Shop Time w/T.W. Friends

My newest shop vac was free at the rehome store, but I had to buy a hose and filter.

 

it should be noted that much of your working life was with $1k-6k cars, and $40k-80k houses. now the cars are $15k-90k, and those same houses start at $250k...

us newer gen's don't have the benefits the older generations had with inflation.

the official inflation calculator says $156,000 in 2025 has the same buying power as $19,151.89 in 1970, $40,611.83 in 1980, or $64,036.06 in 1990...

and because i got curious, $70k/yr is equal to $28,734.13 in 1990...

 

Yes, the late 80s/90s set the course for elimination of a “middle class”. I have been helping my kids all of their lives and if I didn’t consider doing the same with housing, they’d probably never have an opportunity to be home owners. Raises aren’t keeping up with inflation at all. Wife and I laughed that this last year our combined “raises” yielded a $100/month. That’s not going to offset costs so far.

 

In 1990 I was making $6.50/hour = $13,520/year base pay.
I worked every hour of overtime I could get.

 

I paid $48.5 for my house in 1991, Its worth around $240ish now.
Those $475/month house payments scared the crap out of me!!

 

Twenty percent down back then too...

After all that overtime & saving I remember the smoke coming off the pen at closing.

I too was terrified of the mortgage and the feeling of having to buy a tire or battery completely destroying the budget. I ate lots of Ramen noodles and peanut butter back then. (not together )

 

I dont think I paid a downpayment.

Not sure tho.

 

You didn’t live in the Golden State! Average price of a home there would calculate to approximately $5k/mo. mortgage payments

 

Morning folks....

 

Good morning shop men and ladies, hope everyone had a good weekend. Have a wonderful and blessed Monday.

 

Monday morning manly men

 

Did some maintenance on the mini-ex this weekend. Engine and hydraulic oil changed.

Nudes to follow



A few bolts remove the outer body.



Hydraulic tank exposed, it holds almost 5 gallons.

 

I used a new oil extractor from HF to empty the tank and then mopped it out with heavy paper towels on a claw tool to get any manufacturing leftovers.

First wipe



Kept at it until they came up clean.



Factory fill was amber colored, new NAPA fluid was clear as water.

 

That was quick, how many hours?!

Good morning everyone

We just had a weekend, right

 

This is a small machine, I'm a big guy & mobility challenged so getting in and out was difficult.

I repositioned the drive sticks off to the side, not as convenient to drive bit much easier on and off.

 

I didn’t know the quality of the factory fill and the engine oil was quite thin & fuel contaminated.

The hydraulics seem smoother with the new oil. There are also about 300 grease fittings on this thing.

 

Morning folks

Gonna take Bluey up to the place I bought it from. It has been under 90 days and they said they would test the battery. Not trying to be that guy, but hey it doesn't hurt. Between me and my grandmother we've bought 5 vehicles from them. My luck it will test OK, but I put some 10mm stuff in the car to swap it out myself if it test OK. I'll just tell them sell me a battery, I'll put it in. Not messing around

 

Those extractors from HF are awesome! I have one and it's quite versatile!

 

I have had one for probably 30 years which is down at the garage. I was going to bring it home but the potential to make a mess made buying one for home a better idea. These things are so handy for small engines & old automatic transmissions that didn't have a drain plug too.