Mornin' boys. Partly sunny and the snohizo is half melted away. Yesterday was a lazy day, but things need to proceed in the "library", so I'll get to sanding.
FifeMom had a birthday over the weekend, but she didn't realize it.
That's all I got to say about that.
KRM - Nice pub.
48 and sunny. Going into the 60's. Haircut day.
Already 50. Dogs happy. In fence playing.
Have a good one.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Afternoon/morning all!
Sunny and will be 77 today!
Feeling decent and a tiny bit better each day. Some taste has returned - still dicey...next week starts the on-going 6 week (radiation oncologist) and 3 month (surgeon) followup visits for the 1st year.
Washed two cars and got the El Cam started up yesterday. Battery was down after a week in a very cold garage. Backed the El Cam out and washed the wheels and around the windshield channel to get all the dirt and debris out in prep for the new windshield install (hopefully in the next couple of weeks). Cleaned and reinstalled the trim rings and the new hub caps. So it looks better with its "shoes" on!
Well - Texess asked for and received Fed help for the COVID vaccinations - and to reinforce why TX goes to great extremes to avoid Fed help - instead of FEMA coming in with extra resources - FEMA is taking away COVID doses from the existing vaccination sites to use for the FEMA sites - so in the end it is no help at all - what a joke!
Regards, Roy
Morning Dudes & Dudettes !
Looking for a little help. One of my neighbors dropped off a box of some old Marx stuff, very early & pretty ruff condition. The old Marx transformer looks really pristene but the cord, as usual, is crap. I really am in need of some help with an older MRC transformer in the box with no papers, etc. Tried to find something on the MRC website but if you thought MTH and Lionel's was crappy the MRC is ten times worse. Was hoping to find an owners manual, instructions or anything that could be added to it for somebody to use in the future. If at all useable. It is a MRC Throttle Pack, Model 3. Any info appreciated.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
dougdagrumpIt is a MRC Throttle Pack, Model 3. Any info appreciated.
I found this much on it, it's a 50 year old HO transformer, DC.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ho-scale-mrc-throttle-pack-model-110651408
wrmcclellan Afternoon/morning all! Well - Texess asked for and received Fed help for the COVID vaccinations - and to reinforce why TX goes to great extremes to avoid Fed help - instead of FEMA coming in with extra resources - FEMA is taking away COVID doses from the existing vaccination sites to use for the FEMA sites - so in the end it is no help at all - what a joke!
Roy, the joke is if you go to extremes to avoid Fed help and then ask for it as soon as something you set up to avoid the rest of the country goes wrong from problems you made on your own trying to not be part of the rest of the goverment??? And instead of FEMA coming in with extra resources - FEMA is taking away COVID doses from the existing vaccination sites to use for the FEMA sites - so in the end it is no help at all - what a joke! ?????? No the joke is the rest of the country that goes along with the Goverment is giving away resources to people that hate that goverment and people like us "here" have been told our vaccinations that were at a small 1,300 a day will now be at 300 a day so you people who don't want to be part of the rest of the country can have our shots. Also even here it is nuts, they have these huge drive is up in Cook county where anyone from Cook county can get a shot but out here we don't have shots so they can give them out there?? It is a point counter point but you got to look at all sides. For me and all of my neighbors it sucks!!!! JMHO. I would like to get a shot some day,,maybe? After all they have had a year to make a plan???
There is a lot of sides to all of this and we only look at our own. Shame.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Got a Christmas Card from a Town Board member today. Yes, mailed Dec. 17, 2020 in Rolesville. This is no joke.
Good morning, gentlemen.... Clearing with temps well above average, in the Potomac Highlands. Will be heading up the mountain in a bit to sit with FifeMom.
Roy - Glad you are improving day-by-day.
Chief - Just wait til you receive the fruitcake I mailed you on Black Friday...
56 and climbing fast to 70. Some clouds. Not much on agenda.Slept till 7:30. Thick Egos with real maple syrup [BTW: BIL can't have and SisterIL gave me their bottle given by their future DIL's parents from way up state NY]. That was a prize. On the cold front. New frig doing great. Making ice in door and in freezer [turned on the other ice maker in freezer]. Dumped first bins as instructed.Yesterday at Lowes. Took an hour to get a manager to come and discuss. Lowes had dropped their won delivery crews. Very nice young lady asst. mgr. [She came from Walmart.] Said Lowes had contracted with JB Hunt Trucking to do their deliveries. Lots of complaints they are documenting and pushing forward. As new contract, they feel they are stuck with it. Told them I was calling Charlotte and filing complaint. They said that the computer offered morning and afternoon scheduling but the contract with Hunt didn't. Hunt was to call a couple of days before with a heads up. Then call the day before with an estimated time. [they did not for me] Offered me compensation. Told them I was not there for that. Only to give customer feedback. Also, while waiting a Vet was informed there is not more Vet discount on items on sale. Sort of understand that. Calling Charlotte this AM.Hope all have a great day.
ChiefEagles Got a Christmas Card from a Town Board member today. Yes, mailed Dec. 17, 2020 in Rolesville. This is no joke.
Lady Firestorm's family has been calling it a "Rolling Christmas!"
As long as it's postmarked before Christmas, it counts!
Morning Folks.
Checking in. Weather is turning mild today. Hopefully the iceberg on the pool cover melts so I can drain it off.
Everyone is fine here. Seems like everyone is doing well. No vaccine for me yet. Still to low on the Festivus pole for me yet.
Hope everyone stays safe!
Trying to update my avatar since 2020
MartyE and Kodi the Husky Dog! ( 3/31/90-9/28/04 ) www.MartyE.com My O Gauge Web Page and Home of Kodiak Junction!
Morning folks!
Sunny and a little cooler today - high 60's. Hit 81 yesterday! Normal temps (high 40's/60's) return for next 7 days starting tonight. Rain forecast for tomorrow/Fri.
Mrs and I got our appts for tomorrow for our 2nd Covid shots! Glad that will be over with! News reporting that folks with vaccinations are not spreading the disease as originally feared. That is a good thing! Now to attack the variants! Bet this Covid thing becomes an annual shot like for the flu.
On the '84 El Cam front - big progress. Yesterday I mustered the energy to install the computer controlled Q-Jet carb I rebuilt back in Oct prior to my surgery. Installed carb and all associated control wiring (the rebuilt/refurbed ECM harness). It started up and no leaks and no Check Eng light! High idle is way off and the primaries need balancing (hunting idle RPM between 500-900). So I need to check what GM calls the 'dwell' (actually the duty cycle of the primary fuel metering rods mixture solenoid) and vacuum while adjusting the primary idle mixture needle valves. No guarantees but so far so good. As previously discussed - it does not matter if Check Eng light stays ON for inspections here after vehicle is over 25 yrs old - just all emissions equip needs to be there - does not have to work - but cannot be intentionally disabled. A friend of mine loaned me the special tools for adjusting the carb on the vehicle.
Almost forgot - on the dishwasher front - my tape wrap test on the lower spray arm was successful enough I ordered a new lower spray arm and door gasket (gasket is not the issue - but replacing anyway as it is several years old) from searspartsdirect.com. Sears parts have been excellent for sourcing repair parts over the years - glad they are surviving the retail side demise.
Sunny and a warm for us 43.
Chief, better late than never! I ordered a new smart phone for the wife's birthdat on the 9th of next month and all it shows in in transit arriveing late????
Roy, folks with vaccinations are not spreading the disease as originally feared.That is good news, glad you doing better everyday and getting back to doing things you want.
Had to replace the modem and remote for the main TV ahat a PITA that was.
I tried day after day using the county web site even getting up and trying at 3am with no luck. Finally my case manager from Sharp Healthcare was able to get us scheduled, we go for our second Pfizer today.
We are doing Doggy Day Care duty for our granddoggy while the plumbing issues are being finalized and furniture being moved back in. Our daughter's family had some major water line failures with the lines in the slab. A major PITA.
Doug that is why I don't like under/in slabs. Mine are under or in ( I don't know which as this house was built 1950's. ) but if they ever go, it will be pex for me. Yes I know they have problems too but I'm not going to have concrete torn up 1/2 the length of the house.
They didn't go thru the slab either, far to expensive and time consuming. Since they don't have the freeze/thaw isues, in Carlsbad close to the beach, they are doing the PEX thru walls and ceilings. Unfortunately the living/dining area have cathedral ceiling so hello walls, and I don't mean the song.
Back from successful errands run. Only complaint was those folks driving 10 mph under the speed limit on a sunny 70 degree + day. Everywhere I went, nice customer service. Especially the LOCAL CPAP office. Will do business with them and not mother company in Philly.Now speaking of customer service. Lowes web site. Clicked on customer service. Contact us. I got a phone number. [note: most places don't want to talk to you and hide the phone number] Had to select from a few choices. Went right to a nice young lady. Listened to my story [could hear her typing] and was very concerned. She will register my complaint. WOW
Post Master took scanned copy of the delayed Christmas card. She looked at original. "And it was mailed here in Rolesville." "You know it had to go to the plant in Raleigh and back." "Was it on your informed delivery?" "Yes." "That means it has been lost in Raleigh at the plant." "I'm keeping this copy for evidence and passing on the complaint." [note: she is good]Now goof off for a few.
Good evening all,
A good day weather wise. Got to do a lap on my 3.4 mile practice circuit. Did it in 53:40 for a 3.8 MPH average. If I could that pace for the entire Mini, I would be pleased. I did some jogging on the downhill sections so that was a better than expected time. I am not sure why I am practicing as I have my doubts we will get to do the actual event. I am thinking they may let the pros run and maybe the quicker amateurs. Slugs like me just fill out the field. LOL When I did sports car racing back in the 70s, I used to tell the front runners that ""Guys like me make guys like you look good" (and we did). Most of the snow is gone at last. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Happy Hump Day everyone! Doing well here and it was in the upper 60s today and sunny. Heard a story about a 105-year-old NJ woman who tested positive for Covid after having both vaccination shots. Just like the flu shot, there are no guarantees. She recovered and that is all that matters. I am sure she has one heck of an immune system.
44 and fair. Will change later as rain for next 7 [some percentages low].
Mornin' boys. Sunny & 37 along the Patterson Creek cut-off. Wifey wants to get out and shop today (for what, I have no clue). One day of Spring like weather yesterday, and she gets all kinds of cheekie ideas. I did stash the snow shovels in the Fife-shed.
Did I just say "cheekie". We've been watching Call The Midwife. It's become our favorite show.
Had a nice day with FifeMom. She's slowly emerging from a rough stretch. Came home to burgers on the grill, and burgundy in the glass...
Morning from a cold but sunny North Bluff, With the warm weather the deer have backed way off and good thing I am down to two bags of corn. Trident the three legged deer is still showing up every day to get some free food. The people installed the RO system Monday but did not bring the stuff for the tank shelf. Have not seen them since, I guess they will show up sometime because I have not paid for it yet. Not much else, still no news on getting the shots??? go figure it is LaSalle county. White trash hill rods and rich farmers= 95% of the population here. Why I fit in so well......
I found a sign I need to post for the deer.
Happy Friday Eve - sorry - been MIA....
Happy Birthday to FifeMom! Praying for better days....I have made some progress in the train attic, I have cleared the Christmas Village and started installing the street lights, curbing and sidewalks. I used a milamine board, so it has been installed and once I get more tiem, I can attempt to finish it.Had to do some shopping for the animals last night, afterwards had BK for dinner. Bed shortly afterwards.Had an interesting email then phone call just before work ended. I had an interview with a journalist who will be doing a feature on my road runner.It's an on line magazine (mystarcarconnection.com) I'll be sending him some photos of the car later today. Yes, I vetted him prior to all this. SO that's a cool thing.Slated for the April edition of the magazine. Sunny and windy should hit 48F after yesterday's 57, which I didn't get to experience, working inside. Rain Friday night and Saturday.So, no work on the layout last night. It's the last Thursday of the month, so there shouldn't be a fire drill......but, who knows.....Off to work.....
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
DJSpanky apparently a couple of the seniors are taking a real laissez-faire attitude towards the pandemic.
You know how it is man, when you're young you think you're indestructable.
Until you find out you're not, sometimes the easy way, sometimes the hard way.
Some things don't change and never will.
Hi Ho all!
Trying to rain here, overcast all day, and temps dropped fast last night. 50's right now, Yesterday was a beautiful day - hitting 71 with sunny.
The second COVID dose went smoothly for the Mrs and I. This time we were out of the house, south side of downtown, shots, 15 min wait, and back in 1 and 1/4 hrs. Smooth sailing! No effects save a little soreness in the right arm/shoulder.
Made some further progress on the El Cam yesterday. Would not idle at all (vs previous day) and found more vacuum leaks forming in the fuel vapor recovery part of the system. Plugged those hoses and was able to tune the primary needle valves for balance - but idle vacuum is still a bit low, the primary butterfly's are completely shut, and it is still rpm hunting at idle - so I need to check the vacuum lines to the power brake booster and cruise control vacuum canister. Runs smooth above idle and up to 3500 rpm (as far as I went while running diagnostic tests). Some of the tests I ran continue to confirm the ECM is operational as I can make the Check Eng light go on and off when certain sensors or control voltages are disconnected. Took the day off today as it is cold/damp out and in the garage and I need the door open for running the engine. Tomorrow will be some trips to auto part stores for vacuum line and a couple of sensors I would like to replace (i.e. the O2 sensor - if I can get it out - they tend to seize even in newer vehicles).
Anj - as this system uses a mixture control solenoid (for all - it is essentially identical to a Lionel semaphore spring loaded solenoid) that simply bounces the primary metering rods from fully up (full rich - no power to solenoid) and fully down (full lean - solenoid energized) in the primary jets - the "dwell" varies from 5 degrees (rich - metering rods are lifted out of the jets) to 50 degrees (lean - metering rods down into the jets), with "dwell" averaging about 25-30 degrees (about a 50% duty cycle to the solenoid - i.e. equal ON and OFF times) for normal operation. Mixture is controlled by how long the energizing pulse is to the solenoid - the longer the ON pulse, the leaner the mixture. If the solenoid fails, mixture just goes to full rich, so carb continues to provide fuel and you would get a code. Interesting arrangement as pretty reliable - unless the solenoid wiring gets burned out (or ECM fails) - or the solenoid plunger is impaired by gunk in the carb - it just works - like a 60 yr old Lionel!
Fife - Glad Fifemom doing better!
Yeah - I cannot claim any credit for listening to my elders - particularly if I would not get caught!
KRM I found a sign I need to post for the deer.
TGIF --- YAY!!!!!I got some train attic time in last night, finished getting the new lamps up and turned on, I'll need to put the lamp shades on and that's done. All wired up and looks good. Jenni said the warm whites would look good and she was correct!! I also moved the LED overhead light from one side to the other and Spooky Town is all lit up so I can see what I'm doing.I also mounted a HD power strip under the layout and I'll start eliminating the smaller lighter duty power strips soon. I'm getting brave enough to tap into the light switch and add 2 wall plugs and then I can eliminate the single bulb and mount a plug up there for the LED lights. Everything is going to be LED to lessen the power load. The only real loads I'll have will be the bricks for the ZW and a CW80 and another "legacy" ZW (maybe). My daughter got engaged last week and my ex texted me, surprisingly (I haven't spoken to her in 4 years and not since 2011 prior to that). Had a nice talk with my future SIL and my daughter. I just wanted to make sure we are all on the same page as far as her mother is concerned and what the kids want for their wedding. My ex has a tendency to bulldoze everyone in her way. They "get it". Up to 44F today and bright sun. 25 days to Spring? Not soon enough.Off to my future in laws tomorrow, going to replace a bathroom ceiling fan, Jenni says Prime RIb for dinner - yeah, I can be bribed....lol!!Back later
Mornin' boys. Already back from the garage, where I had the tires rotated and balanced on the Dodge. Wifey and I are going over to new parents' home, where I am to work on a closet project. A project I wanted no part of.
"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in..."
...and there won't be any prime rib for my efforts. If I'm lucky.
Some big changes are going on at the Scenic RR. Foremost, we have a new President on the BoD. I like the man, so hopefully he can improve things going forward. Folks in town want accountability, and I understand their views. (WCBC)
Got the Menards lumber shed powered up. Boy it is bright, almost wish I could figure a way to dim it some?
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