SirMuddyKnees has been busy lately.  Busy and productive.  Let’s talk small engine repair for a minute.

The Briggs and Stratton push lawnmower I bought 3 years ago (model 10T500) started acting funny at the end of a normal grass-cutting session last month.  All of a sudden it gasped, wheezed, and surged weakly.  You couldn’t cut any grass with it.  It seemed like it wasn’t getting enough oxygen, fuel, or both.

First thing: clean the dirty air filter and try again.  No change.  Check the fuel for contaminations, get clean fuel, spray Sta-Bil in fuel canister.  No change.

At this point I’m nearing the end of my expertise about small engine repair.  Of course I checked the oil and changed the spark plug.  No change.  I had changed the oil at the beginning of the summer.  Besides, dirty oil shouldn’t make it surge at a weak idle like this.  It surged and sputtered at low idle and struggled to stay running.

So it was time for SirMuddyKnees to start his research.   First, he talked to people he knew and got some ideas.  Jimmy said to take the carburetor apparatus off and look at the plug at the bottom and clean it.  I started looking at the carb and soon realized I was going to have to take this engine half apart to get to it, which was something I haven’t done.

So SirMuddyKnees got down on his knees and got to work.  He took the engine apart piece by piece and found some gaskets that looked like they needed replacing.  As it turned out, it was the breather manifold that was busted, a part on the outside of the engine and easily accessible.  The guy down at Napa Auto, an authorized dealer of Briggs and Stratton, was very helpful.  He said it was all the ethanol they put in the gas that ruins these gaskets.  I went ahead and replaced the carburetor diaphragm too (the gasket underneath, between the carb and the gas tank) while I was in there.

I adjusted the springs on the thingy on top of the carb (tightening them up) and she started right up and has been going strong ever since.

So for about 8 US American dollars I fixed my machine.

Thanks be to the internets.  I found a Briggs and Stratton engine parts manual for my model that showed exactly how everything was put together.

So, what have we learned?  That you can do things that you never thought possible (viz, fixing a lawnmower engine), if you just put your mind to it, use your noodle, conduct some research (including the best kind–ask a friend or an expert), and get a little dirty.

Go ahead.  Try it.

Treehouse is completed!

Nine days, over $500 of lumber, and a river of sweat later, the treehouse is finished.  This morning I finished up the railings and made an outside  ladder for the big kids.  Since I last updated the treehouse saga I also added those diagonal bracings at the top of each post that connect to the upper deck (don’t know what they’re called, just know they are useful for stability).  I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out.  There’s not a major piece of wood on this thing that doesn’t have about 5 three-inch screws in it.  With the exception of a few floor joists where I nailed in huge nails, the whole thing is put together with heavy duty screws.  This thing is probably tornado proof and we might end up out there when the next one comes our way.  

So, what has SirMuddyKnees learned by doing this project?  He’s learned that you never quite forget those things you learned a long time ago, like how to swing a hammer, how to make four posts level, etc.  He’s also learned you can do a lot with just a circular saw and a jig saw.  He would love to have a table saw, a chop saw, a radial arm saw, and all kinds of other cool tools, but you can certainly accomplish a lot without all these things.  What did the pioneers do before power tools?  Well, I guess they were too busy to worry with building a treehouse, that’s for sure.  In the end it’s been a fun time building this little treehouse. 

I would recommend it to any Dad who wants to build something that will last for his kids. Oh yeah, it’s also a great workout.  I’ve never been a big fan of the gym–all this exercise just for the sake of exercise.  I prefer to get my exercise by doing something useful outside that comes with an end-product that creates a sense of accomplishment.  You can’t get that on the treadmill, I don’t think.  Besides, at the gym, your knees do not get muddy and that, to me, is a bad sign.

How to build a treehouse phase II

Just in case you’re wondering if I’m one of those guys who starts a treehouse and never finishes it . . .

The second level of the treehouse is up and decked and about as well-supported as I can make it (for a treehouse). 

We ran into a lil problem on the second level.  Remember those 4X4 posts I sunk in the ground in a most meticulous manner in order to affix my 2X8′s to the outside of them?  Well, I didn’t quite bring them in far enough and I ran into a situation in which my 2X8′s wouldn’t quite span the distance on the second deck for the floor joists.  In other words, Margaret, I couldn’t make traditional floor joists.   I needed slightly longer boards, but lordy, hadn’t I bought enough lumber?  Don’t worry Joyce, a solution was proposed by the brain trust of this partnership: my wonderful and hardworking wife.   Make the floor joists diagonal, she suggested.  (“Remember,” I keep telling myself, “it’s just a treehouse.”).   So that’s what we did and you can see what the bottom of the upper deck looks like (not bad, if I do so say myself, kind of creative and crafty, if not completely structurally sound):

As you can see below, I put in a ladder on the inside corner, which leads up to a triangular size hole in the deck.  It’s kind of small, so if you’re not slim you might not fit through (sorry Aunt Ethel).  I’m thinking about how to design something that allows access for those folks who are a little “wide in the tide,” as my daughter so aptly puts it.  You know what I mean, a lil big in the rig.  I guess I could put in a ladder on the outside of this ladder. 

I certainly need to install a railing on the upper deck.  Notice the photo below left: what we have here is a deck on top of a deck, about 9′ high in the air with no railings.  The Safety Man would not approve.  BTW, my neighbor who is also the city’s building inspector came by yesterday, as he does when anybody in the neighborhood starts some major construction project.  I mean this thing is taller than your average back-yard plaything so it does sort of stick out.  We’re on good terms though, ’cause my dog likes his dog and his son plays music and I play music and we’re both just good ole boys anyway, me and the building inspector (I just think of him as _ _ _ _ _, my neighbor, not “the building inspector”).  So I was not surprised when he just smiled and said I was doing a good job. 

Well, I will work on making it more safe in the following days.  Btw, did you notice how dirty your knees get when you do work such as this?  Actually, I have a propensity to be muddyin’ up ma knees all the time.  I guess I’m just not afraid to get down in the dirt and get the job done.  I’ve noticed all my jeans give out in the knees first.  I’ve also noticed that this kind of work is a lot of fun, provided you’re not doing it day in and day out.   May SirMuddyKnees live on!

How to build a treehouse

Well, here’s how I’m building one anyway.  Like most Dads, I’ve been asked to build a treehouse.  We don’t have an ideal tree for this, but here’s what we did: 

This spring we cut down a half-dead non-bearing fruit tree.  It was hanging over the neighbor’s fence and had to go.  But I left a stump about 9′ tall in case we wanted to do something crafty with it, such as build a treehouse. 

So this is a treehouse built around a tree but not in it.  After getting my kids’ input, I drew up a sketch that was basically an 8′ square platform with railings, about 8′ off the ground, and roof-less for stargazing.  I decided to drop four 4″X4″ posts in the ground and build a deck-like structure about 8′ up, leaving about two feet of the tree sticking out of the floor and room for 3′ railings all around. 

I used an elaborate set of stakes and mason-string to plot my four holes, placing them in a way that 8′ boards would fit around the outside and of course squaring them up as close as possible (for a treehouse).  Of course I had help all the way on this part: 

So at the end of the first day, here’s what we had: four gigantic (4X4x12) posts in 2′ holes, more or less level and square, staked up and ready for concrete.  I had enough concrete to set two and a half of the posts the first night.  The next day I went for more supplies and finished the concreting.  To establish a firm footing around the poles, I poured in a layer of concrete mix (not soupy, but muddy), added a layer of gravel from the driveway, tamped all that down good (my trusty helpers did a lot of tamping), and repeating until the hole is full.  That way you are using the hardpacked gravel and concrete to support the holes, not just the concrete.  This builds strength and reduces the likelihood of cracking. 

The plans became more elaborate at this point.  We debated over putting in a lower deck for the younger kids.  Then we decided to just put in a ground level deck (or about a foot off the ground), that younger kids could play on and adults could sit and sip a cold beverage.  So now we’re building not one level but two. 

OK, the next day it was time to establish a level line on all four posts for the first floor, and I was thankful for the summer I spent in Greensboro working for Paradise Decking.  Those boys sure know how to build decks, so if you live in Greensboro, North Carolina, and need a deck built, call them up.  They can build you a huge one and it will be solid. 

So anyway, for nine bucks I bought these plastic gizmos that you put on each end of a garden hose (or “hose pipe,” as we call it in the Southern U.S.).  Fill up your hose with water and you have a water level.  The Pros use a long clear plastic hose, but do you know how much clear plastic tubing is at the General Supply?  About a buck a foot, and you need at least twenty feet. So this gizmo did the trick, established our level lines on the four posts, but it was not easy.  You just have to be patient.  Did I mention that we’ve been under an excessive heat advisory so we try to work early in the morning and later in the evening, but man it’s hot and humid any time. 

OK, with our level points determined, it was time to build the lower level deck.  I used all the scrap wood I could find while maintaining some level of aesthetic quality.   I used two 2X10s and two 2X6s for the outside boards (don’t know what you call them).  For floor joists I used pressure treated 2X4s.  I plan to do the top right with 2X8s for the outside boards and 2X6s for the floor joists. 

Oh, don’t forget the carriage bolts for the corners.  I used one for each board, which meant two on each corner, totaling 8.  For bigger decks, we alway put two on the end of each board (4 in each post), but I think one per board is plenty for this project.  Here’s my helper installing a carriage bolt:

So at this point I was out of lumber and it was time to buy the decking boards and the rest of it that would be needed.  Here’s where we are now, first floor almost completely decked:

That’s a honeysuckle bush held up with a bungee chord.  I ‘m going to see if she’ll survive.  Doesn’t the lower deck look like a great place for a cup of coffee?  Well, not in this 100 degree heat but come Fall, this will be a nice sanctuary. 

OK, now I just have to build another deck like this, only about 7′ above the first floor.  That won’t be hard at all.  BTW, have you checked the cost of lumber lately?  Here’s my first lumber purchase on the left and my second on the right. 

Those 4X4s were 15 bucks at Lowe’s.  And you know decking ain’t cheap.  Also there is the cost of decking screws and other hardware, the new drill bits you’ll need for the carriage bolts, that new sawblade you’ll need to replace the old one, and of course the brand new professional tape measure you’ll need that is suitable for such work.  The 12′ one in the drawer that no longer locks just won’t cut it.  But remember, this is just the SirMuddyKnees way.  When I do something, I like to do it with quality.  That goes for the tools, the materials, and the work itself.  It’s just better that way.  Read Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance for the reasons why this is so.  It’s all about Quality. 

All for now.  I’ll keep you “posted.”  Get it?

A Day at the Creek

This place is officially in Middle TN since it’s east of Kentucky Lake, the eastern boundary of West TN.   This is a cool, clean, and refreshing creek with swimming holes that remind me of the rivers in Western North Carolina or Fall Creek Falls, TN.  I’m not gonna tell you the exact location ’cause it’s kind of secluded and we like to think of it as our little secret.  We make an annual trek there in July or August (it’s about 70 miles from here), so if you’re good I will take you next year.  Here’s how we roll at the creek:

Live music in Old Milwaukee

Before I forget, I have to write more about one of the highlights of Summer Vacation 2010: a night out to see live music in Milwaukee, just the boys (Sir Rick, a friend of his–Sir David, and me, another David).   Where to begin? 

It was a perfect summer day in Sheboygan.  After a round of frisbee golf in the morning at Vollrath park and an afternoon on the beach at Lake Michigan, David showed up around 6:00 prepared to drive us down to Milwaukee, about 50 miles south of Sheboygan.  David is a great driver.  He kept it pegged on near-80 the whole way (in a 65 mph), weaving in and out of traffic smoothly.  I was supremely relaxed from the afternoon in the sun and water at the beach, plus a few cold ones, so I just sat back and cooled it in the back seat with my shades on and let Rick and Dave catch up in front.   Out my left window I could see the gigantic Lake Michigan floating above the horizon of the land, looking for all the world like the Atlantic Ocean.  Dairy farms and fertile cornfields glowed with the yellow late afternoon July sun.  It was a beautiful ride down I-43.   

After what seemed like no time, we arrived in Milwaukee, a congenial and tidy small-big city.  That is, it reminded me of Pittsburgh, a fairly big city with small city charm.  There seemed to be lots to do: plenty of restaurants, art galleries, pubs, etc.   But we headed straight to Turner Hall, site of the concert:

Turner Hall is a spacious old hall about the size of a large American Legion building.  Huge vaulted ceilings are strung with cage and nets to protect patrons from the plaster that’s begun to fall from the ancient structure.  The wood floors are in the old tradition of long, skinny planks and have been darkened and smoothed by years of use.  On tap are local brews from WI; I ordered a pale ale and found our seats at one of the open cafe style tables in the hall.   

To open the show, they had a guy doing computer generated noise-music. I guess that’s what it is called.  Just one dweeby looking dude and his Mac.  He generated some cool sounds and loops, many of which sounded like human voices.  There was also a lot of dissonant clanging and industrial noises.  It was pretty cool.  But I was glad to see the headlining band come out:

Liars. This is a cool band.  They rocked hard for a couple hours with no break.  The core of the group are three guys, the drummer, lead singer, and guitarist/keyboardist, shown in this pic from left to right.  But on this night they also had a bass player and an additional guitarist for a very full sound.  Man the drummer worked hard all night, flailing and sweating up a storm.  Rick commented later that the drummer was very good and it’s nice to see a drummer that can play like a loop machine. 

I’m not sure how to describe their music.  Intense, I would say, and even a little scary.  On the first song, the lead singer entered the stage walking stiffly like a zombie.  Of course I’m a country-music lovin, folk-hippie redneck, so this industrial stuff is a bit out there for me, but I like that.  Check these guys out.  I don’t know much about them but they’ve been around for a few years.  I think they did this song the night I saw them, very tribal and sonically meditative:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbsretji5r4&feature=related 

I recommend this band for a great live show!  Tix were $16 and it was worth it.

Two gigs for September

OK, mark your calendars: Sept 4 and 11 in Martin, TN, the House Band is playing two gigs with 27BStroke6, which is a fantastic band that features a lady with a D.M.A. in percussion and two amazing guitarists.   27BS6 plays upbeat rock with Alman-esque guitar solos and a Caribbean flair with steel drums.  Come on out and hear!  

The gig on the 4th is at Brandy’s and the 11th is at the Gap, beside Olivia’s Opera House restaurant. 

Road Trip: highlights from TN to Wisconsin and back . . .

Well, MuddyKnees is back after a two week and one day vacation.  Since I last checked in, we traveled north to Sheboygan, the “Spirit on the Lake,” and had a great time there in that tidy and charming German city on Lake Michigan.  I like Sheboygan a lot, and not just because of the cool summer breeze, the brats-beer-cheese and the cool city parks (some on the lake, some inland).  The people up there are so nice.  Of course, many people rolled their eyes when we praised their city.  “Sure, it’s nice in the summer,” they would say, “but the winters are tough to deal with.” 

Some highlights from the trip:

1. On the road north of Lafayette, Indiana, we saw hundreds of windmills (or turbines, whatever you call them) stretching across the fertile farmland.  Huge and white, with three gigantic blades, these titans looked like something out of Star Wars. 

2. Passing by Chicago on I-94, the kids seeing subway trains and the Sears Tower for the first time. 

3. Jumping in Lake Michigan in Sheboygan, the coldest water I have felt, except maybe the bottom of Fall Creek Falls, TN.   I could only stick my head under for a split second, and my toes got numb after a few minutes in the water.  I would estimate the water to be around 50 degrees farenheit, but it felt like 35.   

4. Spending an afternoon on Lake Elkhart, WI, with friends of our hosts.  This is a spring-fed, glacial lake, so it was clear and blue and clean and cool but not frigid like Lake Michigan.  We swam, fished, boated.  Around 4:00 Martha broke out the suds.  Like most Wisconsinites, she has a tap installed on a spare fridge in her basement. 

5.  On the old pier leading to a short red lighthouse on a popular beach in Sheboygan, we watched a dude pull in a 9 lb. King Salmon.  He had another one just like it that he also showed us.  He was planning to smoke one and grill the other.  Yum! 

6. Playing frisbee golf with our host and my wife at one of Sheboygan’s well-maintained parks.  I think it was Vollrath Park.  Sir Rick almost fed the lake monster, but my courageous wife retrieved his frisbee before that could happen. 

7. Chillin’ with great friends. 

On the Road, HWY 75 cool greens . . .

I’ve come a long way today.  575 miles or so from Brevard NC to Lafayette IN on the way to Wisconsin, America’s Dairyland.  The Bluegrass highway 75 through Kentucky rolled along the ridgetop of undeveloped mountains as far as the eye could see.  No towns, no townhomes or condos.  Just the rolling green hillls, ridges, and mountains.  Lush green, in stark contrast to the dry brown grasses of hot and dry middle North Carolina.  Rain fell gently most of the way through this section.  In fact, the thunder clouds were rolling today ahead of us as we proceeded towards Indy, wanting to get at least halfway to our destination in WI. 

Weather report so far:

July 4, Brevard, NC: partly cloudy, 73 degrees

July 5-8, near Durham, NC: 95- 100 degrees.  Record-breaking heat, no rain

July 9-12, Brevard, NC: mostly sunny, 73- 80 degrees, some soaking rain

July 13, On the Road.  Rain and Sun, 73 – 93 degress, depending.  93 in Louisville, rush hour.  70s all along the highway after rains.  No signs of drought from Kentucky to Indiana.  Lush greenery all along the way.

Guitar fun in Union City last night . . .

We had a blast playing at my friend’s house in ole Union City, TN last night.  They have a complete studio set up in the finished basement.  Had two younger fellas join us, both of them excellent musicians, and brothers to boot, so they connect well musically.  So, what did we play?

1. “Take a Walk on the Wild Side,” Lou Reed and the V.U. ; 2. “Lover, You Don’t Treat me no Good no More,” Sonia Dada; 3. “Wang Dang Doodle,” Howling Wolf; 4. “One More Cup of Coffee,” Dylan; 5. “Two Bottles of Wine,” Emmylou Harris; 6. “Steamroller Blues,” James Taylor; 7. “Don’t think Hank Done it this Way,” Waylon Jennings.

And some others that I don’t remember the names of now, such as a cool song by Beck and some originals by one of the brothers.  Livin, lovin, rockin.  That’s how it’s supposed to be.