Learning Lessons

Some days things just don’t work according to MY plan. Actually, that might apply to most days ... but some days are worse than others.

So there I was on Friday - getting my day’s projects started early in the morning and “things” were pretty much going as planned. The morning project was to get the lawn tractor out and “mow” my leaves into the bagger attachment. The project started out pretty normal as I uncovered the tractor, started it up, backed it up several feet, engaged the mower blades, and then started to move forward. The process was going pretty normal for about 5 feet when I heard a loud bang followed by the engine stopping. “Hmmm” I said ... “that don’t sound right! I wonder if I ran over something.” Or something to that effect. Not seeing anything obviously wrong I tried to re-start the engine. The starter engaged like normal but the engine turned over really fast and way to easy. It was about here that I knew this was not good! It took me about 30 seconds of troubleshooting to figure out that the engine’s piston was no longer connected to it’s crankshaft and that the connecting rod had undergone a rapid energetic disassembly ... that’s ex-Nuclear Operator language for “it broke!”

With Peggy’s assistance I was able to push the tractor into the storage shed and I began a more detailed investigation. It took me about 30 minutes to remove the engine cowling, then the engine’s cylinder head, and then the piston. For you less than experienced mechanics out there ... if you can remove the piston of a standard internal combustion engine at this point of engine disassembly something is terribly wrong! Most of the connecting rod came out with the piston and lots of little pieces came out as well.

At this point I could view the connecting rod’s correct point of attachment on the crankshaft And it didn’t look in much better shape than the connecting rod. This was not going to be a quick fix. I also checked the engine oil level and determined quite quickly that I had found the root cause of the problem ... a significant lack of lubrication caused by inadequate oil quantity. Actually ... the root cause was inadequate checking of oil level by the operator! Apparently this engine had been burning its lubricating oil internally for some time ... and checking the oil back in June was not often enough!

After kicking myself for my negligence I settled back into recovery mode. How do I recover from this little problem? I could pick up the leaves the old fashion way, and I did with lots of help from my wonderful wife ... but I certainly didn’t want to continue that process for the rest of leaf season. I could remove and rebuild the engine ... but that could take several weeks and an unknown amount of money. I could buy a new engine ... but that would cost about 1/3 the cost of a whole new lawn tractor ... and again several weeks to obtain an engine and then install the new one. What path do I take?

As it turns out I took the most expensive and least logical path. I spent a few hours shopping and then purchased a new lawn tractor - complete with new bagging system since my existing system wouldn’t work on the new machine. But wait ... I wasn’t done yet!

Since the “old” tractor was still in very good condition except for the broken engine ... and since I couldn’t see just throwing it away ... I decided to fix it as well.

Yesterday morning I removed the failed engine and took it into the basement for disassembly and further evaluation - hoping that much of it could be saved. Unfortunately the crankshaft was found beyond repair which made rebuilding the old engine about as costly as buying a new one. A little time on Amazon.com later and a new replacement engine was on order with an estimated delivery date of one week. Isn’t technology wonderful? But this story gets even better.

I got a message from UPS last night telling me that my order would be delivered tomorrow (Today!!). And it was ... from order to delivery in just about 24 hours ... and this purchase didn’t even qualify for Amazon “Prime.” 

So the good news / bad news is that I should have the “old” lawn tractor back in service with a new engine tomorrow (less than 1 week from failure). In retrospect ... I’d have been better off economically by just replacing the engine right from the start. But then I wouldn’t have this story to tell you, I wouldn’t have been reminded that it really does make good sense to check engine oil levels more frequently on these small engines, and I wouldn’t have been reminded that sometimes haste does lead to waste.

I know ... I’ll teach Peggy how to operate one of the tractors and we can have that job done in half the time!

And then I’ll learn a new lesson.

Musings From Maine - Fall 2019

Autumn is in full swing here in Maine. The leaves are falling daily, the trees are about half naked, and my lawn tractor has already been used as a leaf vacuum twice with one more workout scheduled for tomorrow.

Other signs include ... the Patriots are winning, the Celtics started their season yesterday, our Motorhome is back in storage, the Chevelle is in its storage spot as are two of my restored vintage motorcycles ... and Halloween is just around the corner.

We haven’t received a hard freeze yet but I suspect that time is not far off. I hope it holds off for a few more days until I get the outdoor hoses drained and put away!

Peggy and I had a fun get-a-way day on our Anniversary earlier this month. We took a leisurely 200 mile drive up the Maine coast to the small town of Machias, did a little sightseeing along the coast, had some great food at a couple of Maine’s iconic small coastal restaurants (Moody’s Diner in Waldoboro and Helen’s Restaurant in Machias) and then came home the next day using a more inland route on a nice sunny day with just about peak fall foliage to view. Even us retired folk need a get-a-way day now and again to just enjoy our surroundings ... and each other!

Along with accomplishing my annual fall chore of getting my vehicle fleet prepared for winter I also removed the hood from my 1965 Chevelle and the painted pieces from my 1966 Yamaha Big Bear so they can be provided to my “Paint Guy” for some beautification work over the next few months. Glen always does a great job so I’m looking forward to seeing how these parts come out! Glen already has the hood and the Yamaha parts will follow as soon as I complete some prep work.

So that’s all behind us ... what’s ahead? If its almost November then our priorities will shift to staying warm, watching kids and grandkids grow up, enjoying family over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, and then planning and executing our escape from winters grip on the northeastern US.

The Winnebago has had her fluids and filters changed, she is fueled up, she has her new awnings installed, and her solar panel is keeping her batteries charged. So she sits ready to be loaded and pointed south. My Chevy Colorado has completed all its modifications necessary to be towed behind Winne and the test tow went well. All we need now is some cooperative weather during that first week of 2020!

I suspect most of you have been doing pretty much the same as us over these past many weeks ... living life and doing what you can to pursue happiness whenever and however you can. Hopefully you have spent very little time paying much attention to the childish behavior being displayed by our “leaders” in Washington, DC. I wonder if they understand that although we care what they actually accomplish while they represent us - we care little for the pettiness and vitriol they seem to require while they get done what little they do manage to complete. I probably spend too much of my time paying attention to what they are up to ... and I probably wont stop since I’m a bit stubborn ... but even I find myself needing to turn away and just ignore their noise. I know ... many of you out there have been more successful at “ignoring the noise“ than I for a long time. I just hope we all continue to hear and understand the message while ignoring the noise.

In the meantime ... we will do our best to enjoy what can be enjoyed as we finish off autumn and welcome winter when it comes ... and then follow the warmth of the sun as fast as we can!

75 and A-Wake-Up.

Here I Sit

Well ... here I sit ... early on this rainy morning ... waiting for the Freightliner of Maine boys to bring the Winnebago into their shop for its annual lube, filter and oil change. This is always a visit I dread. It takes as long as it takes ... no real schedule for these guys. And it costs way to much for what they do ... but alas ... here I sit.

WTT has sat in her storage spot for 4 or so months but she has awoken rather peacefully. So far all systems are working as we left them and the 40 mile drive down here to Westbrook was uneventful. Once we get this necessary preventative maintenance done ... and get the awning replaced next week ... it will be time to get her back in her storage spot for a few more months before we head south for the winter.

I did get started on making a few reservations for our 2020 winter trip yesterday. Making reservations  for RV Parks in the south for the winter months can get iffy this time of year but so far - so good. I was able to reserve a spot for us for a few days at one of our go-to parks in Lower Alabama ... the Escapees Club Rainbow Plantation ... in mid January for a few days. After resting up for a few days in the warmth (hopefully) we plan on heading west along I-10 to San Antonio for a few days ... and then on to Arizona where we plan on hanging out for several weeks before taking a leisurely trip back home. As is usual for us ... we hope to be back in Maine around the 1st of April.

Maine is turning rather fall-ish rather fast. The leaves are starting their annual color change and more and more are showing up in my yard. It won’t be long and I’ll be attaching the leaf catcher to the lawn tractor and starting the bi-weekly leaf bagging and hauling routine. My least favorite chore of the year ... even worse than snow shoveling/blowing! Well ... maybe it’s a tie.

I have been spending my time these last several weeks working on reupholstering seats for a 1966 Impala convertible. The Impala is undergoing a complete restoration at a local shop where my friend Glen is doing the body and paint work. I was recruited to accomplish the interior work since I have some experience doing this work and I am trading my labor for some body/paint work by Glen on my 1966 Yamaha Big Bear motorcycle and a repaint of the hood on my 1965 Chevelle. The Chevelle was painted by Glen about 25 years ago and has held up pretty well ... but the hood has developed a bubble in the paint from some rust that needs repair. The seats are just about done on the Impala and I’ll start getting the Yamaha parts and Chevelle hood ready in a few weeks.

Peggy and my 49th wedding anniversary is this Friday so we have decided to get out of the house and take in a little Maine fall scenery along their northern coast of Maine. We are heading up to Machias, Maine for the day and an overnight ... and will be returning on Saturday. Not a long trip ... but it will be nice to get away from the routine for a day. Forty-nine years —- whodathunkit? Well ... we did! Next year will be the big Five-Oh!! Since the 50th Anniversary is supposed to be a big deal ... and it is ... we are planning a Party! I’m not sure how “wild” the party will be since we left “wild” a long time ago ... but we are hoping to have a good time with family and friends. Details to follow ... but ya’ll may have to start saving Saturday October 3rd - 2020 as the date to be in Maine and join us!

And congratulations are in order for our daughter Stacy today as she starts her new position as President of Downeast Insurance! Good job kiddo!

So here I sit ... 2 hours later and they are just getting WTT pulled in to the service bay!