Washer’s center agitator stopped agitating

Our 2004 Kirkland clothes washer’s center agitator stopped agitating water like it should. I researched the web and found this is an easily fixed problem. From Amazon I ordered an “Upgraded 285811 Medium Cam Agitator Repair Kit” which will come the next day. ($9)

Unfortunately, the 7/16 bolt securing the agitator assembly is corroded to the point it could not be removed with a simple socket wrench. The bolt is recessed 6 inches which complicates the bolt’s removal if the socket slips on the corroded bolt head. I used a long drill bit and drilled a hole in the bolt head and used an easy-out to eventually remove the bolt. I also ordered a new bolt off Amazon for $8. (Part number 358237)

I received parts a day after I ordered them. The assembly pictures are poor but I was able to figure the assembly out. Now the upper portion of the agitator bushes the water in just one direction, as designed. 

Corroded bolt in center

Cleaned up agitator, broken parts on right.

New parts coming in repair kit. 

Easy-out with corroced bolt. (Replaced)

Copper Water line leak

 49 years after installing the copper water lines our house a very slight leak appeared in the basement. After searching I found the water line had a very minimal leak in the middle of a 2x8 floor joist leaving a six-inch wet spot on the ceiling of the basement. The leak was close to the hot water tank and was in the hot water line.

The location was naturally in a hard location to repair and it turned out to be difficult to get all the water out of the line making the last solder joint impossible to get water tight. After much heat even with a heat shield and scorching the 2x8 I still could not get a water tight joint.

I then tried a SharkBite ¾ to ¾ Slip Repair Coupling for the repair. Home Depot refers to their version from Tectite. Using this coupler and working in an awkward position, with my strength, I was unable to slide the coupler onto the 3/4 in pipe. I called JJ who obviously using extreme force was able to install the coupler which completed the repair.

I worked on this project for two days trying to get it right. Now the water line is water tight.

I drained the hot water tank some several times to try and get all the water out of the lines. While near the 49-year-old hot water tank I took the time to check the current of the elements and found the top element was drawing 8 AC amps while the bottom element is drawing 18 AC amps. (1,500 watts and 4,500 watts.) I replace the upper and lower thermostats in 2013.

SharkBite

Removed pipes

The minuscule leak is the green spot in middle of picture which was located in middle of 2x8 floor joist.

solar panels stopped producing power

Just at 4-years of service our solar panel inverter died. I received an email from the installing company that our solar panels stopped producing power on Dec 20, 2023. He said they could send someone out January 2, 2024 to replace the inverter under warranty replacement.

Today Ari came and spent 2 hours replacing the approximately $5,000 inverter and the remainder of the day trying to get the remote monitoring to work for us so we can see how much power we are producing. The solar panels and inverter are on the garage so it takes a somewhat powerful RF monitoring system. The new system that came with the new inverter did not seem to work, nor did the old one which worked with the bad inverter. He eventually got a system that uses the power lines to send the frequency containing the monitor information from the inverter to our computer. He did say it was a little intermittent however. The power company reads a meter which records the total power we create so we still get credit even if this monitoring system fails.

Ari says we can just check inverters the green light is on to ensure we are creating power. The failed inverter had a window and one could check how it was working at the inverter. It was a little clumsy for the owner to use however.

Our system has been flawless for 4 years so this failure came as a surprise. Maybe I should have suspected an issue as it is normal for us to pay only $7.50 a month for power for 5 of the summer months but the bill was only $7.50 in October and October was not that sunny. The system was working so well I had stopped monitoring after our last big trip. The company really was nice to work with and as far as I know we will owe them nothing. I am surprised our inverter failed. Maybe they are making them too fancy. Robust first, fancy second, I say.

27-year-old Jenn-air refrigerator door repair

 I suppose the door on our 27-year-old refrigerator could fairly have a little trouble closing easily. On inspection I could see the door had dropped a little when compared to the freezer door. Also, some rust on the lower hinge pin appeared as I swung the door back and forth while inspecting. So, with Nate's help we took the 15 minutes to empty all the contents stored in the door and removed the door. We greased the hinge pin and placed a large washer on the hinge pin which raised the door 1/8 of an inch. Now the door swings perfectly easy and shuts like new. This refrigerator looks as good as new and the door now shuts as good as new.

Sonicare toothbrush had little charge and it bled down without using.

Replacing the battery from Amazon - 

Disassembly was difficult. To remove the base plate next time, I would squeeze the white handle in a vise slightly with the switch toward the jaws of the vice. Maybe 1/16 inch and then using small screwdriver pry base plate from handle. Start prying with a small screwdriver then use medium screwdriver to work the base plate slightly off. (The charging wires need to remain attached to the base plate.) Then push the end that attaches to the brush until the inner board slips out the back. 

My Sonicare had no screw holding the base plate secure but some Sonicare's have a screw securing the center of the base plate. I was then able to remove the rubber support pieces and unsolder the battery. I was able to get all back together and the sonic is working. The base plate no longer locks in place so some electrical tape secures the base plate quite securely. I will use it until the battery gets low and recharge to see if the recharge portion is still working. 

2006 Honda Odyssey minivan air conditioner failed.

 2006 Honda Odyssey minivan air conditioner failed. 

I checked the Freon pressure which was 92 psi, which is good. I noticed the AC compressor pump’s clutch was not engaging. Checked 3 related fuses all ok. In the fuse / relay box on the passenger side of the engine compartment by the firewall I swapped R1 Radiator Fan Relay with R4 the air compressor clutch relay and the air conditioner started working. I ordered two new relays from Amazon that took 3 days to get and replace the bad relay. ($10 for two relays.) 

I cut off the case of the bad relay and it appears to have worn out contacts. 

Unfortunately, I purchased a can of Freon with a hose attached along with an attached pressure gauge which, I suspect, is what Washington state requires. However, the Freon was not low so the Freon was not used.  

Great help watching YouTube videos. I took the picture below from a helpful video. 

Relay R4 with top cut off.

Contacts in the center of the relay are rough and dirty. 

Cub Cadet lawnmower sounds like a steam engine.

Our 18-year-old Cub Cadet lawnmower sounded like a steam engine. I replaced the driver side head gasket this Winter as the compression was low on that side. Now I was able to actually feel the pressure escaping from the passenger head gasket. It is actually a rather big job to remove the intake manifold screws to the head unless one takes the motor completely off. And taking the motor off would also be a bigger job. 

I completed the job enough to cut all the grass today. Now I need to put the tools away and look for a few missing screws, mainly for securing the hood. It sure sounds and runs better. I kicked a can of screws by mistake, losing the order of reassembly. Lots of different sized screws in separate cans but still a difficult assembly.

Also replaced the broken throttle cable. 

Special tool to get intake screws out and in. 

gasket leak at bottom.