68F when I got up this morning, 83F now, headed for a high of 99F, the coolest it'll be for the next week or so. It'll peak at 106F tomorrow, then "cool off" into the low hundreds until it shoots up again, this time to 107F, the following Thursday. Oh, but it's a dry heat. Or at least it's supposed to be. Apparently a high pressure ridge to the east and north of us will combine with a cut-off low to the southwest to bring hot air and moisture in from the Baja area, causing dry lightning as we get into the weekend. We're already seeing small acre fires almost daily, and there are several over a thousand acres burning elsewhere in the state. Just ran into a big crew of firefighters at breakfast, all from the San Diego area, on loan temporarily to be stand by personnel for the anticipated increase in activity. Hope it's enough.
Lots of tools are indispensable for certain jobs, Dave, like welders and presses. But after a time or two of needing and not having, then dealing with the pressures of rentals, I start keeping an eye on Craig's List. Almost all of my bigger tools are CL orphans, being rescued in dilapidated shape and returned to a useful life with a little TLC and a few dollars. The biggest issue is finding room for all of them, as the three car garage is nearly full at this point.
Drew, my first bike was a Suzuki triple two-stroke, fast for a beginner bike but with evil handling. Couldn't get out of its own way in the corners. The Commandos couldn't keep up with the H1 on the straights, but you didn't have to slow down into the turns. But now adays even a 600 makes more than 100Hp, so it's hard to find anything from 35 years ago that would keep up. In those days BMW had a very good reputation for reliability, but they've sacrificed it in the name of performance and mass appeal. Last year's version of the big touring bike, the R1200RT, was issued a "park it" recall for most of the year for a problem with the rear drive. BMW's response? A coupon for a few dollars off in their clothing boutique. One of the local builders has a K100RT in his shop just like the one here; he's doing a sidecar conversion on it. He's willing to do two, but there are better bikes to start with than the K. And at least for now, I've already more projects than I can keep up with. Maybe when I get a little too wobbly for two wheelers...
Dunno about the price on that spreader, Dave, but with poly body and stainless blades it would probably last forever. All the ones I've seen and borrowed around here are rusty inside, and need broken free each spring before they'll work again.
You guys and your long days need to slow down so the rest of us can catch up. You're making us all look bad! :laughing:
Eric, that "free left over asphalt" is a long standing scam in the US. They typically get half way through a job, making a big mess in the process, then try to extort money from the victim. Usually it's an elderly couple, and they pay up to avoid trouble. Then the stuff crumbles in a year or so. Best way to deal with one of these fly by night outfits is to get some ID and call the authorities. But you still may get stuck cleaning up the mess.
I think I've discovered how evaporative cooling was invented. The Ford truck needed new antifreeze, and with all the parts in hand, I decided yesterday was the day. A five gallon bucket fit nicely under the drains, so I was able to keep most of the old stuff out of the watershed, but one engine block drain plug was located above the starter in a very awkward position. Had to be directly below it, looking up through a narrow slot, to even see it. And it was very tight, and took three times crawling out from under than back to find a wrench combination that would let me get it out. Then I realized that once the coolant came pouring out, it would be streaming right into my face if I wasn't very careful. Even then, I couldn't get out of the way fast enough to avoid being splashed. I'd read the tutorial, now knew I'd get to do it three more times, as the system is so delicate it requires flushing not only with tap water, but three more times with distilled water. By the second flush I was wet from head to toe, but by then the temps were into the mid 90s and it actually felt good. Couldn't have picked a better day, especially after the breeze off the lake picked up a bit. It felt even better to put those drain plugs in for the last time and fill the radiator with 8 gallons of 50/50 mix. But best of all was a cool shower to get the oil and grease off my arms and hands, and the antifreeze stink out of my hair.
This morning I was up at dawn to throw a leg over a motorcycle and take myself to breakfast up the canyon. Figured it would stay cool until at least noon, and I could enjoy a leisurely ride and still make it back before it got too hot. I'd noticed a little missing when the machine first started, and wrote it off to old fuel, maybe eight or nine months since the last fill up. After a few miles the stumbling hadn't cleared, so I found a shady pull off and looked into it. The control cable to one enrichener circuit was tight, the other very loose. Then I noticed that the return spring on the loose one was missing. Running around on too much fuel would certainly make an engine miss. I turned the enrichener off with my fingers, then wired the lever shut with a piece from my spares bag. Back in the saddle the bike was back to its old sweet self, with another mechanical misadventure behind us. With the exception of a little sun in the eyes, the ride up the canyon was beautiful, and my little delay was enough to let most of the commute traffic clear. The unblinking eye did get a little dry, but forcing them both closed worked well enough to keep going, and staying centered in the lane with both eyes shut didn't seem to be much of a challenge. The food was good at breakfast, but getting a cup of coffee was a bit of a challenge. So much so that when it finally did arrive, after the dishes were cleared, it was free, and worth every penny. Nice ride back as well, and had my favorite stretch all to myself. Don't think I'd want to ride for a week on vacation like this, or even for a lengthy day, but an hour or so at a stretch seems quite manageable. Signs of progress, at last! :dance1:
Have a happy Hump Day, everyone!
