[svslider]

I just got a infrared thermometer from harbor freight for 15 bux. You just point it at the water and it gives a suface temp its really accurate, if I point it at the sky it reads up high and says 0 degrees or so. I pointed it at cooking onions and they are 160. Most lakes ive read are around 60 now and warmer right next to shore. Ribeye steak- 140 MMM rare...

 

[toothdoc]

That's pretty cool. I need to get one of those the next time I go there.

 

[WrenchingnFishing]

Nice dude! Yea, Harbor Freight has some good deals. But their tools and other stuff is junk! I bought an 8,000 lb winch from them and threw it on my jeep wrangler with 5/16 inch cable at 100 feet and it lasted me about 6 months until it fried. I went and bought a warn 9,500 lb winch for 1200 bucks and it never went out on me. In fact, I still have it to this day for 3 years now. Just the normal maintnance of oiling and rewinding the cable every now and then. I actually might sell it soon on craigslist. But yea, Harbor Freight is a great place. I have spent too much money their on tow-straps, ratchet straps, D-rings, breaker bars, etc... The one in Palatine is the one I go to normally. Let me know about them Kistler rods. It's the weekend, call me tomorrow.

Dave

 

[svslider]

Harbor is great for tools you need once. Of course its all made in china crap but its cheap. They offered me a service plan on the infrared- maybe i shoulda taken it?

 

[WrenchingnFishing]

Yea, I should have taken the 1 year warranty on the winch for 100 bucks. but I didn't. LOL

 

[Danno]

Nice dude! Yea, Harbor Freight has some good deals. But their tools and other stuff is junk! I bought an 8,000 lb winch from them and threw it on my jeep wrangler with 5/16 inch cable at 100 feet and it lasted me about 6 months until it fried. I went and bought a warn 9,500 lb winch for 1200 bucks and it never went out on me. In fact, I still have it to this day for 3 years now. Just the normal maintnance of oiling and rewinding the cable every now and then. I actually might sell it soon on craigslist. But yea, Harbor Freight is a great place. I have spent too much money their on tow-straps, ratchet straps, D-rings, breaker bars, etc... The one in Palatine is the one I go to normally. Let me know about them Kistler rods. It's the weekend, call me tomorrow.

Dave

I thought about getting there winch for my Jeep, but something about it made it look kind of cheap. Now that I got some actual feed back from someone, ill spend the extra 100 bucks or so for a better winch.

Harbor freights tools are not bad for the average person, they will hold up just fine for someone who does not work in a shop and beat the living heck out of them. Plus you can really stock up for only a few bucks. Oh, look at there sales flyers online, they have some great sales and coupons.

 

[twoglasseyes]

Harbor freight is the best! I get all my painting and metalworking stuff there. As well as a lot of other things. I have never got a warantee on anything, and every time I have a problem with somthing they switch it out no questions asked. Sure you will run into problems sometimes, but for 1/10th the price of Craftsman, SnapOn, etc. you cant go wrong.

 

[WrenchingnFishing]

yea, their 8,000 lb winch was just under 500 bucks. It only lasted me 6 months roughly of hardcore 4 wheelin. It is worth spending double and getting the Warn 9,500 lb winch or even a Ramsey winch for about 8-900 bills. I think I will stick to my snap on and matco tools though. I hate when I snap a snap a socket and get a knuckle buster. But for the price of their off-road tow-straps. their high-lift jack, D-rings and tree-saver for your winch. It is totally worth the money. 4 wheel drive magazine wanted 120 bucks for a 20 foot 20,000 lb tow strap. I picked one up at harbor freight for 85 bucks. Same material. But just does not have a name on it. :wink:

 

[LUV2FISH]

Hey Twoglasseyes,
What kind of metal work do you do? I am trying to figure out how to modify the transom on my Smoker so I can mount my 9.8 Merk on it to fish the 10hp lakes. I really don't want to hang something off the back. I would like to raise the transom with an alunimum bracket to mount the motor. Any suggestions? I am an old gear head myself. Maybe after I get the boat squared away I might try and fire up the 76 Yamaha. HF tools suck, but it is a cool big boy's toy store. Craftsman and Snapon don't break your knuckles.
BTW Slider no corn on my boat. lol

 

[svslider]

even if I eat it :? You need corn for the killer goldfish bite

 

[LUV2FISH]

Toco chips are ok.
Got to go to bed.
Later

 

[twoglasseyes]

LUV2FISH, I am no pro, and mostly do small projects. I have done the floor on a car and some frame repairs, but only at an amature level. I have never welded aluminum, but when I did work with it cutting and forming was way easier than steel. Right now I usualy only do steel and iron.

One thing I will suggest is that the cost of materials will often overrun the cost of a finised product. Unless you want to buy a huge amount, the stock will probably be more expensive than you would think. You may be better off upgrading to a bigger hull. However, I dont know why you couldnt put a 9.9 on a 12ft or 14ft smokercraft rowboat. If it just needs to be reinforced I would go with 3/4" marine plywood over the entire inside and outside. I just re-did my 12' flatboat I use in the f.p. so I could put one of my 5 hps on it in the dpr. Turned out rock solid. I wish I had a pic with me, it looks great.

 

[LUV2FISH]

Twoglasseyes
Thanks for the input, I, like you, mess around with things and figure it out sooner or later. What I am trying to do is mount the 9.8 as a kicker next to the 40 on my 16ft Smokercraft. There is not enough room because the transom is about 4in lower at the center then at the gunnel. I was thinking I could get a piece of U channel to raise the lower part so I can mount the motor. I will check with the local welding shops.
Where you at in Park Ridge? I own a house on the 400 S block of Chester. Grew up there and graduated from Main South. Played football with Hillery's brother Tony.

 

[svslider]

wrenching can do your metal work. and hell make that 9.9 into a 15 no prob-they are the same minus a carb or something.

 

[svslider]

That 9.8 is gonna be a great motor if you go to deep lake.

 

[twoglasseyes]

LUV2FISH, I am about a generation younger than you, but from right in the same neighborhood. I see what you are getting at with the boat now. I am sure you will find a way to hook it up.
One place that I get small amounts of metal for projects is at Home Depot or Lowes. Surprisingly they have this little section hidden in one of the aisles that has a bunch of steel and aluminum stock. Lots of different sizes and gauges of plate, also diamond plate, threaded and unthreaded rods, and angle pieces. They dont have any really heavy stuff, but it may be a good start. Another thing to keep in mind is Tractor Suppy Co. has a bunch of stock for homemade trailers. Square tubes, etc. might come in handy. Lots of good stuff there. Good luck.

 

[WrenchingnFishing]

wrenching can do your metal work. and hell make that 9.9 into a 15 no prob-they are the same minus a carb or something.

LOL, I can Mig, Tig and Arc weld. I need some Argon Gas though (I'm all out). I am not the greatest at Tig welding but have done it many times. I prefer Mig or Arc welding, but with Aluminum, you will need a Tig. I actually do not bend any sheet-metal myself though. I take it to Sheet Metal Fabricators in wood-dale, IL. Talk to Jeff... Great guy. But if you want some Tig welding done professionally and really really clean. NBfinishing in Schaumburg, IL can do it. Dave is the guy to talk to. Or if you want some custom work. Mike Cerbones at Cerbones welding in Schaumburg can do anything. He actually has my motor to my quad right now. I cracked the head on a roll-over in 3rd gear. Me and my buddy clipped each other. Mike Cerbones number is 847-985-6865. Tell him Dave in Schaumburg with the Race Quad Motor refered ya. I would weld it myself, But I put a Big Bore kit in the motor when I did the rebuild, had the head machined, etc. I also have a Stage 2 cam in it. It was meant to break as It is bored .30 over, It would be impossible to withstand a hard fast and heavy crash... I ended up with coolant in my cylinder from the hairline fracture crack. That's racing for ya... Instead of buying a new Cylinder head for 700 bucks and then paying to get it machined. I called up WoodField Motorsports and they said Mike Cerbones is the best Tig welder in the Area. I got a little discount as my buddy works at Wood-Field Motorsports. But Mike does some great work for great prices... Hope this helps a bit. If you need the number to NBfinishing and Sheet Metal Fabricators. Let me know...

Dave

Here is NBfinishing's website...

http://www.nbfinishing.com/ Give them a call. Speak with Dave.

 

[LUV2FISH]

Thanks for the help,
I will take pics and measurements and talk to Jeff. I work in Bensenville so that would be perfect. If you can email me the phone number and address I would appreciate it.
Your right Twoglasseyes I am old enough to be your father. I went to my 35th class reunion a few years ago and said "who are all these old people?" I used to be crazy like Wrenching but I raced dirt bike instead of quads. The body can only take so many crashes. Enjoy it while you are young cause your going to remember it when you get older. I am still crazy but I have learned tone it down a little.
Thank again 8)
Bob

 

[svslider]

So you broke your quad already? :roll: That didnt last long

 

[WrenchingnFishing]

So you broke your quad already? :roll: That didnt last long

Haha, That was actually not that fast. When I use to race, I would be buying clutch levers, break lever, Bars, plastics, Pistons, etc at the track and doing rebuilds before the next heat race. I usually had a spare bike with me... But not this time, but things are going good. I know it's an expensive hobby. But is a blast

OMG, where did my motor go!!! :mrgreen: :lol:

Also some road/rubber tire rash... I pick up my motor tomorrow. I will be riding at Byron on Saturday tearing it up!!!! 8) :mrgreen:

Thats ok though, I gety my new Alpinestar tech 8 boots in the mail by friday! my old motocross boots wouldn't fit me since its been a few years since I raced. Its all going well now. Nice thing is I have gray and Black with white matching gear, my old helmet fits though and matches. I use to ride Honda CR125 and and 250 and always went with black Plastics like the Metal Mulisha. I'm Stoked! :lol: There is only 2 types of riders those that will keep falling and those that will fall and never ride again... Your always gonna fall when you push your limits. :wink: This past weeks wreck was just me and some buddies racing around on some tight trails with trees everywhere. In some areas you can only fit 1 quad through. Well I wanted to be the first one through that corner and so did one of my buddies. LOL Shit happens!!! :lol: