Potato, Tomato?

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Wasn't sure where to put this thread. The Pet area???? The Triglide area???? So I opted for the General Discussion Forum . If I've sinned, Randy tell me and I'll move it . Or you can.

So most of you know I've been pretty much leaving the Pet Palace on the Tri so whenever I go I can just drop my little buddy in, strap him down, put his goggles on and go. He has a ball on the trike and it's pretty much the only time he doesn't bark ... LOL. I'm not sure if it's going on the trike that he likes, or going with me. Him going with me may become the "New Normal". He hasn't been away from much very much lately. And ya know what, I like it.



Anyway, I've noticed the side of the Pet Palace that has the screen door on it is sagging. I think part of it is that my little buddy likes standing on the lid. Something else since there is the screen door on that side there is far less support under the vinyl. And lastly, this is my fault, I've been strapping the Pet Palace down using the D rings near the top of the Pet Palace. And since I don't want the little guy to "fall off" I've been tightening the straps fairly snug.







What's happened, I think, is the constant pull of the strap on that side has caused the less supported area to sag. The other side is fine. Couple that strain with my little buddy liking to be on that side (probably because he doesn't have to stand as tall because it sags or maybe, because his "right eye" is the missing one and staying on the right side, he protects the left one?) has all contributed to the sagging.

So what to do. I played around with several options that might work. My final decision was to cut a 3" by 10" piece out of the side of an old pool chemical bucket that I've used for years as a shop trash can because of a crack in the bottom (won't hold water). I chose that and the area I cut it because the curve was just right to fit the area on the Pet Palace. Might just do another one to beef up the other side ... we'll see ... still have bucket left ... LOL. Those maybe who are worried that it may still have chemicals in the bucket, thanks for worrying about my little guy, but, the buckets I saved had individually packaged chlorine tabs in them. When they were empty, I soaked them with chem out and water for 24 hours. Then just water for 48 hours. I have used one of these old buckets for storing the RODI water I make for my fish tank for years. I make 15 gallons every week and 5 gallons sits for 7 days in the bucket. I use that 5 gallons for my CPAP and to top off the tank when water evaporates. The other 10 gallons get salt mixed to the water and used to do a water change every week. Salt water fish will die if you look at them funny, not really, but they are sensitive. If they aren't affected, pretty sure the 3" by 10" strip having been sanded and then painted, won't hurt my little guy.

Here's the curve of the "brace":



Brace test fit:



Bolted in place inside:



Bolted from outside:



I've taken it all apart and cleaned up the brace to remove sharp edges or burs. I cleaned the screw holes and did a light sand on the plastic. Rooted around in my indoor paint box and found a can of flat Krylon for Plastic. Plenty to put a couple coats on the brace. It's drying now. While that happens, I need to run to the Hardware store. The screws I found in my screw box for pools are about a 1/4" to 1/2" too long and I worry that the little guy might cut himself on them. Once I put it all back together, I'll either use nylon screw caps or maybe some velcro loop material to cushion the nylock nuts.

[ultrafxr]

Good job Alan. I really like and admire you tackle problems and innovate.

[Rmitchell55]

Fuzzy

Just get some stainless steel acorn nuts to put over the end of the screws. Leave the nyloks in place the screw on the acorn nuts.

[bikerbillone]

Alan, never a dull moment with your creative talents. That little dog must be mighty proud of you to share a nice TriGlide home.

[Fearless]

Wasn't sure where to put this thread. The Pet area???? The Triglide area???? So I opted for the General Discussion Forum . If I've sinned, Randy tell me and I'll move it . Or you can.

So most of you know I've been pretty much leaving the Pet Palace on the Tri so whenever I go I can just drop my little buddy in, strap him down, put his goggles on and go. He has a ball on the trike and it's pretty much the only time he doesn't bark ... LOL. I'm not sure if it's going on the trike that he likes, or going with me. Him going with me may become the "New Normal". He hasn't been away from much very much lately. And ya know what, I like it.



Anyway, I've noticed the side of the Pet Palace that has the screen door on it is sagging. I think part of it is that my little buddy likes standing on the lid. Something else since there is the screen door on that side there is far less support under the vinyl. And lastly, this is my fault, I've been strapping the Pet Palace down using the D rings near the top of the Pet Palace. And since I don't want the little guy to "fall off" I've been tightening the straps fairly snug.







What's happened, I think, is the constant pull of the strap on that side has caused the less supported area to sag. The other side is fine. Couple that strain with my little buddy liking to be on that side (probably because he doesn't have to stand as tall because it sags or maybe, because his "right eye" is the missing one and staying on the right side, he protects the left one?) has all contributed to the sagging.

So what to do. I played around with several options that might work. My final decision was to cut a 3" by 10" piece out of the side of an old pool chemical bucket that I've used for years as a shop trash can because of a crack in the bottom (won't hold water). I chose that and the area I cut it because the curve was just right to fit the area on the Pet Palace. Might just do another one to beef up the other side ... we'll see ... still have bucket left ... LOL. Those maybe who are worried that it may still have chemicals in the bucket, thanks for worrying about my little guy, but, the buckets I saved had individually packaged chlorine tabs in them. When they were empty, I soaked them with chem out and water for 24 hours. Then just water for 48 hours. I have used one of these old buckets for storing the RODI water I make for my fish tank for years. I make 15 gallons every week and 5 gallons sits for 7 days in the bucket. I use that 5 gallons for my CPAP and to top off the tank when water evaporates. The other 10 gallons get salt mixed to the water and used to do a water change every week. Salt water fish will die if you look at them funny, not really, but they are sensitive. If they aren't affected, pretty sure the 3" by 10" strip having been sanded and then painted, won't hurt my little guy.

Here's the curve of the "brace":



Brace test fit:



Bolted in place inside:



Bolted from outside:



I've taken it all apart and cleaned up the brace to remove sharp edges or burs. I cleaned the screw holes and did a light sand on the plastic. Rooted around in my indoor paint box and found a can of flat Krylon for Plastic. Plenty to put a couple coats on the brace. It's drying now. While that happens, I need to run to the Hardware store. The screws I found in my screw box for pools are about a 1/4" to 1/2" too long and I worry that the little guy might cut himself on them. Once I put it all back together, I'll either use nylon screw caps or maybe some velcro loop material to cushion the nylock nuts.

Alan it's called taking care of Family, simply put. Good Man.... Ride safe Fred

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Fuzzy

Just get some stainless steel acorn nuts to put over the end of the screws. Leave the nyloks in place the screw on the acorn nuts.

I thought of that, but then they would be sticking out about 1/2", my little guy is getting old and not as stable as he once was, but then, who of us is. My fear was if I hit a bump, he would fall into it. With shorter screws they are like 3/16" sticking out. I saw some plastic caps that you "stick on" (self adhesive), but, they would be still hard. Probably over thinking this, but, that is my nature ... LOL.

Reminds me of the Scorpion and the Frog.

A scorpion comes to a pond and speaks to the frog in the water. He asks the frog to let him ride on his back to the other side of the pond.

The frog says "No Way, you will sting me and I'll die".

The scorpion says "Why would I do that, we would both die?"

The frog says, "Makes sense, okay."

Halfway across the pond the scorpion stings the frog. The frog says, "Why would you sting me? Now we are both gonna die."

The scorpion says, "It's my nature."

Alan, never a dull moment with your creative talents. That little dog must be mighty proud of you to share a nice TriGlide home.

Hmmmm ... is the King every really proud of the serf???? I just think he needs someone to "serve" him.

Alan it's called taking care of Family, simply put. Good Man.... Ride safe Fred

My philosophy has always been, I you are gonna have a Pet ... then it's your responsibility to take care of them and spoil them rotten.

Did get the brace installed, didn't realize it, but, scratched some of the paint with the crescent wrench when tightening the nuts. Touch up time. Decided to go with the "Loop" side of some self adhesive velcro over the nuts. Should be fine. I'll touch up the paint later, both inside and out ... LOL. Had to have it ready for todays ride.



I might go with something else ... depends how well the velcro holds up. But for today's ride, it's all good.

His Highness has spoken ... LOL.

[hogcowboy]

I think as a nation we lost a lot of imagination and never saying it can't be done when we went from farms to cities. You used to learn to think and reason things out. Todays kids do not know how to think. They just know how to pass tests. you did good with your fix.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Good job Alan. I really like and admire you tackle problems and innovate.

My old boss when I worked in Illinois, used to say I had some MacGyver in me, I always told him, it was the 1/8th Scotch ... I'm pretty frugal when it comes to repairing things.

And for the record ... LOL .. I've already cut another piece for the other side, got the screws, and am now waiting for the paint to dry. Beefing up both sides can't be that much harder than one

[ol' school]

Alan, you could reverse the screws putting the screw heads inside next to your buddy and put the acorn nuts on the outside. The screw heads won't stick out for Harley to bump into.

[bikerbillone]

Al, is it me and the photo, or does little dog have a problem with one eye?

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Al, is it me and the photo, or does little dog have a problem with one eye?

No problem, he's only got one. In January 2015 he "attacked" my mom's 120# Rottweiler/Lab mix, his favorite game. Only this time, Annabelle was sleeping and got scared. Annabelle does not have a malicious bone in her body. She woke and did what you'd do if someone was bitting your neck when you woke (well, maybe not, depends who and how they were biting your neck If I remember, that was fun once).

Anyway, she caught him just right and popped the eye right out. All the vet could do was fully remove the eye and keep the tear ducts. He left them so it would still get flushed, he claimed so cancer wouldn't zoom in on it, Hasn't slowed him down much.



His philosophy now is "That B$tch got me once, she ain't getting me again" He hasn't thought this through very well, so we keep them apart. I built a sliding door between my end of the house and mom's. SO, technically, I've been socially distancing since early 2015.

WOW ... there's a revelation. Truly explains a lot ... LOL. The whole A.B. Normal tag is starting to make sense.

[bikerbillone]

OK Al got it. As usual, another interesting story from the Fuzz diary of events.