Tag: Modernization

More Power

When we go camping, I like to make sure that everyone has a charged phone or watch so that I can find my family. Unfortunately, Honda doesn’t think you should have access to electrons when the engine isn’t running. Time to add some charging ports, without looking like I added some charging ports. (See Rule 2)

Before and after
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Sometimes it’s just your fear holding you back.

I’ve often considered making nicer projects in the wood shop, but up till now, I’ve pretty much limited myself to camping equipment.

Mostly it’s been fear that I can’t make something perfect. Add in the fact that I’m good at sourcing things that are pretty close to what I really want and then modifying them.

My first cabinet.

And it really kills me when people ask me if I built the cabinets in the dining room.

But it’s been itching at me. I keep kicking around ideas for custom cases for some older tools that don’t have them. And I keep coming up with excuses why I can’t do it.

Continue reading “Sometimes it’s just your fear holding you back.”

Garage door openers (pt.1)

We’re getting to the point where buying a house from a flipper is catching up to us. (It didn’t help that the flipper got the house from an addict.)

It’s time to start replacing things that have been neglected for years.

Up next, the garage door openers. (I’m pretty sure the water heater is next. Good times.)

Safety last.
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A New Car!

Can you hear Bob Barker in your head, or is that just me?

Shiny!

Well, the new truck has been added to the family. As much as I love Fessick, the needed repairs were getting to the point where they didn’t make sense. After several months of shopping I purchased a 2024 Honda Ridgeline RTL in Sonic Gray.

Continue reading “A New Car!”

The Son of Fessick

So now I need a vehicle to replace the Excursion.

I need something smaller to navigate city streets.

I need something big enough to fit the family. My kids are about to be teenagers, so I need a reasonable back seat. My brother’s boys are older than my kids, and they don’t really fit in the back of his Nissan Titan.

I need something that will tow my utility trailer. It has a weight rating of 3,500 pounds, so I don’t really need a tow monster.

The Ford Maverick actually does most of what I need, but the back seat isn’t big enough for the kids. I actually recommended that my brother buy a Maverick for his boys to share, the oldest just got his license.

I cycled through the midsized trucks and really none of them had a backseat that was useable.

I started looking at the full sized trucks, and the prices for new trucks are just stupid.

But then I stumbled across a dark horse – the Honda Ridgeline.

It’s mocked as NART (Not A Real Truck), but the capabilities of the Ridgeline meet my needs.

Test drive is scheduled.

The internet has everything these days.

Originally I was worried that I was going to have to do this without any guidance at all. I mean, can twenty-first century solutions be applied to nineteenth century hardware.

But the internet has, once again, provided exactly the niche media I need. But this time, I can share that without fear of being judged.

Scratch that. I’m sure you think differently about me now that you know I’m into touching hundred year olds.

Found the operator’s manual.

And a master list of Royal Repair Parts. Dated from March 1960, it still lists parts for the Model 10.

And the Repair manual for Royal machines. It appears to cover more than just the Model 10, but should be a huge help to me.