Apologies
Due to unforseen illness, The Cog Speaks will be delayed one week.
Woke up in the wee hours with a scratchy throat (and why No Podcast,,, Sound like pure hell right now) and by dawn, that had started making a beachhead in my bronchii to attempt a Coup de Pnuemonia.
On the Anti-biotics to fight that, and LOTS AND LOTS OF FLUIDS, Saline flushes of the sinuses to fight the Bugs Logistics chain, and gargling salt water and Listerine alternately, for the same purpose (and to sooth that throat.)
And,,, To add insult to injury, Its NICE out,, Like Spring-like, not the Witches teat Cold the Weather liars warned of. ((Still calling for sleet tomorrow and snow on monday,,,, We’ll see,,,))
I did manage to get a little done on Twuck, at least pulled the Mastercylinder and line to the clutch,,, Lots of ICK sucked out of the resevoir so I decided to not fuck around here,,, Did manage to get it where clear fluid was flowing through the end of the line, but by that point, my body temps were burning my eyelids up and I decided, “th e slave cylinder can wait, Health wins out”. Tools put up, cleaned up, and Home now. Getting my Hot Tottie arranged and I turned up the T-stat on the water heater a touch. Gonna try to burn this out the old fashioned way. Lots of blankets piled up on the bed, and Fresh sheets off to the side so I can change out after I soak the current ones.
live, learn, love, laugh, LOAD More tomorrow
oh yeah,,, Twucks Title came in today, in my name, all legal-eagle like,,,, Another small win, (was told 4 weeks,,,, Took one.)
On me back again,,,,
Not whorin’ mind you,
Nopes, climbed under Twuck again, this time to look at the slave cylinder and how hard it will be to flush and bleed the system and see what I actually have/haven’t and what if anything needs replaced. While under there, I looked up at the frame and Sho;nuff, right there, where the frame does it’s drop into the main from the front rise: it’s wet,, I found my blown brake line. Rusted as F! and not surprising. Gonna be some repair there, and not just that ‘little section’, oh no!,,, I learned that lesson once upon a time back in me younger days.
Dunno that I am gonna be able to do the clutch work this weekend. Its pissing down kats and dawgs out there right now, and not supposed to let up much tomorrow. THEN, the bottom is supposed to drop out and things get cold, wet and KOLD, Snowy, in that order.
But I’ma gonna try,,,
Looking at things, I really want some upgrades as well. LED lights where I can find alternates for starters. Much like that touchscreen interface I mentioned in a previous post, I DO see the advantages of some upgrades to older tech. I found LED replacements for the headlamps, which, as you can see in the first set of pics I posted, ARE NEEDED. The ones that were in here had split and were burned up and one had a plant growing in it,,, NO, that one ain’t gonna work no matter how many prayers get sent on high. Oh, and those replacement bulbs I had in the shed,,,, Not so mucho,,, Twuck takes a 6054,,, I had 4666’s. NO MATCH,,,looked close, but not gonna do it.
Right now, the internal argument between myself and I, is “spend the money now: as in Cry once” or the counter argument “Keep to budget and deal with it when the finances free up”. both valid points. I haven’t decided yet: I did put BOTH in my online cart, and when I finally have enough to justify ordering, I will decide then. I don’t want to spend oodles of cash on shipping tidbits here and there,,, Get a few items and spend the one shipping fee or none at all on shipping.
For what its worth to y’all: RockAuto and Amazon are my goto’s right now. Everywhere else I look is triple or more in price. I’m not a scrooge, I’m closer to broke: LOL. The bills WILL get paid,,, just might take some time.
I hate to say it, but the markups that some places are applying to things is damned near criminal. Like at the J.O.B.,,, we needed 40′ of #41 drive chain to finish that install I started Turdsday. Son of Bossman found some local, at $10 a FOOT! the bill, including enough master links to make the sections a full 40′ was close to $500,,, After work, I looked on the Zon and found a roll of 100′ and 15 master links, for $1.39/ft with free shipping,,, I sent the link to Son of, with the caveat “might wanna get some for future needs, you know we will need it.” and got back a thumbs up and a thanks.
In the automotive world, I see similar. I can find the same things online, for a third of what local wants to charge, and I would bet (in one case, no bet, its a given) they are ordering from RockAuto and applying a hefty markup. I understand profit, but TRIPLE? I think I’ll take my cash elsewhere,,,,
That kills local economies, and I don’t like it, but there is NO WAY I can afford local at triple markups. And in this economy, I know I ain’t alone in that.
Now, there are some things I am going to get locally, like the solid lines for that brake repair. I may pay more, but will have the conveinence of “if it ain’t right, they are up the road” not waiting a week or more for a replacement, and iffy refund policies. Plus, I can take the old parts with and match what I need (like proper thread size and such.)(and I don’t get hit with “oversized package” fees, like I would get ordering a 10′ section of solid hydraulic line. It all balances in this case.)
On other points, I still have not tried cutting that P-brake cable at the hub and seeing if that frees my rear wheel up. THAT will happen this weekend. Would have happened this eve, ‘ceptin’ I forgot my cut-off wheels at the J.O.B. and didn’t have one on my grinder,,, That’s a’ight,,, I has keys to the shop. Just didn’t feel like runing back at that point,,, I have all weekend (kinda, weather y’know,,,)
So what DID I do, other than Eye-ball leaks and needs?
I gave Twuck a bath
One that she almost sighed over,,, Not a full bath, but enough to get that decade worth of algae off her skin. She’s shiny under all that muck!!! And of course, my curse “wash truck, gonna rain” came true, again! I did not wax her, so no big deal, just a wet scrub down and rinse to wash off the muck. Shit was rolling off her was BLACK at first. Blech!
She almost looks respectable right now,,, Headlights would go along way to make the look complete,,,, among many other things,,, So much more to do before she is road ready.
Ok, yawns are catching up to me, time to call it an early Freeday evenin’ and go watch the show on the insides of my eyelids,,,
LIVE
Learn
Laugh
LOVE
LOAD
Side effects,,,,
Between the Carnivore diet (Lots of extra energy, clearer thinking) and BLOO-Twuck, and maybe more thinkin’ time on my hands with longer nights,,, I find my mind RACING along “CREATE” modes.
Just the last week, the desire to build another Kayak has been on my ‘resting’ mind, as well as another ‘hobby’ from even further back: BOWS.
FYI, I spend about an hour a night on the Erg, and I spend another 30 minutes or so bending bows, throwing arrows (IF the light is good, some evenings this gets left out for lighting reasons.) There are other things I do to keep my physique tuned (and they are ALL getting easier as the fat rolls off the middle and other areas,,,) but those two have the added bonus of getting creations going.
I want to build a new Greenland style boat, but not a skin on frame. I DO want to use the skin on frame as my ‘plug’, but I want a composite boat. Thinking the old design that I used on Serena as my plug to build from. Being a plug, I can cut some corners (no need of 20+ ribs) and use cheaper materials for the frame.
But the BOW,,,, That one, that is getting wilder and wilder in my head. 54″ horse bow, Hungarian Style, Composite limbs. And to break from tradition, a center cut body and molded grip. Use Beech for the Siyahs as I like the extremely fine grain of it (and its stronger than Oak in some ways, without the weight of Oak.) Thinking 45-50# draw weight at 28″ (my usual draw length) Not super-bow weights, but legal to use for hunting in all but one of the 50 states ( I Believe Alaska requires at least 50+ and depending on WHAT you are hunting, I can understand why. Wouldn’t want to piss off a Grizz by poking it with a sharp stick and NOT drive that sharp stick DEEP inside.)( I seem to remember Fred Bear took a Kodiak with one of his recurves weighted at 70# and swore he wouldn’t try again with anything less.)
Why a Horse bow? There is something about the way they look,,, Sexy and deadly at the same time. Think Cupids Bow and you have a good idea of the shape they take when strung.
When they aren’t strung, they have this crazy forward lean that defies normal tillering concepts like those used in Long bows or American Recurves. BUT more than that, I like their “Snap”. Because the way the Siyahs shorten the actual string length on release, they have a snap that compares to that of a Compound bow. really REALLY fast arrows, Faster than with a Recurve and makes the speed from a longbow seem like a slow truck. Fast arrows shoot flatter. Fast arrows can beat the “jump” that can frustrate a hunter. (Deer will jump if they hear a bow ‘snap’, and sometimes, that jump is enough to cause a full MISS.)
But Dio, why not just buy a compound and get all the bells and whistles of ‘sights’ and fast arrows, and adjustable draw weights? BECAUSE, those things can break, and leave you walking out of the woods pissed off. Sights can get thrown out of adjustment in a slip-sliding traverse of a gulley, AND, I have always been something of a traditionalist when it comes to bows. Carrying an 8# bow??? May as well be carrying a rifle, and if I am going that route, a rifle would be prefered,,, (also, I don’t stand hunt, I stalk: an 8# bow with all the other gear I carry,,, UGH!)(most compounds use metal for the main body, that metal can numb your hands with a quickness. Wood bodied (even composite made) are ‘warm’ and won’t freeze your digits off.)
But a bow, a traditional style bow (even if using modern composites and techniques) will work, everytime, leaving the ‘well that didn’t go as expected’ to my form and and release. And there is a certain satisfaction to be had when you make that 70yd shot, straight to the ribcage, with nothing but a “stick and string”. (I make my own strings too. There are a couple of posts from way back when, when I was making bows from PVC pipe and fishing string. I really like the braided strings for the serve and the monofiliment for the wrappings. Makes for one TOUGH string, AND, as survival tool, I always make two strings for a bow: one reason being, strings can get broken, but also, I have about 15-20 yards of high test fishing line in one string, if things get really desperate.)
Will I make either? Or both? Time will tell. Right now, my finances are all tied up in paying the bills, and getting BLOO-Twuck running. Then, paying off all the debt getting BLOO-Twuck running. Once that is out of the way, will see. BUT THE MIND NEVER STOPS,,,,
Live
Learn
LAUGH
LOVE
LOAD
Today reinforced the ‘why’
I wanted BLOO-Twuck.
Seriously, every reason I have ever wanted a contractors grade rolling tool box, came forth today and bit me in the ass. A double install of powered gates,,, We set the pedastools yesterday (and that concrete was still green today,,, it got COLD last night) and this morn, loaded up the gear for install, and all the parts and peices that make up that install.
Gear included the shop welder and a bottle of welding gas, as well as the 7K genny to run the beast.
And lord did I NEED that welder today. Seems that the company that builds the controllers decided to change the design a bit. I had to cut the top of the pedastools apart and turn them 90degrees: just to get the controllers lined up to the gate properly. Plus adding on the chain mounts and one extension to a pole so We could raise the gate up a few inches: had to, as the gate runs level, but the ground AIN’T!!!
And I am not even going to go fully into the SNAFU that our supplier sent us,,, Not even,, Only know, when I saw some of the stuff this morning, I walked it over to Son of Bossman, asking, “WTF?!?!” The customer even declined this stuff,,,, LOL. There were a couple of other F!U!”s from them, and that means that I am back there tomorrow, to finish up AFTER we go get the right shit.
But yah, Had I had BLOO-Twuck running, my tools would have been ALL right there, and some of the McGuyvering I was reduced to, would have taken half the time. One of my Assistants today, got a lesson in WHY I am the go-to guy for shit. He got to see at least three instances where “Dio knows NOTHING about this Box you speak of”, as I used tools in ways the designers NEVER thought of, to accomplish some “alterations” to things to make them work.
He even got to see me welding upside down, literally hanging upside down to get at my points, half of which were also blind welds. (where you can’t see the puddle, only the edge of the arc,, maybe,,,)
And I kept telling him, “I have no idea what I am doing, I’m making it up as I go along”. Which is True, as I never have any idea what sort of wild ass shit the suppliers will sell Bossman next week. I just have to make it work!!! THAT is my job,,,
Woulda been nice to have a truck full of tools and extra parts,,,,, Not just the “Idunno” bag of stuff I toss on the trucks in current logistics. That’s the “Promise” I heard from BLOO-Twuck when I saw her mouldering away in that back lot. Thats the promise I am busting my nuts (and finances) to bring to fruition. The Promise of Availablity and Adaptability. (and an escape route, one in my control.)
Tonights efforts on BLOO-Twuck were piddlin’. I spent the evening after work (while I had light) to put the cab/dash back together for the upcoming festivities of Hydraulic diags. Yes, I will pull that tank (and I did dip it to see how much is in it, NOT MUCH,,, Dipstick came back up, wet only on the last inch) only because I want to clean out rust, which I KNOW it has now. No way it couldn’t being that low in volume with gasahol in her.
But more important, right now, is sorting out the clutch system, and make sure that functions, and whether or not I need to pull the trans and replace the slave cylinder (and the clutch since I am in there) AND!!! Figure out where the brake lines are blown at. (freeing up that rear wheel too.)
And of course, the weather is slotted to NOT cooperate with me this weekend. Calling for a wet Satyrday, and COLD damp Sonday, leading into Thunderboomers/sleeting overnight and snow on Muhnday. I’ll get SOMETHING done, just may not be much as the weather is going to make a big impact on that.
It’s winter time,,, Or near enough in my opinion. Short days, long nights, feels like we’re runnin’ outta time.
Keep the head up, walk tall, walk with confidence. This ain’t just about “J.O.B.” This is MY future I am working on. One step at time, small baby steps if need be, but one step at a time,,,,
Live
Learn
LAUGH
LOVE
LOAD
Me’z tinkin’ this
Relationship is growing,,,
New cylinder lock came in today. Figured, “what the hell, can’t hurt to try,,,”
And when I was on my way home, swapped out the locks, and ‘tried again’
CRANK CRANK CRANK,,, but didn’t start. NOT THAT THAT’S A PROBLEM,,, She cranked from inside the Cab, not me jerry rigging a jumper on the starter.
I figure that octane level of the gunk in the tank ain’t quite enough to get started easy: needs a little kick, like some ether or something. (but, as you heard in that video yesterday, she runs smooth once she is goin’ ) (there will be gallons of fresh added soon, along with some SeaFoam fuel cleaner.)
BUT that wasn’t the point,,, My No crank Issue is GONE!!! Swapped the cylinders around agian and lo and behold! No crank issue again. No Brainer as to which cylinder is getitng put in, eh? That damned Passlock thing they did in the late 90’s was hit or miss at best and only messed with the techs minds. Too many stories in forums online of chasing down ghost issues that all lead back to that Passlock. Crazy stuff that make chasing down a bad ground look like kidsplay.
SOoooo’sssss Next is hydraulics,,, Gotta see what I can do to get that power to the shoes, then see what it takes to make sure the shoes can go Stoppies,, And freely moving as they are not currently,,, She runs, now to get the show to the rest of the corners.
Yes, there is a lot that needs done under the hood still: coolant flush, hoses, clean up all the electric connections that are showing some corrosion because that leads to high draw as well. Exhaust repairs, Etc etc,,, Those are details,,, I’m not ignoring them, just in triage mode and the worst offenders get immediate attention: Nothing is getting written off at this point because she showed her promise wasn’t empty.
So, “Twuck” it is, but BIg Country made the suggestion last night of BLOO in addition. BLOO Twuck! (and she is BLOO,) Or mehbe Ol’Bloo Twuck,,, (and you know that will get whittled down to just “Ol’BLoo” eventually,,,,)
She’s a keeper, ain’t no doubt now.
Live
LEarn
Laugh
LOVE
LOAD
Twuck goes VWOOOM!!!
As you can see by the previous post, She is a runner. LOUD, but I knew when I saw her cats were cut off, she was gonna be.
Still a no crank issue. More on that in a minute.
Went for the battery first thing this am. Grabbed up a can of Starting fluid as well, because, 12 years in a field,,,,
Battery installed, all connections tight, twist the key, and see lights, and gauges doing wonky things, I can hear the fuel pump whined up,,,
no crank,,,,
Back up and punt,,,
Check at starter, work back. Voltage on the selonoid battery terminal, ground showing on the signal terminal. OK,,, just for giggles, jumper across with a screw driver, crank crank crank, lots of sparks of course, but the engine is turning over. NOW, I need an assistant: No one available,,, keep playing around till one appears. Go ahead and turn key to run, and just to make sure, pull Buffalo up (Running) and set up some jumpers for added kick. Easy view of the cylinders on the Evens side so I pull out my HEI test plug and set it up on #2. Turn the key to run, and then jumper those terminals on the starter. Slow to kick, but eventually started seeing nice hot sparks in the tester. Time for the Ether,,, Two squirts into the intake (PCV tube, such a great location for that purpose.) and bump her over. COuGH, sPUtteR,,, VWOOOOMMM!
and she keeps on runnin!!!! Far more than a couple squirts of ether in the pipes account for,,, There must be fuel in that tank even though it shows empty, and probably not very good fuel, but then a 350 could probably run on old paint thinner too. She keeps running as I race around getting something to toss in the radiator to keep things cool. Took less than a gallon to get me up to top, so there was stuff in her that I hadn’t seen. (and honestly, never really checked other than a glance down in the rad)
Take the jumpers off and shut down Buff; let Twuck run on her own power since she seems so damned willing right now. Check voltages from alt and across points to make sure things are looking right. Was low at 13.8 but in five mintues was up to 14.5, just like every Chevy I have owned in the past.
At this point Twuck is purring like a big ol D9 Catapillar earth mover,,, just humming LOUDLY along content in herself and her power. Blip the throttle acouple of times and LOUD was only the starting point,,, SHes got some serious power behind that purr.
Still no crank. Still no signal to starter. No click at the starter relay, but I can trip it from there, so its not the signal wire. If you have never used a PowerProbeIII, you are missing out. A Serious Electric Diag tool,,,, Gotta be in that ignition switch that I was just banging around on as of yesterday,,, Pull it ALL back apart and see what I can see.
ONLY, there are two screws holding that switch in place. A type I have nothing that fits. E5 inverted torx,,, smallest E’x’ I have is E6 and its a socket and won’t fit down that hole,,,,
ZON!!!!!
They’ll be here on friday, and yes, I paid extra in shipping. I have another ignition switch of that exact make in the Donor Vehicle so a parts swap should isolate or eliminate the issue. AND, It may be that damned security feature I mentioned the other day,,,, Won’t be the first time that little bug-a-boo has bitten Ol’ Dio. I’m researching a ‘bypass’ or ‘ eliminate’ option for that. (technically, I could bypass it by installing a ‘Start” switch/button in the Dash: I proved that the run feature did its thing. Thats last resort, though not off the table. )
SO, I am currently stuck on this page, not quite able to move forward, brainium tired from all the intuitive ‘jumps to conclusion’ features of Diagnostics, but SATISFIED with myself for the days efforts. Oh, and the powersteering works like a champ. Used the moments she was running to straighten the front tires out. Blower motor for the heater works too, and she ran long enough to know that the heater core does put out heat. Did NOT check the AC at this time, though I shoulda,,, Oh well, she ain’t goin’ no where fast
YET! LOL
LIve
Learn
LAUGH
LOVE
LOAD!
PS: I do know “the King is a F.I.N.K.’ acronym. AND there is a ‘Nuetral Safety” on this truck,,, Thats my next check,,, One that will need to wait for daylight hours again. I did ‘engage’ the clutch peddle but didn’t seem to change anything. Doesn’t mean the switch is any good though.
Dio's Workshop 