Pump Technician Day 10

I started the day sorting different parts to familiarize myself with them. I told Todd I needed to get off early because Taden was getting an award at the school assembly. He told me to drive to Kendrick and drive home after the project is finished. We dropped my van off at Kendrick then drove about 30 minutes up the mountain to fix a leak in a pipe from the well. 

The leak was very noticeable as soon as he turned on the water. Luckily it was the pipe going to an old abandoned house. The owner said to just abandon the pipe.

I dug around the pipe a little bit more, and TJ connected a stop plug and took off the handles. What we thought would be several hours took about 15 minutes. 

The owner had a side-by-side which is one of the toys that TJ wants to buy next that I had never heard of. The owner used this one to drive from the shop to the well about 1000 feet away.

Pump Technician Day 9

I got my first experience with a septic tank. As TJ cut off the old pipe it fell into the poop water. He made a fishing pole by connecting a 90 piece of PVC and was able to fish it out. I was grateful because he was going to have me go in and get it if he didn't get it. I didn't have my boot yet, and it would not have been pleasant for my already falling apart tennis shoes. 

Here is the new pump installed that acts like a sump pump shooting the gray water up the hill instead of towards the river.

The next project involved fixing a leaky pipe. 

TJ had to go down the small hole and cut off the old copper pipe and replace it with PVC and brass fittings.

The next project was to install the warning light for when the float detects the water level is to low.

Here is the warning light installed.

Pump Technician Day 8

Our project for the day involved going and installing floats and a pressure tank for a town house and RV Park. The pipes were previously installed and as Kurt put it are a "convoluted mess" They are fully expecting to be called back when the system doesn't work. 

Here is Kurt putting the floats in the 5000 gallon tank. The complex has three of them.

To end the day I got to try out the antique 1940's motorized exercise bike.

Pump Technician Day 7

My first project was to remove the INC. from the sign because they are no longer a corporation.

I used a heat gun and a plastic handmade utility knife to remove the vinyl letters.

The second project involved using a stencil machine to stencil the box I made.

Steve decided to call it Lil' Tugger

Another test was too move a motor with the fork lift to the scrap iron bin. 

It was a success and I didn't hit or break anything.

Pump Technician Day 6

Our first project was to change out the wiring that had gone bad on a well pump. The wires were from the 1940's.

Here are the wires connected to the well.

 

One of the projects Steve got to do was fix the motor from the generator on The Grub Truck. It was my first time in a food truck.

TJ charged the battery on the truck they use when it is to muddy or snowy to get to.

Here is the completed crate I made with hinges, and handles.

Pump Technician Day 5

The house we went to had alpacas in the front lawn. I tried petting one because I have never had the chance, but they ran away from me.

                                                       

We use a hook to lift the pipes that connect to the pump.

                                                        

Each pipe is around 20 feet long and we used around 15 pipes to get to the pump.

The pump was all rusted from being in the well for the last 15 years.

Here is the new pump going in.

And we have water again.

Pump Technician Day 4

I got to learn how to drive a forklift today. I successfully got this motor off of a pickup truck bed without hitting the bed of the truck, and squeezing past a Coca Cola delivery truck.

I also hoisted these two engines with hooks.

My next project was to make a crate. The dimensions were all written down for me.

Here are the cut pieces.

Here is the finished crate. 

Pump Technician Day 3

The day started around 9:30 by digging underneath the pipes and using a sump pump and bucket to expose the pipes so they could be cut and replaced.

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I helped pull the electric cords through the conduit from the cisterns to the garage.

After taking four attempts, I finally got done cutting and connecting the new pipes from the cisterns to the well ending around 4:30.

Pump Technician Day 2

We started the day by helping someone whose well had dried up and the pump was caked in mud. We took the pump out using the boom and a claw and pipe attachment and cleaned it up and inserted it about 12 feet where he was able to take a shower for the first time since Friday.

The second project of the day was a continuation where two new cisterns are being installed. I got to climb down the cisterns and knock out cement with a chisel to expose the pipes. 

I connected the conduit to the control box where the electrical cords will go through.

We use a sealant called Blue Monster which I applied to connect pipes where water will flow through.

Pump Technician Day 1

After moving out west not knowing what we would be doing, Maranda's dad talked with a guy who said he was looking to hire new workers. After calling him and being interviewed I was hired as an apprentice pump technician. I decided that it would be a good start to show step by step what skills I am learning that will apply to life on a homestead.

The first cool thing is that I got a ride in the company's Millennium Falcon that comes complete with pipe turrets.

I spent the day greasing pipes, watching cows graze  and watching a 6'2 man fit into a cistern full of water to replace a pump that was rusted and broken.