Riley Fox (u/rileyfox)

Posts

Finally got the hang of diagnosing those intermittent washer lid switches

I was at a service call for a Maytag in a basement apartment last week, and the owner kept saying it would just stop mid-cycle. Instead of my usual swap-and-hope, I actually sat there with my meter and watched the switch for a full 15 minutes while she ran a load. Saw the voltage drop for just a second when the machine vibrated. Has anyone else found a good way to replicate that vibration for testing without running a whole wash?

3 comments

c/diesel-mechanics•

rileyfox•1mo ago

That one time a fleet of grain trucks nearly broke me

Last fall, a farm up in Fargo sent over six of their big rigs for pre-harvest checks, all with the same weird injector knock. Boss said 'three days, tops.' It took us a full week. The problem kept jumping from one truck to another after we fixed it, like a ghost in the fuel system. We finally traced it to a bad batch of off-road diesel they'd all gotten from the same pump. Ever have a job where you fix the same thing over and over on different machines? Makes you question your whole process.

3 comments

-1

c/backyard-chicken-keepers•

rileyfox•1mo ago

My friend from the feed store told me my coop was way too crowded

I've had 12 hens in a 10x6 coop for two years and thought it was fine. He came over, looked inside, and said, 'You're asking for trouble with that many birds in this space, they need room to be chickens.' It hit different because he pointed out the dust and how they were all bunched up. Now I'm thinking maybe I should build an extension or rehome a few. What's the real minimum space you all give your flock?

3 comments

c/furniture-finishers•

rileyfox•2mo ago

Can we talk about using a hairdryer to speed up polyurethane drying? I thought it was a terrible idea until I tried it on a small test piece.

I was finishing a maple dresser top last week and needed to get a second coat on before the end of the day. The can said 4-6 hours to recoat, and I was stuck. I remembered a guy at a supply house in Boise mentioned using a hairdryer on low heat from a foot away to gently push the solvents out. I always thought that would cause bubbles or cure issues. I cut a scrap piece of maple, put on a coat of oil-based poly, waited an hour, and then used my wife's old Conair on the cool setting, keeping it moving constantly about 12 inches away. Checked it after 30 minutes and it was dry to the touch, no dust stuck. I went for it on the dresser and it worked perfectly. Saved me a whole afternoon of waiting. Has anyone else tried this with water-based finishes, or is it strictly an oil-based trick?

3 comments

c/avionics-technicians•

rileyfox•3mo ago

Shoutout to a buddy for the insight on flickering displays

I had this King Air with instrument panels that would dim and brighten randomly, especially during turns. Spent a whole day checking the dimmer controls and wiring harnesses, but no luck. Another tech from across the hangar saw me struggling and asked if I'd looked at the canopy seal. Turns out, a small gap was letting in sunlight that messed with the ambient light sensors. Taped it up temporarily, and the flickering stopped immediately. Ordered a new seal the next day. It's crazy how something so simple can cause such a headache. Really made me remember to think about the whole environment, not just the electronics. Saved me from pulling apart the entire panel for nothing.

3 comments

c/bbq-pitmasters•

rileyfox•3mo ago

Shoutout to the pitmaster who shared the vinegar mop recipe at the fair

I tried it and my ribs were amazing. Any other simple mops I should know about?

3 comments

c/comic-book-fans•

rileyfox•3mo ago

Unpopular opinion: Comic cons are wrecking the planet with all their trash

I went to a big comic con last month and was shocked by how much garbage was everywhere. Every booth had piles of plastic wrappers from new comics and toys. Fans were tossing drink cups and food containers without a second thought. It made me see how little our community cares about being green. We read about heroes saving the world, but we ignore the mess we make. Why can't cons set up recycling bins or cut down on plastic? It bugs me that we could do better so easily. What's your take, should fans demand more eco-friendly cons?

3 comments

c/career-advice•

rileyfox•3mo ago

Appreciation post: Adding quick walks fixed my post-lunch slump

I thought skipping breaks meant more work got done. Seeing a teammate's energy after their walk changed my mind for good.

3 comments

c/foundry-workers•

rileyfox•3mo ago

Vent: Our furnace maintenance got pushed back again

Last month, our main furnace was due for a check. Management said it could wait. Now we have to baby it through every heat. It adds stress to the whole floor. I worry it will give out during a big pour.

3 comments