Pellet heads!! What's up today?

Not in the evening.

 

No, them Bostonites are a special breed

 

Hey I aint the one who was in a plain white van on the other site asking if anyone could help him find his puppy

 

That would be one.

 

Kitchen counter.

 

Very true.

 

Today was a good day, a busy day - not what I was expecting.. Friends and neighbors who plow our driveway showed up early, cleared the front of the driveway, saved me about an hour's work, snowblower started right up and took care of the rest..

About 11:30am they were coming back up the road in their other vehicle - plow truck blew the serpentine belt, was stuck on the side of the road about 10 miles away.. Asked if I could help out w/ the repair, sure, no problem. While they sourced a replacement belt, I loaded up the tools from the freshly cleaned "Keebler Elf" workshop: an hour later, we're on the road heading for the repair.

After looking at the automatic belt tensioner and idler pulley, it was quickly apparent "why" the belt snapped: the tensioner pulley was locked tight, the idler pulley had a 1/4" of burned & melted rubber belt encasing the pulley - spinning & tapping it w/ the socket ratchet released years of dirt, grime.. and a few bearings as a bonus. Sigh.

Everything else (A/C compressor, Alternator, PS Pump, etc.) was good though, turned free by hand, no issues.

Loaded the tools back up in the Camry, and off to Autozone for a new tensioner and idler pulley. Was busy there today, lot's o' folks picking up parts, tiz' the season. Counter person was sympathetic to her plight, gave her a 10% jobber discount during checkout. That's why I like the Autozone here: nice folks, and it's rare they don't have a part in stock.

An hour or so later.. after replacing the tensioner, idler pulley, and deciphering the belt routing diagram in the engine compartment all was good: truck started right up, and away we went.

Crawling under the truck was fun(!): clothes were soaked, snow is cold and wet, still trying to warm back up here. I may have to jump in the electric dryer later.

While we were chatting on the ride to/from Autozone, apparently the truck broke down the other week, cost them $350 to get towed about 10 miles, due to the plow being hooked up on the truck - AAA won't tow w/ a plow attached. Damm, that's harsh. Was glad I could help them out today.

Hope everyone had a fun weekend, gearing up for round 2 of white chit on Tuesday am.

Have a great evening, Stay warm all !

 

Not unless the Moose farts.
( Man, I got some reading to do here. )

 

LMAO.. You guys, that was too funny.. Chant: No sn*w.. No sn*w.. No sn*w..

 

damm Chinese tools.......

 

Chinesium "locking plier" tools have scarred me for life here.. I feel your pain Pallet Pete.

If I need a locking plier (or a cutting plier), it's Irwin / Vice Grip brand always - well worth the extra $$$, vs. an ER visit.

 

Amen to that, brother.

 

Pete, have a car question if you don't mind - would welcome your expertise.

The Olds Intrigue has a CV axle on the way out (this was the used car dealer "special" - shocking, I know) - sound is loud going straight & turning left, sound abates / is silent hard-turning right.

This would indicate the right (front passenger) CV axle is the defective one?

It's been years since I've had to diagnose a bad CV axle, my Beer addled memory seems to remember the one that's bad would get quieter turning 'into' it, due to axle / component loading.

Appreciate any insight,
Thanks, Rob

 

Learned a bit of information on this fire.

The warehouse was owned by Curran but was rented by Tractor Supply Corp. It housed left over pellets from last year which were owned wholly by TSC. The rumor is it was unknown cause.

 

If it dissipates turning right, I would tend to think it was the left CV/axle (left side is under load). And bad CV joints give a "clicking" noise.

If you want confirmation, give smokeshow a shout........he's a certified ASE mechanic, AFAIK, and can probably give you a definitive answer.

My advice regardless of which is the bad one (if $$ allows)...... replace both. If one has gone bad, the other one is probably not far behind, but get Smokeshows opinion first.