First off, the kid is alive, unscathed and I didn't even yell. I was pretty disheveled though.
So my first thought was that I'd need to do metal work but that's a DIY area I haven't gotten into. I don't have the time (or money, frankly) to do now.
So no welding or metal cutting. I have lots of cool tools but no angle grinder for that very reason. Though I must confess I briefly considered getting that fancy variable speed drill press I've been eyeing...
I know I give #LLM a lot of hate. It's mostly deserved. But one area where #ChatGPT excels is helping to provide the names of things. So I asked chatsy (what @Jillianmarisa@vmst.io calls it) to name the hole on back of lawn tractors for the hitch pin for towing accessories. BC you can't research solutions without knowing what the darned thing is called. It's the pin hole which is part of the hitch plate. Checks out. Yay...
There's a tractor and mower store here in town so I called them. Of course they don't have my brand, but they do have one for another brand but they wanted $190! Pass. So I checked tractor supply and they had a single hitch plate for $40. Score! Still the wrong brand with bolt holes that are most certainly not going to work. But I figure I can drill new holes on the tractor itself...
But these are 5/16 bolts and I'm worried about drill power, plus the drill bit "walking" before it bites. I saw on a YouTube that a guy used a punch to minimize that. So off to harbor freight for that. And maybe some sacrificial drill bits b/c I don't want to ruin my good ones.
@User47@vmst.io Also, start with a smaller bit, then when you have that first hole, use a larger bit to make it bigger.
@User47@vmst.io You definitely want to use a punch to make a dimple before drilling metal. I do this in my silversmithing work, too.
Grabbed the punch, and found some step drill bits that look pretty sweet. Never had a need, but have been eyeing them. Love the concept, and this should help with my cordless drill power concerns.
Also b/c I'm assigning the repair work to the kiddo I got some stop collars so he doesn't go crazy and overbore the hole.
Oh and harbor freight guy talked me into some cutting oil. Which makes sense.
It's in plumbing, BTW. Totally would have expected in metalwork or drilling. But plumbers use it too, for threading metal pipe, I guess? (Don't they mostly use PVC, ABX, and PEX at this point?)
@User47@vmst.io Cutting oil can't hurt. I'm sure you're drilling thicker metal than I ever do. Make sure the drill bits are capable of drilling metal.
So anyway. Here’s the repair package. All in, under $75 (vs $190+) and I really enjoyed solutioning it.
I’m looking forward to this small project with my kiddo. I didn’t have a dad growing up and was lucky to work a few years at a hardware store to learn about a lot of the handy stuff. Plus YouTube university.
Can’t say I’m glad this happened because the timing is terrible. But yay learning opportunities for us both, making memories, and hard work.
PS: Grandpa’s vice grips 🥰
Super proud dad moment. 🥰 All fixed! And this hitch plate is way stronger than the original piece of metal. Nevermind the color mismatch. I’m for function over aesthetic, all day long. #Dad #ProudDad
Super proud dad moment. 🥰 All fixed! And this hitch plate is way stronger than the original piece of metal. Nevermind the color mismatch. I’m for function over aesthetic, all day long. #Dad #ProudDad
JL Johnson :veri_mast:
