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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Tools under the van



It appears the van's new fuel pump just crapped out. The original one lasted 188,000 miles. The replacement lasted 500.

My lovely wife and I went to the movies. That's over 50 miles one way. No problem, I thought, we'd take the veggie van and save on fuel. We made it down just fine. On the way back, with twenty miles to go, it started to lose power. It felt like the fuel not being delivered steadily, but in surges. We did make it home.

In the morning I started it up and let it idle for a bit. After about 5 minutes it stalled out and would not start again. The previously noisy fuel pump was dead silent.

Rather than pay to have it towed back to the garage I decided to pull the pump off the van myself. It came off fairly easy. Since it was recently changed the bolts were not rusted in place. Just by looking at the clean and new parts, it was easy to see how to change it.

The garage will have a replacement in in the morning. They were willing to do the job, but with all the hassle it's easier to do it myself. I don't want to wait another week for them to get to it. It's their busy season.

These breakdowns are getting very annoying. I was about to launch my sailboat on the lake when the van died. Instead of sailing I was crawling in the dirt turning wrenches.

Men plan. God laughs.

-Sixbears

12 comments:

  1. Maybe your mechanic will remember this next time you have one in the shop.Changing the pump isnt as hard as bleeding the air out of the line.MY tractor is a pain to bleed.

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    1. I don't think I have much air in the system right now. I know what a pain it is to bleed out a system.

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  2. Sixbear have you ever tried using geletin in the cooking oil to remove fine particulates?I know it makes a cake in the jug bottom but it helps clarifiy it above.

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    1. Gravity has been my friend here. I've got enough oil right now that I can let it sit for months before having to use it. Most settles out by them.

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  3. I've always believed God is a practical-joker, and here's another example! :-)

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    1. Sometimes I think we were created so God would have something to laugh at. :)

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  4. Having the know how of what it takes to service your vehicle is great knowledge, many folks have to take it in to mechanic and submit to voluntary rape. Oh there are good ones out there, but the horror stories - many of us have them.

    Lake isn't going anywhere, just a bump in the road. I hope the work goes easily.

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    1. Just got the replacement pump. Heading out after coffee.

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  5. Regardless of what they may have told you, the replacement pump (or its parts) were probably made in China. I notice The Lazy Farmer always having that trouble with bearings.

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    1. I'm betting it was. Would not be surprised if the replacement dies early too. Sigh . . .

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  6. At least you know what is up with the part and how to install it...Still you do so much more than my neighbors do..They have 3 atv's one for their soon to be 5 year old ride it all over, helmets, vests, they raise hell day and night, heard the fellow say well we can sell and get out from the debt one day in my patio area..Guess he never got the memo that bankruptcy is a big birtch on one's credit for many many years, he makes excellent money, but the job is in steel and the company is competing with China & Russia and they nickel and dime their employees in those countries and the firm he works for used to be union busted that all to hell and screwed their employees totatally...Guess he thinks money grows on trees it doesn't...My neighbor sold a nice Izusu which they installed a new engine because of something with the radiator, they go thru cars like water..Lady is a rn but in my opinion batcrapcrazy, gets big disability payments her telling everyone for migraines and works jobs like there is no tomorrow for cash and brags about it she gets the disability money from another state, they will not come up to our state to check her out, she gets those checks she says right along what a message to her son who she raised as a single mother, got ill and rolled in all she could her words..oh, my goodness sakes, I worked like hell and so did my hubs we never touched anything where we worked and I did a longtime at a VA hospital I treated all vets like kings and queens, my hubs retail grocery her never did not work, well when his favorite friend retired and lived only 2 months and the nicest sweetest human being and my boss who was my age decided to retire went on a nice trip with her hubs of 48 years and passed from this earth in one day, I decided I would rather live simply with my hubs of many many years and he did too than to die a week after retirement, jobs it seems take the very life out of person! I so admire how you and your wife live, we recycle a lot, I re-use a lot, we don't buy new cars every week or month, we don't burn thru the little we get..we cook always and walk and bike almost everywhere now gas is over $4.00 a gallon did it before..Keep smiling you and your wife are good souls for Mother Earth and you will be rewarded and be able to live happily and simply!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. Thank you for the kind words. It sounds like you and your hubby have it figured out too. All the best.

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