Familiar Pit Stop
The last time we drove west, we stopped at the first service center on the Ohio turnpike.
It is the natural gas stop for the car (which just got 23.6MPG) and our bladders. In May it was pouring rain and we were scrambling to fix a mis diagnosed water in the intake problem. This trip we took some time to look at some extra noises we were getting concerned over. Like clockwork we found some areas in need of attention.
First is the alternator noise. Flashback Wednesday of this week, when I replaced the alternator bracket. I missed the important step of tightening the pivot nut after tensioning the belt. So the alternator was
walking outward instead of sitting firmly in place. It hadn’t yet managed to loose the nut, but was a head smacking manuever and one demerit in my team logbook. I do have some defensive arguments, but in the end I missed that one. Props to the team for not calling out my jackassadry as they knew I already was punishing myself.
The other problem we have is that we are destroying V-band clamps on the exhaust. We will be buying some from AMS if they have anything in stock. After some big hammer work and some bracket bending, they should easily survive 5 more road hours, which is all we really need.
Now however we are mildly behind schedule, trying to get out of Ohio, which fails to have one piece of scenery, beyond that of a field, to look at.
Sean is at the helm for this leg, accepting the highest levels of mockery and scruitiny for his, so far perfect, road driving skills. Tim and I are busy napping and raiding Seans luggage for the baked goods supplied by
his wife.
