Starting a boat related business
 

On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:17:44 -0600, thunder
wrote:

On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:50:15 -0500, gfretwell wrote:


They also don't inspect cars here. That was Bob Graham's claim to fame
that got him in the governor's mansion, stopping the inspection program.

I'm a little conflicted by this. Inspections are a PITA, but it is nice
to know that all those cars out there had their brakes working at least
once a year. ;-)

That was one of the big jokes here in CT with the old inspection
system. Never tested the brakes as such either dynamically or static
but they'd check it off the report for every inspection.

They finally got rid of that nonsense. I guess they figured if you
could make it to an inspection station, you passed. :)

Starting a boat related business
 

On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:50:15 -0500, wrote:

On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:12:55 -0500, Gene
wrote:

State law, then, would *require* that the trailer have brakes
installed, if it were to actually pass the inspection as spelled out.
I'm betting the lights wouldn't pass inspection, either.


Florida doesn't inspect trailers or even title them. If you stay off
the interstate and out of big cities tags are somewhat optional too.
You can get a tag for a "home built" trailer, pretty much by just
writing the check to the tax collector.

I was surprised by that. South Carolina doesn't register their
trailers either. Here, the trailer is registered and is liable to
property tax. Oddly, not boats though.

Go figure.
There is emissions inspection in 6 or 7 big cities but not out here in
the boonies.

Another joke in CT. You can pull into a station with the engine
blowing gobs of blue oil smoke out of it and it will pass as long as
it doesn't emit CO or CO2 in a specified amount for the cars age - not
milage - age.

Believe me - I've seen it happen too.

Starting a boat related business
 

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:23:52 -0500, Tom Francis - SWSports wrote:


I'm a little conflicted by this. Inspections are a PITA, but it is nice
to know that all those cars out there had their brakes working at least
once a year. ;-)

That was one of the big jokes here in CT with the old inspection system.
Never tested the brakes as such either dynamically or static but they'd
check it off the report for every inspection.

IIRC, your inspections are done at a licensed service station? Here, we
have designated inspection centers, which are relatively thorough.
There's a visual inspection for rust, cracked windows, etc., a tailpipe
emissions test, a dynamic wheel balancing/alignment test, and a dynamic
brake test. The problem here is, if you fail, you can be retested at a
regular licensed service station. There things get considerably easier,
costlier, but easier.

They finally got rid of that nonsense. I guess they figured if you
could make it to an inspection station, you passed. :)

Starting a boat related business
 

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:38:28 -0600, thunder
wrote:

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:23:52 -0500, Tom Francis - SWSports wrote:


I'm a little conflicted by this. Inspections are a PITA, but it is nice
to know that all those cars out there had their brakes working at least
once a year. ;-)

That was one of the big jokes here in CT with the old inspection system.
Never tested the brakes as such either dynamically or static but they'd
check it off the report for every inspection.

IIRC, your inspections are done at a licensed service station? Here, we
have designated inspection centers, which are relatively thorough.
There's a visual inspection for rust, cracked windows, etc., a tailpipe
emissions test, a dynamic wheel balancing/alignment test, and a dynamic
brake test. The problem here is, if you fail, you can be retested at a
regular licensed service station. There things get considerably easier,
costlier, but easier.

That changed about ten years or so back. There were official "State"
inspection stations that were supposed to check for that, but all they
were interested in was getting the money - you coud blow through the
emissions inspection pretty easily with some simple tools and a hot
engine. I know because I did it with an old pickup I had to bang
around the woods in. :)

Now they are done at certain service stations - mostly dealerships as
the cost of the computer is high and your average garage mechanic
can't afford the constant software updates never mind the computer.
They say they do a "safety" check, but other than sticking the sampler
up the tailpipe (which is an apt metaphor huh?) I've never seen them
do a "safety" inspection.

It's still only an emissions inspection - nothing else.

Starting a boat related business
 

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:58:35 -0500, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:



It's still only an emissions inspection - nothing else.

In Cook County, Illinois, where I live, it's just emissions, at state
stations only.
Gone through a number of variation through the years.
Used to be a stick in the exhaust pipe.
I flunked once with pretty new car that ran fine.
Luckily it was under warranty and the dealer replaced 2 injectors
and did a complete tune-up, new plugs, wires and all. Passed then.
(BTW, since I do most of my own work, I had put Bosch plugs
in the car, instead of the OEM AC/Delco. The dealer mech told me
that's a no-no with modern computer-controlled cars. Might have been
just that that caused the flunk, but he said he replaced 2 "marginal"
injectors for good measure.)
For a while they put the cars on a dyno here, but there were accidents
and they screwed up some cars, so they stopped that.
Now they just plug in the ODBII connector and check for codes.
Better not go with a check engine light on or an intermittent code
still stored. That will flunk you.
The goofy thing is that when they started this method a few years ago,
anything without an OBDII connection was excluded.
So that's essentially pre-1996.
IOW, the cars most likely to pollute. But maybe there's not so many of
them. Anyway, it's flaky.

--Vic

Starting a boat related business
 

"CalifBill" wrote

Just take a flat punch from the opposite side and drive out the race. To
install the race, set the new one in place and lay the old race on top,
with the sides contacting of different sizes. Lay a flat plate on top and
drive in the bearing. If the old race gets stuck, just hit the lip
sticking out with the punch. After that it is the same as packing
bearings. And new bearings are maybe $20 an axle at the autoparts store.
Take the old bearing with you to get the correct size. I think there are
only two different spindle sizes on modern trailers.
http://www.championtrailers.com/techsup.html#packhubs
will show how to pack bearings.

I have changed crankshafts in v-8's, and done valve jobs, and changed timing
chains and cams, and lots of stuff. I wasn't about to pay $200 when the
bearing package is about $50 for all the bearings. I figured I'd tackle it
when I got my shop together, which it gets electricity over Thanksgiving. A
friend gave me a hydraulic press. I'll probably do it soon when I do some
other repairs to the boat.

Steve

Starting a boat related business
 

"thunder" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:23:42 -0800, Steve B wrote:


If I start ranging out to farther
lakes, I'll have it done, or meet someone in the meantime who has a
press and can do them for less.

Have you asked at an auto parts store? Many around here have a press, an
will press bearings for a couple of bucks, or for free, if they see your
face on a regular basis.

They changed the lugs on one hub for me, but they say they don't do
bearings.

Steve

Starting a boat related business
 

Tom Francis - SWSports wrote:
On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:17:44 -0600, thunder
wrote:

On Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:50:15 -0500, gfretwell wrote:


They also don't inspect cars here. That was Bob Graham's claim to fame
that got him in the governor's mansion, stopping the inspection program.
I'm a little conflicted by this. Inspections are a PITA, but it is nice
to know that all those cars out there had their brakes working at least
once a year. ;-)

That was one of the big jokes here in CT with the old inspection
system. Never tested the brakes as such either dynamically or static
but they'd check it off the report for every inspection.

They finally got rid of that nonsense. I guess they figured if you
could make it to an inspection station, you passed. :)


Illinois had a motor vehicle inspection many years ago. All it took was
a couple of $ on the seat and you passed.

Starting a boat related business
 

wrote

That is an EPA law and applies to cities above a certain criteria. I
don't know if it is simply population or some air quality standard. I
know when I was in the DC area, PG county had emissions inspection
Chuck County didn't.
They have it is Tamps/St Pete, Miami and Orlando but not Ft Myers.

It's ridiculous. In Las Vegas, you have to have your car smogged, but if
you live over the hill in Pahrump, which is in the next county, you don't.
A lot of people commute to Vegas from Pahrump, driving in Clark County the
majority of the way.

Nevada does not have inspection laws. You can drive around with bad
headlights and brakes and tires, but they want you to meet EPA requirements.

Steve

Starting a boat related business
 

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:07:34 -0500, gfretwell wrote:

On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:58:35 -0500, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:

It's still only an emissions inspection - nothing else.

That is an EPA law and applies to cities above a certain criteria. I
don't know if it is simply population or some air quality standard. I
know when I was in the DC area, PG county had emissions inspection
Chuck County didn't.
They have it is Tamps/St Pete, Miami and Orlando but not Ft Myers.

I believe they discontinued this form of taxation state wide. It hasn't
been in Pinellas or Hillsbourgh for awhile.