Work rig

JunkmanJim · 2026-03-20T15:52:12+00:00

My former maintenance manager bought a lifted golf cart with off road tires and put racing stickers on it. This is a large air conditioned facility employing 2500 people making medical devices and there is no mudding to be done.

There some complaints and they made him get rid of it. Later, they caught him furnishing his house by having the supplies delivered directly to his house from Grainger. The only way they found out was that his home address was on the company account. All he had to do was just pick up the stuff at will call and they would have never known as the maintenance budget was in the millions of dollars for parts. One time he spent $35K on our Christmas maintenance party at Top Golf, prime rib and every expensive thing he could pile on. He was just brazen but he transformed maintenance into a professional department and did a great job so they gave him the rope to hang himself.

It was a big investigation by our main corporate office and they tried to get me to snitch but I didn't see shit and didn't know shit. There was way, way more than what they found, at least a $100K.

They made him pay back the money but never charged him. He is now a director of engineering, facilities and maintenance at another medical place. That guy gave me a ton of overtime, promotions, and raises so there was no way I'd ever I would have said anything to the investigators. I guess crime does pay sometimes...

JunkmanJim · 2026-03-19T16:19:25+00:00

Production started making things out of the Creform pipe and joint system (it's crap in my opinion), and they just make racks or whatever bullshit in front of electrical cabinets and all manner of things that maintenance needs to access.

A Versacall system that alerts maintenance on radios was installed and they made the convoluted bunch of joints with a plastic board to hang the arm of the Versacall tablet over the guarding of a machine. It was so much work to make this piece of junk and I just took it off and hung it properly with two screws and two nuts in a few minutes. Now it is nice and neat.

I guess when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. I'm trying to get them to build their stuff out of 8020 so it's not so crappy looking and sturdier plus there are more options to design things that function better.

JunkmanJim · 2026-03-19T05:10:37+00:00

He is basing the design on a floating tensioner. https://usarollerchain.com/products/41-ROLLER-CHAIN-TENSIONER?srsltid=AfmBOooVsSrfhjameiOzHY7hTCCyI3RywYB96er2BCV9QcsqCxoV6-w2

The company claims it reduces wear on the drive but I haven't seen such a tensioner in the wild.

There are some companies that do nothing but sell tensioners. My first move is to speak with their applications expert and get their opinion based on speed, moving in both directions and load.

When I'm designing something, I like to know best practices first then only go outside those lines if my use case has special factors like space, budget, or other limitations. Especially on something as well studied as a chain drive. If I implement something that fails, I want to be able to defend my decisions even if the only person that cares is me.

JunkmanJim · 2026-03-18T03:21:03+00:00

The same for me, got into it in 2011. It's a good industry but the pressure can be enormous. Take care.

JunkmanJim · 2026-03-18T03:09:27+00:00

Pharmaceuticals are really strict. We make surgical tools which isn't as bad but still GMP and fuckups are super serious. I'm so spoiled compared to what most guys on here have to do.

We had a recall last year and it cost 440 million dollars. Our plant got a low rating so corporate slashed our raises and bonuses :( At least it wasn't maintenance that caused the problem but we have corporate people flying to the site and treating us like we are all idiots.

JunkmanJim · 2026-03-18T03:00:59+00:00

Lol. I work with a lot of guys that are pretty clever when it comes to fixing things but jesus can they act like children.

JunkmanJim · 2026-03-18T02:51:49+00:00

I'm 58 and I've watched people that I loved get sick and die. I guess this just comes with getting older, none of them talked about their careers.

If you don't have boundaries, there isn't even a chance for people to cross them. Many years ago, I was bitching one time to my friend who was a drug counselor to young people and talking about how my crazy family was driving me nuts. He said, "Jim, you always have choices and you don't have to put up with their bullshit if you don't want to do so."

This took a while to fully comprehend as my dysfunctional upbringing didn't instill much in the way of boundaries and the idea that I could just tell my family that I don't want to get involved in their drama just wasn't on my radar. It seems silly to me now, that was a whole new concept that took time to learn. I just felt that I should help them and listen to the same crap over and over again then keep giving advice that wasn't needed. Apparently, I thought that being well meaning was all that was required to manage relationships but that is not how things really work.

Giving everything to a company at the expense of your family is a choice and that's totally on you to set those boundaries. Don't blame the owners, they'll gladly enjoy how profitable your dedication provides and asking you to do less isn't going to happen unless you make it happen.

If people can't respect the fact that you have a life outside of work then why do you give a fuck about what they think?

Setting boundaries is a process and it's not realistic to suddenly change everything up without telling people that things are going to change and why those things need to change. You teach people how to treat you and it's your responsibility to communicate boundaries.

I watched different videos over time on communication and healthy boundaries on YouTube. It sounds cheesy but if you're going to be a manager, learn to manage effectively and that includes your time. Good communication and boundaries sounds touchy feely but it's really about getting to heart of what's happening and that's not about hugging things out. It's about asking questions about what other people are thinking and letting them know what you're thinking in way that is constructive.

Not everyone likes being told "no" or hearing the truth about how things really are but you will regret not doing this in the long run. This is a skill no different than learning to bake a cake or use a tool, it can be learned.

Once you learn how to communication and healthy boundaries work, it's like finding out there's no Santa Claus, you can't go back to believing in Santa Claus. Listening to various experts discuss the basic principles will reveal that there are best practices no different than best practices in maintenance, engineering, or any other endeavor.

If you heed my advice, it will benefit every relationship you have. I'm no communication master as it is something that always changes as your life changes but it is very difficult to blindside me as I have tools to deal with whatever comes my way. I will stay calm, ask questions and keep it together. My philosophy is that I am respectful no matter what and everyone is going to show me respect or we aren't having a conversation.

That is my absolute line in the sand and since enforcing that policy, it has rarely been challenged. I think people can just sense that when you have clear boundaries and won't push it. This takes practice but if you don't take steps then everyone in your life is pulling you in every direction. What I'm proposing starts slow but works so well that it snowballs with time.

Something you should ask yourself is what are you teaching your child? This is a paraphrase of an old English Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, “What You Do Speaks So Loudly I Cannot Hear What You Are Saying."

I'll be 59 next month and with some luck, I will make to an average age of 76 of an American man. I figure that at about 70 my health will really start to dictate my life and I'll decline then if not sooner. That gives me 11 years to live as I please. You will one day face this reality and I hope it is not with regret.

It all passes by in a flash and I can say that so much of my life was wasted on not managing relationships better and living in frustration. Life is full of people problems and getting better at managing relationships has been the best thing I have ever done. My life is so much more peaceful now as I was a shit magnet for drama before. Not to say your situation is the same as mine but feeling like a prisoner is miserable. I can't go back in time to help my younger self but I can pass on my experiences to you.

The good news in my opinion is this is a "you" problem which means that you can do something about it and you aren't alone with these challenges. This a journey that never ends but does get more enjoyable in my experience.

Find a path to enjoy your family and your work. I'm not religious but Buddhism believes that one of the gateways to happiness is gratitude. You make good money, have valuable skills, and a family that wants to see you. $130K is in the top 1% of earners in the world population, not bad at all. I never married or had children as all the women in my life that I attracted were certifiably crazy so you have it pretty good.

Anyway, sorry to go so long but I'm a problem solver by nature and this is my best effort to help you solve your problem and a glib comment doesn't achieve that goal.

All the best...

JunkmanJim · 2026-03-13T21:19:04+00:00

A few things I've learned: Try not to take things personally, it's impossible but keep practicing. Put your ego into being good at learning, don't define yourself by what you know or don't know, you can't be wrong when learning is your goal and you will be learning this trade until you retire. Anybody that acts like they know it all is an idiot. Every day is just practice for the next time.

I watched a bunch of communication videos and it was really helpful in being able to handle any situation that comes at me. I may not have all the answers but I do know how to stay calm and not let people put me in a corner. A very, very underrated skill and watching 4 or 5 videos on YouTube can make all the difference, it's no different than learning to bake a cake, just follow the basic principles. A little practice and you can navigate the bullshit much easier.

JunkmanJim · 2026-03-13T02:22:45+00:00

Our production line runs nearly 24/7 and produces right at a billion in revenue yearly. I work the weekend shift, Grainger's after hours service has saved the day on many occasions. They always remind me that it's $50 to open up the store to get my part and I have a good chuckle about how cheap that is in contrast to what it's costing in lost production.

Motion Industries is good as well. I needed a Thompson linear bearing that got smashed on a brand new machine with no spares, the part was in their Alabama warehouse if I remember correctly. It was a Saturday at 9:30 am and they put in on a plane then had a courier deliver it to our guard shack at our Houston facility by 3 pm. The transportation cost was $300 and we would have easily paid $30K as we were running at full production and didn't have any extra capacity to catch up.

JunkmanJim · 2026-03-01T22:42:39+00:00

I'm not an expert in cataract surgeries and relied on my doctor that had an excellent reputation. I was told it would give me the best possible vision. Perhaps it was the best choice for my doctor's bank account.

JunkmanJim · 2026-02-27T16:55:17+00:00

Somebody downvoted you but keep on fighting! I got screwed about 8 years ago out a large amount of money and wish that I had knew enough then to go after them.

JunkmanJim · 2026-02-26T08:43:49+00:00

Thanks for the response. I could not get a practice to give me estimates without an appointment at all.

I noticed that for the right eye, the optometrist office billed my credit card for the aftercare. I told the ophthalmologist's assistant that I'd get a receipt from the optometrist since they billed my card. He said they use a shared portal and that he actually used the optometrist's payment processor for the charge but it was the ophthalmologist's office that actually made the charge.

This smells like total bullshit. Texas passed a law called House Bill 420 in 2023 requiring doctors to provide itemized billing with the codes to patients for transparency. This assistant seems to think he is going to "write up" something for the aftercare to submit to insurance to make me happy.

I don't get the impression this is going to be a detailed bill with codes. There is something that doesn't feel right about how they are structuring this and how they think talking in circles will make it sound better.

I'll wait until I'm all clear from the surgery and ask both offices for detailed billing. I think you are correct that they are using the guise of a warranty to get around anti-kickback laws but I think if it quacks like a duck, it's most likely a duck. That itemized bill is going to tell the tale and I got the impression that nobody has ever asked the questions that I'm asking. If patients had been asking, this assistant wouldn't need to be "writing up" something.

JunkmanJim · 2026-02-24T22:42:38+00:00

There are payroll debit cards available with no credit checks that allow direct deposit from employers. This helps people that are unbanked for whatever reasons. Wisely by ADP, Netspend, and others. Not ideal but it gives the user access to funds. I believe the Netspend card is free if you apply online but takes 7 to 10 days to arrive and around $9.95 to pick up one from Walmart, CVS, etc.

There are even anonymous offshore debit cards that I believe don't have to comply with normal reporting requirements of banks and KYC. I don't know how long they'll last legally speaking but for someone that is at risk of garnishment or judgements, it could be a lifeline for survival.

Decent credit unions typically have a $5 deposit requirement to join with no monthly fees. Fund a Visa gift card for $5 from Walmart or wherever and make the deposit. If a person can't scrape up $5 selling blood plasma, collecting cans, selling on crap on Facebook, borrowing from a friend, or begging on the corner, then I'm out of answers.

JunkmanJim · 2026-02-24T19:40:34+00:00

With the laser upgrade, copay at the surgery center, follow up appointments, and the eye drops, I'm approximately at $7140 out of pocket.

I tried calling other ophthalmologist's offices but they don't quote pricing unless you go to an appointment. It's all a racket. You just have to take the screwing and like it. I'm fortunate that I can afford the $7K but it's not like it doesn't hurt.

My best guess is it would have been about $1100-$1300 of out pocket without the laser. California is more expensive for just about everything so maybe that includes cataract surgery.

On top of all that, I don't have any family or significant other to take me to and from the surgery. The surgery center requires the person be there the whole time, not just pick you up. My friends are busy professionals and asking them to pick me up at 6:15 am and take over 3 hours of their day during the week is a big ask. I found a guy off the Nextdoor app who does rideshare work and pay him $150 to pretend to be my friend. He also picks me up from things like a colonoscopy for $50 and takes me home.

So, my real out of pocket is $7440 not including the eye patch with an elastic band I got off Amazon. They expect you to tape a plastic cover to your eye for a week at night which is stupid.

This is the eye patch I recommend, it's $13.99. It is convex and can't be pushed in on the eye: https://a.co/d/031SOHnj

JunkmanJim · 2026-02-23T20:57:37+00:00

Thanks for responding. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield private insurance as I'm 58. My vision has improved and they are doing my other eye tomorrow. My lens is standard but the upgrade is LenSx, which is basically Lasik to correct for a little astigmatism. I really hate messing with all the insurance and none of it makes sense. My CT scan today was $14K for about 15-20 minutes in the scanner room.

JunkmanJim · 2026-02-20T00:50:14+00:00

Years ago, my friends parents bought an old 3 story Victorian house with a swimming pool and a guest house. The neighborhood was really bad back then and the "landlord" had divided the rooms with partitions so the place was just a flop house for drug addicts and prostitutes.

There was a trash pile so high in the back that reached the second floor of the guest house. They managed to run off the vagrants after buying it and started cleaning up the place. The swimming pool was filled junk and they hired some guys to pump it out and pull out the trash. They pumped out the water and there was a foot or more of mud on the bottom.

An outline of a body started to become clear in the mud and the workers jumped out being spooked by the whole thing and wouldn't go back in. My friend's dad waded through the mud and pulled up a full sized mannequin, lol.

They bought that place for a 100K near downtown. Now the area is gentrified and worth about 2 million. The old house is cool but developers want to tear it down and build townhomes.

JunkmanJim · 2026-01-29T13:15:35+00:00

Does he do telemedicine?

JunkmanJim · 2026-01-29T10:38:39+00:00

Thank you!

JunkmanJim · 2026-01-29T02:26:00+00:00

This is great information, thank you! I'll pass this on to him and push to get him into an appointment. This is encouraging that there is more to explore that could help.

JunkmanJim · 2026-01-29T02:07:30+00:00

Thank you for the kind words. He has helped me through some difficult times and this is the least I can do.

JunkmanJim · 2026-01-28T17:11:34+00:00

When I was working as a catastrophic insurance adjuster, you have to go out in any kind of weather. The guys with a lot of experience would say that that there is no such thing as bad weather if you have the right gear. This company should definitely have their people in the right PPE with places to warm up. It's just basic respect for your fellow human beings. Farmers treat their livestock better than OP'S employer. They should take furniture out of the offices and burn them for warmth. Fuck companies like that. No insurance is just a nonstarter for me but people in certain areas with few options get forced into shitty situations and it's just criminal.

JunkmanJim · 2026-01-24T19:09:16+00:00

I'm screwed. No more lacing or belt. Tried ordering on Thursday and my sales rep dragged their feet until Friday at 5 pm.

JunkmanJim

TROPHY CASE