Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Puddles = Warm, Right?

I think that I may have been a little premature replacing the engine oil and removing the car battery. This morning, it was just above 0°F and the rig was kinda sluggish starting. I may throw the car battery back in for a while but definitely not changing the oil again. This coming weekend brings a bit more work-related travel so I just need to make it through this week. At the end of the week, I will be sending the Roadcrafter back to Aerostitch so they can re-fasten the velcro. I figure that since I'll be gone for a couple of weeks, it may be the perfect time.

As you can see, it does warm up to above freezing by the afternoon though it may be a while until the ice melts. The curb is under the puddle a couple of feet from where I'm standing.

The current "project du jour" in our garage is a late 80s rotary engined Mazda. It was purchased (not by me) in pieces with the hope that all of the pieces would work once it was all assembled. Very close to starting but not quite yet.

No April 1st jokes from me...

14 comments:

  1. Have you always been this mechanically inclined and skilled?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Always somewhat mechanically inclined. Used to be a mechanic at a dealer (before college) and have always messed around with cars/woodworking/machining/electronics. Just about anything I could get my hands on...

      Delete
  2. Lucky for those who live there/know you - that you are so mechanical. And yes, warm does = puddles, but I might add to that equation ... warm + puddles = mud therefore one can't get motorcycle up drive

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unfortunately, you're right. The road I took a picture on last Saturday is starting to thaw and I may have to avoid it for a while. Today, there was a more than a little mud. Not quite enough to get stuck in but getting there.

      Delete
  3. I'm with VStar Lady, for me warm + mud. It might be a while for that though, we got more snow today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Soon WI will be warmer than Alaska. No snow in the forecast but our mornings are still just above 0°F.

      Delete
  4. Brrrr. Are you at least travelling somewhere warmer?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep. headed south and east so it may (or may not) be warmer...

      Delete
  5. Puddles = warm? You are grasping at straws ;-) Usually puddles tend to mean... wet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This time of year, puddles = mud. But it does mean that the temperature is venturing above freezing during the day.

      Delete
  6. Richard:

    I used to have two RX7's, both with B12 engines. I was under the impression that you could not assemble those yourself as they had to be rebuilt from the factory.

    We're lucky. It's sort of warm here and no puddles or mud either

    bob
    A weekend photographer or Riding the Wet Coast

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The engines are completely rebuildable and I've done quite a few back in the early-70s. For a dealer, it may be more economical to just get a factory rebuild but not because of difficulty just experience and time. The parts were readily available.

      This is a 2nd gen RX7 and uses the 13B engine that was used in the RX-4 and pickup.

      Delete
  7. Its good to see the beginning of the thaw! I wish I was mechanically inclined, I am constantly calling parts "thingies" and trying to describe what it does or doing to my hub when things breakdown, doesn't always convey the message and he isn't all that mechanical either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you were, then he would just tell you to fix it yourself...

      Cell phone cameras do wonders when explaining what "thingies" are.

      Delete