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| Subject: NATPA Corunna | |
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Author: Jerry (aka Amos...) |
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Date Posted: 10/28/07 12:31:03pm Had a good time at the NATPA Corunna pull. I didn't pull - entered Andrew in the Friday jackpot and the 4 hooks yesterday without discussion. I think he was ready to pull after the long layoff since last year. Was asked by a few folks is I was going to pull, said no. Think some would like to see me hook again, but Andrew gets the first crack at it, it's always been that way... Anyway, even with a series of unfortunate events, he placed about the same as the previous 2 Sandusky's before the move to Corunna - about middle. But the last hook, at 5000#, he did take 2nd. Unfortunate events - I'll start from last weekend when we cranked the 50 for the 1st time in a year: Wouldn't fire - coil problem. Found another coil, ok, it fires now, but misses. OK, bet #3 plug is fouled. Nope, not that. Checked 'em all, nothing wrong with the plugs. Andrew says "Dad, what about a stuck valve...". Got that lousy feeling - that's only happened once a few years ago, and we ended up removing the head. Moved it from the barn to the shop, sure enough, #6 exhaust valve stuck. Got lucky and was able to free it up...That's good, neither one of us had time to chase around for parts - with me on the road with the big truck and Andrew in college, I don't think we would've make Corunna... OK, Friday nite in the 5500 Jackpot. Andrew's hooked to the sled. I'm halfway down the sideline with the camera. I put 3 fingers in the air, and he happened to see that (meaning 3rd gear). Was ready to go in 2nd, but moved it to 3rd. Anyway, he powered out, and with an excellent bite on the track - he would've made it real interesting in the results if he ran in 2nd. Now I'm real angry with myself, and now I have to go and apologize to Andrew. He wasn't happy. I told him from now on, don't pay any attention to me down on the sideline - if you're running the tractor, you're the boss. I actually haven't coached Andrew for several years, but he does at times wonder what Dad's opinion is on things... OK, now yesterday. It's raining, of course the weatherman couldn't be wrong this time. Early on, we're thinking our 1000 amp batteries, in the pickup on on the tractor are getting weak. That's some concern, but not a big one. Anyway, he was all weighed up for the 5500 (I think...), and had it parked outside off the roadway at one end of the pulling building. The class ain't started yet, so we figured we visit with Jeff, Mike, Barry, etc. down the hill in the boonies and maybe have a refreshment or two. After a bit of socializing, we walked back up the hill. Andrew says, Hey what's the tractor doing backed up down by the fence? Hmmm, somebody must of jumped on it and moved it there. Went down and checked it out. It was right up against one of those electrical outlet doohickeys that campers use. Andrew got on the seat and cranked it up, but barely - battery seemed real low. But the starter wouldn't stop, so he killed it. Starter kept going, and I grabbed the +cable and pulled it off the battery. I always figured that 50 of ours had a mind of it's own - I ain't never seen this happen before, but for some reason, the solenoid shorted, and with the tractor parked in high reverse, it decided to go downhill. I'm real thankfull for a weak battery, and that Andrew had it in high reverse, not low, and especially not in one of the forward gears. I don't even want to think about what could have happened if that was the case...But we may have fried a starter. Took the starter cable loose and got Jeff Nolan to pull it up the hill and pull start it. Swapped batteries and got the solenoid so it would work, you know, "tap it with whatever you have in your back pocket" trick. But the starter wouldn't roll fast enough to crank the tractor. So instead of being inside the building taking pictures and let Andrew take care of the tractor himself, I spent alot of time outside getting it pull started, and making sure Andrew didn't have to deal with anymore misadventures all by himself. So I think, altogether, only 87 pictures taken. Andrew went back over there early this morning to watch the rest of the pull and do more socializing with his buddies. I couldn't - have to leave out later today. Have the charger on the tractor battery - I'm fixing to find out if we got off cheap with just a bad solenoid. But I bet everyone's betting it's both. I'll let you all know later... [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
| Re: NATPA Corunna | dave metzger runner | 11/ 7/07 7:40:17pm |
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