Gray Man, Inc.

[wayno]

Equipment issues are the worst, I hate timers that do not work properly.

Some plants grow fast and can still be replaced, sometimes it is better to replace some plants as being shocked like that may not kill them, but they do not grow properly anymore, I have a watermelon plant that will never produce this time/year, the plant has grown 2" since planted over a month ago, watering it is a waste of water, but I water it anyway as it looks heathy, it just is not growing like it should grow.

That looks like a great mini greenhouse to get an early start, but you have to pay attention to the weather when planting your garden, if there is a chance of frost I put tarps over my Tomatoes, if it is going to be a hard frost, I put light bulbs inside the tarps to keep it above freezing inside.

I do not water using sprinklers because it waters the weeds also, I just plant my plants in craters/low spots or raised border areas so the water stays where I want it, I only have to weed them areas after that, sometimes old pallet boards cut up and made into a square can help keep the water where you want it like in this photo below although some water gets by the boards because the water is on too long, still a work in progress.



My volunteer tomato plants in my goofy greenhouse.

[DRIVEN]

Your garden looks great. Excellent point about watering the weeds too.

My garden is in 2 sections. One area is about 15x40 and is watered by a sprinkler. Next to that is 3 raised beds. I've got a drip system on them. I repaired and modified things this morning and it should be fine going forward. A couple of the plants bounced back some, not sure on the rest.

I think next year I'll eliminate the raised beds and just get everything on the ground. There's a gentle slope so I might be able to gravity water. It's always evolving and improving.

[DRIVEN]

Rode a couple days in Central Idaho last weekend. Lots of good single track through the burn.

[DRIVEN]

Not a whole lot to update. I've been on the road a lot for work. I managed to get my grape starts in the ground.




I bought a quarter mile spool of smooth (barbless) wire but haven't strung it yet. I need to cut some stakes for the ends first. Four different varieties in 4 rows.


My back-from-the-dead garden is still trying. I managed to save the zucchini and okra. There were also 2 cucumber plants and 3 tomato plants (not pictured) that bounced back. If I don't run out of summer first, I just might harvest some produce. Maybe. Weeds are doing just fine.


I expanded the boundaries of the garden by about 50%. I'll definitely be more on top of it next year. I'm on the lookout for a bigger tiller too.


I harvested my single plum and 2 grapes a couple weeks ago. My first Gala apple (4' tall yearling) is almost ripe and my Asian pears need another week or two.




My Honeycrisp trees were covered in flowers when I planted them this spring but the late frost got them. Birds stole the few cherries that I had. Poor little nectarine tree is still sprouting new leaves down low but the jury is still out on whether it'll be allowed to live or get cut down and replaced.

I've got a healthy curly willow tree in the wrong spot next to the fruit trees. I have a couple starts in pots from cuttings I took from it. Plan is to plant them elsewhere and cut the big one down. Then I'll be able to add 6 more fruit trees to the orchard. It all takes time.

[DRIVEN]

It's fire season somewhere and, like every year, it drifts in and settles in the valley. Makes it hard to work outside most days. I did a 50 mile taco run today and my lungs were burning. Can hardly see the mountains.



I built a 229/6spd to replace the 200/5spd in my white TW last winter. I was pleased enough with the results that I started collecting parts to swap my blue TW over the coming winter. This particular engine is tough to find so I've had to build both from ebay parts. There are several related variations so you can mix and match a lot of parts.

White bike is a total mongrel. I'm going to replace the head on it with one from a YFM250 4-wheeler. The cam has a lot less overlap and should boost torque. Probably a better match to the low compression piston in that engine.

Blue bike will get an engine built to TTR225 specs. The last major piece just got delivered yesterday, a good TTR cylinder and piston. There's a new cylinder and low compression piston in the photo but I'm probably just going to put it back on the shelf.


The early TWs had a kickstart but it was eliminated in the 2001 model year and newer. Some of the early XT225s had them too. None of the TTR225s or TTR230s did. The parts were available over the counter to add a kickstart on TW and XT, but were discontinued years ago. TTR cases have the bosses cast but only some have the finish machining. Finding TW kickstart components now are rare and expensive. Kits on ebay are usually north of $500 when they pop up. I managed to snag 2. One for the blue TW engine, and one for the shelf. Paid under $200 for the pair. Seems expensive for what they are but it was actually a steal.




Anyway, I'm sure there's probably something that I don't have but it's almost everything to start the build. I'll box everything up and wait until winter to start the build. Stay tuned.

[DRIVEN]

I'm likely going to buy a 63 year old boat if it doesn't sell before I do a job near the coast next week. Talk me out of it.

[wayno]

Do you really have the time for that project, I get worn out just reading about all the work you do now.

[DRIVEN]

Well, here's the thing. If you had any idea how much time I spend sitting on my ass just scrolling my phone, you'd probably tell me I need a hobby.
Boats are horrible and the exact opposite of an investment. The one I'm interested in has a bit of a cult following and the price is really right. Needs full cosmetic restoration but I can do all of it except upholstery.
I'll just see how it plays out. Might be sold before I can get over that way. If so, no biggie.

I mentioned a cabin / tiny house build a while back. Looks like that project will kick off in a couple weeks.

[DRIVEN]

Nevermind.




Indian got a new rear tire and brake pads. Not a minute too soon.

[Taterhead]

To my redneck eyes I still see some miles on the tire and brakes.

Was it a Carter Craft boat? I’ve always wanted one of those.

[DRIVEN]

It was a Dorsett Catalina. Similar to this but cosmetically challenged and red.

[Taterhead]

Oh that’s cool as hell. I’ve never seen one of those. I just asked about the Carter Craft because with all the wood they can be a nightmare.

[DRIVEN]

Oh no, that's way beyond my skill set. I wouldn't be afraid of replacing floors or even stringers, but I have no interest in that type of restoration.

[DRIVEN]

Been running hard with work over the last couple months Supervibe took me 6450 miles in the last 3 weeks. I didn't add up the previous, but it's a lot. I suspect that my company brought on someone new in the Seattle area around the beginning of summer and they didn't work out. I'm typically over there every week or two but had absolutely nothing for 3 months. Now I'm getting a lot of work over there again. The guy in eastern Montana is out on medical hold and the guy in Wilsonville just retired. My territory just got a lot bigger for awhile.

Since I haven't had time at home to do much work, I've just been buying stuff to finish projects. I have all the new rubber and chrome to put my pickup together if I ever get the cab back from my brother. Only thing I can't get right now is a radiator cap, which is the back half of the hood ornament. My original one has nice shiny chrome but some scratches.






I picked up a couple more small items for my 225/6spd TW build. It's about ready for cleaning parts and beginning assembly.




180K service in a box for my wife's car. Probably due by the end of the year.




The mini flathead was looking neglected so last night I ordered up a carb kit and some ignition parts so I can try to hear it run. I found a later distributor with magnetic pickup and a cam drive adapter that I'm going to pair with a 70s Mopar ignition module and high output GM coil. In theory it should all work together. We'll see. I'll probably weld up a little run stand for it eventually. Found out a Ford 8N tractor starter works on these so I have one coming.




Another pile of parts for the Chief. Rocker box O-rings are seeping so I justified an EV27 cam upgrade. Also finally got ahold of a 6spd. They've been impossible to find for over a year unless you want to pay ridiculous markup.




Last weekend I tried to finish cutting up those bigass cottonwoods that got dropped in the spring. I'd forgotten how stretched my chain was and had to quit. I have a new chain in hand now so I can finish up. I have about 20 more 20"+ rounds to cut. My neighbor offered the use of his splitter so I'll have a couple more round woodpiles when I'm done.




I know I'll probably complain if it happens, but I'd love for work to slow down for the next few months. I have plenty of shop projects for the winter. I'm also biting off a cabin / tiny house build pretty soon. Completion target for that project is 5/23.

[Taterhead]

[DRIVEN]

V8-60 parts are mostly delivered. Just waiting on a carb kit.




This whole idea is stupid.

[DRIVEN]

....aaand tomorrow I dig holes, cut wood, and do yard work.

[DRIVEN]

Can't.
Resist.
Vintage.
Junk.




I called on the ad and it was described as ran when parked. When I got there I found out that it had a woodchipper attachment too. I may never use it, but now I have one.





And here's something I've never seen on a small engine -- 110v electric start.




I gave it a quick once-over and greased everything. All the belts are there but pretty old. The linkage and pulleys seem to be in workable shape. I need to clean the carb but it's got spark and compression. The electric start works great.

[BLUE]

That’s intriguing. Never seen anything like that. I kinda want one just to have it.

[DRIVEN]

I kinda want one just to have it.

That's how most of my purchases happen.


I cleaned the carb today and it fired right up. Greased up a couple more pulleys and snugged up some linkage points. Everything seems to work like it should. If it dries out enough tomorrow I'll try to turn some dirt