| Long Story! If I only had an 1/8 plug. [message #188068] |
Tue, 23 October 2012 19:36  |
russmehl
Messages: 22
Registered: September 2009
Location: Rochester, Michigan
Karma:
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Junior Member |
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We had something short of an ordeal last Wed. night on the way to Fond Du Lac WI from MI. So that means it was only an adventure! Lots of rain along the way, Chicago was fun as always, just about clear of Milwaukee when all hell broke loose under the "hood". No headlights, no dash lights, immediate key off and into neutral. Managed to coast to the top of the next exit and just barely got around the corner so we could coast down into the closed gas station. The aux. vacuum pump kept the brakes under control... When I opened the cover, I just didn't have the heart to take a picture. I'm not sure what caused what, but the net result was A/C belt broken and everything else wrapped around the water pump shaft. And when I say everything, I mean everything. The flopping belt had grabbed the wire harness across the body and the fan cut and wound up what it could. Eight wires or so... Did I mention that there was oil everywhere? The gauge line had been sheared off at the fitting. We were only 51 miles from our destination, so I thought the simple way would be to get AAA to move us! One call does it all? Not so simple. I was very specific about what was required to move this machine, and they listened!
But the net result, after almost three hours of calls back and forth, was that I cancelled the request. No one had staff or equipment or desire to come out on a damp night and tow us to Fond Du Lac. They even tried to get someone to come down and pull us back. I'm sure I could have insisted on them getting a non contract tow company, or getting the State Police involved, but we were out of danger, level and tired enough. I unwound all the wires and pulled some of them back so the connector could go back on the headlight. I carry wire & splices, so I could have cobbled it back together, but the show stopper was the broken oil line. If I only had a plug!
In the morning I met all sorts of nice people who came in to the now open gas station for gas and coffee. One of them went to their shop and came back with a union to fix the 1/8 oil line! Got a ride to the Napa store for some new belts and got delivered back by the parts runner. We had brake lights and daylight, so off we went! I sorted out the wires in the luxury of the kids driveway and then helped sort out their "new" 100 yr. old house.
Russ
Russ & Linda Mehlenbacher
Rochester Hills, Michigan
'76 Eleganza
'74 Sequoia
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