Actually, part of the reason went thru the journey of DIYing was also because of this drill – Installing Trailer Hitch. Again, did the huge amount of search the web and youtube video to know what hitch fits odyssey, how to install, and ordered the ramp, hitch at Amazon and tried to install it.
As usual, everything was smooth in YouTube, while there are so many dumb challenges at my end. All the video suggested me doing with 2 or more people, but I don’t have that luxury – no one in my house can help – so brought out home various size of boxes and used those to balance and attached one hole after another hole. Also, used Ratchet Socket Wrench to installed it but it only went into few rounds and half tightened. ๐ฆ
So used my own ‘impact’ drill with socket but no luck -it was so weak only to make few more twists/advances, then learned that I need Impact Wrench ๐ฆ
As it was already evening, I had to leave the hitch as ‘not to fall off’ level and Amazoned overnight delivery ๐ – This must be the Copang experience I hardly ever had ๐ and magically package arrived at next day morning 6AM.
However, when Impact Wrench arrived tried to use the Ratchet socket but learned this doesn’t fit Impact Wrench and actually it is not recommended to be used with Impact Wrench anyhow ๐ฆ haha – so had to order another long Impact Socket set for Impact Wrench with same day delivery – ha ๐
Finally, all the bolt and nuts are 100% tightened – so wondered a bit on setting the Torque but as the car is old and I suspected some of miss-treading is there during install, thought this is good enough for me ๐
At the end dirty hands with some scratches, series of Amazon orders, and crazy searches on YouTube and Bing (Yes I work for Microsoft haha) mission complished ~80%: Now I need to unbox and install the ordered bike rack ๐
Since very end of last trip to Redwoods National Park/Oregon Coast, I felt some metal is clicking when vehicle’s speed is increased, but immediately disappear after the speed is up and more painfully irregularly.
So much of our freak-o-meter went up, the unlimited search on youtube was on. Metal Noise (when speed is up), Metal scratching when speed is increasted etc.. , then every different ones were suggesting break pad problem, transmission problem etc,.
Data science kicked in with extremely mental hypothesis testing ‘Does it make noise when it is uphill or downhill’, ‘Does it make noise when road surface is not bumpy or not’, then one great clue I landed was ‘It always sounds at 20MPH -40MPH. However, that theory was broken when I was testing on freeway it made a noise again around 60 MPH as well. Ah…
At the end of lengthy period of hypothesis testing, came to conclusion this mostly happens when RPM is passing thru 2,000-2,500 and less in the morning; especially when engine works one more step. Then I searched the web and youtube to learn this is more likely the problem of heat reflection metals around the exhaust system getting aging and loose and the vibration from the engine is making it “rattle” – glad it was not a break nor transmission problem ๐
Went to auto repair shop, and the mechanic simply screwed in one screw piece in the gap at the surrounding cover parts near the engine (Catalyst) and it was fine. His suggestion was using this as molding is the ultimate solution but it will be costly and time consuming ๐
However, that patch didn’t last long, and about a week later started to hear the rattling again. So decided to go more permanent solution.
So crazy DIY kicked in –
Ordered a ‘ramp’ as I don’t have the jack (and I have been in the need of something to put my car up for other reasons)
Looked at the area where the screw-patch was on – clearly gone ๐ฆ
So followed one of the videos suggesting using the metal clamp to hold the covering tight – some suggested zips but clearly got to know that won’t last at here as it was extremely hot with simple driving.
At the end, when the ramp and metal round clamp arrived, put the car on the ramp, dig thru under the car (first time using the back to move around after highschool’s military training class) put two clamps with painful arms with the hope at least one will resolve.
At the end – perfect solution. The rattle is gone now, (although hurt my eyes as particle dust from the car hit my right eye; continuously pumping tears for few hours. (+ countless attempt to wash out with tons of water :))
The neighborhood we lived since last Summer has closer access to Indian restaurants and stores.
Still extremely confusing with its name, there is a pizza shop called CanAm Pizza- which actually specializes in Indian pizza ๐ (I thought it would have more meat menus as it is CanAm .. :))
After testing with general Peperoni pizza last time, this time went to one of their specialties – interesting taste ๐ – felt like to say “this must be close to the street pizza in Delhi” but I have never been to India :D….
This was my street snack – usually you buy this at stationary shop near elementary school – in Seoul when I was a kid – still not clear what is made of but taste chewy, sweet and crusty after torching ๐
Now it is rental car – as rental car companies sold their inventory to used car market which has been appreciating values & limited new car inventory with production backlog and semiconductor shortage. Ha….now let me think what the next one will be..
Great documentary on Black Pink which has been one of the most global scale breakthrough k-pop production after BTS. Kind of agree on success – perfect team, and producers- but somewhat painful to watch ๐ฆ
One thing encountered after moving in current place in last summer was this place is hot in Summer ๐ – Part of it driven by Townhouse structure and also next door neighbor’s air conditioner vent was installed right next to the siding door of our place; hence opening the window/siding door never helped or even made worse in hot summer days.
After long thoughts and landing a plan to stay at this place for one more year, purchased expensive LG portable Air Conditioner. Now, the problem is how and where to install the vent, and making it worse, this home doesn’t have a horizontal or up-and-down windows, leaving the only option as installing the vent at siding door. (plus as a rental house had the solution shouldn’t impact the main structure of the house and should be easy to remove when season is over)
As all the portable air conditioner assumes up and down windows, had to find the solution to have vent at tall siding door, but luckily found there is something at Amazon for this.
However, this was not sturdy enough (PVC) or very loosely standing – likely because this is optimized for siding window – not turning out to be a long lasting option (had to do adjustments almost every time we turn the conditioner on) and also the default vent didn’t fit with LG’s outlet.
So had to take several actions
– Hand cut the vent to fit the LG outlet with knife and hand saw
– Buy and cut the 2×2 lumber and cut + make a rabbit cut at the bottom to fit into the door’s rail
Then forced to snug the vent kit between the door and inserted wood – but kit was still unstable as the door’s lock installed at the end of door wasn’t providing angled & straight support to the kit.
So bought one more 2×2 had it as a place holder at the door’s end and inserted the vent kit between 2x2s; worked well but vent kit was still dancing around and had tons of gaps to let air flow in various locations, and – as expected- 2×2 not being straight/square also generated sizable gaps between door and 2×2 when closed.
To solve these next set of troubles, drilled between the kit and 2×2 and screwed it to make it sturdy; adding one more layer of wood at outside to close the gap between door and 2×2, + applying weather stripping to seal the gap around the vent kit and 2×2 and also applied the weather stripes on inner frame gap (between the moving door and fixed door), and also cutting the 2×2 for security lumber as the lock will not work during the times we have this vent. ๐
Although not having ever been an engineer, reminded me engineering is all about problem solving ๐
Now the question is – shall I paint the woods to white to match or not ๐
A block or so area between Bellevue & Kirkland – Always passed by the other side of the road and maybe encountered several ‘ranches’ having horse barn and wondered where do they ride the horse. Now I know after trailing with extreme care of brown things left by horses.. :)..
hello27.net 