you have this information on the vehicle; you will be able to make an informed decision on what to offer for the van; if you still want it. Dan

I got into the automotive trade in 1976, wrote my license in 1980 and started my own shop in 1983. I have customers that have been with me for 30 plus years; some are three generations of families. My senor employee has worked with me since 1987 and the junior guy stated with me in 2000; both started as my apprentices. We strive to know as many customers by their first name and treat their vehicles like they are our own. We check the vehicle for the driver's complaint and do a general inspection. Quote out what the costs will be and then talk to the customer. Set priorities as to what can wait and what should be done right away; we don't do the snatch and grab for the gravy jobs. OK that's all the horn blowing I'll do; but if i had to screw people to make my living; I wouldn't be in this trade; I'd be a bank executive or someone like that. LOL All I know is there are hundreds, no thousands of honest shops out there; it's up to you to find them. Ask friends, neighbors, co-workers who they deal with. A lot of small shops like myself cannot afford a big advertising budget and word of mouth is our media; it can build your business or kill it; so you respect your clients and what they think of you. Yes I'm proud of my shop and its reputation; trying my best not to hurt either of them, is the key to loyal customers. OK Off soap box now. OH YEAH To all the DIY people, power too you; but an oil change is more then pulling a drain plug and spinning a new filter on. Checking basic safety related items need to be checked; things that laying on your back, wheels not suspended you cannot check. You saved 30 bucks but you missed that tie rod that put your wife and kids into the ditch. Sorry for this as well; I don't think I'll reply to any rebuttals to this post; I have to many memories of mechanical failures, that could have been easily avoided; that killed people. Dan.

LOL Sir you do have your adventures don't you? As GBW said I can picture the look on the person's face that flagged you down. WTH it can't be what I think that is; Yup a fishing rod 20 feet in the air. LOL Dan.

Wow an honest report without bashing! Good for you; yes very informative. Thank you. Dan.

Does anyone know how the Montreal River is around the Elk Lake area? Last year the water levels looked pretty much normal; form the last 5 years going there; but the water temp was way up, compared to the other years going there. The bigger fish were not to be had; but the numbers were still good though? Any input on this? Dan.

There's always some good that comes out of every situation. ​Hopefully some of the people who received the water and whatnot, will remember when its their turn to help out? Dan.

I cannot help you with who does this in your area. But here's something to keep in mind, when picking the darkness of the tint. Any vehicle manufactured after Jan 1st 2017, cannot have after-market tinting that will block any more then 30% light from passing through. Below is a quote from the regs. From the back of the driver's seat rearward, windows can be completely blacked out; as long as there are external mirrors on both sides of the vehicle. You are allowed to have the top 75mm of the front windshield darker then the 30% opacity; but that tint must not go below the "AS1" line. That's the etching in the glass. "AS" stands for Approved Safety glass and the 1 is the max legal tinting. I had to buy a window tint meter as part of the required equipment to do safety inspections. Yes a cop can pull your plates for this: if he wants to be an A fancy new truck; you'll get pulled over, if he can't see in. Dan. .