Generator Service

Back in October or November the generator quit starting, I did not want to put plates on it to take it in so I just left it for the winter, trying it every month to no avail. It cranked enthusiastically but no start. I finally got it started a week or so ago after a long drive and it ran perfectly. It still needed a service so I took it in to the local White's Diesel & Marine on July10. It had not been serviced since 2012. Yes, I know! I started it before I dropped it off and it chugged, rattled and smoked so I shut it off and tried again, It started and ran perfectly! 

I left it with them and after one and a half hours they had it done. Just a regular service, plug, filter(s), oil change and carb adjustments. I paid the $325 Canadian bill and drove away with a perfectly functioning generator! FYI, the last time I had it serviced was in 2012 in Yuma, Arizona on our way into Mexico. They did the exact same service and charged me $180 US twelve years ago. Almost as much (after conversion) as I paid up here. I am happy! The furnace does not work but that is another story. It has eaten circuit boards for years so I may convert it to a "Buddy" propane heater. If it goes bad, you throw it away and buy another!

Motorhome Test Drive!

 

Great Test Drive!

 

Yesterday I had six new tires installed on the motorhome for $1,600 and decided to take it for a drive to 1) burn off some of the five year old fuel in it and 2) see how it runs with the new brakes, tires, transmission service, etc.

 

I headed south and drove it to Union Bay where I pulled into the beachfront parking area and walked to the little grocery store to buy something to eat. Back in the RV, on a whim, I did something I knew I shouldn't do, I hit the start button on the generator. A couple of months ago it refused to start. I cranked it for several minutes and it didn't even attempt to fire. Two weeks ago when I put insurance on it I tried again, using every trick I knew. Still nothing, crank but no start. I phoned the local generator shop and made an appointment for July 10. He warned me that a no start condition could be quite expensive to fix and to be prepared for the worst.

 

Well, back to the beach at Union Bay. I hit the start button, it cranked for about two seconds and started! It sounded smooth and strong! I let it idle for a few minutes and feeling very lucky, I turned on the roof air conditioner. I could hear the generator take the load but it handled it easily. I then put a cup of water in the microwave and turned it on as well. No problem, it carried both loads easily and was running smoothly. I headed home and ran the generator and roof air all the way home, about two hours. The generator still needs servicing but at far less cost than it was looking like.

Motorhome TLC

It was time!

The motorhome has been parked for seven years with only one break, the 2019 trip to the Okanagan. Before now it has never had a "real" service, just repairs as needed through our travels. It was running beautifully when it was parked It has had an oil change at least every year, more than required along with whatever inspections they do with oil changes. It also has a transmission service many years ago as a result of a disastrous / comical oil change in southern Mexico. Nothing ever caused any concern. It has 78.000 miles (128,500 kilometres) on it. I put new rear brakes on it the last time I parked it.

Yesterday I took it into Seymour Services, a highly recommend local independent garage. I explained everything to the service manager and told him to pretend it was his own vehicle and do what was required. I knew it was going to be expensive (and it was). I left it in his hands with instructions to call me for authorization on anything extraordinary, and he did so three times.

I picked it up this afternoon and they had done:  Lube & oil, parking brake service, Transmission service (without fluid change - it was still good), new front brakes, brake fluid flush, replace fuel filter, replace air filter, exhaust service (some loose manifold bolts), replace differential oil, installed new wiper blades and carefully inspected everything else. The bill was $3,400 CAN or $2,500 US). Not bad considering all the services it has missed over the years.

I left there and drove to the Onan generator place and made an appointment for service. I was on my way home and on a whim I stopped at the local auto detailing shop. I was going to clean it myself but one side was covered in moss/mold from being parked up against a tall hedge for seven years and it would have been a tough job. They offered to do it properly for $200 less a $25 coupon I found in Norma's papers. While the detail shop manager was inspecting the rig we talked a bit about it and he indicated he was looking for a motorhome! Well! I was looking for a buyer and he said he would take it for a test drive when it goes in tomorrow! I have become 95% sure I want to sell it, The price of gas and the cost of RV parks and travel medical insurance makes the type of travel we loved so much farther out of reach every year. I will be 80 next year so it is probably time to hang up the keys, I will see what he offers and sleep on it. The price of RV's skyrocketed during Covid and is still up there. It is a 2005 that I bought "new" in 2007 in Texas when the Canadian dollar was at par and when I checked what it was worth now, I was shocked! With luck I will not lose all that much for the 17 years I have owned it,

Update(s) to follow.

Proof Of Life!

I'm still here! I haven't posted for a while because I have done nothing travel related but I am well. I just completed another voyage around the Sun and celebrated my 79th birthday a few days ago. My friend Penny invited me down to Victoria where she wined and dined me at an All You Can Eat Sushi restaurant. It was delicious and we both walked away full! Penny's son Mike (and Erynn) also included tickets for a concert by an Eagles Tribute Band that was very good. It was a good birthday! I stayed around Victoria for a few days and then headed home, stopping at my son's place in Shawnigan Lake on the way. His work schedule is crazy and I don't get to see him near often enough! It seems he just started his company and now he is talking about retirement but when I think about it he is almost as old as I was when I retired! Time flies!

I have been looking after my friend (and sometimes house guest) Kelly's cat, Grace. while Kelly went on a cruise. I tried to avoid it but agreed in the end and am so happy I did. She is no trouble and is old enough (10) to just want to hang out with me and chill. I feed her and clean her litter once a day but other than that I don't even know she is around except for when I get up from my TV chair to get a coffee and she is on my lap! Kelly's daughter and my friend Brian dropped in regularly while I was gone and made sure she was not lacking in companionship, food, water and treats! Kelly is back from her cruise and will be taking Grace back home to Nanaimo later today. I will miss the little girl but Kelly has more plans to leave her with me a few times over the summer. Needless to say, Kelly got back before me and the house is totally spotless with new bedding on my bed. She is the ideal house-guest! 

The weather is improving and they have already declared water restrictions. And this is just shortly after having to open the dam because the reservoir was too full! Campbell River does not have a water shortage problem, it has a water delivery problem! New housing is being built at a crazy rate but the water mains have not been updated. On top of this, it is going to be another hot, dry summer with forest fires. maybe a new record for the Province. It will mean lots of staying inside and in my case with the furnace fan running to try to maintain a positive pressure to keep the smoke out. At least some of it!

Anyway, all for now. I hope all my Blogging / RV'ing friends are well, I do enjoy keeping track of everyone as much as possible.