07-18-2021, 04:38 PM
Chapter 82
So where are we going in such of a not so big hurry?
I thought about checking out some stuff at the hardware store. Got any gripes?
Nope, I dont need an excuse to hit Lindops.
Well Steve we are going to the other hardware store in Oats Plaza today. Its not that much farther anyway.
So how did you get your new protege off the phone so fast?
He aint my new protege and dont say sidekick either. I told him we would meet up today.
Oh man, you cant be serious? That kid wont shut up. He is going to be running his mouth nonstop. And I bet he is going to be talking mostly to you anyway.
The whole time we talked, he kept asking about what you thought about everything, or what you did to the engines. Guess he is going to be in for a big let down when he finds out you didnt hang the moon.
Relax Steve, you can share me once and a while. I gave Steve one of those big grins he always uses on me this time. All I gotta do is tell him you build our engines and he is all yours for the whole afternoon.
No way man, I will just sit there and put up with it today. I dont need that much attention, especially from him. Besides even tho he is a motor mouth, I never said he was stupid. Ignorant maybe, but stupid, no. He knows at least that much.
My arms started feeling the burn again from handling that chainsaw earlier, but not nearly as bad. We made good time pedaling up Ferguson and ended over at the hardware store. This store is almost new and lots bigger than the Lindops Ace Hardware store we usually like to hit.
Lindops Hardware is across in the older part of town. What i like about it is the old store was built back in the early 1920's. It reminds me of the general stores on all of the western shows I watch on tv.
As we pulled up on our bikes, there is Topher. He is sitting on one of the picnic tables for sale out in front of the store sipping on a bottle of Dr Pepper. He was wearing cargo shorts, a cool white polo shirt, and a baseball cap turned around backwards.
He also had the colar turned up on that shirt. Just how Lloyd Bridges playing as Mike Nelson always wears it in every single episode of Seahunt. What was a little bit over the top is the aviation glasses he was wearing. Those reflective ones all the air force pilots use. But really seemed to fit with him perfectly.
Hey guys, sure is cool for you to invite me here. I didnt have anything else going on. I was just sitting at home with nothing to do but watch the tube all day. But this is a lot cooler anyway. Do you guys live close around here? My house is almost on the other side of the track. Not too far I guess, on my bike, but sure would not want to walk it on foot.
Yea this is way too far for us to walk too. I think it is about the same distance to my house from here as it is to the track. Give or take a few footsteps.
So what were you wanting to check out here, Topher? Hardware stores are me and Steves home away from home. They got some of just about everything here. Aint that right Steve? Yea whatever you say. I am just here for the laughs.
Well I needed some bolts for my kart. But not sure about the sizes and stuff. Could you help me out with that?
No problem Topher. You wish is my command. Me or Terry will help you out all we can. Steve bowed down and rolled his arm out servant style.
Chris gave out the biggest grin I have seen from him so far. Like he was really enjoying all of this attention focused on him right now. You guys sure are funny around each other. I bet you have known each other like forever. I have moved around a few times, so dont have any really long time friends like that. I hope to stay in one place for a few years. Mom seems to think it could happen this time.
Well thats not exactly the way it is, Topher. Steve goes on with an explanation. I went to a private Catholic School and we didnt meet up until the fifth grade. But we seem to have a lot of the same interests. And Terry would be completely lost without me around fixing up all of his messes sometimes.
Chris responded back. Uh yea, oooookie? If you say so, that is not what I expected to hear.
Actually Topher, we both manage to help each other out when things get screwed up. I dont know how to explain it, but Steve can sort of do some things better than me and the other way around too.
If he breaks it, I fix it, If I breaks it, I fix it. Something like that.
Man you are so full of your self as usual.
Chill Steve, remember you just came along for the laughs. I am doing the best I can with what there is to work with.
Outside the hardware store Topher tells us he needs bolts that hold the shroud on his engine. They always vibrate loose and fall out. Some of those pins that will fit the wheels, and two more bolts for the exhaust thing. The stock muffler bolts are way too long.
I brought one of the old shroud bolts with me so it can be matched. But there are so many to pick from. How am I supposed to figure out which ones are the best? I replaced some of these already, but they still keep coming back out.
Well lets go in and see what they got. We go barging in to the hardware store making more noise than we should. Naturally everyone close by turns to give us that death stare. Like we are in a library and are supposed to be really quiet.
It is usually very quite in this store anyways. Almost like a museum with a collection of everything. It was overwhelming the first time I came in this place alone. With my dad, it was different. We talked about what was needed and walked right over to the correct isle and found everything that we were looking for. Well most of the time.
My first time alone, it was like walking into a really large room, like a gymnasium that was full of so much stuff you couldnt make out what anything actually was. Any noise made was echoed thru the store and I was too scared to even talk to a store clerk.
But now, I know where just about everything is in the store. Even things I have no interest in. I can talk chainsaws and lawnmowers with the department heads and even find a toliet bowl ring if needed, too.
Topher continued explaining, The last time I bought these same type of bolts for the shroud. He shows me a short 1/4" diameter bolt with a flat screwdriver slot. They fell off the next time I raced. What can I do so that doesnt happen again?
Did you have a lock washer under the bolt?
Well one of them had a funny looking washer. It looked like a star or something. But the others were gone already. Is that what I didnt do right? Would the washer keep it from coming off again?
Steve butts in saying that Topher also has the wrong type of bolts. This one he brought to match is what they use to put a stove together with. Not really strong enough for anything else. Then Steve pointed to a few bins down at the bottom in front of us. This is the stove bolt section. We need to move farther down the isle. Hey Terry, dont you think he should replace it with a hex head bolt?
Yea that will work better. Hey Topher, you need to find a 1/4"-20 hex head bolt that is at least 1/2" long. If you can find one that is 5/8" long will be even better. Then use a different type lock washer this time.
He immediately starts pulling steel drawers open looking at what sizes are marked inside the bins. He finally says, I found them. These are 1/4" here. Oh wait, never mind these are some type of gal-van, uh-ized lag screws it says here. And they got a square head. I guess these wont work.
Hey you are at the wrong end. All of that over there is for wood fences. Come down here where the regular nuts and bolts are. Steve pulled open a drawer labeled 1/4-20 hex head 1/2 - 1 1/2" Grade 5.
Hey, here are the ones you want. These are much stronger than those slotted ones are anyway. Do you see the three hash marks on the head there? That means they are Grade 5. They have the right length too. These are 5/8" long. Should be perfect and also use the full length of threads in the side cover.
Should I get a box of them Terry? Or just a few right now? Do you think these will end up falling out? I dont want to miss a race because of not having enough extras.
No, you shouldnt need but a few extras. With the right lock washer and these better grade bolts, they should stay put this time.
How do you know what ones are better? So why are the old ones not right for my motor then? What is Grade 5? Steve then points to a chart with symbols and explanations above the bolt bins. You should try reading this sometime.
Those screws would be fine for their original purpose Topher. But that engine was never intended to be used on a racing kart. That engine has likely been in production longer than you have been alive. It could sit out in a field hooked to an irrigation pump or on a lawnmower for years and nothing would ever come loose.
But when someone decided to put it on a kart, well, you find out real fast where there are shortcomings. Like you have been finding out already. What other ones do you need?
Oh yea, these other ones are for the exhaust thingy. The old ones are too long and bottomed out. I tried adding spacers, but they kept coming loose. I had to change the old muffler my motor came with.
Are you talking about your exhaust header? What kind is it?
It is the small one that just sticks straight out. I think it is aluminum. There is a slot on both sides and three holes on the end. I had that big muffler, but it finally broke. Another racer sold this one to me. I think he said it came off a chainsaw. It has been modified and will make my motor run a lot faster. That is what he told me anyway.
It does run faster now. Much better than when that big muffler was on it. The bolts for that big muffler are too long. So I used some of the extra shroud bolts instead. Like this one that came on it. But these here are barely long enough to hold it on.
OK, no problem. The big muffler uses bolts that are 1 1/4" inch long. You probably need some that are no longer than one inch. Then use those same lock washers like you picked up for the shroud. Does that get you everything?
Now I need some of those pins that fit in the slotted bolts for the wheels.
I think you mean cotter pins for castle nuts? Steve points down to the other end of the isle. Those will be down there. Do you know what size they are? We use either 3/32" or 1/8" diameter that are 1 1/2" long. Can you tell which size by looking?
Thanks Steve, you guys are super helpful. I would be here all day trying to figure out which ones to get. Let me see. Yea it is these here. I remember getting the smaller ones last time. Those fit real loose in the holes drilled in my axles. They dont always stay in place unless you add an extra bend to one.
Hey Terry, what brand of tools do you like? I dont really have any right now. Fish lets me use his, but they are usually scattered all over his shop. Its hard to find the right sizes that fit my kart. But he doesnt have some of the sizes that fits my kart either. I dont even have any tools to work on stuff at home.
Topher, it really depends on how much money you have to spend on them. The tools here are decent. They are a little bit cheaper than the ones Sears sells. But Craftsman tools are what I have. It has taken me a long time to finally get almost a full set.
If it wasnt for Christmas and birthdays, I wouldnt have much in the way of hand tools for my own. My dad has a full set in the garage. But I hate using them. They always seem to be getting left out. Not always by me either.
Just then Steve glared over at me. I know you dont mean me. I dont leave your dads tools out. I usually go around behind you and pick them up. No Steve, but you know my brothers are worse than I am.
Dad doesnt like it when he finds tools are all over the place. And since I use them most of the time, I get the blame. So I finally started putting a set together for myself. Mostly everything I would use working on the karts and engines. So far I have enough to get by with. But you never have enough tools. Never ever.
Well if you think Craftsman tools are the best for me, I will get what I need. Can you help pick out what I should buy first? Hey, would you mind riding over to Sears in Casa View? You can show me some of the tools I should start with. That would be so cool.
What do you think Steve? Hey, where did Steve go? Wasnt he just here a minute ago? Hey STEVE, where are you?
Sorry man, over here at the tools isle. When you started talking tools, I remembered something. Dad was wanting me to see what sizes they had in stock for wood chisels. He has a project I get to help him with. He wants to show me how to do some inlays or something like that. Maybe cut in some hinges or striker plate for a door too. I dont exactly know for sure.
Wow, you guys sure know how to do a lot of things. I wouldnt have a clue where to start on anything like that. I sure would like to learn how to fix my kart, but dont know anyone that can really show me what to do. Most everyone I know doesnt even know how to do it for themselves either.
Well Topher, hanging around me and Steve, you will get to hate doing everything yourself. After a point it gets overwhelming. The more you learn, the more there is to learn. It never stops. Just starts to snowball down the hill.
So where are we going in such of a not so big hurry?
I thought about checking out some stuff at the hardware store. Got any gripes?
Nope, I dont need an excuse to hit Lindops.
Well Steve we are going to the other hardware store in Oats Plaza today. Its not that much farther anyway.
So how did you get your new protege off the phone so fast?
He aint my new protege and dont say sidekick either. I told him we would meet up today.
Oh man, you cant be serious? That kid wont shut up. He is going to be running his mouth nonstop. And I bet he is going to be talking mostly to you anyway.
The whole time we talked, he kept asking about what you thought about everything, or what you did to the engines. Guess he is going to be in for a big let down when he finds out you didnt hang the moon.
Relax Steve, you can share me once and a while. I gave Steve one of those big grins he always uses on me this time. All I gotta do is tell him you build our engines and he is all yours for the whole afternoon.
No way man, I will just sit there and put up with it today. I dont need that much attention, especially from him. Besides even tho he is a motor mouth, I never said he was stupid. Ignorant maybe, but stupid, no. He knows at least that much.
My arms started feeling the burn again from handling that chainsaw earlier, but not nearly as bad. We made good time pedaling up Ferguson and ended over at the hardware store. This store is almost new and lots bigger than the Lindops Ace Hardware store we usually like to hit.
Lindops Hardware is across in the older part of town. What i like about it is the old store was built back in the early 1920's. It reminds me of the general stores on all of the western shows I watch on tv.
As we pulled up on our bikes, there is Topher. He is sitting on one of the picnic tables for sale out in front of the store sipping on a bottle of Dr Pepper. He was wearing cargo shorts, a cool white polo shirt, and a baseball cap turned around backwards.
He also had the colar turned up on that shirt. Just how Lloyd Bridges playing as Mike Nelson always wears it in every single episode of Seahunt. What was a little bit over the top is the aviation glasses he was wearing. Those reflective ones all the air force pilots use. But really seemed to fit with him perfectly.
Hey guys, sure is cool for you to invite me here. I didnt have anything else going on. I was just sitting at home with nothing to do but watch the tube all day. But this is a lot cooler anyway. Do you guys live close around here? My house is almost on the other side of the track. Not too far I guess, on my bike, but sure would not want to walk it on foot.
Yea this is way too far for us to walk too. I think it is about the same distance to my house from here as it is to the track. Give or take a few footsteps.
So what were you wanting to check out here, Topher? Hardware stores are me and Steves home away from home. They got some of just about everything here. Aint that right Steve? Yea whatever you say. I am just here for the laughs.
Well I needed some bolts for my kart. But not sure about the sizes and stuff. Could you help me out with that?
No problem Topher. You wish is my command. Me or Terry will help you out all we can. Steve bowed down and rolled his arm out servant style.
Chris gave out the biggest grin I have seen from him so far. Like he was really enjoying all of this attention focused on him right now. You guys sure are funny around each other. I bet you have known each other like forever. I have moved around a few times, so dont have any really long time friends like that. I hope to stay in one place for a few years. Mom seems to think it could happen this time.
Well thats not exactly the way it is, Topher. Steve goes on with an explanation. I went to a private Catholic School and we didnt meet up until the fifth grade. But we seem to have a lot of the same interests. And Terry would be completely lost without me around fixing up all of his messes sometimes.
Chris responded back. Uh yea, oooookie? If you say so, that is not what I expected to hear.
Actually Topher, we both manage to help each other out when things get screwed up. I dont know how to explain it, but Steve can sort of do some things better than me and the other way around too.
If he breaks it, I fix it, If I breaks it, I fix it. Something like that.
Man you are so full of your self as usual.
Chill Steve, remember you just came along for the laughs. I am doing the best I can with what there is to work with.
Outside the hardware store Topher tells us he needs bolts that hold the shroud on his engine. They always vibrate loose and fall out. Some of those pins that will fit the wheels, and two more bolts for the exhaust thing. The stock muffler bolts are way too long.
I brought one of the old shroud bolts with me so it can be matched. But there are so many to pick from. How am I supposed to figure out which ones are the best? I replaced some of these already, but they still keep coming back out.
Well lets go in and see what they got. We go barging in to the hardware store making more noise than we should. Naturally everyone close by turns to give us that death stare. Like we are in a library and are supposed to be really quiet.
It is usually very quite in this store anyways. Almost like a museum with a collection of everything. It was overwhelming the first time I came in this place alone. With my dad, it was different. We talked about what was needed and walked right over to the correct isle and found everything that we were looking for. Well most of the time.
My first time alone, it was like walking into a really large room, like a gymnasium that was full of so much stuff you couldnt make out what anything actually was. Any noise made was echoed thru the store and I was too scared to even talk to a store clerk.
But now, I know where just about everything is in the store. Even things I have no interest in. I can talk chainsaws and lawnmowers with the department heads and even find a toliet bowl ring if needed, too.
Topher continued explaining, The last time I bought these same type of bolts for the shroud. He shows me a short 1/4" diameter bolt with a flat screwdriver slot. They fell off the next time I raced. What can I do so that doesnt happen again?
Did you have a lock washer under the bolt?
Well one of them had a funny looking washer. It looked like a star or something. But the others were gone already. Is that what I didnt do right? Would the washer keep it from coming off again?
Steve butts in saying that Topher also has the wrong type of bolts. This one he brought to match is what they use to put a stove together with. Not really strong enough for anything else. Then Steve pointed to a few bins down at the bottom in front of us. This is the stove bolt section. We need to move farther down the isle. Hey Terry, dont you think he should replace it with a hex head bolt?
Yea that will work better. Hey Topher, you need to find a 1/4"-20 hex head bolt that is at least 1/2" long. If you can find one that is 5/8" long will be even better. Then use a different type lock washer this time.
He immediately starts pulling steel drawers open looking at what sizes are marked inside the bins. He finally says, I found them. These are 1/4" here. Oh wait, never mind these are some type of gal-van, uh-ized lag screws it says here. And they got a square head. I guess these wont work.
Hey you are at the wrong end. All of that over there is for wood fences. Come down here where the regular nuts and bolts are. Steve pulled open a drawer labeled 1/4-20 hex head 1/2 - 1 1/2" Grade 5.
Hey, here are the ones you want. These are much stronger than those slotted ones are anyway. Do you see the three hash marks on the head there? That means they are Grade 5. They have the right length too. These are 5/8" long. Should be perfect and also use the full length of threads in the side cover.
Should I get a box of them Terry? Or just a few right now? Do you think these will end up falling out? I dont want to miss a race because of not having enough extras.
No, you shouldnt need but a few extras. With the right lock washer and these better grade bolts, they should stay put this time.
How do you know what ones are better? So why are the old ones not right for my motor then? What is Grade 5? Steve then points to a chart with symbols and explanations above the bolt bins. You should try reading this sometime.
Those screws would be fine for their original purpose Topher. But that engine was never intended to be used on a racing kart. That engine has likely been in production longer than you have been alive. It could sit out in a field hooked to an irrigation pump or on a lawnmower for years and nothing would ever come loose.
But when someone decided to put it on a kart, well, you find out real fast where there are shortcomings. Like you have been finding out already. What other ones do you need?
Oh yea, these other ones are for the exhaust thingy. The old ones are too long and bottomed out. I tried adding spacers, but they kept coming loose. I had to change the old muffler my motor came with.
Are you talking about your exhaust header? What kind is it?
It is the small one that just sticks straight out. I think it is aluminum. There is a slot on both sides and three holes on the end. I had that big muffler, but it finally broke. Another racer sold this one to me. I think he said it came off a chainsaw. It has been modified and will make my motor run a lot faster. That is what he told me anyway.
It does run faster now. Much better than when that big muffler was on it. The bolts for that big muffler are too long. So I used some of the extra shroud bolts instead. Like this one that came on it. But these here are barely long enough to hold it on.
OK, no problem. The big muffler uses bolts that are 1 1/4" inch long. You probably need some that are no longer than one inch. Then use those same lock washers like you picked up for the shroud. Does that get you everything?
Now I need some of those pins that fit in the slotted bolts for the wheels.
I think you mean cotter pins for castle nuts? Steve points down to the other end of the isle. Those will be down there. Do you know what size they are? We use either 3/32" or 1/8" diameter that are 1 1/2" long. Can you tell which size by looking?
Thanks Steve, you guys are super helpful. I would be here all day trying to figure out which ones to get. Let me see. Yea it is these here. I remember getting the smaller ones last time. Those fit real loose in the holes drilled in my axles. They dont always stay in place unless you add an extra bend to one.
Hey Terry, what brand of tools do you like? I dont really have any right now. Fish lets me use his, but they are usually scattered all over his shop. Its hard to find the right sizes that fit my kart. But he doesnt have some of the sizes that fits my kart either. I dont even have any tools to work on stuff at home.
Topher, it really depends on how much money you have to spend on them. The tools here are decent. They are a little bit cheaper than the ones Sears sells. But Craftsman tools are what I have. It has taken me a long time to finally get almost a full set.
If it wasnt for Christmas and birthdays, I wouldnt have much in the way of hand tools for my own. My dad has a full set in the garage. But I hate using them. They always seem to be getting left out. Not always by me either.
Just then Steve glared over at me. I know you dont mean me. I dont leave your dads tools out. I usually go around behind you and pick them up. No Steve, but you know my brothers are worse than I am.
Dad doesnt like it when he finds tools are all over the place. And since I use them most of the time, I get the blame. So I finally started putting a set together for myself. Mostly everything I would use working on the karts and engines. So far I have enough to get by with. But you never have enough tools. Never ever.
Well if you think Craftsman tools are the best for me, I will get what I need. Can you help pick out what I should buy first? Hey, would you mind riding over to Sears in Casa View? You can show me some of the tools I should start with. That would be so cool.
What do you think Steve? Hey, where did Steve go? Wasnt he just here a minute ago? Hey STEVE, where are you?
Sorry man, over here at the tools isle. When you started talking tools, I remembered something. Dad was wanting me to see what sizes they had in stock for wood chisels. He has a project I get to help him with. He wants to show me how to do some inlays or something like that. Maybe cut in some hinges or striker plate for a door too. I dont exactly know for sure.
Wow, you guys sure know how to do a lot of things. I wouldnt have a clue where to start on anything like that. I sure would like to learn how to fix my kart, but dont know anyone that can really show me what to do. Most everyone I know doesnt even know how to do it for themselves either.
Well Topher, hanging around me and Steve, you will get to hate doing everything yourself. After a point it gets overwhelming. The more you learn, the more there is to learn. It never stops. Just starts to snowball down the hill.