Saturday and Sunday were exceedingly warm, with Sunday the warmest January
day ever recorded in Burlington--66 F. The only disadvantage to this less
than avid skiier is that the garage floor spontaneously became wet, I
suppose because the warm moist air condensed on the still cold concrete.
That or the roof leaks.
Saturday I pried Kermit from the back corner of the garage, and went for a
ride. I can do that because I forgot to suspend the insurance. The ride
probably cost $5 per mile, but what the heck. Inspired, I brought him
back and removed his rocker arm assembly. It was the one part of the
engine not renewed when the engine was rebuilt, and I feared the worn
rocker bushes might be making the oil pressure a tad low.
I put nos rockers on a new shaft, and renewed the springs and washers. I
had it back together by dark (thanks, folks, for head torquing advice and
for teaching me the rule of 9), but could not be sure the rockers were
getting oil when I started the engine for a quick run before giving up for
the evening. I had squirted oil over everything before starting the
engine, so it was difficult to see whether new oil was coming out. Sunday
we recreated by walking up a small mountain, napping, reading, and eating.
I'd have done something on Kermit, but before we left to hike up the
mountain, I tried to stop the garage door about 6 inches from the bottom,
to let air in hoping to dry the floor. The opener stuck and refused to
work, so all my gumption drained out, mixing with the water on the floor.
This a.m. I tackled the oiling. Apparently the new rocker arms are a very
close fit on the shaft, so oil doesn't flow out as freely as on the old
assembly. That was the point of the work, after all. After Kermit idled
for a while, I cold see oil was getting to the bushes.
Adelante! Making up for previous procrastination, I replaced the old
antifreeze with new, changed the oil, greased the front suspension, washed
the body, and replaced Kermit in the corner of the garage covered by a
clean (old) sheet. Good day's work.
Got the door opener working again, too.
Ray Gibbons, in balmy Vermont.
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