Tuesday, June 17, 2014

It's ALIVE!!!!

Dr. Ricky said it looks like someone on life support.  Notice the gas can hanging from the ladder and yes it does look a little like an IV bag.  I won't bore you with all the details, but when I first tried to start the newly rebuilt engine it didn't light right up.  Instead, it stumbled along, coughed, sputtered, and even back fired. It waited until I was leaning over the carb to explode in my face; it singed my hair.  You should have Bugs Bunny and Road Runner visions in your head.



Well, I recently went to Tennessee and attended an FAA school where I got certified as an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic.  Why do I mention this?  Because, it helped me diagnose the engine trouble in the old truck.  How you ask?  I finally narrowed the problem down to a very weak spark.  I checked the coil and that wasn't the problem.  But, there was a test question in the FAA course that asked, "What hastens the spark from the coil?"  Answer: The condensor.  So, a condensor tester would cost $80, but a new condensor costs $5. I can do that math!  I went and got another condensor which took about thirty seconds to install.  Then, it fired right up and purred like a kitten.  


Now, with the engine all sorted it's time to start on the cab.  I have to weld some new floor pans in, but I'm excited to get it done to get the cab back on the frame. 


A little more rust and we could use the Fred Flintstone brakes.


Stay tuned, we'll be doing some welding soon.

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