Well, Sh**, Jim Rockford, did that S-10 you sent to the scrap yard happen to have power windows? Cause, me, i have been looking for the door harnesses for an S-10 power window and lock package for several years now. Used to be a part number but they are now obsolete. It'd be my luck to learn that was what was in that corpse.
Apart from that, no joy on finding the ring gear assembly retainer circlip for that 47 Corbin speedo drive that I just parts'd together. Still think I have one but like most critical parts it probably turned sideways and slipped through a nearby crack in the work bench.
Went back to another project that had been sitting for a bit, that being a bottle dolly or wheeler to move gas tanks for my Mig welder. Had the wheels and made an axle but had found that the spacer was too long and that it had to be shortened about 3/4's of an inch to get enough room for the outboard washers. Made that cut this pm and slugged the axle back into position. It all seems to work except, (there's always and exception), now that the outboard washers can be installed I found they don't come up tight against the wheel bearing. The retaining flange that holds them in position from the outside has just that too little of an ID to allow them to register correctly and I can't shave it as it is just the minimal amount needed to do the job. Going to have to turn the washer OD's down a few thou to get the room i need. Still doing some thinking on what to use for the shoe or hand or whatever you want to call that flat plate that the bottle will sit on. Also have to score some tube for the handles. Had planned to visit a local rehab store to see if they had a clunker kicking around that I could salvage or rework but Covid closed them down and no idea when or if they will ever re-open. Apart from all this, just poking around; oh yeah...
A couple of days and a few pages back, i mentioned having to revisit the repacking job I did on a muffler. Turned out that the mounting bolt was a floater and just banging around inside the nut attached to the muffler body. Also turned out that Plan B for how to repack, or rewrap, the muffler core turned out to work better and provide a tighter product that was easier to stuff back into the shell.
Pictured above is that muffler, a variant known in the genre as being a "cocktail shaker" for its distinctive shape. This is one of a pair. The mate to it will be put on the shelf for the future, jic. Unlike others of its kind, it comes with the ability to be taken apart and fresh muffling material substituted in place of what has died from old age or use. The mounting bracket for it is still a work in progress; it needs to be shortened and reshaped and possibly another one altogether new might take its place. Again, something to be thought about. The greyest of the grey beards still lurking about the board might recognize this muffler simply because they were a common accessory for Triumphs back in the day, hence the "trumpet" moniker.
Nick
