Hi,
Well, the poor thing is *finally* back together. In the end, it wasn't so bad. Just rebuild the engine is all.
We did have to up and replace that #2 con rod. It was just too chewed from running without a bearing to save, although we did try. Parts for these little engines cost more than parts for the larger ones. If y'all think Deere is proud of their parts, don't get one of these little Japanese guys!
Of course, there were lots of 'little things' that needed attention once we were neck-deep in the alligators there. You know, those that add up to costing more than the main problem to correct. Poor old Fred now has a skid-steer that cost him more than he could ever hope to sell it for. I tell him it's cheap as he bought an education along with the fool thing!
Now it sits alongside his garage in his subdivison waiting for snow. maybe he can make some of the $$$ back digging his neighors out. I have this feeling that we're in for a North Carolina winter that features significant snowfall. It's been about five years since the last one of those, and so we're due.
For those that don't know how it is down here. No one is prepared to deal with snow. Not even the Relocated Yankees. Most folks moving here buy in subdivisions with the Size Five houses on the Size Four lots. So, at best they have a push lawnmower. Not even a snow shovel! If it snows *one* flake here, everyone leaves work early and hits the stores for bread and milk. I love going to the store after they've all been there and see the empty bread and milk shelves. I don't know what they all do with all the bread and milk - make milk sandwiches???
I'm one of the rare fools. I have a farm and so have ways to deal with the snow. I keep a well stocked pantry so can hole up here for six months in need be. I even have a 420c dozer if the snow should get deep enough to where the old 'M' and backblade can't handle it.
Anway, Fred and I might need that snowplowing work. We're now both unemployed. Seems that Sony Ericsson decided that they had too many R&D sites, so we 'got gone' back on October 1st.
So, in bewteen putting the skid steer back together, we've been looking for somewhere else to go to. Technically, we're employed until December 8th, but were told to pack up and go home but be available to come in should they need us for something. I had two other jobs lined up, but can't start until after 12/8, so in the meantime both companies announced their own layoffs. So, no joy to be had there....
Looks like we get to run on backpressure for a while. This won't last long, I figure 6-12 months. By then, lots of the folks that were let go this fall will have moved away (I'm staying put no matter what) so what is now a no-hope situation will turn into a pick-and-choose one. Eventually.
In the meantime, we do what we can, and if snowplowing becomes an opportunity, both Fred and I can take advantage of it.
I'm also going to greatly expand the gourd patch I have here for the wife's craft use. Those things sell really well, as I've only recently found out. I grew 10x what she needed this year just for the fun of it, and she's been selling off the extras for $3-$30 each. Huh?? You know, these things don't spoil? Once they're dried, they keep for decades. Forget the seasonal pumpkins we were playing with. It's gourds for me from here on out! I can grow a lot of gourds on ten acres!
Maybe I'll become a gourd farmer and give up engineering. If I don't go back to work by April, then I'm planting a bunch of these things!
Later!
Stan