Helpful videos on simple maintenance and repair

[Beekissed]

Sumi hinted at a thread for maintenance and repair, so here's my contribution. This first vid was one I used to help me take apart the carburetor on our wood splitter...it's not the same carburetor, but it's similar enough that it helped me have the confidence to just do it.

I tore it down, removed the old seals, cleaned the carburetor, replaced the seals and put it back. Prior to that, it wouldn't run well, would sputter and stop or have trouble starting and would surge when it ran. Now it fires up with one pull and runs like a deer! We really need that splitter, so getting it running well was a huge blessing to us.

My advice, when doing something like this and one is not familiar at all with working on small engines, take a picture of it while still on the engine, take a picture with each phase of taking it off, take a picture of how you are taking it apart piece by piece and where the seals were located originally, etc. A picture is truly worth a thousand words and can save you time if you have a poor short term memory.

I didn't do that and only got that thing back together properly through the grace of God, as I was clueless as to where each seal went after I got them all removed...two of the seals were very similar in shape and size and could have fit two different surfaces. I guess I got it right or it didn't matter in the end, but in hindsight I should have taken pics or video of the whole process.

Please feel free to add any learning videos that you feel can help someone out there trying to be more self sufficient in their living.

 

[Beekissed]

Here's a really great vid on adjusting the valves on a riding lawnmower. My mother does most of the repairs on hers, so when it comes to adjusting the valves, I'll have this video for her.

 

[Beekissed]

How to sharpen your garden hoe...

...and other long handled tools.

I knew old timers sharpened such tools but I never really considered doing it until I bought this new razor sharp scuffle hoe and went looking for vids on how to maintain the edge on it. Now I can see where keeping ALL cutting tools like shovels, hoes, etc. sharpened on the edge is not only a good idea but is just common sense if one wants to them to work better.

 

[Joel_BC]

Small engines are something that pretty well all homesteads rely upon. Consider quads, push and ride-it style mowers, chainsaws, weed whackers, back-up generators, and snowmobiles for starters.

Beekissed took us on the right track for this sort of thing.

In my opinion, this fellow (a true pro) has consistently offered one of the best learning video channels on Youtube. Repair & maintenance. The visuals and the commentary are clear, and he takes things slow enough that you can follow pretty easily. Don’t let the wide scope of this introductory video daunt you… you can go just as far (or not so far) as you want to in learning to do small-engine work, because he explains the most basic as well as the more advanced in various vids.

And I agree with Bee — there are plenty more topics besides small engines that can be learned about from the online vids, so I hope people here take her suggestion and add to the variety.

 

[Beekissed]

Small engines are something that pretty well all homesteads rely upon. Consider quads, push and ride-it style mowers, chainsaws, weed whackers, back-up generators, and snowmobiles for starters.

Beekissed took us on the right track for this sort of thing.

In my opinion, this fellow (a true pro) has consistently offered one of the best learning video channels on Youtube. Repair & maintenance. The visuals and the commentary are clear, and he takes things slow enough that you can follow pretty easily. Don’t let the wide scope of this introductory video daunt you… you can go just as far (or not so far) as you want to in learning to do small-engine work, because he explains the most basic as well as the more advanced in various vids.

And I agree with Bee — there are plenty more topics besides small engines that can be learned about from the online vids, so I hope people here take her suggestion and add to the variety.

Joel, for some reason that vid didn't load and I'd really like to see this vid. Maybe @sumi could help us with that.

I agree with you, Joel, that there are endless opportunities on YT to learn basic repairs and maintenance on just about anything to do with homesteading and they can be as simple as changing the oil on something to rebuilding an engine, sharpening a chainsaw or even learning how to use one. Back in the day before all this technology those things were either learned through written word, mentors, or trial and error if one was not going to school for it, so much easier now.

My son was just telling me this evening how he found vids on the proper way to cast with his new kind of fishing reel, things he wouldn't have known if he hadn't searched there for the info. I did something similar before going on a recent trout fishing trip with the family, learning a good rig for trout fishing that was different than any of us had been using...not only did I catch the biggest fish, but I caught the most!

YT can be pretty cool if you know what to avoid.

 

[Joel_BC]

Joel, for some reason that vid didn't load and I'd really like to see this vid. Maybe @sumi could help us with that.

Okay... so I was trying to get the guy's introductory video to embed (and run properly when anybody clicked on it). I solved it today, so now I believe the vid will play for anybody who wants to see it. There are really a whole lot of very good ones on his channel, so spend some time having a decent browse.

 

[Beekissed]

Subscribed and already watched the vid on how to repair the weedeater that keeps bogging down, which my son has newer one that has to be run full speed ahead or it bogs down and stops. Going to try to get my hands on that nifty tool or take our dremmel and cut a slot in those adjustment pins.

Excellent resource, Joel! Thanks!!!

 

[lcertuche]

Yeah! I am so happy to see these videos. DH is forever taking our lawn mowers to the fix-it man in town. What a hassle and not to mention the cost. We easily spend $200/year. DH keeps talking about getting a boat but I told him if he can't keep the motor running then it ain't happening.

I can sharpen my tools but I would love more on things like appliances, chainsaws, building, etc...

 

[Joel_BC]

I can sharpen my tools but I would love more on things like appliances, chainsaws, building, etc...

Try these two @ Youtube...

Appliance Video Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ApplianceVideos

Repair Clinic Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/RepairClinic

 

[Joel_BC]

Here’s some how-to information about replacing mortar that is deteriorating. Not a video (my apology), but still easy to learn from. Could save people money when you do it yourself rather than hire someone to do it. The process and techniques involved are presented in relation to brick structures, but I can see how the approach can be adapted to mortared stone walls and other mortared stone structures.
https://www.familyhandyman.com/masonry/masonry-how-to-repair-mortar-joints/view-all