Monthly Archive for February, 2011

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Mud Slinging

Published on February 19, 2011 in car by taro. Closed

OK, today was the fourth ever Hawaii SCCA Rallycross, and like usual it was a blast! None of the forecast showers reached us at Kalaeloa. I made it to the event with the rally FX after a midnight wrench session, actually I beat midnight by 15 minutes, but had to wait for battery to charge. On the drive out, the car seemed to be running well. No warning lamps, alternator & battery seem ok, the engine hesitation & missfire seems to have gone away after driving the week & dumping some fuel injector cleaning stuff in.

Sun was already up by the time I made it there. The air was nice and cool, but windless, and not a cloud in the sky. Helped with some setup. We pretty much had the usual suspects, gaggle of Subarus, a Miata, Civic, Jetta, Toyota longtravel pickup, and myself. Ground looks to be shaping up decent, the recent rains looks to have stiffened up the dirt some, and there’s grass/weeds growing all over! I run second heat, and it is slick from the water truck wetting down the track. Super slide-o uncontrol-o action! I get through the first half of the course and then hear a real ugly flappy thunky sound. WTH? I slow down wondering if I’d snapped a drive shaft, but the car still drives. Huh? I finish out my run cautiously slow. I examine the car, but see nothing obviously wrong. Weird. Continue reading ‘Mud Slinging’

Can’t Take the Heat…

Published on February 19, 2011 in rant, Snow, SUAR and Travel by risu. Closed

Man, I don’t think it has been colder than usual, but I am noticing that jeans and a thin baselayer are feeling like not enough.  I almost wish I had my heavy ECWCS polypro drawers right now…  Must be old age kicking in.

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5-Year Record

Published on February 19, 2011 in Snow and Travel by risu. Closed

It’s been pretty much snowing non-stop since I got here… well, and even before I got here.  The news was saying that this year has set a record for snowfall for the last 5 years, although you could have fooled me in November when I was here.  The snowfall started late, and has been pretty much constant.  There was around 10cm of settled snow in the street in town this morning, and as evening advanced, the snowfall resumed, so there should be another good layer tomorrow morning.

Alternator lifestyle

Published on February 18, 2011 in SUAR by taro-mobile. Closed

OK, sheesh, I ended up sacrificing the rear window defroster wire, it’s fairly thick, and has the appropriate spade connector on the end even! And with the tint job, I don’t think you can use it anyway. Jump the solenoid direct to battery and it starts right up, sounds familiar.
Then on way home, the charge & brake warning lamp starts coming on, crap, this alternator is craping out too! At last traffic light by library, of course I catch the red. Uh oh, the dash lights are dimming. Turn off headlights, hurry! Go faster Camry, why the heck are you doing speed limit?! Make it home, just barely. After dinner when I try to start, it tries but not enough juice. Measure the Diehard Platinum & it’s down to 10v, yikes! Slapped the charger right now!

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Clicky clicky

Published on February 18, 2011 in SUAR by taro-mobile. Closed

Great, I’m stuck at petland kahala right now, the rally FX won’t start. Clicky of a relay, but no starter, how familiar. I wasn’t expecting this FX to do this too so I don’t have the hot-wire jumper wire or clutch safety bypassed. Curses, I could try push start in this little parking lot I suppose….

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Jumbo’s Last Stand

Published on February 17, 2011 in SUAR and Travel by risu-mobile. Closed

Aboard equipment JA8089 747-400.  Probably the last time I’ll be on one of these after JAL retires this one in March.

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OPSEC Arimasen

Published on February 17, 2011 in rant, SUAR and Travel by risu-mobile. Closed

Ahhh! Air conditioning is your friend. Have to enjoy it, since plane will probably be hot until after takeoff. Lots of gaijin, mostly military – including one O-type who is talking really loud on his unencrypted Blackberry about some sensitive stuff that probably doesn’t need to be public knowledge.

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Cho-Mushi

Published on February 17, 2011 in rant, SUAR and Travel by risu-mobile. Closed

At HNL. It’s morning but it’s crazy hot and humid. Hope they open the gate lounge soon, so I can get some AC.

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Pan Pan

Published on February 16, 2011 in car by taro. Closed

510 floor pans came today, we really need a metal brake and bead roller, if we had the tools we could have made these, its pretty rudimentary. A little too large and thick for us to do by hand. Ah well, maybe in the future. Next up will be attempting to weld these in!

Back Home

Published on February 14, 2011 in Uncategorized by taro. Closed

Musubi’s back home already! Right now she’s in a new pen inside the house, there was a little bit of excitement when I got her home and out of her carrier. She showed some pretty unexpected spunk and wriggled away from me. Had to quickly grab her and get her into the pen. Once in, she’s quiet, and purrs away when petted. The people at the vets call her the Engine for how much she purrs! It’s pretty encouraging and the doc said this was a very gratifying case. Initial exam & x-rays indicated it was pretty severe, her pelvis was fractured in seven places at least. When I took her in, she had no nerve response in her leg. Things look much better now. The major fracture was wired back, the rest the doctor left alone. The leg has pain response and she can kind of stand on it if prompted. She’s got a ways to go, but she’s one lucky kitty! Oh, and seeing her tail in x-rays is a trip, it’s got quite the kink, perfect for holding the princesses ring. Go look that up, it’s a folk tale with Persian cats having kink in tail.