Spring job

[Riley Smith]

I have plans just like everyone else. Most of the time that don't mean a hill of beans, but I still have 'em. One plan was to replace the trailer springs and THAT one is done. Which wasn't because of have to, it was to avoid a massacre such as I had at Pirate's Cove. And with a MIRACLE to add to it! I reused EVERY SINGLE FASTNER!!!!!!!!!!!! Which is a good thing because the parts place gave me U-bolts with the wrong diameter. Now if you know trailers and salt water you will understand the miracle. Amazing!

We had pulled S R Cat out of the shop and did the deed in the yard. The fasteners didn't look bad but the springs had some major corrosion. I was planning on using the grinder to cut EVERYTHING, but out of curiosity, I tried a wrench. After some PB Blaster first. And it broke loose! Cue the air compressor and the air ratchet. That air ratchet is worth its weight in gold. It won't break the bolt, so you'll still need a wrench, but it'll make quick work of that running a nut up and down. You know, the kind of motion that gives you carpal tunnel and arthritis.

All this, after jacking the back end of the trailer and putting it on blocks. In the afternoon. I sweated out when the boat was in the air and went swimming in the pool to cool off. And later, I pulled those miracle bolts off. All that time it was getting more and more humid. Oh yeah, rain was coming, you can bet your bottom dollar, so I had to get this job done. Sweat was pouring once again as the sky opened with a lightning strike. One, two, three, four, BANG! I was racing the striking lightning, but by the time the shop door went down, the boat was still dry and had new springs.

Didn't touch the grinder at all!