***Wasptember: Taking the Sting out of the End of Summer with LC Chat***
Apparently only the females sting, so I guess I should have used a different epithet. Thanks Cowboy and Tom, the treat
cokeboy,
Your old rims were way sicker. Big blacked out rims guy.
New ones remind me of white New Balance sneakers, no offense.
I don't think i posted my old vehicle or rims - went from a 2017 Outlander to a 2025 Outlanded. I just kept the factory issue for now. I agree with the new style, not really my thing but I'm not looking to pay to change them roght now, either.
I believe the blacked out rims were posted by CowboyCold.
I forgot to mention: Some years back, I was having quite a bit of trouble getting it in first. On a trip up north, my uncle (who also had a Ranger) told me to look at the reservoir.It was a bit low. Topping it off made thing better, but not like new.So entirely possible Gus' analysis is spot on. When it gets bad enough, I'll get it addressed.Or but a new truck. Or just dri
Yeah, clutch and trans fluid is definitely a good place to start. But difficulty getting it into first gear is super common, especially on an older vehicle. Almost certainly a worn synchro. On my 09 manual, first can be troublesome at times, but reverse is by far the worst. I'll generally just shift it into reverse before starting the car, but alternatively just move it to a different gear first and that will loosen it up.
Of course, starting it in second is always an option. But you see the real solution is to just get rid of it since you don't really drive it or want a manual anyway.
Changing the whole trans is the nuclear option. A refurb is $2k and buying a used one would probably just be asking for the same problems. Unless there is another reason the mechanic said you need a replacement sometime soon, but I don't see it.
You're right on, Gus. As I recall (this was a couple years ago), the regular (i.e., non-transmission-specialist) said was something like, "at some point it will wear out and need to be replaced. It will get harder to get into first. Start it in second, then it should shift into first more easily."
TBF, he may have been on the synchros and not the whole trans. I don't recall specifics.
Since I drive it <2500 miles/year, that day may come after I've spun off this mortal coil (or at least, quit driving a manual).
As Wasptember approaches a close I got into some fire ants this morning--they're wingless yellowjackets IYAM. Being the classy guy I am, I left them some food since they appeared so hungry. They were so appreciative that they said they would share it with their queen immediately. Bon appetit!
apparently was just possessed by the spirits of my long deceased alky okie doke xy chromosome donor so story time
have not had to fathom dealing with them little sum bitches in literal decades, called 'em red ants as a kid, not sure if the attitude came from being the fire kind or just pissed forever cowering in households fabricated from cracked pots of broken oklahoma territory clay
either way the most frequent retribution was conducting homeyard firework displays early mourning of 4th against those invasive red colonies, no lie everyone came rushing to see it and the most often invited to the party were black cats and m80s (the physically explosive kind, not some fictititional mexican political pinata gang or imaginary african wiccan civil rights activists protesting they are not ignored an appropriated amount)
this image immediately causes nasal flares and ear rings
fortunate saying never involving a pierced paw or septum
Spoiler
Yeah I don't have a fake McLovin ID.
Next time I play at a casino I might sign up for the waitlist under McLovin
Spoiler
I mean, it's gonna be either that or Mohammad.
Boston one day! maybe you could point me to a nice enough hotel that doesn't charge exorbitant rates lol... everything I looked at with a preliminary search was ridiculously priced.
Mrs. One and I stayed at Stay Pineapple in "South End" Boston for a couple of nights after my niece's wedding last summer. Not sure I'll ever need to be in Boston again, but I would happily go back to that hotel/area.
Mrs. One and I stayed at Stay Pineapple in "South End" Boston for a couple of nights after my niece's wedding last summer. Not sure I'll ever need to be in Boston again, but I would happily go back to that hotel/area.
I thought Southie wasn’t safey though.
I'm gonna say I don't think "South End" and "Southie" are the same? (Not a Beantown boy, can you tell?) This hotel was more like Back Bay? Nice neighborhood, easy walk to downtown (??), that park where they put out all the flags on Memorial Day, etc. I will obviously differ to 27 or anyone with more Boston experience.
I was there for a weekend in '75, and again in 2024. It seems to have improved? As I recall in 75, the area around Bunker Hill was pretty trashy, our car was broken into. Much safer now.
And then, every once in a while, cheap wins out. The 6x6 volt (36 volt system) lead acid batteries in my golf cart crapped out after 5 years. Which is the typical life span for this type of battery. 6 new lead acid batteries were going to run ~$1,000, and last another 5 years. And that's with me doing the labor.
So I decided to upgrade to lithium ion. I got a couple of quotes from the two closest golf cart repair places near me. One of which would require me to trailer it 45 miles and the other 70 miles. Both were around $3,500 plus any incidentals like extra labor for problems encountered during the install. That's a bigger ballpark than I was comfortable playing in.
So I bought 3 lithium ion 12 volt batteries (3x12 volt = 36 volts) online and had them delivered to my house. Total cost a couple bucks shy of $1,800 including the new charger, cables and battery meter. These batteries came with an 8 year warranty, but should easily last 10 years as they are rated for 7500 charging cycles.
Spoiler
A look at the old batteries and associated wiring. Each one of those 6 volt batteries weighed 70 lbs, the battery strap that I had on hand was for 12 volt car batteries and wouldn't fit these. So I fashioned a battery strap from an old ski rope.
6 times 70 lbs of old batteries = 420 lbs I had to wrestle out of the cart and into the back of my truck, so they could be recycled. The new batteries only weigh 22 lbs (3x22=66) so I'm saving 354 lbs of weight. Definitely helps with performance.
New batteries installed and amazingly the headlights, taillights and Bluetooth speaker system all function properly.
Biggest hassle other than wrestling batteries, was installing the battery meter on the dash and then having to zip tie the cable underneath the cart back to the battery compartment. It's hard on an old fat man to lay on the ground and get dirt in his eyes scooched underneath a golf cart.
Awesome stuff, Cowboy!
I would have been all over Lazy if that had been me.
When my lithium battery goes in my cart, get ol' Earl to get you over here for some Cowboy Cold beer if you'll change it out for me.
Spoiler
Sometimes I like to combine Lazy and Cheap!
Awesome stuff, Cowboy!
I would have been all over Lazy if that had been me.
When my lithium battery goes in my cart, get ol' Earl to get you over here for some Cowboy Cold beer if you'll change it out for me.
Spoiler
Sometimes I like to combine Lazy and Cheap!
30 Silver Bullets, 15 a peice, and we're in.
Booked!
Thanks golddog. I'm still mad I didn't look you up when I went to visit my son in Golden when he was going to college.
If you want to go for a ride, plan a trip to Texas, stop by my casa which is ~4 hrs from Big Ben national park. If you haven't been, it's definitely worth the drive.
Thanks for the offer. Agree on Big Bend. Haven't been for years, but it's fantastic desert scenery.
BikerTrashBuddy of mine is planning a November m/c trip to Big Bend this year. I can't yet commit, but I'm hoping to be involved. I've heard only good things about the area.
There's a cool lodge to stay in semi nearby, in a state park. I stayed there quite a few years ago and it was nice, plus they remodeled it last year, I think.
Weekend of Halloween, the
is happening just outside the park. Supposed to be a big ol' time.
