Anyone else cursed by needing something AFTER you've chucked it?

Yeah... it happens outside of arcade stuff too... 15 yrs ago I replaced the engine in a mid 80s ford diesel truck... it was only after the engine was gone that I realized there was a control valve on the throttle linkage that is UNOBTAINIUM... I've been looking in earnest for the past 4 years for a replacement... I've found a couple in the wrecking yards, but being plastic and brittle after 40 yrs... usable ones just can't be found... mine still works for now, but it's tired.... and I'm always careful under the hood so as to not look at it wrong, lest it disintegrate into a useless crumble of dust

Another case of "if I knew then what I know now..."

Dylan
Yep, lived that one as well. Pulled a dead 350 out of my old Panel truck. A few mos later I gave that engine away. About a year later, I finally get the opportunity to install my new 350! I start looking around for the motor mounts that I was sure I'd pulled from the old engine. Guess what- I didn't.
 
control valve on the throttle linkage that is UNOBTAINIUM...

Is it something that could be 3D modeled and 3D printed? (I'm guessing not, because valves usually have tight tolerances)

But maybe a 3DP adapter could be created to use a similar valve that's readily available? 🤷‍♂️
 
I find something that looks like anything on the floor in my business, I now save it at least a year. About 1980 I found a tiny black cylinder, maybe a half inch high. Couldn't figure it out. Threw it in the trash. Shortly after found an Atari video game, with a control panel switch the center of missing that exact piece. Too small to dig through the trash for. That cost me $10.
LTG : )
 
Is it something that could be 3D modeled and 3D printed? (I'm guessing not, because valves usually have tight tolerances)

But maybe a 3DP adapter could be created to use a similar valve that's readily available? 🤷‍♂️
A 3d printed solution won't work... it's a Vacuum modulator valve that varies the vacuum from the vacuum pump(no manifold vacuum on a duesel) to the modulator valve on the C6 transmission to control shift points(and the firmness of the shift) based on throttle position... it has small, tight tolerance parts with calibrated springs, etc...

As soon as I get a couple other projects finished that are hanging fire, I have a plan. I'm going to use a throttle position sensor to feed throttle position to a micro controller.... and from there the micro controller will control a boost control valve to modulate the vacuum to the transmission. I reckon I should be able to create a digital solution to a mechanical problem....

Of course, the current one mostly works. I've gotta flutter the throttle to force an upshift here and there, and I need to downshift manually while going upgrade... so I'm procrastinating the solution(like we often do 😁) until it fails and I need to get it sorted out to make an out of state trip the next day.
 
Sometimes I think I "throwaway" bits of what little time I have on stupid stuff, and THAT'S what I regret!

I'm working on being organized. I just set something down, a tool, a part, whatever. I make a mental note where I set it and then when I go to look for it, I can't find it... of course it's right where I left it, I just remembered the wrong spot I last used it!

I have bins categorized and everything. Hoping to get disciplined so my kids only remember me as organized.

I just tossed a picture frame at work that had plexiglass I could've used. But instead of taking that, I kept random springs and oddball stuff "in case" we do a fun project. (Contemplating building a "life size Operation game, where you pull stuff out of an alien, but if you bump the contacts he startles the player by springing up and sitting upright upright on the table. ")

Now that I'm almost finished with my projects I don't need as many extension cords... but that apparently didn't stop me from buying a 12g extension cord for 5 bucks at a rummage sale... now I just need to find a power hungry aracde to fix up... first it's the Six Gun Select I gotta do. Had off today and can't find the dongle... I know it's where we last set it down... Just can't recall where that is.... My wife asked what I wanted to do for father's day. I didn't say anything, but in my head I was like "get the whole day to myself so I can get set it up and update the thread!"
 
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