Rhett Betz

Rhett Betz Specializing in car repair and restoration from maintenance to classic rebuilds, we deliver reliable service and quality workmanship you can trust.

To whoever inherited Grandpa's garage before me and failed to label anything, I've already contacted the police.I found ...
05/29/2026

To whoever inherited Grandpa's garage before me and failed to label anything, I've already contacted the police.

I found this mysterious device buried beneath forty years of "might need that someday."

It appears to tighten.

It appears to cut.

It appears to be older than most modern hardware stores.

The tool itself looks offended that I don't immediately recognize it.

Meanwhile I'm over here wondering if it's a pipe cutter, a tubing cutter, or a specialized agricultural instrument used exclusively between 1947 and 1962.

The tool knows what it is.

The tool refuses to elaborate.

Case remains open. 🚨🔧😭

To whoever parked this vehicle and forgot about it for three presidential administrations, I've already filed a report.T...
05/29/2026

To whoever parked this vehicle and forgot about it for three presidential administrations, I've already filed a report.

The brake rotors have developed their own ecosystem.

There are spiders.

There are leaves.

There appears to be a small civilization forming near the caliper.

And somehow the question is:

"Would you guys use these rotors?"

Use them for what?

Emergency stopping?

Or teaching future generations about iron oxidation?

The investigation continues.

To the pinch bolt that watched me waste six hours of my life before revealing itself as the actual problem, I've already...
05/29/2026

To the pinch bolt that watched me waste six hours of my life before revealing itself as the actual problem, I've already contacted the police.

I bought specialty pullers.

I bought penetrating oil.

I bought hope.

The ball joint had movement.

The knuckle would rotate.

Everything looked ready to separate.

Everything except reality.

After enough hammers, pullers, pry bars, and emotional damage to qualify for compensation, I finally discovered the truth:

THE. BOLT. WAS. STILL. HOLDING. IT.

The ball joint wasn't seized.

I was.

Case closed.

To everyone who says "ball joint replacement is easy," I've already contacted the authorities.This started as a control ...
05/29/2026

To everyone who says "ball joint replacement is easy," I've already contacted the authorities.

This started as a control arm job.

Somehow it evolved into a full-scale driveway psychological evaluation.

At one point I had:

Three pullers
Two hammers
One torch
Zero progress

The knuckle and ball joint had entered a toxic relationship and refused to separate.

Hours later the solution turned out to be removing the bolt that was literally designed to keep them together.

The amount of suffering that could have been prevented by reading one sentence sooner is immeasurable.

The repair is complete.

My sanity is not. 🚨🔧😭🏁

To the cutting wheel hiding inside this antique pipe cutter, I've already filed a report.All I want is a replacement.Ins...
05/29/2026

To the cutting wheel hiding inside this antique pipe cutter, I've already filed a report.

All I want is a replacement.

Instead I've become involved in a hostage negotiation.

The wheel is held in place by a pin.

The pin is held in place by determination.

And the entire assembly appears to have been engineered specifically to annoy me.

I've got punches.

I've got a vise.

I've got YouTube.

None of us know what's happening.

The wheel knows.

The wheel isn't talking.

To the rear brake assembly of this 1992 F150, we need to talk.I began this project expecting a simple wheel cylinder rep...
05/29/2026

To the rear brake assembly of this 1992 F150, we need to talk.

I began this project expecting a simple wheel cylinder replacement.

What I got was an archaeological dig.

Every component is covered in rust.

Every bolt looks original.

And this wheel cylinder appears to have formed a legally binding relationship with the backing plate.

The Haynes manual says:
"Remove wheel cylinder."

REMOVE IT HOW, GARY?

That's the part I'm trying to figure out.

The truck is 33 years old.

The wheel cylinder has clearly established squatter's rights.

An investigation is ongoing. 🚨🔧😭

To whoever manufactured this pipe cutter and neglected to leave instructions for future generations, I've already contac...
05/29/2026

To whoever manufactured this pipe cutter and neglected to leave instructions for future generations, I've already contacted the police.

I need a new cutting wheel.

Simple enough.

Except first I have to remove the old wheel.

Which would be easier if the cutter wasn't apparently forged during the Eisenhower administration.

At this point I've inspected every pin, rivet, and moving part while trying to determine which direction things are supposed to come apart.

Meanwhile the hardware store employee is about to ask me what model it is.

Sir, I don't even know what decade it's from.

The cutter remains silent.

The wheel knows the truth.

Case remains open.

To whoever thinks these tires are still roadworthy, I've already filed a report.One raindrop hits this thing and the car...
05/29/2026

To whoever thinks these tires are still roadworthy, I've already filed a report.

One raindrop hits this thing and the car is legally classified as a boat.

The tread pattern has completely vanished.

There is more tread on a basketball.

There is more tread on my kitchen floor.

Yet somehow this vehicle is still out here participating in traffic.

Meanwhile parking officers are writing tickets for expired permits while this rolling hydroplaning simulator gets a free pass.

Make it make sense.

To the front suspension component that quit without giving a two-week notice, I've already contacted the police.I parked...
05/29/2026

To the front suspension component that quit without giving a two-week notice, I've already contacted the police.

I parked a perfectly normal 2002 Outback.

I came back to discover the front tire is now facing a completely different zip code.

The steering wheel says "straight."

The tire says "absolutely not."

Now everyone keeps asking if it's an easy fix.

Easy for WHO?

The wheel is laying at an angle usually reserved for shopping carts with emotional problems.

Somewhere underneath this car, a tie rod, ball joint, or control arm has completely abandoned its responsibilities.

I am beyond furious.

To the front wheel that suddenly decided it no longer wished to participate in steering, I've already contacted the auth...
05/29/2026

To the front wheel that suddenly decided it no longer wished to participate in steering, I've already contacted the authorities.

I was driving a perfectly normal car.

Then without warning, the tire rotated approximately 47 degrees beyond what physics intended.

At this point the wheel isn't steering.

It's sightseeing.

The suspension appears confused.

The tire has completely lost respect for management.

And somewhere underneath the car, a tie rod is writing its resignation letter.

Absolutely unbelievable.

The wheel has chosen freedom.

To whoever manufactured this pipe cutter and then apparently vanished from recorded history — congratulations, you’ve of...
05/28/2026

To whoever manufactured this pipe cutter and then apparently vanished from recorded history — congratulations, you’ve officially ruined my afternoon.

I figured identifying an old pipe cutter would take maybe 30 seconds. WRONG.

Instead I’m zooming into blurry stampings trying to decode whether this says:
“Made in U.S.A.”
“Made by aliens”
or “good luck idiot.”

The thing looks like it survived three world wars and still cuts better than half the new tools at the hardware store today.

Meanwhile Google keeps showing me modern tubing cutters made from recycled soda cans instead of anything remotely useful.

Someone out there absolutely knows this brand and is choosing to remain silent for entertainment purposes.

Address

20 Randalls Island Park
New York, NY
10035

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