u/Ok-Comfortable-5955

I have a machine (bobcat 863 if it matters) that sat outside untouched for several years, I aquired it from my grandfathers estate, and am working through some issues with it. One of those issues is the manual quick attach pins are seized, bucket is attached. I had a prybar on it, with my wife holding tension on ot while I tapped the end of the pin with a hammer and couldn’t get either to budge. I didn’t have much for tools or time to mess with it today. We will fight that battle a different day I guess lol. Levers move, it appears to be the pin itself.
Looking at the system from what I can see my options are push feom the bottom on the tapered end or pull from the top. Does anyone think I will have enough room with the bucket attached to remove the roll pin so a can maybe attach a chain with another pin to pull up harder? Put a punch under the pin amd use the hydraulics to push the pin out? Sketchy as hell but maybe

I have a 863 with 3800 hours on it, one lift cylinder leaks significantly. I can look at the seal on the end of the cylinder amd see that pieces of the seal are starting to come out. It actually sprays sometimes. Any thoughts on weather it worth try to have it rebuilt? Or just buy a cylinder and be done? Seems to me lime most people I have known that have had cylinders repaired, have had issues later. Anyone have a rough cost to have a shop repair it? How hard is it to do yourself? I am a diesel mechanic, but mot familiar with equipment (yet… we just got this thing haha)

I will inherit 25-30k late this year after a grandfathers estate is liquidated. I would like to keep some accessible as an emergency fund but still grow. What are my options?

My daughter failed her swim test, the instructor she took the class with does not have any more test dates scheduled. Are we just out? Can she re schedule a swim/skills test with another instructor? Anyone dealt with this?

Is the 3.6 in the caravans the POS engine everyone complains about? I worked for two fleets that ran a lot of caravans and didn’t see problems with them. Are there certain years that are good bad? Whats the scoup and details?

I have a 110v air compressor that is plugged in to a 20a circuit in my garage. Occasionally when it kicks on it will trip the breaker, usually only when it is cold in the garage. I was looking at getting a soft start box that you plug into it inline to reduce the surge, after reading the description most say not to use them for air compressors. Why is that? Is there a certain model or brand I should get?