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Am I out of line?

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Been down the road of "Time to do some Sketchy Sh!t, Do Da Do Da" and NOT been caught LUCKILY, have had enough injuries over the years as SMALL warnings was TOO CLOSE to Death Experiences so backed the Sketchy crap WAY Back.
As to the OP, Have had those weeks where the employer stepped across a mark I had made in my OWN sand lot, made some really BAD choices doing so yet most were for the better. Worked at Dealers, Private Fleets, Quarries and independent garages even on my own, all were MY choices, worked for really BAD employers when times were tough easier to leave that when openings arose that made life better. Union Electric Utility(Became AMEREN) was a BIG Risk position, Full Time NO Benefits TEMPORARY Mechanic position that worked out due to Mid Manager taking a liking to my SKILLS Level and My Work ETHICS Level, that also netted my entry into a Power Station Operator position as had History they could look at where did NOT disappoint for 21 years. Have to roll with punches and keep up capabilities or will end up as HNC and TNH in ANY job.
 

hosspuller

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2014
Messages
1,869
Location
North Carolina
...and what will you say standing in front of a judge when there is an accident ?
It might be OSHA on the other side, or it might be the injured party or their next of kin.

The same just like that "certified" rig purchased from xxx My engineering design (plus 50% like TS) opinion backed by the proof testing as documented. That's why my job was on the line. Was at a big company, deep pockets, crappy lawyers ...

A bit Off Topic ... I noticed our company lawyers were always risk adverse. But any other lawyer was a fightin' devil.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
You guys should see how stupid {N} stamping anything cost!!! 3" Stainless Steel Globe Valve Assembly, Weld In Schedule 80, for regular plant as Coal Burner was $380 in 2010 dollars, at the Nuke for that {N} Stamp and reams of paper stating was Good For Nuclear was close to $3000. Same for Piping and anything associated to the Nuclear side. 120v Indicator lamp bulbs for switches, $50 EACH!!
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,257
Location
Canada
If you design something you can sometimes get an engineer to approve it. Just don't try to get it done after the fact like one of my old bosses did. I don't know how you get a welding certification unless you are a registered apprentice or a journeyman welder (at least here in Alberta). Mechanics and others weld stuff all the time but usually not when they want to have it approved/certified for OSHA standards. It might require a qualified welder to weld something like a large engine stand or lifting device. Maybe a 3rd party welding inspector could check and approve the welding if done by someone who isn't technically a welder?
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,257
Location
Canada
The same just like that "certified" rig purchased from xxx My engineering design (plus 50% like TS) opinion backed by the proof testing as documented. That's why my job was on the line. Was at a big company, deep pockets, crappy lawyers ...

A bit Off Topic ... I noticed our company lawyers were always risk adverse. But any other lawyer was a fightin' devil.
There are times when someone has done something really stupid and abused or overloaded a device and been injured. Then they try and sue for their own stupidity. Sometimes they win! Heard a story about a kid who got his long hair caught in a lathe at school after being told to wear a cap or keep it contained, etc. numerous times. He/his parents tried to sue the school claiming the school and the teacher were negligent. What came out in court was that this same kid had a similar type accident (not sure if involved his hair) in shop class a couple years earlier in Jr. High School and tried to sue that school. After that came out his case was basically dismissed as they showed that he was intentionally disobeying safety protocols that the teacher had instructed and enforced. The teacher cannot keep an eye on 1 student every single second and ignore the rest of the students. It's hard to believe that a kid and/or his parents would try to get injured in order to sue a school but that's how it appeared in court. I knew a guy who accidently sanded his finger on a belt sander not paying attention but getting your hair caught in a lathe by not keeping it contained makes me quiver! If the parents were behind this, they should be in jail.

Knew another guy who got burned in grade 5 or 6. I'm not sure if he sued or was given a settlement. The teacher obviously wasn't the sharpest pencil in the drawer. He warned all the students to stay back but this kid went closer to see what was going to happen. The teacher wanted to show what happens when an oil tanker spills and there is a fire. He made a live demonstration using a plastic kiddy pool and lit the lighter fluid or what ever he used on fire. Somehow the kids shirt caught on fire and the teacher got him down on the ground and was smothering him with a fire blanket. He received burns on his neck and around his shoulder area. The teacher had burns on his hands. I wasn't in this class but my big questions are what was the teacher thinking and how the he77 did the school approve him lighting a fire in a kiddy pool indoors? Thinking about it now that teacher should have been fined and given the boot for reckless endangerment. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a settlement paid. The student was partly to blame for his injuries but who lights a fire in a kiddy pool in an open classroom with a carpeted floor no less?
 
Last edited:

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,535
Location
WWW.
The fact this topic has strayed, I will add to it.

About 16 years ago I investigated and designed a removeable kingpin. The 2" trailer kingpin had
the same spec's by SAE going back to the 30's. Basically 4140 IIRC. I don't remember all the info
I received from the three testing labs that I contacted but it had to be tested with X amount of
cycles at very high psi load and loaded for straight pull IIRC. All three testing labs had a very close
cost for testing in the area of $60,000. IIRC. I declined.
The funny part is SAE changed the specs one year later.

Now for my jeep story.
Below is photos of a CJ3B I built back in the mid 80's after my other got wrecked. I bought a new
steel body, 44 front, 8 3/4 Chrysler rear, rear springs out boarded, big shaft top loader 4 spd,
overdrive, rack and pinion steering, dual master with overhead pedals, 271 hp 289, 16 gal tank.
And I built the frame.
I went to license it and have it inspected-inspector wouldn't inspect it because I built the frame
and would only inspect if it was certified.
After many months of hoop jumping, and me bugging DOL the state finally relented and a different
inspector passed it no problem.
About 3 months later I received a letter from DOL telling me to cease and desist with all vehicle
manufacture.
IMG_0003.jpg IMG_0001.jpg
 

BigWrench55

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2018
Messages
1,176
Location
Somewhere
I like when the thread takes a life of its own. You guys helped me with keeping my head on straight and that bit of drama is over.
Here's the update on the project. Project is moving along nicely and is about 80% complete. There is just one glitch in the management's plan to get it out before the end of the month. The drive shaft from the transmission to the transfer box was ordered 90 days ago. It is still back ordered to Switzerland with no E.T.A.
No one in our parts department has followed up on this back order and lean on the manufacturer to get it here. So it doesn't look like it will make it out at the end of the month as they hoped. I know where we could have one made locally, but I doubt that they will go for it since it's not from the manufacturer.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,257
Location
Canada
The fact this topic has strayed, I will add to it.

About 16 years ago I investigated and designed a removeable kingpin. The 2" trailer kingpin had
the same spec's by SAE going back to the 30's. Basically 4140 IIRC. I don't remember all the info
I received from the three testing labs that I contacted but it had to be tested with X amount of
cycles at very high psi load and loaded for straight pull IIRC. All three testing labs had a very close
cost for testing in the area of $60,000. IIRC. I declined.
The funny part is SAE changed the specs one year later.

Now for my jeep story.
Below is photos of a CJ3B I built back in the mid 80's after my other got wrecked. I bought a new
steel body, 44 front, 8 3/4 Chrysler rear, rear springs out boarded, big shaft top loader 4 spd,
overdrive, rack and pinion steering, dual master with overhead pedals, 271 hp 289, 16 gal tank.
And I built the frame.
I went to license it and have it inspected-inspector wouldn't inspect it because I built the frame
and would only inspect if it was certified.
After many months of hoop jumping, and me bugging DOL the state finally relented and a different
inspector passed it no problem.
About 3 months later I received a letter from DOL telling me to cease and desist with all vehicle
manufacture.
View attachment 262401 View attachment 262402
A friend of mine built his own heavy duty suspension for a purpose built 4x4. It was immensely stronger than the stock 3/4 ton suspension. He fell asleep driving and hit the ditch. No injuries and bad on him. Somehow a certain cop convinced the DMV that the truck wasn't road worthy because it didn't have the original suspension. The suspension had nothing to do with hitting the ditch. The truck wasn't badly damaged other than some body damage but because of the cop was deemed salvage. My friend repaired the truck and had the suspension and alignment all checked out by a commercial outfit. Everything was to spec. but because he modified the suspension he couldn't register the truck. He changed some of the cab and got a new serial number but somehow, this cop who had it out for him, recognized the truck and told the DMV not to let it be registered. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the truck. It was stronger and more heavy duty than the stock truck. He ended up selling it to a guy that wanted a heavy duty off road 4x4. I think he did get it registered for a short time when he moved to a different city but was worried he could have his registration expire at any time. He drove it to work one day. It was a nice truck but needed a step ladder to get in. Even funnier was it had a baby seat in it. He was a short guy and I wondered how he got his kid in it.
 

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,535
Location
WWW.
You see when it comes to situations like mine above I worked it this way. I asked DMV-does any of
the WSP vehicle inspectors have training or degrees in welding or design. The final answer was no.
Then I asked-How is it a WSP inspector will pass a home built trailer and not my vehicle the only
difference is it has a power unit and the trailer doesn't. It meets all federal vehicle safety standards.
The final answer-You have a point.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,257
Location
Canada
He couldn't understand why the cop was so out to get him. The cop used to drive by his residence making sure the truck never moved! I saw the truck and knew the builder, he did it right and didn't cut corners just to make things work.
 

suladas

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Messages
1,731
Location
Canada
He couldn't understand why the cop was so out to get him. The cop used to drive by his residence making sure the truck never moved! I saw the truck and knew the builder, he did it right and didn't cut corners just to make things work.

Unfortunately there is a few like that. Recently my dad was driving one of my brothers work trucks and got pulled over and ticketed, cop said truck wasn't allowed to be modified and given $1100 in tickets for being deleted even though it's legal here. Cop still refused to accept written proof from CVIP shop saying deleted truck is ok and threatened to try and pull registration on the truck, even though they don't have that power, and said he would be checking up at address to make sure truck is parked. Said would get a new CVIP on truck (it's under 11700kg so not required) but he said it's not good enough. So forced to fight tickets because a cop doesn't know the law. Truck still driving everyday and haven't had an issue since.

I have no patience for that crap, once it's clear a cop is going to be like that and doesn't know the law I have no problem telling them where to go and how to get there, as long as you are confident the vehicle you are in is legal there really isn't much they can do. Even if they try to hassle you every time they see the vehicle there is plenty ways around that, and the cop will be in a ton of trouble if they write the exact same vehicle tickets over and over and they are all BS and thrown out.

Having said that, maybe it's partly luck but it seems like only certain people get pulled over, regardless of the vehicle. Doesn't matter if it's his truck or in other peoples my dad gets pulled over ALL the time at least 3-4 times a year and ticketed for multiple things usually like unsecure load, lights out, etc, as do some others. I can't even remember the last time I was pulled over. Never been pulled over for violations like that though, it's only been like speeding or whatnot.
 

JD955SC

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2011
Messages
1,349
Location
The South
I like when the thread takes a life of its own. You guys helped me with keeping my head on straight and that bit of drama is over.
Here's the update on the project. Project is moving along nicely and is about 80% complete. There is just one glitch in the management's plan to get it out before the end of the month. The drive shaft from the transmission to the transfer box was ordered 90 days ago. It is still back ordered to Switzerland with no E.T.A.
No one in our parts department has followed up on this back order and lean on the manufacturer to get it here. So it doesn't look like it will make it out at the end of the month as they hoped. I know where we could have one made locally, but I doubt that they will go for it since it's not from the manufacturer.

the “oh this machine has sat for three months waiting on decisions and parts but now that we finally have the go ahead I want you to kill yourself to get it back together by some arbitrary date after which it will sit on the pickup line for two to three weeks” crap REALLY pisses me off.
 

suladas

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Messages
1,731
Location
Canada
the “oh this machine has sat for three months waiting on decisions and parts but now that we finally have the go ahead I want you to kill yourself to get it back together by some arbitrary date after which it will sit on the pickup line for two to three weeks” crap REALLY pisses me off.

That sounds awfully similar to the excavation/demolition job that gets delayed 3-4 times because it's not ready then it's I need this done yesterday with no notice. I did one of those this week actually.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,257
Location
Canada
Unfortunately there is a few like that. Recently my dad was driving one of my brothers work trucks and got pulled over and ticketed, cop said truck wasn't allowed to be modified and given $1100 in tickets for being deleted even though it's legal here. Cop still refused to accept written proof from CVIP shop saying deleted truck is ok and threatened to try and pull registration on the truck, even though they don't have that power, and said he would be checking up at address to make sure truck is parked. Said would get a new CVIP on truck (it's under 11700kg so not required) but he said it's not good enough. So forced to fight tickets because a cop doesn't know the law. Truck still driving everyday and haven't had an issue since.

I have no patience for that crap, once it's clear a cop is going to be like that and doesn't know the law I have no problem telling them where to go and how to get there, as long as you are confident the vehicle you are in is legal there really isn't much they can do. Even if they try to hassle you every time they see the vehicle there is plenty ways around that, and the cop will be in a ton of trouble if they write the exact same vehicle tickets over and over and they are all BS and thrown out.

Having said that, maybe it's partly luck but it seems like only certain people get pulled over, regardless of the vehicle. Doesn't matter if it's his truck or in other peoples my dad gets pulled over ALL the time at least 3-4 times a year and ticketed for multiple things usually like unsecure load, lights out, etc, as do some others. I can't even remember the last time I was pulled over. Never been pulled over for violations like that though, it's only been like speeding or whatnot.
The problem is fighting it takes a lot of time and $$$$. Even if you win, the cop can still hassle you and pull you over for what ever reason he can make up. Worked with a woman who was pulled over by a Peace Officer. Can't remember what for but the wanna be cop kept harassing her. She was pretty good looking and getting tired of it. The cop would phone her at home and 1 time came to the business to talk to her. He wanted her to come outside and talk to him privately. She wasn't comfortable with that and asked one of the salesman to go out and ask the wanna be cop to come inside and he would be a silent fly on the wall. She was just sick of it and, in looking what to do, happened to come in contact with a lawyer who was familiar with this Peace Officer. The lawyer said he's very familiar with this PO and would love to take him down. Apparently the PO was let go from RCMP and was a little bitter over it. Also he had several similar harassment complaints from (good looking) woman. There seemed to be a pattern with this PO. The lawyer told her not to worry and he wouldn't charge her to take this idiot down! I'd say most cops here are generally pretty good but there's still some with a big ego trip that like to abuse their authority.
 

digger doug

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2011
Messages
1,369
Location
NW Pennsylvania
Occupation
Thrash-A-Matic designer
Where's the heavy equipment? It would be a much cooler shot if there was a dozer, or backhoe or excavator or a truck in the shot.

I think Ansel Adams made that suggestion to his students years ago.
It's a peacefull spot for a good long 3 week vacation, I suggested it so the OP could get away from all the work worries.
 
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