Kentucky, 2012

ClydesdaleKevin · May 30, 2012, 10:02 AM

TOUCHDOWN! We have arrived safely at the Kentucky Renfaire in Eminence, KY!

This is copied and pasted almost verbatim from the last post from Oklahoma, 2012, so if you already read that one, you can skip reading this....lol!

We drove the whole way yesterday, all 700 miles, and when we got here, what kind of flying bugs are all over the meadow where we parked for the night? FIREFLIES! Yippee!

Oh yes, we had a couple of mechanicals, but nothing that stopped us or kept us from getting here.

At first, everything was fine, and the drive was pleasant...then it kept getting hotter and hotter and hotter! We left early in the morning when it was still cool, although muggy as heck.

Operating temps were great, 210 for the water, around 170 for the transmission. Then the temps soared into the 90s outside with bright sunshine beaming off the roads.

Engine water temps went to over 220, and the transmission temps climbed to close to 200...so on come the fans, and everything dropped down to 210 and 170 again almost immediately. So I left the fans on for the whole trip. They work great, although up some of the big Ozark mountains, temps still climbed to over 220 and up to 200, so before we leave Kentucky, I'm going to install the old transmission cooler back right where it was and us it in tandem with the new one.

Now for the mechanicals...

After a while, especially once we hit the REALLY high temps, the engine started acting funny. It still had plenty of power, but instead of sounding like a Cessna up hills, it started to sound like it ALL the time...sputtering and mini backfires, and some hesitation during acceleration. Water temps were still in the 210-220 range, and the trans temp stayed pretty steady around 170...so I figured maybe my choke linkage had slipped? I pull over into a rest stop...which we were doing very often for the dogs since Sheba still has a tummy bug...and the choke linkage was fine. BUT, one of the AIR hoses had come loose from the air cleaner housing due to a loose hose clamp. I put it back on, tightened the clamp, and we hit the road again.

Problem solved! Temporarily anyways. We rode for another hour or so and all was fine, so my guess was that the AIR forcing air into the air cleaner housing was helping the carburetor get enough air and not have to dump fuel causing sputtering.

Then the temperatures outside climbed even higher, and it came back. A quick pull over showed the hose still in place...but the heat coming off the engine was pretty intense, even with the water temp being 220 and the transmission staying less than 200.

We had no choice but to keep going...performance and economy was fine, but she was LOUD! Once the sun went down and it got considerably cooler outside, and even though the water and trans temps were about the same as the hot daytime temps, the rig started running fine again, nice and quiet except the uphills. So now I'm pretty convinced that while the coolant and trans temps were fine, the upper manifold temps were high enough to cause the gas in the carb to reach boiling point and start perculating. I believe the high pressure air from the AIR system dumping into the air cleaner helped keep the carb cool enough to prevent it, until temps hit into the high 90s outside. So before Kentucky ends, I'm going to install a new fan clutch (the engine fan only came on a couple of times the whole hellishly hot trip!)...a performance version that will come on sooner in high temps and stay on longer...to help purge the very hot air out of the engine compartment and keep the intake temps lower.

Okay, last mechanical problem...on our last gas stop in Illinois, temps still soaring in the heat wave, we pull into the gas station, and the power steering starts only working intermittently. As long as the RPMs were up, it worked fine, drop down to parking lot speeds, and it works intermittently, with the belt, which is plenty tight (maybe TOO tight from the shop), squeals. The fluid level is dead on, so my guess is that the bearing in the pump is almost dead...so it looks like I'll be installing another power steering pump also while we are here in Kentucky! And it wasn't just the heat...when we pulled in the Renfaire parking lot last night around 12:30am, it was only around 50 degrees outside, and it was still barely working at low RPMs.

Oh yeah, one last thing...I forgot to replace the high beam pigtail plug, so I had to use low beams the whole way at night. Which was fine, because once we got to Kentucky, especially the back roads to faire, the fog was intense! We were driving about 20 miles an hour or less the last 12 miles, it was that hard to see.

So we are here, we are safe, I have some more work to do on the RV, and thus begins a new chapter in our adventures!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · May 30, 2012, 10:07 AM

And it looks like the heat wave is over too! Low 80s today, and getting cooler and cooler into the weekend, with a projected high of 71 for Saturday...YIPPEE!!!

Kev

HandyDan · May 30, 2012, 10:21 AM

While watching the weather on TV yesterday, the radar picture showed that Muskogee got hit with a pretty good storm just after you left. I guess you got out of town just in time. Glad you made it. That was a long haul for one day. I was betting that you would spend the night at the Flying J in Mt. Vernon. Hope you get all the mechanicals fixed. You've got me concerned about my HR. I don't have any of the cooling add ons that you have and I will be driving it over some of the same hills you were on, although from a different direction. Since I own a Cessna I can tell you that my HR doesn't sound anything like it, but it is loud all the time. There are times when my power steering belt will squeal and other times it doesn't. Wonder why?

RedneckExpress · May 30, 2012, 01:33 PM

Time for an auxiliary air ram fan parked in front of the radiator to help shove air through for those low rpm times when the motor drive fan just can't push enough air

.

ClydesdaleKevin · May 31, 2012, 11:42 AM

So we decided to just go ahead and do a quick temp setup of camp yesterday, and then set up our booth tent completely, which we accomplished by 4pm.

Then it was a little rest and relaxation time with friends we haven't seen in a whole year!

So today Patti is going to get some tax stuff done, while I finish setting up camp and the workshop.

Then tomorrow, we have the whole day off...SWEET!

Next week I'll have to build some catapults, shampoo the carpets AGAIN, and then get to work on some of the RV stuff we want to accomplish before we leave to NY.

Always busy! Glad I get a lot of vacations!

Kev

Froggy1936 · May 31, 2012, 07:55 PM

Hey Kev is the waterpump and the power steering on the same belt ? Squeeling belts noise only comes from slipping A belt that does not fit the pulleys correctly can be very tight but still slip Slipping causing lack of power assist in steering and overheating due to lack of pumping water . Just a thought belts need to be up from bottom of groove as they drive on there sides Frank

ClydesdaleKevin · June 01, 2012, 09:26 AM

Thanks for the info, Frank! I'll check the belt fitment when I'm under there working on it next week. I wouldn't be surprised if they used a wrong belt either, after all the mistakes they made this past time when it was in the shop. I still need to talk to Kurt and Jerry and let them know what their mechanic did wrong...pretty sad actually, since I used to trust their work!

It didn't really overheat though...water temps never got past 220 and the trans temp never exceeded 200 and mostly ran at 170ish. And it was HOT outside, pushing into the high 90s for a good deal of the trip. Probably the hottest outside temps I've ever run this RV in before.

I will check the belts though, and eliminate the obvious and cheapest stuff first.

Okay, so our porch and camp is completely set up, as is the workshop...and I finished it up just before we got one heck of a gullywasher storm! We stayed nice and dry under the awning, watching all the latecomers set up in the rain...for some reason I derive a sick and twisted pleasure from that... :)rotflmao Especially since most of the latecomers are coming in from the Tennessee Renfaire, just one state over!

I would have had the whole day off today, but a rear brake line on the Jeep started leaking...a very minor leak, but I know its going to get a lot worse and quickly if I don't fix it today! Its raining, but a shop in town quoted me 60 bucks to fix it, so yep! I'll let them do it! So while they are fixing it, I'll walk to the post office and mail out an internet catapult order, then walk through the 6 antique stores and flea markets that are all right in town and within walking distance of the garage. I'll even stop in and have some bacon and eggs at the local little breakfast joint...and by then, the Jeep should be ready to go...SWEET!

So I should get off my butt soon and get the Jeep to the shop, so talk to y'all later!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · June 01, 2012, 06:36 PM

170 bucks later, ALL the rear brake lines and the feed lines, all the way up to the master cylinder, are replaced. Turns out, every time they tried to splice into a line, it was too rusted and broke. Still, not a bad price for all new rear brake lines, all the way to the MC!

While waiting for the job to be done, I had breakfast in town and mailed out an internet order...and then walked through the antique stores and flea markets...and found, and BOUGHT, a Nordic Track Sequoia! For 30 bucks, like new! Obviously hardly or never used. I did a 20 minute workout on it today and its just what I need on the road to get back in shape and keep in shape on my limited time schedule and considering how expensive gyms are and how inconvenient they are. I plan on using it every morning, 20 minutes a day at first, then 30.

So tomorrow we open up for opening day! We are all ready to go!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · June 03, 2012, 08:38 AM

Yesterday was the best opening day we've ever had at the Kentucky Renfaire...SWEET! Awesome 71 degree weather, and more people through the gate then ever on opening day. I'm hoping this is going to be the trend this year!

Today is going to be 80, as is the forecast for next weekend, so here's hoping to a cool and busy show this year!

I used the Nordic Track for another 20 minutes yesterday morning before work, but its catching up to me...my muscles are so sore...everywhere! Gonna skip it today so I can walk...lol!

The Atkins is still going well...lost 24.2 lbs so far!

Kev

RedneckExpress · June 03, 2012, 05:18 PM

Clydes, I wish you the best of luck with Atkins, the only big drawback to the diet is the moment you stop living the diet, your weight immediately goes back up, hence why the big fad of South Beach/Atkins died out a few years ago.

ibdilbert01 · June 03, 2012, 05:51 PM

Hey, I bought my wife (now ex) a Nordic Track Sequoia! Turned out to be the nicest clothes rack she ever owned... :)rotflmao

To be serious though, its actually a nice workout, and super easy on the joints. Well designed!

ClydesdaleKevin · June 04, 2012, 09:34 AM

Yep Redneck, that is why it has to be a complete lifestyle change, not just a fad diet. I'm using the Atkins to get to my goal weight, at which point I'll just switch over to a healthy low carb diet with small portions instead of eating like I was still in Highschool...lol!

LMAO Dilbert! Our old Total Gym became a clothes rack too...it was too much of a pain to keep reconfiguring and it took way too long to get a good workout on. I'm liking the Nordic Track because its a quick 20-30 minute workout that hits you hard cardiovascularly and at the same time gets almost every muscle in your body...and like you said, its easy on the joints and back.

So today we are going to drive around Shelbyville and visit the antique stores and thrift stores, and hopefully I can find a used bandsaw or scroll saw on the cheap...we were actually busy enough on opening day that I'll have to build some catapults!

I'll also keep my eyes open for an RV dealer too...gotta find the relief valve for my hot water heater, or else order one tonight.

So this week I'm going to keep it light, maybe a total of 75 catapults and a couple of ballistas. And then next week, we'll be going to Friendship, Indiana for the annual blackpowder event put on by the NMRA, and of course walk through the reenactment camp and the HUGE flea markets that surround the event. SWEET! We are going to go at least once...maybe even twice!

I'll get to work in earnest on the RV and building stock for New York after that week...I need a couple of easy weeks before I get back to the hard work...lol!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · June 04, 2012, 04:30 PM

So I went out in town today after breakfast and found an old but perfect Craftsman scroll saw for 30 bucks at the pawn shop. Then I went to a mom and pop shoe store and found a pair of leather Puma sneakers pointy enough to fit in the toe straps on the Nordic Track for 23 bucks on clearance, then went to Walmart and picked up some cheap tank tops and workout shorts. Then went 20 minutes on the Nordic Track when I got back.

I also found a local place in town that has oblong cedar gazebos for 4000 delivered and set up, and they self finance! They look pretty darn cool and will make a perfect renfaire booth with some modifications, so after Patti looks at it, it looks like that is what we are going to do to solve the building problem here in Kentucky...if I don't put up a permanent structure this year, I lose my perfect location on the main street of faire...and I can pay it off from New York...SWEET! Its 10 feet deep by 16 wide, and even the shingles are cedar. Patti loves the pictures of it, so I think its going to be a go!

I ordered a new Atwood water heater relief valve on eBay, so it should be here by the end of the week, so that problem will be solved. I sprayed the threads with PBBlaster so it will be easier to remove the old one when the other one gets here.

So I'm taking the rest of the day off! Tomorrow I'll set up the workshop the rest of the way, then get materials and start working on the catapults.

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · June 05, 2012, 09:26 AM

So this morning I'm going to pound out 20 minutes on the Nordic Track, then finish setting up the workshop. Then its a trip into town for materials, then I'll have to get cracking making some catapults. Sure not used to having to work in Kentucky, but its not something I can really complain about...lol!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · June 06, 2012, 08:40 AM

Alright! The workshop is completely set up and organized, all materials are gotten, and the "new" scroll saw works great with its new blades. Even have the stain rack set up.

So today its plane and cut out parts, drill a lot of holes, disassemble a bunch of mousetraps, drill some more holes, glue and clamp, etc. I should be able to get a lot of it done today, and maybe even finish up by tomorrow evening and have Friday off!

Saturday is going to be dodgy...Patti has an appointment with a heart specialist, which somehow got scheduled a year ago for a Saturday, so I'll be running the booth solo. Oi vey!

Kev

HandyDan · June 06, 2012, 10:01 AM

You're going to miss her radiant smile to draw in customers.

ClydesdaleKevin · June 07, 2012, 09:17 AM

LOL Dan! Yep, I sure will! We did find a friend of ours, Arlene, who is going to work in the booth on Saturday...she's nice, but not nearly as pretty as my Patti...lol!

Warmer weather is coming in for the weekend, high 80s low 90s, but its not supposed to get humid at least.

So today I have to attempt to finish up the catapults so I can essentially take tomorrow off and relax. The part for my water heater is supposed to come in today as well, so I'll get that in place so Patti can have hot water in the RV. If your water heater is going to break down, at least Kentucky is the place for it to happen! The shower houses here are amazing, better than most high end campgrounds!

After morning coffee its going to be another 20 minutes on the Nordic Track, and tomorrow it gets bumped up to 25 minutes for the week...then 30, where it will stay, with just a gradual increase in tension week by week. What a great machine! I'm already starting to tone up, and in combination with the Atkins, I'm down into the 230s now...SWEET! Still got a long way to go!

Kev

Arberg0 · June 07, 2012, 01:35 PM

hope patties heart visit is for nothing to seriouse would not like to see anything bad happen to you guys befrore me and teresa get a chance to travel and hopefully meet up with some of the people i have been chatting with and i include you and pattie in that list kevin maybe i will raise a red soldier or 2 if the doc lets me

ClydesdaleKevin · June 08, 2012, 09:38 AM

Thanks Arberg! She is seeing a specialist for her blood pressure issues. All tests reveal nothing wrong with her heart or arteries, and her lab work comes back like that of a 20 year old, but they have no idea why she still has high blood pressure unless she takes the medicine for it. So the specialist is going to make sure there aren't any blockages or whatnot.

So today isn't going to be a day off after all. Still have to finish the catapults, after I pound out 25 minutes on the Nordic Track, which will happen after I finish my morning coffee...lol!

Next week, its Friendship, Indiana, for a day trip at the National Muzzleloading Association event and all the awesome flea markets...woohooooo!!!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · June 09, 2012, 07:56 AM

Got all the catapults done...and have to go bring them to the booth soon, along with a supply of marshmallows. Patti's doctor's appointment is today, so wish her luck!

29 pounds lost on the Atkins so far, along with using the Nordic Track every day. Still got a long way to go, but I'm making progress!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · June 09, 2012, 07:55 PM

Patti's cardiologist couldn't find anything wrong with her heart or vascular system, and all her labs came out textbook normal...more like those of a 20 year old in her doctor's words.

So he switched her to a different and supposedly better blood pressure medicine...so she's gonna be fine! Yay!!!

So tomorrow it will be a lot more fun at faire with my pretty baby by my side...SWEET!

Kev

HandyDan · June 09, 2012, 08:50 PM

Good the hear. She's a keeper.
Wish I could come visit at Kentucky and compare it with Oklahoma. My kids said they thought the Oklahoma Faire was a little bigger than the Kansas Faire, but they recognized some of the performers as being at both events. Oklahoma was my first visit to a Renne Faire so I have nothing to compare it with. It was a lot of fun even for an old fat man like me. However, somebody needs to teach the young lads how to sit in a kilt. I was seeing WAY more than I needed to see! LOL On the other hand, maybe they WANTED to show it all.

ClydesdaleKevin · June 10, 2012, 07:44 AM

LOL Dan! The workers and vendors and employees at that faire are SUPPOSED to wear skivies under the kilt...nothing we can do about the patrons...Patti taught me early on to be as graceful as a Catholic shoolgirl when wearing a kilt... :)rotflmao

So its another day at faire today, but at least Patti will be there with me. Next week, its Friendship, Indiana! A VERY fun place to visit!

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · June 11, 2012, 08:52 AM

Yay! Its a rainy day and a Monday, so I'm taking a WHOLE day off for the first time in a long time! It was a terribly slow weekend, so aside from building a few larger machines and prepping out some parts, its going to be a very light week.

After my workout on the Nordic Track, which I'm upping to 30 minutes today, we are going into Shelbyville to check out some of the antique stores and flea markets, and then that's pretty much it.

Tomorrow, we are going to Friendship, Indiana to the big NMLRA event...then I'll work on some catapults on Wednesday.

We also had some folks from Disney come to the faire, and we received two free tickets for an early screening of Brave...which we are going to on Thursday night...SWEET! A bunch of us are going, and we are all dressing up in our kilts and whatnot...lol!

By Thursday all my parts should be in for the water heater, so hopefully it will be as right as rain again.

Kev

ClydesdaleKevin · June 13, 2012, 08:28 AM

So we had a blast in Friendship, IA yesterday...weather was pretty good, not too hot, and good times were had by all. Although the trip there was interesting. One of our friends following us got pulled over by a State Trooper for crossing a bridge we were all crossing that was under construction. Apparently, the bridge was restricted to vehicles under 3 tons. The signs were ambiguous though, and we all just thought it meant no big trucks and semis. She has a 97 Ford F-350 with duelly wheels...and they didn't just give her a ticket, they gave her a court summons! Seriously? Yes I know her truck is over 6000 lbs, heck, even my Jeep is 4900 lbs empty...but the signage should have been more specific.

Anyhow, we got there and walked around and looked at everything. There was nothing there I wanted to buy though. But it was fun looking. They must have raised their vendor fees this year because everything was way more expensive than last year. Even the gun prices were a major joke. Beat up guns you find in the back of every gun shop covered in dust with no collectable value, priced at 100-150 bucks in the gun shops, were priced at 300 and up by these vendors...dummies! Patti did make quite a few purchases for her grandsons though (ages 8 and 10), so she'll be the coolest gramma in the world when we get to NY this year. Rattle snake skins, skulls, arrow heads, sling shots...lol! Stuff little boys should love...unless they got too sissified with video games and not being in the Boy Scouts. We tried talking the parents into putting them in the Scouts, even offered to buy all the uniforms and books and pay the dues...but they couldn't be bothered. The kids are in karate, which is good...but the Scouts are something every boy should experience.

We did have lot of fun, and will return again next year!

So today, after another 30 minutes on the Nordic Track, I'm going to take a trip down to Walmart and buy 3 gallons of white vinegar and several gallons of bottled water...can't use the water while the hot water tank is soaking for 24 hours. Then I'm going to drain the hot water tank, replace the drain plug, remove the pressure valve, and using a funnel, fill it with the 3 gallons of vinegar and 2 gallons of water, and let it soak for 24 hours. Then tomorrow, when the thermostat is supposed to arrive, I'll flush it out thoroughly with a garden hose and put in the new anode drain plug, replace the thermostats, and reinstall the pressure valve, fill it up, and hopefully that will solve all my water heater woes.

Also today, I'm going to reenforce behind the grill mount...I'll finally have time to do it! And then between the rest of today and tomorrow day, I'll drill and router and sand out my ballista parts and start getting those assembled.

Tomorrow night we are going to an early screening of Brave...SWEET!...so I'm making it a date night with Patti...gonna take her to Outback first for dinner!

So if all goes well, I'll either have Friday completely off, or mostly off after finishing the Ballistas...which are all I have to build this week since the weekend was so crappy sales wise.

Alrighty then...enough rambling...gonna have my coffee, take the pups out, get in my morning PT, and get to work on my projects.

Kev