Angie and I stopped at a yard sale today. We'd gone about all the way through when there was a thump a screech and a cry. I turned in time to see a motorcycle flop over discharging its rider before it slid from view.
Before I knew what was going on my cellphone was in my hand calling 911. What I didn't realize is that when you call 911 from a cell phone you get the State Police. What ensued was a probably not terribly coherent explanation of the accident from me and a fairly poor response from the dispatcher. We finally arrived at where I was and which ambulance service should be dispatched and the ambulance arrived fairly quickly.
I'm not really sure what happened in the accident other than a Jeep seemed to be involved. My theory now is that the driver of the Jeep was turning into the yard sale but didn't see the motorcycle and either tapped him or forced him to take an evasive maneuver which he was not prepared for and thus the fall.
The guy laid face down on the pavement not moving for what seemed like a long time. People rushed over while I was on the phone and when I was done there was quite a crowd. I directed traffic on one side of the road for a little while and could hear folks telling the motorcyclist not to move at which point he started moaning. In retrospect the fact that his moans didn't scare me makes me think they were healthy "I'm still alive and wish to continue so" moans. I've heard the other kind before and don't really ever want to hear them again, although that person lived too.
Anyway, the ambulance arrived, closed off the road, got the dude onto a backboard at which point he was moving his head (danger, danger, danger!) . Other than the fact that his shoes were shredded to the point his toes had road rash I don't think he came out of it too badly. Still pretty scary and now that the adrenaline hit has worn off I'm really really tired.
Be careful out there.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wow
Samantha is one of the coolest people I know, she's also the largest person I know, well over half again my weight. Actually in January she was over double my weight, but heres the thing, she's on a mission to lose it and her method is to publicly out herself, she's started a blog in which she actually posted the numbers. Thats the wow part, not what the number is but that she had the guts to post it...
So here we go, I'm 6 feet tall, I weight ~207 (206 and change yesterday morning) which according to the charts is ~40 pounds over weight. I think the charts are crazy at 165 I'd be skinny as a rail. I was about to write that I don't want that but honestly I've never been skinny as a rail and I have no idea what it'd be like...
When I got out of college in '99 I was around 210-215. When I started my second job after college in 2001 I was more like 250... Its taken me almost 10 years to get rid of that weight so I know what Samantha is up against.
My goal is to get under 200, I don't have the slightest idea the last time I was that light, early in high school I'd guess. "under 200" isn't a very good goal so for practical purposes I'm saying 190. I'm down ~4 pounds this year and I've got 17 more to go!
So here we go, I'm 6 feet tall, I weight ~207 (206 and change yesterday morning) which according to the charts is ~40 pounds over weight. I think the charts are crazy at 165 I'd be skinny as a rail. I was about to write that I don't want that but honestly I've never been skinny as a rail and I have no idea what it'd be like...
When I got out of college in '99 I was around 210-215. When I started my second job after college in 2001 I was more like 250... Its taken me almost 10 years to get rid of that weight so I know what Samantha is up against.
My goal is to get under 200, I don't have the slightest idea the last time I was that light, early in high school I'd guess. "under 200" isn't a very good goal so for practical purposes I'm saying 190. I'm down ~4 pounds this year and I've got 17 more to go!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Another lantern repaint
Bought a Coleman 237 some time ago, the 237 is cool because its a big kerosene lantern, at 500cp (candlepower) its one of the brightest lanterns around. On eBay they generally go for $50 or more even for dirty non-working ones.
So I spotted this one, not many pics, no glass, wrong gas cap, some rust and corrosion. Won the bid for $42. Thats more than I would normally bid but it was in Maine so the shipping would be cheap. It was right around $50 total. Then the guy emails me, the fount (thats the tank part) has a hole in it and leaks. After some discussion he refunded $20 and I took it hole and all.
$15.50 won me 3 other whitegas lanterns, a 220E, 228E and 220F. The 220E and 228E use the same size fount as the 237. I figured for that money if I got the 220F running I could sell it for maybe $20, fix my 237 and have a 228E for free.
The 237 fount really was trash, big chunks of rust in the fount, pinhole leak right in the center. Its a steel base, I probably could weld it but it'll doubtless leak other places. Considering these are under pressure that seems insanely dangerous. I'll keep it, maybe I can weld it into some kind of art project...
I took the 220E apart and instantly remembered why I generally only do single mantle lanterns, the duals are way harder to disassemble. The fount is okay but had a couple dents and loads of pits. I filled the dents with JB Weld which is a mistake because it shrinks and is very hard when dry. Thus you need to overfill the dent and then cut it down to the correct profile which is tough because the stuff is hard. Live and learn I guess. One dent I later filled with regular old Bondo which is much easier because it doesn't shrink as much and is soft for the first few hours.
So then paint and paint and paint. I decided to use primer to fill some of the pits. That works but is the pits to do since you need about a million coats AND since the fount has a Coleman rising sun stamping on the side I didn't want to lose I had to keep sanding most of the primer off and then occasionally using a wire brush to clean out the stamping. Next time I'll fill all the pits with Bondo before priming.
Anyway right now its got color on (Krylon's "Dark Hunter Green"), it needs two more coats topside, and 3 on the bottom, then I'll cut and polish and do a clearcoat which should give it that prized depth of shine.
So I spotted this one, not many pics, no glass, wrong gas cap, some rust and corrosion. Won the bid for $42. Thats more than I would normally bid but it was in Maine so the shipping would be cheap. It was right around $50 total. Then the guy emails me, the fount (thats the tank part) has a hole in it and leaks. After some discussion he refunded $20 and I took it hole and all.
$15.50 won me 3 other whitegas lanterns, a 220E, 228E and 220F. The 220E and 228E use the same size fount as the 237. I figured for that money if I got the 220F running I could sell it for maybe $20, fix my 237 and have a 228E for free.
The 237 fount really was trash, big chunks of rust in the fount, pinhole leak right in the center. Its a steel base, I probably could weld it but it'll doubtless leak other places. Considering these are under pressure that seems insanely dangerous. I'll keep it, maybe I can weld it into some kind of art project...
I took the 220E apart and instantly remembered why I generally only do single mantle lanterns, the duals are way harder to disassemble. The fount is okay but had a couple dents and loads of pits. I filled the dents with JB Weld which is a mistake because it shrinks and is very hard when dry. Thus you need to overfill the dent and then cut it down to the correct profile which is tough because the stuff is hard. Live and learn I guess. One dent I later filled with regular old Bondo which is much easier because it doesn't shrink as much and is soft for the first few hours.
So then paint and paint and paint. I decided to use primer to fill some of the pits. That works but is the pits to do since you need about a million coats AND since the fount has a Coleman rising sun stamping on the side I didn't want to lose I had to keep sanding most of the primer off and then occasionally using a wire brush to clean out the stamping. Next time I'll fill all the pits with Bondo before priming.
Anyway right now its got color on (Krylon's "Dark Hunter Green"), it needs two more coats topside, and 3 on the bottom, then I'll cut and polish and do a clearcoat which should give it that prized depth of shine.
Sunday shave
During the week I shave with an electric razor. Angela got me a nice cordless one for my birthday and it does a pretty good job. I don't let my whiskers grow for two reasons, one they get quite itchy and two I can't grow much of a beard... I'm not the only one in my family with this issue but its something I inherited from my mother's side. At best I get a patchy, bumpy, weird looking high schooler kind of abomination so off the hairs must go.
While the electric does an acceptable job "as close as a blade" is not the truism one might expect, or rather if you're a skeptic like me its exactly what you'd expect. True shaving takes time though and since I like my sleep I only really shave on Sunday. I usually do it in the afternoon, what Douglas Adams called "The long dark teatime of the soul" when I don't really have anything else to do anyway.
If I haven't shaved on Saturday (which I usually haven't) I'll do a quick job with the electric. Its not really required but means the razor won't clog as much. Then I start the sink filling with hot water, while I'm waiting on that I lay out my razor, shaving mug and brush. My razor isn't anything exciting just a disposable, "Preserve" brand. Its not really the razor that makes Sunday shaving satisfying its the soap. Until this year I'd always used some sort of aerosol shaving cream. Even the best shaving creams leave me with some level of razor burn. In a strange fit of schizophrenia Angela also bought me a shaving mug, soap and a brush for my birthday (same birthday she bought me the electric razor...) so once the water is mostly full I dip the brush in the water and start stirring the soap.
Its a bar of soap, just like any bar soap, and I stir the top of it with the brush until it lathers, then brush that on my face. The warmth of the soap is great as is the feel of the brush, no aerosol can come close. The razor glides painlessly across my face and the hairs are gone like magic.
If you hate shaving and you haven't used shaving soap get out and get some. I've no idea why I didn't learn this one sooner but better late than never...
While the electric does an acceptable job "as close as a blade" is not the truism one might expect, or rather if you're a skeptic like me its exactly what you'd expect. True shaving takes time though and since I like my sleep I only really shave on Sunday. I usually do it in the afternoon, what Douglas Adams called "The long dark teatime of the soul" when I don't really have anything else to do anyway.
If I haven't shaved on Saturday (which I usually haven't) I'll do a quick job with the electric. Its not really required but means the razor won't clog as much. Then I start the sink filling with hot water, while I'm waiting on that I lay out my razor, shaving mug and brush. My razor isn't anything exciting just a disposable, "Preserve" brand. Its not really the razor that makes Sunday shaving satisfying its the soap. Until this year I'd always used some sort of aerosol shaving cream. Even the best shaving creams leave me with some level of razor burn. In a strange fit of schizophrenia Angela also bought me a shaving mug, soap and a brush for my birthday (same birthday she bought me the electric razor...) so once the water is mostly full I dip the brush in the water and start stirring the soap.
Its a bar of soap, just like any bar soap, and I stir the top of it with the brush until it lathers, then brush that on my face. The warmth of the soap is great as is the feel of the brush, no aerosol can come close. The razor glides painlessly across my face and the hairs are gone like magic.
If you hate shaving and you haven't used shaving soap get out and get some. I've no idea why I didn't learn this one sooner but better late than never...
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Somtimes things just come together
So what with taking the motorcycle apart for the starter problem I figured I'd tackle the trip meter that refuses to reset. It turns out thats a teeny tiny piece of plastic thats broken and while removable replacement parts are not available. Also broken is the needle on the tachometer.
Yes thats right the needle. Angie and I went for a ride one time, we stopped for a break and when I next looked half of the tach needle was missing. Its in the casing if I removing the tach I can see the needle bit floating around inside.
I've been searching for a replacement tach for a long time. A tach for a CB900K is easy to get but apparently the CB900f is rare enough that they don't come up frequently. So it was a big surprise the other night to find one on eBay... The guy wanted $99 plus $15 shipping. $100 is a big psychological barrier for me... So I offered $75 which I was surprised to see accepted within 15 minutes, sweet!
Anyway 2010 looks like its going to be a good year for my Honda.
Yes thats right the needle. Angie and I went for a ride one time, we stopped for a break and when I next looked half of the tach needle was missing. Its in the casing if I removing the tach I can see the needle bit floating around inside.
I've been searching for a replacement tach for a long time. A tach for a CB900K is easy to get but apparently the CB900f is rare enough that they don't come up frequently. So it was a big surprise the other night to find one on eBay... The guy wanted $99 plus $15 shipping. $100 is a big psychological barrier for me... So I offered $75 which I was surprised to see accepted within 15 minutes, sweet!
Anyway 2010 looks like its going to be a good year for my Honda.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Motorcycles
Whew, nothin for a month and then I'm all putting up 2 posts in one day...
So its spring again which means motorcycle time. We've been having some really nice weather so I pulled out the mighty '82 Honda CB900f Super Sport and prepped. The choke handle on that has been messed up for years (well the 7 years I've had it anyway) and would retract itself, so you had to stand around holding the cable while starting. A new cable was cheap (last year!) and I finally got around to putting it in. Not a hard job but fiddly. I also replaced the spark plugs. The old ones didn't look bad but I figured after 7 years it was time...
Drained last years gas out of the tank and with 2 gallons of fresh high test I hit the button. Well first off for the last year or two the starter has been getting a little recalcitrant, meaning it slips and grinds and is generally unpleasant. Strangely it hasn't gotten better by itself but after an eternity of fits and starts I got the bike started but it only ran on 2 cylinders. This is not an unknown condition and usually means one of the ignition "computers" is gone wonky. In the past unplugging and replugging of them fixes the issue and they're handy to get at so I did so. Problem is that the starter is so annoying I never got to see if the reseating of cables had helped...
So I tore the left side cover off the engine to look at the starter. This releases most of the engine oil btw... No obvious damage to the starter, its gear, the idler gear or the driven gear... Strange. I pulled the starter which is not a terribly fun job, theres not much room there and could find nothing obviously wrong with it. It would appear its been rebuilt at some time in the past as the case is scraped up and the screws are all munged from some hamfisted dis-assembly.
Did some searching online (praise mother internet!) and found that the three bolts that hold the starter clutch can come loose. Checked and sure enough they ARE loose. Now I need to source some red locktite, pull the thing over the clutch, pull the three bolts, clean and reassemble with locktite so they don't come loose again... All in all quite positive. I also ordered the two seals for the outer covers. It would appear a previous owner did not source new seals (really a seal and a gasket) as they're glued in with copious amounts of sealant.
While I was at it I ordered new front turn signals for Angie's Kawasaki, I noticed one had broken over the winter. The starter on that bike is also getting fiddly, it probably needs a similar fix...
So its spring again which means motorcycle time. We've been having some really nice weather so I pulled out the mighty '82 Honda CB900f Super Sport and prepped. The choke handle on that has been messed up for years (well the 7 years I've had it anyway) and would retract itself, so you had to stand around holding the cable while starting. A new cable was cheap (last year!) and I finally got around to putting it in. Not a hard job but fiddly. I also replaced the spark plugs. The old ones didn't look bad but I figured after 7 years it was time...
Drained last years gas out of the tank and with 2 gallons of fresh high test I hit the button. Well first off for the last year or two the starter has been getting a little recalcitrant, meaning it slips and grinds and is generally unpleasant. Strangely it hasn't gotten better by itself but after an eternity of fits and starts I got the bike started but it only ran on 2 cylinders. This is not an unknown condition and usually means one of the ignition "computers" is gone wonky. In the past unplugging and replugging of them fixes the issue and they're handy to get at so I did so. Problem is that the starter is so annoying I never got to see if the reseating of cables had helped...
So I tore the left side cover off the engine to look at the starter. This releases most of the engine oil btw... No obvious damage to the starter, its gear, the idler gear or the driven gear... Strange. I pulled the starter which is not a terribly fun job, theres not much room there and could find nothing obviously wrong with it. It would appear its been rebuilt at some time in the past as the case is scraped up and the screws are all munged from some hamfisted dis-assembly.
Did some searching online (praise mother internet!) and found that the three bolts that hold the starter clutch can come loose. Checked and sure enough they ARE loose. Now I need to source some red locktite, pull the thing over the clutch, pull the three bolts, clean and reassemble with locktite so they don't come loose again... All in all quite positive. I also ordered the two seals for the outer covers. It would appear a previous owner did not source new seals (really a seal and a gasket) as they're glued in with copious amounts of sealant.
While I was at it I ordered new front turn signals for Angie's Kawasaki, I noticed one had broken over the winter. The starter on that bike is also getting fiddly, it probably needs a similar fix...
Stupid Verizon
Verizon sure wants to sell maintenance contracts but that somehow makes me want to cancel my service...
So every time it rains our phone service goes out. Dead air, no dial tone, busy signal if you try to call in. DSL still works and as thats the same line it seems reasonable to assume the problem is not within our house... Verizon's automated system doesn't want to hear about that though, they want me to know that since I don't have a maintenance plan it might cost $91 just to get somebody to my house.
The good thing is they can be here tomorrow. The bad thing is that he'll be here between 9am and 4pm and I need to be here to let him in...
So every time it rains our phone service goes out. Dead air, no dial tone, busy signal if you try to call in. DSL still works and as thats the same line it seems reasonable to assume the problem is not within our house... Verizon's automated system doesn't want to hear about that though, they want me to know that since I don't have a maintenance plan it might cost $91 just to get somebody to my house.
The good thing is they can be here tomorrow. The bad thing is that he'll be here between 9am and 4pm and I need to be here to let him in...
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