Category Archives: Uncategorized

Fixing Kohler touchless kitchen faucet

We bought a Kohler brand touchless kitchen faucet a few years ago unfortunately I did not document it properly, at this moment, I found the closest model on youtube. It does not matter and what matters is that it leaks and I need to fix it.

My faucet has two places that one can access,

Upon checking the videos on the Youtube, I found the following few helpful

This video provides the general idea how to access the cartridge. Basically, one need find the little hole on the handle, normally use an Allen wrench (or hex wrench) of 5/64 or 7/64 to loosen the top, then we can open it up and do the following repairs.

This guy also has a good video  on fixing the faucet.

This guy has the Kohler touchless for sure. He shows how to replace the battery. Mine is powered by household electricity so I never worry about replacing the battery.

There are other video like this one, basically they all have similar mechanism. 

Kohler has life time warranty lon their cartridge, but they need receipt (which I have lost) to receive the free part.

Regardless, I have found part diagram, but I need to further select service part for Rival® K-30472. Hopefully I can get the part to proceed with the fixing.

Genie garage opening wiring problem

Recently, my friend did some dry wall work of the garage ceiling, he pulled the wires out of the opener but when he completed and put the wires back, it did not work any more. The symptoms are:

1. One of the safety sensor does not light up.
2. The light bulb does not turn on.

I had my own blog earlier on fixing garage door opener, it has the information. Like the following diagram shows, there are normally three sets of wire related to the common operations:

1. One set of wire is dedicated to the wall control, and it should go to the BWC.
2. The other two sets of wire are dedicated to the safety sensors, and normally hooked to the STB.

Normally, one need to find which one is dedicated to Wall Control, refer to my own blog for details. Then, wind the other two sets of wires properly. And, it is good to know that “polarity” is ignorable, a.k.a. one does not need to find the stripe wire or white wire.

It turns out my friend did not hook the wall control wire to the BWC, and he pulled and damaged one set of wire for the sensor. I had to re-wire it and use a new wire to replace the damaged one.

I also wanted to give credit to garadget for the forum. I find it very helpful.

Samsung refrigerator defrost problem

My friend has a Samsung refrigerator, the model number: Rf4287HARS. Anyway, I heard a lot complaints about the Samsung fridge, including the defrosting errors.

Found a very good video

Parts links are as following:

The first link
The second link

The Kit I Used: https://bens-appliances.com/products/…
Defrost Sensor: https://bens-appliances.com/products/…

If you want to DIY your own kit (which may be more expensive than the one we build and sell), you’d want the following items:

Supco SH502 Heater: https://bens-appliances.com/products/…
High-Temp 185*F Cable Ties: https://amzn.to/3ZAJOrC
16-18 AWG Posi-Taps: https://amzn.to/3kW2fb6
OR YOU CAN USE: https://bit.ly/44z0pOP

Moisture Kit: https://oemparts.bens-appliances.com/…

Riding mower won’t start

My friend has a John Deere 100 riding mower and it won’t start, after doing some research and checking out my own note, I think there are two possible places that might cause this.

I found these helpful videos and they provide some visual information for this

1. The starter solenoid coil failure
2. This lady did a good job on cleaning carburetor, successful story.
3. There are some common mistakes in starting the engine wrongly. 

Program Kwikset Powerbolt 2 Deadbolt Lock

I am writing this note to program a Kwikset Powerbolt Deadbolt Lock, and I find this helpful video. The guy did a fantastic job and he really deserves the credit. If people prefer to read instruction manual, here it is: powerbolt2-programming-instructions

A few important reminders:

The powerbolt is powered by 4 AA batteries
The reset button is located at the back (inside) of the lock, by pushing it down for 5 seconds until it beats, 
The manufacture master code is always: 0-0-0-0. 
Never make the master code same as the manufacture's master code
Beeping for twice is a successful sign, while beeping for 3 times is a bad one.

To reset the lock and get ready to program the pass code

1. Make sure the lock is in the unlocked position.
2. Remove the battery cover.
3. Press and hold the “Reset” button for 5 seconds. You will hear 3 long beeps after the 5 seconds is completed indicating the lock has been reset.

As a result, You will reset your User Code to 1-2-3-4 and Mastercode to 0-0-0-0 when the reset is complete.

To set locking/unlocking positions

1. Make sure the door is open and in the unlocked position.
2. Press 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – LockSign – 0 – LockSign
Note: Each button represents two numbers (i.e. ONLY push the button once for 0). If you incorrectly enter the code, wait 10 seconds until you hear three beeps. Then you can try again.
3. If the step was completed correctly, the latch bolt will extend out and retract back in completely.
4. It should beeps twice.

What can go wrong, if you hear it beeps three times.

	
  • It must be set at completely unlock position
  • If you missed, it can be fixed by
  • Use key to turn it to lock position, then do:Press 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – LockSign – 0 – LockSign
  • It should retrack back to unlock position, then reset to manufacture setting
  • Then re-do it.
  • To test the lock

    1. Make sure the door is open and in the unlocked position.
    2. Press LockSign
    3. The latch will extend fully to the lock position and end with one beep and the keypad will turn off.
    4. Enter 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – LockSign
    5. The latch will retract fully in the unlock position and end with one beep and the keypad will turn off.
    

    To delete all user’s code

    1. Make sure the door is open and in the unlocked position.
    2. Enter the default Master Code 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – LockSign – 5 – LockSign
    3. The lock will beep twice and the keypad will flash Green.
    

    To delete a specific user’s code

    1. Make sure the door is open and in the unlocked position.
    2. Enter the default Master Code 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – LockSign – 3 – LockSign
    3. Press that user's code – LockSign
    3. The lock will beep twice and the keypad will flash Green.
    

    To set user’s code
    NEVER make user’s code as “manufacture default master code”, it allows up to 6 different codes.

    1. Make sure the door is open and in the unlocked position.
    2. Enter the default Master Code 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – LockSign – 1 – lockSign
    3. Enter a 4 to 10 digit code and press LockSign
    4. The lock will beep twice and the keypad will flash Green.
    

    The following advanced features may not needed for common usage:

    To set one-time code
    It ONLY allows one one-time code

    1. Make sure the door is open and in the unlocked position.
    2. Enter the default Master Code 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – LockSign – 1 - 9 – lockSign
    3. Enter a 4 to 10 digit one-time code and press LockSign
    4. The lock will beep twice and the keypad will flash Green.
    

    To changer the master code

    1. Make sure the door is open and in the unlocked position.
    2. Enter the default Master Code 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – LockSign – 7 – LockSign
    3. Enter a 4 to 10 digit code and press LockSign
    4. The lock will beep twice and the keypad will flash Green
    

    To mute or unmute beeping noise

    1. Make sure the door is open and in the unlocked position.
    2. Enter the default Master Code 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – LockSign – 1 - 5 – LockSign
    3. The will mute or unmute the beeping sound
    

    To set auto-lock feature and set auto-lock time

    1. Make sure the door is open and in the unlocked position.
    2. Enter the default Master Code 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – LockSign – 1 - 1 – LockSign
    3. The will mute or unmute the beeping sound
    
    The factory master code for all the locks are 0-0-0-0
    One is allowed to program his/her own master code, BUT, never make this 0-0-0-0
    

    Household water heater

    This is a pretty cool video explains how an expansion tank function.

    I shared this video with yicheng how to install an expansion tank.

    We consider replacing the anode rod and this video provides very good tutorial. It seems simple, but to screw it back can be very difficult. Sear also provides detail instruction as well.

    It turns out that we need to replace the heating element from this (videos) but the themorstat seems fail so we want to test the thermostat.

    To replace the heating element, we follow this video. Again, nothing works easily as the video shows. In our case, we have hard time to screw the element back.