Fuel gauge repair

On our trip home from Eugene this month our aux gas tank gauge went all the way down past the big E.  So today I took a look into what was working, or not working.  I switched wires from the main and aux gauges and found out that the gauge was working but not the sender.  That means the aux tank needs to come down and the wires to the sender were good but still no work.

Now when I first got Wilbur 7 years ago, oh I mean 8 years ago I replaced both senders and gauges with ones that were Dodge ones.  That meant that the resistance for empty was 78 ohms and full was 10 ohms, or something like that.  Chevy and Ford used some different resistance.  And so I was looking for a sender that worked with the gauge I had and found out that no one sold the Dodge senders but I could get a Chevy gauge and sender right down the street at Knechts.  The sender was $27.99 and the gauge was $17.79.  that was the best price I could find in town and sense I wanted to finish up this job while it wasn't raining i bought them and put in the sender.  The gauge works even if the gauge is not the right one.  Changing the gauge is the easy part since I have the same brand in it now and the wires are all the same.

Hoodstock pictures

Hoodstock 2012 the details

So Hoodstock 2012 is now over.  What happens at Hoodstock stays at Hoodstock.........unless you really talk to someone who was there.  We had a great turnout of Classic Winnebago's, ate way more food than my weight watchers program allows and lived to tell about it.

I was the opnly one who needed the BIG tractor to get unstuck from a big muddy mess.

Yup Wilbur got stuck.

And then there was the mark Wilbur left on the Fairgrounds.

The Bounder in this picture was another tractor removed RV.  He was a vendor pulling a trailer in when he got stuck.

Then there was the Kodak moment at the dump station.

These people need to get a life.  They hang around the dump station and judge the performance.

Sophie served snacks and got the hose spreader out.  I got back at them when I shook everyone's hand and thanked them for the scores before removing my gloves.

Well it was a good time and others took pictures which might end up here.

Oh for my RC model airplane friends there was some great flying.  John brought out his Champ and I flew my Champ.  We had a great take off strip table but never quite made a table top landing.

Waiting for clearance from the tower for take off.

A '72 Cheiftain and the Champ flying by.

So that's it for now.  The crowd of Classics....both the RV's and people.................

Would you like to buy a used Winnebago from one of these people....

Hoodstock 2012

Can you believe we first started a camp out for Classic Winnebago's in the Northwest in 2008 at Viento State Park close to Hood River Oregon and that was 5 years ago.  After a great weekend of nice weather and great friendship we decided to do it again, except for the fact that we were very close to the Rail Road tracks and the free way.  So after looking around for someplace we could show up, without planning ahead and making reservations, I found the Blossom Festival at the Hood River Fairgrounds.  What could be better, vender's selling all the crap stuff that anyone would want from fruit and vegetables to wine and greasy food.   Even crafts and trees.  Something for everyone.
So the weather was great for the first 4 years but last year was very very wet and we couldn't park out in the big grass field without getting stuck.  But they had a tractor and gave us rides from the pig and sheep area of the grounds to the buildings where all the shopping was going on.  You can look back at my Blog with the search box at the upper left area to find all the Hoodstock postings.

And another fun thing to do when my wife and I travel around is look in Thrift Shops.  You can find shops by using the web site http://www.thethriftshopper.com/index.php and put in the town and state you are in and find all the places you would want.  We have even found shops not on the list so we have added some.  Its a hobby right.

The Must for Rust

Here I am, working on getting my Wagon looking good and even getting Wilbur cleaned up, and need to tell you about a product that has impressed me.

A friend of mine that lives full time in his motor home was telling others about this stuff to stop and remove rust but now I have been using it and really like it.

Then I bought some cheap wheel covers for the wagon and removed some paint from a chrome part along the roof.

Happy Birthday to me....whenever it was

OK so even I have a birthday and at the ripe old age of 5* I am in great shape.

Today started off with well I really can't go into details but it was a great morning.  I backed the Mustang out and gave it a bath.  Can't really remember the last time I washed it but it always cleans up good.

My MID-LIFE Mustang.  Oh I have had it for 16 years or so.

And we took a ride to the Chinook Winds Casino where they gave me points on my players card for my birthday.  And we bought tickets to the Neil Sedaka concert next month.  Last time we bought his tickets he cancelled on us.  Anyway it is fun to see these old guys perform so we will try to see him again.  Only bought the cheap seats but the older eyes combined with the older performers makes the seats way in the back just the right distance from the stage.

 And it looks like Terry and carolann made it home today.  WOW that was some fast driving from Redding, CA home in one day.  But after all it is really down hill all the way right.

I will post some more pictures and make up some captions to go with them.

Are the Simpsons from Springfield Oregon??

So we are in Eugene, OR for a few days and the closest town is Springfield.  Now some think the Simpson's TV show town is named after the Oregon town of the same name.
Tomorrow we will go to Springfield and see for ourselves.  Really I never watched this show but have heard of it.

Only in Eugene.

Can you believe this beauty was being lived in and in a city park.

We found a great walking places on the Willamette River in Eugene.

On the road with a toad

Hey today I towed the toad down I-5.  And when we got to Eugene it was still behind us.  But I did make one mistake,  yea right this was a first.  So when i hooked up the wagon I used the e-brake and forgot to release it until I had driven about a mile in town.  Before getting on the free way I did stop and do a quick check of the wagon, good thing since i saw the brake lever pulled up.
So then we drove about 50 miles before pulling into a rest area and look it over,  no problems.

So we pulled into the Elks here in Eugene, unhooked the wagon and parked Wilbur.  then after checking in we ate supper and drove to the Valley River Center to do some mall walking.  Boy was it neat to not have to put things away in Wilbur to drive around.  i think Sophie is hooked on this towing thing.  And you should see how many miles we are getting on one tank of gas...............that's in the Wagon not Wilbur.

Ready to travel

So the weather has warmed up and we now have a few days without commitments so we might be ready to roll.  I worked on the mustang today, nothing to big just that the 12 year old battery was not up to starting it anymore.  Or maybe it was the battery post clamp that was corroded and broken.  Either way I replaced both the battery and the clamp.  I guess I am getting lazy since the cable with the broken clamp went from the battery and disappeared under the engine someplace so I just cut off the old clamp and used a replacement end.  Then being cheap I bought a second battery,  that's one that wasn't first quality for some reason.

Then the exciting news for us is that our son and his girlfriend plan to move from Phoenix AZ to Portland, OR.  We even had the pleasure of meeting our sons GF for supper tonight in Portland where she came today for an educators job fair.  It would be nice for them to move and have a job waiting for them.  We will see how that works out.

So will we hit the road soon?  You will have to wait and see.  Will Terry and Carolann head back home this week, and make it back without needing repairs?

Where's Terry..............and Carolann too

Ok I saw a picture or two posted on Face book from the traveling couple in Southern CA.

An they still look like they like eachother.  Now that's love.

What do you think Terry is reading about.  Probably ancient counter tops or something like that.

So the weather here was really nice, kind of cold in the morning, but we took the mustang out for a drive today.

And of course there was yard work to do.  Mowed the lawn and worked on getting rid of some moss in the lawn. 

It's Friday........WOW

Why is Friday so nice, even when retired.  I guess it was all those years of looking forward to a couple of days off.  And the weather is suppose to be nice for the weekend.  Oh Boy, maybe I can work in the yard.

I would like to take Wilbur out and check over a few things.  One thing to do is the brakes.  Since I bought the wagon, and set it up to be towed, the brakes should get some extra use when adding the wagon.  And then I would like to check out several little things that go through your mind when out on the road.

And if the weather is getting nicer I just might try to clean up the rusty spots on the wagon and touch up the paint.  Now that might be getting carried away but Hoodstock is in 2 weeks and I might have to keep up with the image of being so neat...............oh it's only a bunch of old RV's.  Maybe I will bring some paint and supplies with me and see if anyone wants to work on it.

Oh I am ready for camping.  So I backed Wilbur out of the garage today and adjusted one of the rear brakes since the other one seemed to be in adjustment already.  I know they are self adjusting but sometimes things don't work as advertised.
And I have a gravel parking lot close by at a school.  So after school Sophie and I took a drive to try out the brakes.  I know my wife enjoys Wilbur because she was ready to ride along.  And she brought out some different cushions for the front seats.

Update from S. CA and the travelers.

I saw this was posted on face book.  The info was they are heading back to Santa Barbara and enjoying the traffic.

Where's Terry............and Carolann too.

The news this morning is they are in Santa Barbara.  I talked with Terry and ask if Carolann was still smiling.............He said she was. 

They need to get back soon because it will be time for Hoodstock in a couple of weeks and they are suppose to bring the warm dry weather.   Oh the blue sky,  green grass and warm sun.  Far out man.

Hey where did you get that hat?   Going surfing dude?

 Will the fun continue all the way home??

Where's Terry............and Carolann too.

OK this was the day to put a new rear wheel cylinder in and hit the road.............again.  I guess things went good because I was sent pictures.

I was told this was taken from the chasing parts trip.

This must be an one the road again picture.

There was some message about several parts being replaced.  I don't know if I believe it all, but here it is,

"So far we have fixed the refrigerator fixed the brakes back 

installed new gas filters for the third time and enough good this time. 

A new distributor, installed non-leaking gas caps would really helped mpg. 

And heading for Santa Barbara"

Where's Terry............and Carolann too.

Terry sent this picture saying he hopes they don't catch him.  I guess that means working on his RV in the RV area because with the wheels off I can walk faster than his MH goes, LOL.

 

So that's where some of my tools went.......

Two Chieftains,  The '72  and  a  '02.   Only 30 years difference.

Terry with his newest best friend.  Can you hear Terry say "so you wana trade?"

 

Today Terry saved lots of gas.  If you have to brake down where could be better than at an Elks lodge.  Another good reason to join the Elks.
The new wheel cylinder should be in tomorrow and how far will Terry make it.  I sure hope this is the last repair on the road for this trip.

On another subject:
Walgreens is having a walk with Walgreens thing going on.  If you join up either online or in the store you can get a neat box of stuff free.  Well it's not so great but it's free.  A pedometer and a bag.

Take a look  http://walk.walgreens.com/  and sign up.

Terry might want to keep track of how far he has to walk to the parts store.........................

Where's Terry............and Carolann too

OK the word from Southern CA is a brake problem has developed.

Sounds like all the magic stopping juice is leaking from inside a rear wheel.  He is at the Elks Lodge in Atascadero, California.  I have put out some emails and heard back from one about a tire shop about 20 minutes away that has worked on RV's,  probably not 40 year old RV's though.

Does this look like he has any worries?  And he said he has a friend with a pick up with him???  Now I am confused.  I thought I was his only friend.   You might really be on your own this time mister Unger......

Kind of reminds me of Alfred E Newman.   What me worry?

                                                     


But on another note the weather here was fantastic today.  Sophie and I walked across the Willamette River down town Salem twice, on two separate bridges.

Spring just might be here this time.

My bride and I go on a walk in the sun.

Most of the time you walk down the walkway to get on the boat.

Old Tom McCall is still fishing...and catching fish too.

Where's Terry............and Carolann too.

So it's Sunday and where else would Terry be but in church.  Can you hear Terry praying all the way to California in the Bago.  And looking at this picture, the sky is blue and the street is dry.
Is this an April fools day joke???????????

United Methodist Church Redding California‏   4/1/12