Well what beautiful weather we had here in SE Penn. Not one single MG
mile on Sat (BUMMER). Sunday I had plans to go to Reg's to replace the
timing chain etc on the Midget. Went out to the car sat down, put foot on
clutch and durn near rammed my foot through the floor. That's right folks
- no resistance - no clutch. Several choice words later I decide that my
best option is to try the old
shut-off-motor-stick-in-first-or-second-start-motor-and-away-you-go-trick.
That way I am where I can get some help bleeding the MC. I knew I had a
leak and had been putting off fixing it - lack o' funds ya know. Well now
it came back and bit me in the ass.
All was well for a bit until at a stoplight when ready to go - I no go.
Ignition light out - nothing, nada, no lights no phone no motor car!!
(Well I actually had my cell). Used same to call daughter that lives
about 5 blocks away to come give me a jump. Then call Reg to tell him I
am running just a bit late and why. While on the phone with Reg, suddenly
the hazard lights and radio come back on - I am about 5 feet from the
car. What the He??
So I jump in and off we go, daughter had just gotten there so I drove a
bit and pulled over to talk to her. Then back into the Midget and again -
no go. Get out the tools and start looking for a problem. Initial
diagnosis - either bad solenoid or bad battery.
Well talk to Reg again and he is gonna come help me tow it back to my
house. I am sitting beside the road right next to a park, so I sit in the
grass to wait. Two (count 'em 2) cops drive by and neither stops to ask
if I need help. Musta just thought I was enjoying the sun in the park. It
was nice - woulda rather been driving. Reg shows up and we tow the car
back to my ol' hacienda and start to check it out. Can't figure the
electrical problem at all. Best guess - bad battery. Final solution - bad
ground in the cable from battery to firewall. So then we start into
bleeding the old clutch. Well that putting it of bit me in the ass. The
seals in the MC are completely gone. Best we can get is about 1/2 the
travel needed to disengage the clutch. So now I am stranded. Get an MC
locally - don't make me laugh. Maybe up at Ragtops or Brit Miles on
Monday, But I gotta work on Monday (thanks to friends who drive to the
same train station). Besides How am I gonna get there with no clutch??
Well now it is noon on a bright sunny Sunday, and I can't work on the
car, I can't drive the car and my DSL line has been out since early Sat.
Can it get any worse???? Yes Some friends next door - he packed and left,
she needs a shoulder. Kid wants help on computer, GF working on her house
gets in fight w/ ex. AND THE LAUNDRY NEEDS TO BE DONE.
See ya all in Cleveland, Unless I commit myself (some of you might say I
should anyway ;-).
Larry
Larry Macy
78 Midget
Keep your top down and your chin up
Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.
macy@bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu
System Administrator/Manager
Neuropsychiatry Section
Department of Psychiatry
University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce St. - 1015 Gates
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Ask a question and you're a fool for three minutes; do not ask a
question and you're a fool for the rest of your life.
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