Rita Up Close and Personal

Me | Sept. 29, 2005 | Yours Truly

[backhoe]

I know just what you mean. I have a big 4x4x4 JCB 217S backhoe with a "hot rod" engine that would just love to be down there moving trees and anything else out of the way.

We're cut from the same cloth- I must have learned it from my Mom & Dad, because as far back as I can remember, if there was work to be done, they'd get down on the ground, up in a tree, whatever, and pitch in.

I can hear 'em now, "Don't stand there like a bump on a log!"

[Colorado Doug]

I am so sorry. One of my best friends ever, was my Golden Retriever. We did everything together. I'll bet Gilligan had it pretty good with all that steak and sausage. I owned a campground so mine would make the rounds telling all the campers that I never fed him. He lied and you would think they would have known, as fat as he was. I had to give him Insulin shots twice a day or more if he got in the trash, for the last two years of his life when he became diabetic. I know how it feels Flyer and thank you for correctly anticipating my sincerest apologies.

[Flyer]

mine would make the rounds telling all the campers that I never fed him

My current Golden tells humblegunner that he hasn't eaten for months and days. And humblegunner falls for it every time.

It's good to hear you were so lucky as to share your life with a Golden. The bond between a man a his dog is something special.

[humblegunner]

My current Golden tells humblegunner that he hasn't eaten for months and days.

And it's probably true, he's so starving. Poor dog needs some meat products.

Flyer has never brought an adequately fed dog over here.

[greene66]

Well, I rode out the storm here in Nederland. My first generator konked out on me, but a neighbor lent me his, so I'm at least able to get onto the internet again, and find out what's going on in the outside world.

I'm so exhausted. Spent the first 3 days after the hurricane on the roof, nailing up bits and pieces of fallen shingles. Brutally hot. Now I'm sawing up the two trees that surrendered to Rita. My hands are swollen from all the many little cuts and fire-ant bites (16 fire-ant bites on my hand!). Luckily, my sister drove my grandmother to her apartment in Houston a day after the storm, as the intense heat would have been too much for her.

Well, I guess we have to expect these calamities from time to time, courtesy of Mother Nature. I don't really have any complaints. True, it's been rough sledding at times (trying to sleep at night while sweltering in humid heat, for example). But, oh well. Looking forward to the time we get get electricity back, and I can sit back in cool comfort, with a chilled drink, and watch some dvd's.

[Colorado Doug]

Green! Glad you and your grandmother made it through okay. Several of us had been watching your posts and were relieved when you first surfaced. I just lost my 97 year old mother two weeks ago so I was double routing for your grandmother. I'm glad that she is back in Houston safe. I should send you a cold drink via UPS. If your drivers down there are anything like my UPS driver, they can get through anything!

[Colorado Doug]

Poor dog needs some meat products. Flyer has never brought an adequately fed dog over here.

Something about the breed, I think. They really like their chow and can't be trusted when it comes to food. Mine preferred his meat a little spicier than most. He was especially fond of old fish guts unless he could drag home some really rancid elk remains to roll in. As bad as the three day old fish guts smelled, you just wouldn't believe the case of the wind that boy would get after eating them. Never smelled anything like it.

Yes, this is a fond memory.

[RoseyT]

Please ping me when y'all start posting pictures. Also, I was wondering if anyone heard anyone has heard "official" numbers about the wind speeds in the area.
Thanks.

[ForGod'sSake]

Alrighty then; pinging those that requested pics(and maybe some that didn't). Instead of posting the individual pics which would take a while for the thread to load(not that it really matters I suppose), I've put up a single borrowed web page. BTW, it never occurred to me to take pics in the immediate aftermath, which would have been more interesting. Too busy I reckon. These pics are a couple of days after the fact...

[ForGod'sSake]

It's been quite an ordeal hasn't it? BTW, daughter and son in law have recently moved to Nederland from Port Neches. Downsized to a smaller home with about half the mortgage since he's now back in school taking pre-med courses. You'll know them since they'll be the ones wearing purple at the Bulldog's football games ;^)

PNG rules!

heh,heh

[ForGod'sSake]

Also, I was wondering if anyone heard anyone has heard "official" numbers about the wind speeds in the area.

I haven't, but was/am sortof out of the loop. Haven't had a lot of time to check on particulars on the storm. I was keeping track during the storm on a weather radio which reported the hurricane warning for Tyler county and forecasting gusts of around 100 mph. It's my unprofessional guess the winds lived up to their billing, and then some maybe.

[backhoe]

I will crosslink your link to this:

 HURRICANE RITA-- archive of links

I'm looking now in another open tab...

Whoops! It's not missing its roof; it's upside down! Rita flipped my tool shed. All the spare lumber, etc has now been cleaned out and the building is awaiting a brilliant plan to bring it upright again. Any ideas???

Ideally, two boom trucks or cranes- one to lift, one to turn. Failing that? Winch it over on the strongest side first. If you have the luxury of two winches, place at opposite ends, and use one to pull and the other to control the pull so it does not slam down hard.

In other words, the primary winch pulls it over, the opposite lets out cable under power to keep the load from getting away.

It wouldn't hurt to rig a few temporary "X" braces of lumber to stiffen the structure, especially the opening, which looks like the weakest side.

[ForGod'sSake]

Thanks for the advice. Something I'm considering is using a......backhoe ;^) Your thoughts would be helpful.

The building probably weighs no more than say, 500 pounds. The beam across the front is a 2 X 10 and the whole building was put together with 3" deck screws for the most part(probably helped hold it together?). Anyway, I was thinking about tying onto the beam(maybe in a couple places) and lift the whole building while several able bodied helpers guide the lift. If I can clear the overhang, I can maybe pull this off without buckling the tin at the edge; that is no worse than it already is. A little hammer putty can straighten it out now. Amazing to me still, how the building survived pretty much intact, albeit inverted.

Anyway, any additional thoughts would be appreciated.

FGS

[backhoe]

Something I'm considering is using a......backhoe ;^) Your thoughts would be helpful. The building probably weighs no more than say, 500 pounds. The beam across the front is a 2 X 10 and the whole building was put together with 3" deck screws for the most part(probably helped hold it together?). Anyway, I was thinking about tying onto the beam(maybe in a couple places) and lift the whole building while several able bodied helpers guide the lift. If I can clear the overhang, I can maybe pull this off without buckling the tin at the edge; that is no worse than it already is. A little hammer putty can straighten it out now. Amazing to me still, how the building survived pretty much intact, albeit inverted. Something I'm considering is using a......backhoe ;^) Your thoughts would be helpful. The building probably weighs no more than say, 500 pounds. The beam across the front is a 2 X 10 and the whole building was put together with 3" deck screws for the most part(probably helped hold it together?). Anyway, I was thinking about tying onto the beam(maybe in a couple places) and lift the whole building while several able bodied helpers guide the lift. If I can clear the overhang, I can maybe pull this off without buckling the tin at the edge; that is no worse than it already is. A little hammer putty can straighten it out now. Amazing to me still, how the building survived pretty much intact, albeit inverted.

Sound like a good plan-- screwed joints are much more secure than nailed, and the shed probably won't come apart because of that.

If you can locate a nylon towing strap, it is less likely to damage the shed by pinching than a chain or rope.

If you have to use a rope or chain, "crib" it-- place a couple of wood blocks between the chain and shed at each corner to spread out the load and reduce damage.

[Nita Nupress]

Hey, backhoe. Good morning! I'm sitting here running the laptop off the new marine battery we bought. I have a question that maybe you or anyone reading can help me with.

We found our battery charger but I can't remember how to operate it. The owner's manual is long gone and it's one of those big ones on wheels (a Schumacher SE-2158). I'm afraid if I hook it up wrong, it'll explode the battery or something. Anyway, which one of these settings do I use to try and recharge one of those old marine batteries? Here's the info for the marine battery:

Brandname - "Stowaway Tournament" (Bill Dance)
900 Marine Cranking amps
205 Reserve Capacity minutes
Part No. 31DP-6

Here are the possible dial selections for the battery charger, a Schumacher SE-2158:

1.
12 Volt/10 amp
6 Volt/125 amp start

2.
12 Volt, 50 amp

3.
12 Volt, 225 amp start

4.
6 Volt, 50 amp

5.
12 volt, 2 amp

Any help would be appreciated! I hate messing with electricity, and I want some knowledgeable info before my spousal unit wakes up and starts messing with it. (Bless his heart; he's a wonderful husband but he's mechanically-challenged. :-)

[Nita Nupress]

To be sure; she just has to be another Texan ;^) I know I've read it some where, but can't remember exactly where Nita lives. Lumberton area maybe??? Hang in there girl!

Thank you! No, it's my brother who lives in Lumberton, not me. (I live "further out in the sticks somewhere in SouthEast Texas" and we'll just leave it at that. :-)

I'm working on some photos but it's taking a while. I didn't realize there was so much 'busy-work' when you don't have electricity. Hang out the clothes, find the matches for the lanterns, find the flashlight, recharge the batteries in the solar charger, find the radio, change the batteries in the radio, etc., etc...

How are things with you?

[Nita Nupress]

Oh, and yesterday I had to make a visit to the only operational ER in SE Texas to get a tetanus shot. I'll come back later this afternoon to elaborate; right now I need to get off the computer to get ready for church.

Dog Gone, this story involves looters. You'll enjoy it!

[Nita Nupress]

...I want some knowledgeable info before my spousal unit wakes up and starts messing with it.

Never mind on that. He woke up but he's off doing something else. I convinced him to wait until tonight or tomorrow to work on that marine battery, so I have more time to dig up some info.

[Dog Gone]

Whoa, you had to get a tetanus shot after bagging some looters? You're not supposed to let them bite you.

Anxiously awaiting this story!

[backhoe]

Here are the possible dial selections for the battery charger, a Schumacher SE-2158:

1.
12 Volt/10 amp
6 Volt/125 amp start
2.
12 Volt, 50 amp
3.
12 Volt, 225 amp start
4.
6 Volt, 50 amp
5.
12 volt, 2 amp

Nita!

We were wondering how you were faring.

I bolded the correct setting-- when you have the option of allowing more time to charge, the lowest "amps" setting is better- it's what's called "trickle" charging, for a day or two, and will bring the battery up to full charge.

The 10 amp option charges faster, but it is a less thorough charge.

The even higher amp settings are for emergency starting of a gas engine- they aren't really for charging the battery, but rather for supplying starting power for the starter motor on an engine.

Let me review charger & battery basics:

Always, plus ( positive + ) to plus... minus ( negative - ) to minus. Use a crayon or china marker to make the symbols on the battery easier to see.

On the charger, plus is red ( the hot lead ) minus is black ( ground, or Earth as the Brits call it ).

It is good practice to connect the battery leads first, then plug the charger into AC power-- minimizes sparking.

Clean the battery terminals ( lead posts ) with a wire brush 'till they are shiny. Smear with vaselene ( or spray with WD-40 ) to slow corrosion.

Check electrolyte levels- charging heats, and can evaporate the water-- the acid does not evaporate, which is why you add only distilled water.

How do you tell the battery's voltage?

This is easy-- count the cells ( holes )-- three is a six volt, six is a twelve volt. The charger voltage setting must match the battery's voltage.

Each lead-acid cell produces 2.1 volts at full charge ( that is why vacuum tubes were listed with 6.3 or 12.6 volt heaters-- the oldtimers were very literal and precise ) so you count cells, and multiply.

When you can, get a hydrometer-- a specific gravity reader-- you use a squeeze-bulb to draw the electrolyte into the instrument, and read the density of the electrolyte-- a scale is provided on it which will tell you how much the cell you are reading is charged.