DanD

Here's one of my Mom when she was 16. It was taken shorty after WW2 (late 45 or early 46) in Belgium. Even though you can't tell after I scanned it (other then Mom's lips); this was a B&W picture that was hand colorized (painted) on the print. Colour pictures were to expensive then; this was the next best thing I guess? Dan.

I agree 100% on wheel torque on today's vehicles; the old adage of twist the wrench until the wheel nut barks, is a sure way of loosing a wheel, warping wheels, hubs and brake rotors. Here at the shop I will not allow my techs to tighten wheels with their impact guns. They can zip them up; but then its a torque wrench to finish the job. Dan.

There are no laws here in North America in regards too the age of a tire. I believe there are in some European Countries; that a tire 5 years old or more, cannot be sold as new and a tire that is 5 years old must come off the vehicle. So just because a tire has never been used, doesn't mean they are NEW tires. What I'm trying to say is that the tires that went on Dutch's vehicle could have sat on the shelf for 4 or more years before they were installed on the vehicle? When I order tires into the shop that are "on sale" I always check the date code and I have sent tires back because they were 3 or more years old. I don't want customers coming back to me in a year or so and say look at the weather cracks in the tires I sold them; let alone the safety issues with old tires. Here's an example of a date code that can be found on most tires that are sold here in North America. Dan.

The boat guides would be your best bet; they'll serve two purposes. I made the set that I had on my last boat trailer out of 1 1/2" exhaust pipe; that I had a muffler shop put a 90 degree bend in for mounting sake. I then put a length of that styrofoam pipe wrap on to protect from scratches. Dan.

No I didn't say that; but a residence in a high crime area or a business location that has been hit more then the average will pay higher premiums. After I was dropped by the company that had my policy, I did find insurance; but I was paying almost double. The new company also demanded a monitored alarm system and surveillance camera system. You can get anyplace insured, it just depends on how much you are willing to pay for proper coverage. Dan.

But there's a police record of a theft at that place of business and believe me the insurance companies check the track record of a location; whether it was your place or not when the reports went in. When I asked a couple of companies what I had to do for them to cover me; they said move. Dan.

They likely wouldn't have to publicly advertise their stolen goods. A friend of a friend's uncle wants something. The word gets out in their circle of buddies and they go midnight shopping. Here you go, fresh off the back of the truck and it comes to you at a 5 finger discount. There's a market out there; supply and demand is what drives these bums. It likely didn't take them more then 15 minute to snatch my stuff; lets say they sold it for 200 bucks. That's not a bad income, when they're pulling in $800.00 an hour. If they get caught what's the worst that'll happen; free room and board and while they're there, they may as well get their high-school degree; because that'll be free as well. Dan.

The 115S are not an LT tire but it is a truck tire; a little heavier construction then a Passenger "p" rate. The pricing not bad; but when you say plus tax is that both taxes (OTS & HST) The availability could be an issue; I can pull tires from 3 large warehouses and none of them have stock and no word when they will? I know it's easy to undercut another shop; but I could sell those tires for $866.43 all in; that's with me putting my normal mark up on the tire. Just don't know when/if they will be available. Buddy is giving you a good deal on the Hercules; mine for a set of 4 would be another $40. for the set; that's just to buy them. Dan.

Well I called the cops this morning to report it and all they did was take a description of the genny and gave me an occurrence number. Haven't seen anyone in person and will likely not either. I don't know that reporting it was a good idea or not? 20 plus years ago; when I ran a garage and gas station, I had an armed robbery and then about 6 months later I had a break-in. No one was ever caught; the insurance company paid for everything; but then when it came to renew my insurance policy, they dropped me and refused too insure me. Talk about a hassle getting another company to pick up my policy; when they found out I was dropped by another. Dan.

What size are you wanting and would they be the "P" metric or an LT tire? I'd like to compare pricing from my supplier. Dan.

I've had it with the thieves; but what to do? It feels like it gets worse every day and when you get ripped off, it really hits home. I bought an old enclosed 16 foot trailer that was in need of a bunch of work. No problem, I/we fixed it up and it will work perfect for hauling around a pig BBQ spit and all the crap that goes along with cooking a whole 160 to 180 pond pig. I had everything in this trailer, well until Sat or Sunday night; when someone decided they wanted some of my stuff. This morning (Monday) I opened my shop up and had a look around; I noticed that my trailer’s side door is half open; a door that was bolted shut from the inside. Go have a look and see that it was broken into; they couldn’t cut the pad lock, so they pried the side door off its hinges. Inside the trailer has been turned upside down with everything they didn’t want thrown around. My generator is gone, along with a bunch of cooking utensils. The genny isn’t worth getting the cops involved or the insurance company’s inquisition as to whether it was stolen or not or its worth. I thought Karma was something that comes around; if it does what the hell did I do to deserve having my stuff stolen? What I mean is that I use this BBQ spit to caterer too family, friends or fund raiser functions. Most times I donate the pig, equipment and my time to roast the son of a whine. Last Saturday I spent close to $400.00 on a weight distribution hitch for the trailer; so that I could tow it safely. I walk in today and find a pad lock beaten to crap, a side door pulled off its hinge and my generator gone; Sorry if this isn’t where I should post this or if it should have been posted at all; Dan.

Throw a hose in the boat and filler up or at least up to its normal water line; then start marking the leaking areas. Dan.

Here's a link to what Wayne's meaning of rebucking or installing new rivets and patches. You will need to get to both sides of the rivet; so it will likely mean that you're going to have to take things apart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hB3rIECtxM Please correct me if I'm wrong on this Wayne. Dan

I know what you mean Lew and it is a piss off. I run an auto repair shop and for some things I have to sub out a car to complete the work. I took one out for an alignment that I couldn't do here. When I went to pick up the customers car; the guy had a environmental charge of $4.00 on my invoice. What's this for I asked; oh that's for the disposal of the old parts and materials used. Yea right pal you did an alignment on a vehicle that there were no materials used. That was the last job they ever did for me. I don't charge customers a environmental charge; I'm already making my money from the labour and the mark up on the parts. It's just a scam that a lot of places are using and it's an easy thing to get away with; because it's the green thing to do???? Dan.

Believe me I'm not defending this shop; because it does sound like the OP was taken advantage of. This kind of thing hurts all of us in the service industry. But in an honest shop, why wouldn't they charge a flat rate to do this winterizing; regardless of how long it actually took the tech to preform all said work? Like in the quote above "every tool and trick"; no one gave that tech the tools or the years of experience to be able to do the job quickly and proficiently. I have spent thousands of dollars on equipment that is not necessarily needed to perform a said job; but that tool has made the job easier and faster. If the flat rate pays 1 hour to do a job and with this tool I can do it in 3/4s of an hour; I'm sorry the customer gets charged the hour; that's business. Dan.

Not to make light of it; because a timing belt must be done properly not to cause major damage; but it's not all that bad of a job to do. Any decent tech can change one out in about 2.5 hours and that includes a couple of coffee breaks. LOL Turbo or not a timing belt on these engines are the same; we've done a lot of them and I don't specialize on Subaru. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency here in town has a pile of the Legacy's and I have been doing the servicing on them. My point being any decent shop can perform this service; don't sweat it. Dan.

I'm an independent garage owner/tech and usually the last person who would defend a dealership. But I do have to say that if you're unsure of where to take your vehicle, then they (in theory) would be your best bet. At least until you do find an independent that you feel comfortable with. Maybe try going into your locale dealership and ask the service adviser too introduce you to the actual tech that will be working on your vehicle? Get a feel for his attitude towards you and your vehicle. Sometimes when there are personalities involved; a face for him to relate to your vehicle and you too the person doing the servicing; it can make a big difference.That's where dealerships are lacking, especially large ones; there's no interaction between customer and the tech and I think both loose out for it. My guys here in my little 5 bay shop, likely know 90% of my customers by first name and the customers know them. Dan.

When I posted last. I thought you'd likely have to have a front receiver custom made; but I guess not. http://www.etrailer.com/fitguidefmr.htm Dan.

FWD vehicle, install a class 1 or 2 hitch receiver on the front of the vehicle. Get to the launch unhook the trailer from the rear; spin the the Mini van/SUV whatever around and hitch the trailer to the front. Now you have the trailer's tongue weight on the drive wheels and you're not dealing with mirrors, trying to back down a launch. I have never seen how well it works in person; but I have a customer that swears by it? It kind of makes sense for another reason; reversing out of the launch will also give you more low rpm torque because of the gearing? Like I said this guy swears by it? Dan.

No the washer fluid will likely hurt your system, if left in or it may also jell as it evaporates. RV anti freeze would be the safest bet; most hardware stores sells the stuff. Dan

No she was just being nosy and forgot or didn't care what she was doing. Plus have you ever really looked at a 60's plus square pants older lady in an official uniform? It would make you want to polish off a jug before getting anywhere close; free booze or not.. LOL Dan.

Once a year a few of us go on what's called the Booze Bus. You get on a bus that takes us across the boarded into New York State and to a bonded warehouse. We pay the bus operator for the booze that we want to buy. It's a minimum of 1 case and a maximum of 4 cases of 60 pounders; 6 bottles per case. We then head back to the boarded and declare the booze and pay the taxes and duty on the stuff. It works out to be approx 16-18 bucks a bottle cheaper compared to the LCBO store. Like most times there is a line up waiting for one of the custom officers to calculate what you owe. When I get to the wicket, there's an argument between the bus operator and one of the other custom's guys; won't go into what it was about. The lady looking after me was so interested in what was going on between the two arguing; that she only charged me the duty on 4 bottles, instead of 4 cases. I asked her, are you sure this amount is correct? She turns to me and says in her most official voice; yes that's the amount please move on to the the pay window. OK So instead of paying something like 430. bucks, she only charged me something like $75.00; who am I to argue with a Canadian official? Dan.

How he got in is simple, no one in modern Canadian history has been crazy enough to try it; not without wanting to be a martyr. He got his wish. A statement hopefully has been very loud and clear to all terrorist organizations. Yes we as Canadians are passive and try too be politically correct; but you are not going to step past the line of our breaking point, not without suffering the consequences. Lets hope that this tragedy has helped people remember out National anthem, especially this line. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. The line has been drawn; lets hope we together as Canadians are allowed to defend it. Dan.

I guess his son is an RCMP officer as well. It is a shame that it took this shooting for this proud and strong Canadian to be recognized. I don't know if I could have pulled the trigger; but I'm proud that this man did. He likely saved many more lives doing so. Dan.

X2 My in-laws, who were from a long line of British families; moved to Canada back in the mid 60's. They have a very strong commonwealth Anglo ideals; God & Country. Back in the 80's they had the opportunity to go to the United Emirates and teach in Dubai at the "Men’s Collage of Higher Learning" in other words the country’s university. Dudai being one of the most westernized of the Emirates, still have very strict Muslim way of conduct in their country. You abided too their customs or you were either thrown in jail or very abruptly brought to the airport and told to pick a destination. The point being if people, like my in-laws decide to move/work in a different country, you had better be ready to adapt to that way of life. It was a shock for them when they went their; but they knew to either work with what was there or leave. What happened to us here; we allow people to come here and dictate how we should live; what we’re allowed to openly worship or say in public. We need to take a few lessons in the way that Islamic countries treat new arrivals in their country; do as we do or else suffer the consequences. There's a few more words that needs to be added too all our signs at the boards. Welcome to Canada It’s our way or the highway! Dan.