My muffler is broke...

[DennisThornton 4,769]

7 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

EXACTLY what I did!  The treasurer wasn't too happy about missing General Hospital so I had to wait for a while.

 

I thought TS had the mapp/o2 in stock but they did not so instead I bought the TS8000 bernz o matic head.  I realized right away that it still was not quite, but ALMOST up to the task.  I had a TS4000 already that was used on a LOT (I mean a LOT!) of plumbing jobs and it had seen better days so I figured it was time to replace it anyway.  I still get plumbing jobs from time to time (damn that PEX stuff though!) so a new one wasn't out of line.  Not like it would be a single use tool for me!

 

Anyhow, I preheated with the propane, called the treasurer out to hold the other torch while I brazed.  She was skeert 5h1tl3ss!  "You're gonna burn down the shop!" "No I'm not! shut up and hold the torch still!"  ha ha ha  It worked well enough that I was in fact able to get a good solid joint.  Dropped the washer over afterward and brazed that on.  It ain't pretty!  Sorta 'blobby' and I'm not going to show any pics out of embarrassment at my skills... but I really can blame it on the torch not being hot enough.  (It's a poor tech that blames his tools, right? )

 

Yes... the MAPP tank is almost empty!

 

Soooo, bottom line is that I spent a little more than the guy at the station asked for but I have a new torch to use later!  Win-win for me.

 

And I STILL want a welder!

Everyone needs a welder.  But I think a hotter torch is your next best tool.  I'm surprised you managed to braze with just propane but I gather the TS8000 is as good as it gets and is highly recommended for browning sous vide meats.  I've read that it can braze but I doubted it.  

 

Good for you!  And you didn't get robbed for $50 for what you and she did!  That is rather high for a single braze that could take 5 minutes.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

3 minutes ago, DennisThornton said:

managed to braze with just propane

 

The 8000 came with the yellow MAP can, not propane, although I've heard that the MAPP of today is NOT the same as the MAPP we used to get.

 

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

14 minutes ago, DennisThornton said:

rather high for a single braze that could take 5 minutes.

 

I got the message that he simply didn't want the job and gave me the "Please leave" price!

[WHNJ701 4,165]

Where in nj are you?

[DennisThornton 4,769]

20 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

The 8000 came with the yellow MAP can, not propane, although I've heard that the MAPP of today is NOT the same as the MAPP we used to get.

 

Yeah, actually MAPP is no longer MAPP, only as close as it can be.

[DennisThornton 4,769]

11 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

I got the message that he simply didn't want the job and gave me the "Please leave" price!

If he didn't see it:

In his defense, most mufflers fail do to rust and fixing them is mostly a waste of time for both parties.  Charge a LOT or "Next!" is not surprising to me.  But your muffler looked promising.  Time will tell.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

11 minutes ago, jabelman said:

Where in nj are you?

 

Tinton Falls, you?

 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

8 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Tinton Falls, you?

 

Over in hunterdon

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

3 minutes ago, jabelman said:

Over in hunterdon

 

Not too far... if this Covid thing is ever finished, we could get an eyeball and meet for adult beverage or coffee.

 

Wife and I have visited Red Mill.  Nice scenery!

[Tuneup 1,433]

I love that area and miss rural NJ - but for the taxes and politics. Used to drive along the river to Hunterdon and hang out at that abandoned railroad bridge. Good times - especially during floods. So, I'm from NJ (Morris and Warren) and would have pulled that muffler and mowed the lawn without. She would have released funds for that cheap Harbor Freight mig welder. . So glad that you got it done! The 175 is a fantastic Black Hood.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

3 hours ago, Tuneup said:

pulled that muffler

 

I did start it without the muffler just for ha-ha's.  It was pretty loud!  I think I woke the widder lady next door, I seen her bedroom light come on.  Heck, it was 7 PM!  (but I have been known to do 5h1t like that at midnight too!)

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

As an epilogue to this story,  I found when re-installing the muffler that the bolt was at the very top of the bracket (that bolts to the motor plate) slot and this could well have contributed to the failure.  There was 'stress' on that bolt, very difficult to get it installed.  So I opened up the slot so that everything fit nicely without any stress before tightening everything back up again.  I think it will last another 40 years.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

One more Epilogue to the epilogue...

 

The racoons broke one of my wife's cherished bird feeders.

 

How quick was I to pull that torch out and proceed to braze it back together?  It worked fantastic on that light gauge stuff!

 

Boy was she a happy camper, and I got to justify the purchase of the torch not just to me, but to her also!

 

WIN WIN WIN!  But I still want a welder................................................................... 

[ebinmaine 67,703]

Giving careful consideration to the situation  involving the total destruction of a bird feeder by one of those amazing adorable but absolutely bent on destruction raccoons...

We now know that you can repair a bird feeder by the simple act of heating up metal.

 

We now know that your wife appreciated the repair of said bird feeder.

 

 

If you have any connections to the local raccoon organized crime division it's possible you could set something up involving larger metal items and slightly larger raccoons of course.

 

While I think it's important to keep in mind that you may have to pad the paws of a few raccoons to get what you want, I believe it would be worth it in the end when you're the proud new owner of a welder.

 

 

 

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

46 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

may have to pad the paws of a few raccoons

 

They work for peanuts!