Daily Archives2017 January 13

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Any skateboarder should know and understand the different parts of a skateboard. Knowing the skateboard parts allows you to understand how the board works, which comes in handy when you are trying to figure out how to do tricks and can help you to ride more safely. Additionally, knowing the parts of a skateboard will come in handy if something needs repaired or replaced.

The Deck

The deck is one of the most recognizable parts of a skateboard. It is where you stand and where you get to show off your personal style with decoration and designs. The deck is made of wood and may also be referred to as the board. The deck is usually made from layered wood pieces. Maple and birch are commonly used, but almost any wood can be used if it has strength and durability. Boards are often an oblong shape, but creative manufacturers may make the deck any shape or size they desire.

The Trucks

The trucks are the axle on which the wheels are mounted. The trucks take on a lot of responsibility in balancing the board and providing strength. The trucks are on the underside of the board and are adjustable. Adjusting the trucks can allow you to customize the feel of your board.

The Wheels

The wheels are self explanatory as you should know where they are and what they do. As far as skateboard parts, the wheels are actually quite varied. You can get wheels with designs on them or in different colors. They come in various heights and widths, too. You should choose a wheel based on how you ride and where you ride. Wheel choice is also based on your experience level. You may need to try out different types to find what works best for you.

The Bearings

The bearings are in the wheels and what allow the wheels to spin. Without bearings you are not going anywhere. This is one of the parts of a skateboard that you should really get to know. Bearings wear out over time and need replaced. In fact, this is likely one of the most replaced parts of a skateboard. There are four bearings because each wheel needs one. It is a good idea to buy a high quality bearing so you can get the most from it and not have to replace it too often.

Knowing the main parts of a skateboard will come in handy. When something goes wrong you can easily identify what needs fixed or replaced. You can often do repairs on your own if you understand the different parts and how they function. Having this knowledge also is helpful when you are trying to improve your skills and make your board fit your style. Not to mention that you can add your own flair to your board through choosing custom decks and wheels since you now know what they are and where they are located on the board. As you can see, being knowledgeable about your board is something that will be a great benefit to you for many reasons.

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Source by Nicole Roberts

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Over the years, before retirement I was involved in the vehicle cleaning business – as the business grew bigger and bigger, we found other things to wash. By the time I retired, our franchisees which had operated in 23 states washing trucks, locomotives, concrete, aircraft, buses, police cars, postal vehicles, new car lots, houses, windows, and even boats on the water at the marina. It’s actually hard to clean the boats on the water at the marina we did it from a pontoon boat platform. Now then I’d like to talk about this for second if I might.

You see, when you are on a boat and you are trying to clean another boat, you are brushing the sides, but each time you do a brushstroke and put any pressure on the hull of the other boat, you are pushing yourself away from the boat you’re trying to clean. That makes it extremely difficult. Now you can brush up and down, but then you end up rushing into the water, and bringing up lots of algae on the brush. To say the least it’s very difficult, but I don’t believe it has to be, and let me tell you why.

Also by the time I retired, we had put in detail shops, truck washes, and even fixed site car washes, yes the business grew quite large. Interestingly enough, it seems to me that it would be possible to build a boat washing machine which was more like a car wash. And here’s how it would work. The boat hull would come into a semi enclosure, although it would allow for sailboat masts, to poke through the center of the building. Then the walls or sides of the boat wash would slowly move inwards towards the hull of the boat to adjust to its exact size.

As the boat moved through, it would be cleaned by brushes underneath, and on the sides, while the top of the boat would get a fresh water rinse, after the workers battened down the hatches of course. It seems that such a system could exist, it would be quite easy to wash boats, and they would line up to get washed, just as they do with the car wash. It’s not that this system would be that difficult to build; the question is would the industry accept it, and would the engineering to build such a device, and install it be worth the time, energy, and the capital costs.

Now then, I’ve been to marinas in every single state in the continental US which borders the ocean, and a good many marinas at the largest lakes in the United States as well. Indeed, I think this can work. Please consider all this.

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Source by Lance Winslow

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I have seen many bedbug infestations in my time in the pest control industry. Usually they start by infesting a bedroom and mattress. Once the person starts sleeping on the couch downstairs, they eventually bring the bedbugs with them to the couch. Today we are going to discuss how to get bed bugs out of a couch.

I need to be upfront in saying that it is really difficult to get bedbugs out of a couch. The only way you can guarantee to kill everything in a couch is to have the couch fumigated by a professional pest control company. You would need to rent a moving truck and put all of your personal belongings in the truck where a pest control company can fumigate all of your personal belongings inside the truck for 24-48 hours. This kills everything living in the truck. For the cost of this type of treatment, you could probably just purchase a new couch.

If you want to try to save your couch, I recommend vacuuming the couch completely. You will have to vacuum everything very well. You may not be able to completely eliminate all of the bedbugs infesting the couch, but this is the only treatment that could be somewhat effective. The bedbugs are most likely infesting the inside of the couch, so you might have to take the couch apart to effectively vacuum it.

As you can see, it is possible to get these nasty critters out of your couch, but it is going to be extremely difficult for you to do it yourself. If you want to know my answer on how to get rid of bed bugs in a couch, I would tell you to take it (along with other personal belongings) to a professional exterminator to fumigate the truck. Only a few companies do fumigation services, so you will need to call ahead.

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Source by Christian M Smith

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The secret to getting a great deal when buying a used tractor is to be armed with information. Start by knowing how to quickly determine the age, condition and average selling price for any brand and model of used tractor. Then know what problem areas to take a close look at. The final step is to know the seven negotiating statements that will drastically lower the asking price of any tractor — including the one sound that you can utter that will knock 10% off the price of any tractor.

Let’s start at the beginning. The first step to getting a great deal on a used tractor is to do a little research and be an informed buyer. Let’s start at the beginning. When you’re looking to buy a used tractor don’t worry that it may be older than you are. Buying a used tractor is not like buying a used car. Tractors are made to last forever and you can still get parts for almost any tractor regardless of how old it is. Also, unlike your car, tractors are relatively easy to fix. Keep these facts in mind when you’re looking for a used tractor.

When buying a used tractor, one of the most important things to look for is a hydraulic system or three-point hitch as it is commonly called. The power-take-off or PTO is part of this system. Ford introduced the three-point hitch on their 9N tractor back in 1939. Farmall and John Deere waited a little later before they came out with a three-point hitch, but still most tractors you look at will have the three-point hitch, but be sure to check.

The three-point hitch and PTO system is very important because without it you will be limited in what you can do with your tractor.  So my advice is to only look at tractors with a three-point hitch. The next step is to determine the age of the tractor you’re considering. The best way to determine the age is to find the serial number and look it up on the Internet. Cars change designs every year, but tractors only make changes every decade or two, so you can’t tell much about how old a tractor is by just looking at it.

The Internet has a wealth of information about tractors. A good website where you can use the serial number and find the date a tractor was manufactured is Yesterday’s Tractors at YesterdaysTractors.com.  When you get to this site, click on “Tractor Registry” in the left Nav. panel to find information on any tractor. You can also use this site to see how much a particular type tractor has sold for recently.

The condition of a used is more important than the age. To determine the condition of a used tractor check to see if it has a tachometer that includes an hour meter. A lot of older tractors won’t have an hour meter. You can tell a lot about the condition of a used tractor by how much the petals are worn, how much play is in the steering and checking to see if there are any oil leaks. All of these factors will help you estimate the condition of a tractor.

Don’t be fooled by a new paint job. It could be covering up things. Also look at the tires. Just because the tires have good tread, it doesn’t mean that they’re in good condition. Check for dry rot and cracks. A good set of tires could cost you from $500 to well over $1,000.

Of course, check to see how the tractor starts and how it runs. If someone is trying to sell a tractor and they can’t make it start easily, there could be problem. You may want to have a mechanic look at the tractor with you. If the tractor is hard to start in warm weather, it will be even harder to start in colder weather. After you start the tractor, check to see if there is excessive smoke from the exhaust.

After you have checked all of the above points, you will probably know more about the tractor than the owner knows.

The next step is to check prices:

Two good places to check prices (other than Yesterday’s Tractors) are TractorHouse dot com and eBay. On eBay be sure to check completed auctions to see what tractors like the one you’re looking for really sold for. You can use this information in your negotiating.

One final point: How much equipment (if any) comes with a used tractor can be a big factor in determining the value of the tractor. Also, factor in how you will get the tractor home. If you can get a trailer in the deal, that’s that’s always a big plus.

When you’re armed with all of the above information, your final step is to “Negotiate like a Pro.” Here’s how to do it.

Seven negotiating techniques for people who don’t like to negotiate:

1.    Offer way less than you expect to have to pay.  Some people say, “I don’t want to negotiate and play games with you. I will give you $5,000 for the tractor and that’s it.”  These people almost always end up negotiating and paying a lot more.

2.    Always gasp and act shocked and surprised at the other side’s first price. Without saying a word, this lets the owner know that you think their price is totally unreasonable.

3.    Never, ever say yes to the first price they quote you —  even if the price is less than you expected to have to pay. If you say yes too quickly the other side will know that they priced the tractor too low. Then they may say something like, “Well let me clear this with my partner.”  Then he will come back and say that his partner would not agree with the offer.

4.    “You’ve got to do better than that.”  Always use this expression sometime during the negotiations.  This will almost always get you a lower price.

5.    Use the “good cop/bad cop” technique.  For example, say, “I would love to buy your tractor at that price, but my wife would kill me.  She’s dead set on me not paying more than $3,500 for a used tractor.”

6.    Arm yourself with information.  The more you’re prepared with facts and information, the better deal you can negotiate.  For example, say, “I have checked eBay and other Internet sources, and tractors like this one never sell for more than $35,000.”

7.    Never agree to split the difference.  The other side is almost always willing to split the difference, so offer less than half of the difference. You’ll usually get it.

Use these techniques and you will come out with the best deal possible on a used tractor. Don’t forget that there are a lot of good used tractors out there, so always be willing to walk away from any negotiation. 

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Source by Jerry Minchey

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As time goes on, the average length of American auto loans has steadily increased. Today, it’s not uncommon for lenders and automaker finance companies to offer car loans as long as 84 months…that’s a whopping 7 years of financing! Before entering into any loan agreement that spans such a length of time, you need to be doubly sure that you’re making the right decision for you and your financial future. Let’s look at the pros and cons of 7 year car loans.

84 Month Auto Loans: The Cons

Obviously, when you spread out your payments over a longer period of time, each payment itself becomes smaller. In this way, 7 year auto financing allows for lower per-monthly payments than a shorter loan. Unfortunately, most buyers are tempted to parlay these mathematics into buying a more expensive car than they otherwise would. or could But this begs the question: can you really afford a car this expensive?

The issue is depreciation. Most cars depreciate at a rate of about 15% per year. When you take 7 years to pay off your auto loan, you will find yourself owing more on the vehicle than it’s worth for more than half of the loan term. Basically, you are prolonging the amount of time you spend in a state of negative equity — otherwise referred to as an “upside down auto loan.” What if you need to sell the car for any reason or trade it in? If so, you will have to pay back your bank or lender all of the proceeds from the sale price, only to find yourself still owing them money. That’s not a happy place to be.

Another issue with 84 month auto loans is the finance fees. Basically, there is a longer period of time for finance charges to accrue, making the vehicle in question cost significantly more than it probably would from a 36, 48, 60, or even 72 month auto loan. You should also think about the wear and tear on the vehicle over this extensive period of time. The average American drives his or her car about 15,000 miles per year. That means that, near the end of your 84 month financing term, your vehicle will have accrued around 100,000 miles. Vehicles with this amount of mileage may cost more in maintenance and repairs than a newer vehicle. For this reason, evaluating the warranty of any vehicle subject to a long term auto loan is doubly important.

84 Month Auto Financing: The Pros

The most obvious advantage of long-term financing is lower payments. As we’ve said, however, interest rates and the cost of a higher-dollar vehicle can more than compensate for this advantage. That said, an 84 month auto loan may fit you if you have stellar credit, excellent income, and can negotiate a very low rate APR on your loan. It may allow you to afford the car you want without cutting as much into your monthly budget. Also, if you are a total car nut and absolutely must have a certain vehicle that you cannot afford any other way, 7 year financing may allow you to have what you want; just be prepared to sacrifice some money in the process.

Another scenario where an 84 month car loan might not be such a bad idea is when you a car as an investment. If you are in the market for a vintage or classic machine — one which does not depreciate due to its age, condition, or heritage — then an 84 month car loan might be the right option.

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Source by Jeff Constable

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As the saying goes, your car is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Nevertheless you still want to get the highest amount that you can for your used car. So the trick here is to determine how to make your car more attractive to buyers and to  know the baseline amount that cars similar to yours are selling for in your local market. The best place to start your search for tips and car values is Kellys Blue Book for cars.

Kellys Blue Book for cars is a renowned automotive industry standard car appraisal guide that provides step by step guides that will help you sell your car but also gives you the “Private Party” value of your car. And the Blue Book for cars is easy to use. At the Kellys Blue Book website click the tab for used cars, then under  KBB Values type in your car’s year, make and model or simply choose the specified data from the drop down menu that appears once you click the down arrow beside the required data box. For example, if you want to sell a 2005 Ford Focus, choose 2005 from the year box, Ford from the make box and Focus from the model box.

After pressing the GO button, you will be redirected to the  Value page where you have to choose the “Private Party” Value. The Private Party Value aims to provide you with the fair market price others would be willing to pay. Then select your car’s trim or version by clicking the list that appears. For example, if your trim is Focus ZX4 S Sedan 4D, click that and go to the KBB Equipment page where you choose your car’s specific details, including transmission and mileage, and accessories. Don’t be overwhelmed with the number of selections, the standard items included on your model are already checked on the  page, you just have to revise or add more equipment as needed by simply clicking the appropriate selections. After making the appropriate selections, the final Kellys Blue Book page will appear. You have to select your car’s overall condition – whether excellent, good, fair or poor. The description on each characteristic is described in the Kellys Blue Book page so you’re not confused. But if you still can’t decide, there is always the KBB condition quiz to further help you in your choice. But beware! Be truthful and remain as unbiased as possible when making your choices on this KBB page. Don’t let your sentimental attachment to your car cloud your choice. If you do, you will get an incorrect blue book for cars appraisal value. When you’re done, you will see the KBB Private Party Value for your specific car’s condition. You can further confirm your car’s value by comparing it with other similar cars in the market by browsing through  Local Listing Search. This will show you available similar cars available in your area. Once you become satisfied that you know your car’s blue book value, you can then concentrate on making your car more attractive to buyers, so that you’ll see the green!!

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Source by I Dint

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Antifreeze Coolant

Antifreeze is a very important unit of the car since it protects the engine from the freezing damage. When the water gets converted into ice, it poses a problem for the car. Antifreeze is actually the heat transfer fluid which is used to protect the freezing. In both the solar water heaters and the HVAC chillers it is used. Chemical are added to the water in order to prevent the freezing. Antifreeze assists in the freezing point when water is mixed, but then it also aids the boiling point. It is used widely in the car engine since it is capable of transferring the heat. When the antifreeze is used to the car engine, it is termed as the Antifreeze Coolant since it cools the engine.

What is the function of the ethylene glycol?

Ethylene glycol is the most commonly used antifreeze in the car. The water-based solution functions as the fantastic heat-transfer fluid. So, when the temperature reaches below the level of 32 degrees of Fahrenheit or 0 degrees. The fluid transfers the heat to prevent freezing. When the unit functions by the water-cooled engine, the coolant is used. Commonly used in the machines and the cars, the coolant cannot be used in the food processing equipment. This is so because if there is any leaking, the food can become poisonous. The Ethylene Glycol is used widely in the cars, machines, air conditioners and even the liquid cooled computer. Since the solution has the low freezing point, it resists the freezing. Ethylene Glycol has a great compatibility with water and has the higher boiling point.

The need for the antifreeze in extreme climatic conditions

Antifreeze is the real savior of the vehicle when it is cold. The water as a result of the antifreeze does not freeze. The water in the radiator of the car will not freeze and so the parts of the car will not get destroyed. When the outside temperature is hot also, the antifreeze is of great use. It even restricts the important fluids in the car from evaporating. Since the antifreeze has the lubricating properties, it does not evaporate with the pace of the water. In fact, the parts of the car like the hose pipe need to be prevented from damage.

The environmental friendly precious green liquid

The antifreeze coolant is a must if you really want the vehicle in the running condition. The environmentally friendly, precious green liquid will keep the car parts warm even when it is extremely cold. Without the antifreeze, the car will encounter a mechanical problem. When the car stops working due to freezing, many people think that it is all due to the leakage of the radiator, the failure of the heater core and even due to the opening or closing of the thermostat.

When it is winter, you need to start and stop the car to keep the engine warm. In countries where there is extreme cold, the engine needs to be started from time to time. When it comes to the car system, the antifreeze solution is vital.

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Source by Martin Stapper

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Where else can you get a job that allows you to drive all different kinds of new and used cars from sports cars to 4 wheel drive trucks with people that want to buy them? Then after you go for a ride you sit down with that person and talk about their interest in buying the vehicle. Sometimes they offer to buy the vehicle and sometimes they don’t. You both talk about the offer and if the dealership accepts their offer you made a sale. Depending on the dealership, the vehicle and the customer you could earn anywhere from $100 to $2000 or more. Now that’s what I call a job, I love selling cars.

Sounds pretty great doesn’t it? I may have exaggerated a little, but that is the long and short of selling cars for a living. People that come to automobile dealerships come there because they want to buy cars and they need car salesmen to sell them cars. That is one of the main reasons why I love selling cars. The customers come to you, you don’t have to chase them down, call them or anything else. They come to the dealer and talk to you, the car salesman about buying a car. Your job is to show them a car, go for a ride in a nice car and then talk to them about buying that car. Then you work out a few details and cha-ching you sold a car.

Ok, there is a downside to selling cars and that downside is that there aren’t always customers lining up to buy cars. So when you don’t have a customer you can swap stories with your car salesman friends and co-workers, tell jokes, check out the new and used cars and wait for a customer to come and see you about purchasing a vehicle. The customers come, they always do. Some days there are more customers than others, but they always come because the dealership will advertise in the newspaper, on the radio or television to keep a steady stream of potential auto buyers coming to the dealership to buy cars from their car salesmen. Wouldn’t you love selling cars too?

But Seriously, I Love Selling Cars

Being a car salesman can be a great job, may be not as easy as I described it above, but it’s not labor intensive or physically demanding and you can earn as much money as you desire. Quite a few automobile sales people earn a six figure income as a car salesman. However you do need to process some paperwork, demonstrate vehicles to customers, go for test drives and negotiate the price and terms of the vehicle you are trying to sell. You will also need to follow up with customers you have sold to make sure they are happy and get the ones to come back if you did not sell them. It’s a bit like having a business of your and own which is another one of the reasons I love selling automobiles.

When you find yourself needing a good job or you are thinking about a career change you ought to consider being a car salesman. There is a little more to selling automobiles than I covered here, but for the right person it can be a great career. I may be a little biased, but I really do love selling cars.

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Source by Karl Beckham

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Poor Credit, Bad Credit, No Credit, No Problem.

We Tote the Note.

All of these are common signs you see at some used car dealerships and flashed across your television screen. However, do you really understand what goes behind this concept?

A Tote the Note dealership is really no different from the concept used at furniture rental companies, in that you pay for the car where you purchased it without any loan company in the middle. However, there is still a huge difference between a furniture rental company and a Tote the Note car dealership – Your Credit Report.

When you are searching for a new or used car, you will probably spend more time in the office with the car salesman and his manager trying to get your loan bought from a lending company. The way this is done is, you fill out a credit application, the car salesman, takes it to his manager who then punches your information into a computer to run a report on your credit. When they receive your credit report or credit score they will then fax this information to loan companies they use to finance the cars they sale. Now, the loan company will look over your credit report and decide if they wish to buy your loan. This means that you will by paying the loan company back the money they give the car dealership for the car that you purchase. If you do have poor credit, bad credit, no credit, or a bankruptcy on your credit report, you will more than likely be turned down for the car loan or you will get the bad news that you have to add 21% percent interest onto the price of the car. The bottom line is that you will paying about the same amount of money each month for that used car that you pay for rent or purchasing your home just because your credit is not up to par.

Furniture rental companies do the same, they look at your credit report and if your credit is not what it should be then you may not be able to rent to own their furniture either.

On the other hand, Tote the Note car dealerships do not look at your credit report. They will ask you to fill out an application, but the information they need is where you work, how much money you make, nearest relative’s address and telephone number, and of course, your address. The only thing you really need to purchase a used car from a Tote the Note lot is a job.

A Tote the Note car dealership receives cars from other people that trade in their vehicle in order to purchase another one, buy them from auctions, or other individuals. In most cases, the dealership has a mechanic that will fix major problems that are found with the car; however, you will be purchasing a car without any type of warranty. This means if something goes wrong with the car the dealership will not fix it for you, you will have to pay for all repairs. This is normally called “sold as is”.

The good part about buying from a Tote the Note lot is that you will not have to pay any interest. The price on the car is what you pay. The normal time to pay for the car is usually around 12 to 18 months. You will have to pay a certain amount each month until the total price of the car is paid off minus whatever down payment you may have. Some Tote the Note lots also offer “no down payment”, but this will raise your monthly payment.

Buying from a Tote the Note car dealership will not affect your credit rating in anyway. These car dealerships do not report your payments to the credit bureaus, however, if you default on the loan that is not reported either. If you do not make your payments, the Tote the Note car lot will repossess your vehicle and put it back on their lot for sale.

If you have bad credit, no credit, or other problems that stop you from purchasing a car through a loan company, then a Tote the Note car dealership may be your best bet in getting a car. Remember, to check the car out and test drive it since you will be the one paying for any repairs once you sign the agreement and drive off the lot. You do not want to drive the car a couple of blocks and it die on you, because then you will have to pay for repairs and keep up with your monthly car payment.

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Source by Dennis J James

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If you are planning to ship your car overseas in areas that have facilities to provide automotive services, your car’s vehicle warranty issued by your car manufacturer and/or dealer in the United States may not be valid overseas. You should look into buying an extended auto warranty often called an international vehicle warranty before shipping your car overseas. Your automobile manufacturer or dealer can be contacted before you ship your car overseas to find a suitable extended vehicle warranty or an international car warranty.

Shipping your car abroad and hoping to use your U.S. auto manufacturer’s car warranty abroad would not be a wise course of action. Neither would be waiting until your car is abroad before finding an international warranty to buy overseas. You can locate an extended warranty seller online very easily and very economically. Of course, your car warranty should be valid in the United States or else you might want a more expensive vehicle warranty.

Vehicle warranties in the United States and abroad are time oriented. If your auto warranty has expired, you should buy an extended warranty to cover your costs in maintaining your auto before you buy an international vehicle warranty. There are some online sellers of international auto warranties that are very inexpensive. There might be a reason for the low cost of international vehicle warranties. Your best course to insure your overseas experience with your auto is to contact your car’s manufacturer either directly or through your auto dealer and get more detailed information.

Another point to remember is that your automobile warranty in the United States covers your car repairs, usually, only if a manufacturer approved mechanic or garage does the repairs. In many instances, if you use an unauthorized car repair garage, your warranty won’t be valid even here in the United States. Before spending more money on an international vehicle warranty, you might ask whether there are authorized mechanical service areas in the country where you will be shipping your car.

But, if your question is simply will your warranty be valid if you ship your car overseas, the answer is not if you repair your car overseas at an unauthorized dealer or repair shop. There are many expenses involved in shipping a car overseas. One of them is getting an international vehicle warranty. The reason why so many people choose to ship their car overseas is because the cost of buying a car overseas is astounding when compared to the cost of buying a car in the United States. Even with shipping costs and additional auto warranties, it is cheaper to buy a car in the United States than overseas.

Vehicle warranties when used appropriately can make what appears to be a costly repair situation an almost pleasant experience. There are parts of any auto that would cost thousands out of your pocket if they should need repairs. Auto warranties take that burden off of your shoulders or shall we say, your pocket book.

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Source by Millie Borris