It’s a bad day when while driving on the hottest day of the year, your air conditioner suddenly fails, you try and slow down to pull off and see what is wrong and discover that you have no brakes, and pulling off of the road is like wrestling a steer on the way to slaughter and your voltage indicator drops from 16 to 12volts.  This weekend while returning home from the lake, I encountered this scenario.  I immediately knew what the problem was, the serpentine belt had failed.  The only surprise was the loss of vacuum assist braking, somehow I don’t remember that from my earlier experience with a serpentine failure on an auto. Read More…

Extreme How-To will be suggesting some ideal Father’s Day gifts during the next few weeks. Today’s suggestion is for the dad who appreciates fine-quality workmanship and practicality in his tools. Stihl has long been recognized as a leader in outdoor power equipment, and with its new Pole Saw, it continues to lead the way.Powered by a low-emission, fuel-efficient STIHL HomeScaper Series™ engine, this new pole pruner can save on fuel costs and is easier on the environment. The HT 56 C-E comes equipped with a durable STIHL bar and chain for optimal cutting performance, while the STIHL Easy2Start™ system makes starting almost effortless. And its unique two-piece shaft design makes for easy storage and transport. The HT 56 C-E pole pruner is lightweight and well balanced and it’s priced less than other STIHL pole pruner options – making it the perfect addition to your home landscaping power equipment. Read More…