Maintenance
04/27/08 08:20 AM | Projectile
Clutch Time, time for a check-up.
Thursday: So I had Thursday off, which means I was crazy busy Thursday. Crazy being the operant word for some of you I'm sure. None the less I was busy. I had to stop at the bank. I had to run downtown to take my bride to lunch in the open air ride during the mid 70's weather we were enjoying. I had to get a terrible sunburn souring the days exercise. I also went to Ress Motor works, a BMW specialist at 724 N. Capital Ave. after John Gentry recommended them for my BMW needs. I got there and met Fred, who was detailing his beautiful early 70's 2002 tii. He told me he would not be able to help me. He said he just doesn't want to work on those old cars. That the oldest he will take in now is 1995s so even if I had not killed the Mädchen, he would not have worked on her. I then drove to Black Forrest Motors who used to work on my Mädchen and have no qualms about tightening the "neck" bolts on the Blue Frankenstein Bimmer. I arranged to have the BFB towed to BFM to find out what the bfd was with the hydraulic clutch. After the tow guy left I decided to try to get some of the tar off the white skirts of the Convertible. So it got its first hand bath. All this fun in the sun led to some pretty bad burns on my arms. When I wasn't in the sun I was in the garage, at least until Jenni came home. Then it was time for Smallville and later on Lost (with another Buffy episode in between). That is how my Thursday came and went and I slept well even with the burns, I was beat.
Friday: Another beautiful 70's day. Another day driving with top down, a day with SPF 20 on the arms and SPF 15 on the noggin. The convertible spent the night in the garage bay where the BFB should be sleeping, but since it is in for a check-up the 'vert slept in the BFB's bed. Friday was another good day for all three of us, Jenni the C-car and me. After work, while Jenni was in the convertible running errands I again puttered in the garage, making more room and getting rid of things that no longer mattered to the Pace family in the long run. We free-cycled the old truck rims and two good tires on Friday, on Thursday we did the same with the mag rims from Meredith's Avenger that was being traded in on her first ever brand new car.
Down in Florida where the weather is fine, Meredith was haggling with a Dodge dealership over two cars. A 2007 Black Caliber SXT loaded with only 40 miles on it, or a Base 2008 which would qualify for the family "green-slip" employee discount since my Father (ergo Meredith's Grandfather) worked for Chrysler for 20 some years. She got the '07 for less and is already happier with the choice. Last night she called us and gave a rundown on all the things this car does. It is very cool. I said it must be weird not feeling or hearing any shifts since the CVT2 transmission is seamless in its shifts, and power levels just build without any surges. She said that from 40 to 65 on the highway is amazing. I can't wait to get down there in May and drive her new baby. She will no doubt want to take a spin in the convertible too.
So back the the BFB for a bit. I got a call from BFM and they said it was a clutch cylinder slave unit that was leaking and that the part is on its way. With labor, re-pressurization of the clutch system and also replacing all the belts up front my bill is $450.00 and I can pick it up on Tuesday.
Isn't that beautiful? Hey the trees are blooming too!
Saturday In the Park: It must have been the 26th of April. It was cold in the morning, I wimped out and pulled over and raised the top after a couple of miles. That's when it became apparent that I was blinded by my clear view in the open air...
What! you say? That makes less sense than the usual Chuck invectives we all know and love (to ignore). I know invective means violent abusive language, but using this as an example also reiterates my example in the first place, I chose invective to mean violent abuse of language on my part. So if you are not totally lost by now follow me to the brink and we'll use the GPS unit to get home, mmmkay?
...With the side windows up for the first time in daylight I realized that I had not ever cleaned them and they were filthy. Especially the passenger door window. I have to assume that a large shaggy white dog or an abominable snowman (Yeti if you, will) with a head cold had been pressing up against the glass in the cars last incarnation. (See: Wild Aside Thoughts at end of post ). Did you go to the end or are you waiting it out? Your choice completely, I grant you free will. ... You're welcome.
So anyway by Saturday noon the weather and temperature were much better, so with the top again in the stowed position I went to lunch. For lunch I popped over to Garfield Park after hitting the Rally's at East and Troy (there was no damage since I actually just used the drive-up window and hit nothing, I repeat I hit nothing). So anyway again... I had window cleaner and paper towels in the trunk for just such an eventuality and after consuming my 2 for $4.00 burgers I put the top up and cleaned the windows (the rear one is glass and I had to have the top up to do it).
When the day was done for camera dispersal I once again doffed the canvas and open aired my way back to the World HQ. Where once again I tried to make the garage a better home for which ever car was sitting in the open bay. Be they Bimmer or Convertible Chryco. It is working too, with the free cycle and the efforts the spaces are opening up and the trash bags are filling up.
Sunday: Today I have to finish tech-editing my next "For Dummies book, the Nikon D60, once again brilliantly explained and simplified by Julie King. So no fun in the sun or garage until I have done my "real home-work".
Chuck Pace ©2008
Wild Aside Thought #1: Yeti are probably just terribly introverted, I don't think seclusion and privacy are in themselves abominations? Now maybe if the Snowman was in fact the Yeti-Uni-Bomber, but ...
Wild Aside Thought #2: If you finish your milk and your glass automatically refills are you drinking ReinCarnation Instant Milk?