Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Frustrated....

Even as the bikes are sleeping in the garage for the winter, life goes on. Today, it was time to change the oil in my truck. I hate that job.... Why? It's not hard, but the oil change on my truck is just unnatural...


I've been wrenching on cars, trucks, lawnmowers, heavy equipment and motorcycles since my high school days, and I graduated in 1978... so I've done a few things. I took Auto Shop my junior year and have been doing all my own brake jobs, wheel bearings, tire rotations, transmission fluid/filter changes, engine oil changes, grease jobs, tune ups, water pumps, belts, hoses and exhaust work since then. I serviced my parents' and sister's cars.
Back when cars had points and a distributor, I changed points, set ignition timing and dwell, changed countless spark plugs and air filters, adjusted choke coils, replaced carburetors and intake manifolds.
I've swapped a few engines, replaced the main bearings and oil pump in a 3.8 L Buick V6, replaced a clutch in a Ford Ranger pick up truck, swapped a few GM TH-400 automatic transmissions, changed the turbo charger on a 1980 Pontiac 301c.i.d. Trans-Am...

I mount and balance my own motorcycle tires, replace my own sprockets and chains, change engine oil, brake fluid, air filters...


30 years ago, I worked in the shop of a excavation and demolition company and I bought Snap-on tools off the truck that would come around each Friday afternoon.


I consider myself at least semi mechanically inclined.

But I absolutely hate changing the oil in my truck. It didn't help that it's -5 deg F outside, and the garage was just above freezing. Just warm enough to have the ice/snow built up under the truck melt and drip on me as I'm rolling around under it.

The oil filter on GM's 5.3 liter is mounted vertically and recessed a ways up toward the engine block. I have to use a cup style oil filter wrench on a 12" extension. Because of the vertical orientation of the filter and the fact that the truck is up on ramps, oil runs down the sides of the filter as it's being loosened. It drips onto the side of the oil pan, onto the frame and skid pans... It drips down onto my hands, runs up my arms...


Then, the drain plug is positioned horizontally... So when I remove it, 6 quarts of warm oil shoot out almost 2 feet... It's a huge pain to try and catch it in a drain pan. After a few seconds the flow slows down and the oil falls almost vertically... Better keep an eye on things or the oil will be falling on the floor and not in the pan(that's happened more than once)...

On 2 of my motorcycles the oil filter is horizontal and the drain plugs are vertical. When I loosen the oil filters, oil drips out in a single, easy to catch, stream. The oil drains from the sump straight down.... No messes, no spills, no surprises. Oh, if everything in life were that easy!

To top it all off, I spilled a bunch of the drain oil as I was pouring it into my 7 gallon waste oil container! The last time I brought my drain oil into town to recycle it, the place I took it to wouldn't take all my oil. Their tank was full. I had to bring home nearly half my old oil. I knew it would be close, but I over filled the container and made a mess on the garage floor. I had to find a milk jug to pour the last of the oil into. I'll be taking the oil in this week... I hope they have room for it all this time.


Sorry for whining, but I feel better now... or for at least the next 3000 miles...

Friday, December 19, 2014

My Return to Technology.


As I sit here tonight the cats are curled up, 3 in a bed, under the Christmas tree. There's a fire in the fireplace and it's a cool and snowy 25 degrees outside.


I realize that it's been almost 8 full months since I've spent any time on the computer(a very interesting and liberating experiment). I have spent more than a few hours trying to catch up on the blogs I follow, and there's still a lot of reading to do.

Nancy and I were saddened to read of the passing of fellow blogger Bob Leong. I'm sorry this is so late in coming, but we wish to express our condolences to Yvonne and family.


I met Bob in Oregon in 2012 at a blogger get-together, nick-named the "International Motorcycle Bloggers Convention". I spent 5 slow paced days driving from WI to OR. to meet up with 7 other motorcycle bloggers. Together we spent a 3 day weekend driving and relaxing in the beautiful Enterprise/Hell's Canyon area. It was really nice to be able to put a face to the blogs! It was a fun 10 day, 3500 mile trip for me.

I was kind of hesitant about making the trip because I am a shy, quiet and private person. I wasn't sure how I'd fit in with the group. I had been following and commenting on their blogs, but that's a lot different than meeting them in person. I was immediately accepted as one of the group, and Bob was the first person I met. Roland and Sonja, Karen, Brad and Brandy, and Richard all made me feel welcome.

I'll miss Bob's witty comments, his numerous bare feet pictures, and his bright pink Crocs.

Since meeting Bob, I've tried to post an occasional picture or two just for his benefit.....




On to some happier thoughts... Nancy and I have been staying quite busy. In October, we celebrated our 13th year together!

The fall colors were beautiful this year, but were very short lived...


Winter has arrived in the Wisconsin north woods and the motorcycles are resting. Our first real snowfall came November 9th and it's still here. This year, the snow will not break my spirit! I've upgraded the weaponry in the garage. The 5.5 hp, 24" snow blower has been upgraded. Now, I get to laugh at Old Man Winter!!!


I got a good deal on a John Deere 1025R sub-compact utility tractor. It's powered by a 24 hp, 3 cylinder Yanmar diesel engine. It came equipped with a 47" snow blower, a front end loader, and a 54" mid mount mower. The loader and mower deck are tucked away in the garage.

I spent a lot of time splitting wood this year and have expanded the wood piles by another 20+ feet...


This is our third winter up north, but it's the first winter we've seen wild turkeys in the yard...


The deer are everywhere...


The black bears made their appearance this summer and the woods is full of wildlife...

I'm happy to be back and look forward to catching up on a ton of reading!!!!!!!