A request from Gears and Beers

[test517]

Folks,
I have a short request for the community. Last year, a couple of gearheads and I started a camp called Gears and Beers around the idea of helping people with all the inevitable mechanical issues that happen on the playa (and serving a lot of cold beer too).

The request: This year as we are prepping for year two, if you have had problems in years past, can you reply with what it was and what kind of vehicle it was?

We are planning to bring spares and tools for common issues, where reasonable, for example with all the ignition system problems we saw last year we are going to bring at least 100' of plug wire (with crimping tool and connectors) and cap and rotor sets for 80s-90s Ford 302s as we saw more than a few problems there. We are also bringing a more advanced electrical tools include a short circut tracer, as this was a common issue as well. The point of this request is to allow us to spend our money wisely and bring useful parts and knowledge back with us this year.

For those of you who need us, we will have a small shop worth of tools and a couple of welders to keep you going. For the rest of you, free cold beer. See you out there.

Thanks
Hiro

[Sham]

Simple single pole switches, compressed air or a small compressor, 1 gallon gas jugs, tow rope, jumper cables.

[Elliot]

Hiro, this is a wonderful service. I salute you!
People have a nasty tendency to lock themselves out of their cars, so a "slim-jim" tool might come in handy.

[ygmir]

Hiro, this is a wonderful service. I salute you!
People have a nasty tendency to lock themselves out of their cars, so a "slim-jim" tool might come in handy.

seconded!! thanks for this service!
Jumper battery, long cables (I make them from welding cable), fix a flat.

so many of the cars in the last 20 years have ignitions and such you can't "just work on" and fuel delivery the same, that I think I'd focus on the "other stuff?
good call on a welder, compressor, maybe a plasma cutter?

[Elliot]

Maybe some trailer hitch hardware, as I have seen several cars with failing hitches (sometimes from jack-knifing while backing up).
Battery-terminal tools and hardware.
Motor oil and all the common types of ATF.

[skippy3k]

This is another example of if I sit long enough on one of my ideas, someone else will come along and do it (albeit, probably much better than I would have). This is a great service. I always thought about contributing as some sort of roving...fix it person....for lack of a better term. It's easy enough to help my immediate neighbors with vehicle, MV, or camp disasters, but I wasn't smart enough to put the idea into an actual camp to gain farther reach. Well done.

Not sure if you are a formal camp with placement and all, or if you take people in off the streets, but if you are open to taking on any additional labor, feel free to PM me. I have a camp, so not looking for a home. Just a home to contribute my mechanical skills...such as they are. I even provide my own tools.

[test517]

Thanks everyone so far. Things that we didn't have on out list so far were:
* single pole switches
* break in tools
* trailer hitch parts

Keep them coming, we really do appreciate the ideas.

Cheers
H

[Dr Helix]

There are a lot of golf cart chassis out there. Don't know if you want to get into that line but If you do, then drive belts, fuses, air filters and tubes for golf cart tires would be huge. And one or two igintion switches.

[trilobyte]

Hiro - YOU GUYS ROCK! My camp (Eridu Society) were next door to you guys last year and you were awesome neighbors. That, and someone from your camp helped my girlfriend and I out with a rear door that wouldn't close on our cargo van at the end of the event. You'll probably get some solid feedback here, but you may also want to try reaching out to the Black Rock Rangers, or maybe to the Playa Info team... they probably have a lot of people who come to them in a panic with a mechanical issue, if nothing else they might be able to rattle off a laundry list of common repairs and calls for help.

@Skippy3K - people have been offering the gift of mechanical assistance (either at their camp or while roaming around) for far longer than either you or I have been participating in the event. DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU! It's a big city, and I should imagine that there would be plenty of need for your skills when and where you were able to offer them.

[LowePro]

I love the idea, you're very kind.
We had an issue with light bulbs for a tail light/blinker as well as some burnt fuses in our tow trailer. It all worked fine at home, but the rain and playa dust had other plans...
I plan to bring some of my own spare parts now, but this was a wildcard item and we didn't have enough backups. A variety pack of fuses and 12v bulbs would be fantastic. Esp since burnt lights seems to be a sticking point for safety and law enforcement.

Would you be willing to take donations too?

[Lonesomebri]

Great thread, great service on the playa, and helpful here! This thread is a good source of what anyone might consider bringing beyond the essentials. Thanks!

[Captain Goddammit]

If I were stocking up an on-playa emergency shop I'd get some of that flexible radiator hose and hose bandages, tire plugs and fuses.
For the bulk of my "stock" I'd hit up wrecking yards and/or parts cars. A wide as possible selection of used fan/serpentine belts, perhaps a Ford and a Chevy starter or two, battery cables, maybe a Ford style solenoid or two; lots of motorhomes use those for their battery switching.
Junkyard parts that still halfway function beat broken ones, and all anyone really needs is to make it to the nearest civilization.
Maybe some solder and flux and a torch for patching radiators.

[motskyroonmatick]

That over flowing coffee can of random springs, hardware and nuts and bolts will be invaluable. Bring it.

I'll be on the 3:00 side welding and repairing. I've downsized to a small wire feed from previously bringing a Stick/TIG set up. What kind of welders are you bringing?

[test517]

Thanks everyone so far. The junk yard starters/solenoids are a good idea. We will have couple of boxes of fuses/lights/springs/c-clips as well as at least a couple of golf cart tubes to boot.

trilobyte - I was actually the one who helped you with you latch, it was the least we could do for all the love you and your time-travelers showed us!

motskyroonmatick - Last year we just brought a cheap 90a mig/flux welder which reminded me how much I hate fluxcore, so we are going to bring that again as a backup, but also an old millermatic with a bottle this time, and we are looking for a decent stick welder on ebay and craigslist that we can take down.

Cheers
H

[motskyroonmatick]

motskyroonmatick - Last year we just brought a cheap 90a mig/flux welder which reminded me how much I hate fluxcore, so we are going to bring that again as a backup, but also an old millermatic with a bottle this time, and we are looking for a decent stick welder on ebay and craigslist that we can take down.

Cheers
H

Gears and Beers,

I have an Econo Tig (miller) that up until last year was my welder on playa. It's an older one (1997 or so) and it has been great. It is a little light on power to Tig Aluminum well but does great with stainless or mild steel and it is really nice to have a machine that can stick weld and easily switch to Tig. Maybe something you guys might keep in mind in your searching for a welder. I changed to a 120v miller wire feed gas shield for the burn. Bought myself a little gift and shed about 500lbs of weight in the box truck with a lighter generator and welder. Flux Core. Ugh I hate that shit. Use it all the time at work when not doing "structural" welding. Takes forever to clean up and robs lots of power burning the flux. It is a hell of a lot better than no welder when a welder is needed though.

[Savannah]

@Skippy3K - people have been offering the gift of mechanical assistance (either at their camp or while roaming around) for far longer than either you or I have been participating in the event. DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU! It's a big city, and I should imagine that there would be plenty of need for your skills when and where you were able to offer them.

Agreed!

There are never too many mechanics in the city. I know from observation that Motskyroonmatick doesn't even need to advertise; people find him. He's like the A-Team.

[motskyroonmatick]

And now I have the A-Team theme stuck in my head! YES!!!!

[Ed Banks]

I changed to a 120v miller wire feed gas shield for the burn.

Are you welding in a tent or running a higher volume of argon? I've had shielding gas issues while welding near my roll up door, or even with a fan blowing nearby in the past. I was planning on bringing my Lincoln weldanpower out because of that, a wire fed unit would be more ideal.

[test517]

Gears and Beers,

I have an Econo Tig (miller) that up until last year was my welder on playa. It's an older one (1997 or so) and it has been great. It is a little light on power to Tig Aluminum well but does great with stainless or mild steel and it is really nice to have a machine that can stick weld and easily switch to Tig. Maybe something you guys might keep in mind in your searching for a welder. [/quote]
[/quote]

Thanks for the advise, we will keep an eye out for one.
Cheers
H

[Zubeneschamali]

Duct tape.

Kudos to your camp.

I love the word of mouth communication required to find such valuable services. Last year I spent a day cruising the city looking for an inch and three quarter sealed bearing - and had a super fun day filled finding bike shops, mechanics, and 'junk yards' . The people who create and support these popup services are second to none in friendliness, knowledge, and hospitality. It was a fun adventure to locate the next one, and had me randomly popping up all over the city as I got different leads, but alas, my search yielded no replacement part. (note to burners: Rhodes bikes are really difficult to find parts)

Got back to camp at dusk and sat next to a neighbor at our bar. Turned out he had a bearing for me.

Best. Day. Ever.

[Savannah]

Great story.

[Elliot]

...looking for an inch and three quarter sealed bearing ... Rhodes bikes ...

Where on a RhoadesCar do you have such a large bearing? The most common problem seems to be the rear axle bearings, and the axles on mine are only 3/4.

(Note to self: Bring RhoadesCar bearings.)