Greg - The reason I asked was because I was hoping your KY destination might be in western KY, and I could take a motorcycle trip to meet you there? As it stands, Camargo is 400-miles from me. Back in 2018 I rode a bike I owned 460-miles one way to Omaha, NE to a dealership there to trade in that bike on my 2016 Indian. Then rode 460-miles back the very next day. I'm not sure I could accomplish that kind of riding anymore with the aches/pains I have these days, especially when I haven't been riding hardly at all? There is definitely some truth to having your "riding butt" in shape, and mine's not!

 

I would love to see you , but yeah that would be a back (butt?) breaker for sure on a motorcycle. One day I hope we can get together..

 

We definitely will get together one of these days!

 

Motorcycle Battery Update
Went out this morning and battery tender was showing charged. Took the cover off, turned the key to start position and control panel came on, but it would not crank at all. Turned the key off, then turned the key back on, not even enough juice to light up the control panel. I'm now sure the battery is shot. Ordered a new one from Walmart just like the one that's in it now. It was $122 including taxes and shipping, that's only $14 more than it was back in 2021. If the new one lasts >4-years like the last one, I'll be happy, or someone will. I need to get rid of these bikes I'm not riding!

Update on 4-4-2 Tranny/Speedo Connection Leak


12-inch diameter pan. What you see is how much it has leaked since parking it this past Sunday afternoon when I got back from the show. Not much at all, maybe an ounce if that?

 

I’d prefer to remove the battery from the bike (to the bench) when charging to eliminate a battery (-) or (+) wire from influencing charging capabilities. JS

 

Yes, that could be possible. I probably should have done that but didn't, just figuring it was due to crap out as old as it is. I guess I'll see after the new one is installed?

 

A brand new battery it should fire straight off. Still, significant resistance in likely the battery (-) ground wire will hasten charging capabilities both riding & charging if the battery terminal wires are attached. Bottom line is to evaluate at least the (-) battery cable & its end terminals.

 

Norm - I am planning on doing a thorough inspection of the wiring when the battery is removed, before inserting the new one.

 

Things are pissing me off. Oil filter + fuel filter box arrived (from Amazon) with no oil filter in the box. Contacted Amazon support. They placed a new order for the missing oil filter (I guess); or, did they create an entire new order for an oil filter + fuel filter? Sometimes can't figure out exactly what these Asian Indians are trying to say. Earliest arrival date is this Saturday, 30 August.

 

Spark plugs arrived plus new air filters, also. I'd better check contents of those items. No oil filter sorta makes my purchase of x2 quarts of oil meaningless in terms of adding oil today.

 

Not enough to lose sleep over in my opinion Chris. I'm probably gonna hit two cars shows this weekend, one is a fundraiser for a local dog shelter, which is Saturday, the other is Labor Day, and is a cancer fund raiser for the local hospital's cancer center. I will have to get another appointment with my Dr.. Went about a week and a half ago to address dizziness, and lighheadedness (is that even a word?). I had gotten up in the a.m. for work, and had to put my arms on the walls of the hallway to keep my balance. I was nauseated, and sorta had the dry heaves. There was fluid behind my right ear drum, and they said to take antihistamines. It ain't working, as I still get dizzy when I bend over. Throw in the fact I spent a couple of hours in the E.R. yesterday, for an unrelated issue, seeing my Dr. might be a good idea. Got the radiator top plate painted in the finish that I wanted, threw on the emmsions sticker, so now I have to sand the top of the radiator support, and mask it off from everything around it, and give it a couple of coats of paint. Then the air cleaner assy. will follow, but I will need to order a couple more cans of paint to get it done.

 

Dan - Mastoiditis? Maybe simple ear infection. Sounds miserable. Hope it gets resolved soon.

 

That's a normal speedo connection leak. Fix it sometime down the road.

 

Dan - Sorry you're still feeling poorly and experiencing those symptoms. Could be Vertigo with dizziness and nausea? Glad you're going to see the doc!

 

Thanks guys, that's exactly what I'm thinking. I'll just keep my eye on the leak and keep checking the fluid level, then I'll address it when the season is over.

Dan - Sounds like you have a fun weekend planned, I hope you feel well enough to enjoy it!

 

Hi guys,

Remember me telling you about the great Oldsmobile mechanic in our Old's Club that fixed my rear wheel bearing last summer. He came late to the Show last Sunday, and by the time he got there I had already walked the field taking pictures, and I forgot to get a pic of his car. I had seen it before at his house shortly after he had just got the restoration done on it. The car doesn't even have 300-miles on it yet, still just getting broke in. To his credit, it is nice that he's getting it out. I'd be afraid to pull it out of the garage. I texted him tonight and asked if he'd send me a pic which he did. He did take 1st in the '70 - '75 Class at the Show.

1971 4-4-2, W-30 (true), 4-speed, Vert.

 

Good morning everyone.

What a difference a day makes! I thought that was a commercial for something, but it's a song from the 50s. Anyway, I went to an urgent care yesterday, not really thinking they'd do anything but heck things were getting worse I had to do something. Got ahold of the nurse-practitioner. Told her my tale and she pressed on the top of my leg. I almost saw stars. Yup, she said, that's the groin muscle. She gave me two shots in the backside, took a couple Xrays, and she prescribed two medicines, one a pain reliever and another a muscle relaxant. Took them when I went to bed last night and a couple hours into the night I could sleep better and was more comfortable. Woke up this morning and felt like a new man. I still have quite a lot of pain but it isn't debilitating like it was yesterday. I have to take this medicine for a month or better, and I realize muscles take weeks to heal. I'm good with that.

Chris I WISH my old cars only leaked that much. Sounds like a good project for the winter. Sounds like your battery is tango uniform. And how nice you're replacing it before you sell the bike to the son in law. Does that mean the price goes up? That is a beautiful 442. How is your MOPAR buddy?

Geez Dan that's a little scary. Hope you can find out what's causing your maladies real quick. Does it affect driving?

Norm you can't buy your parts locally?

Okay break is over. Doing pretty well this morning. Hope everyone has a great day.

Jamesbo where you been hiding?

 

Mike - I'm so glad to hear you've gotten some relief from the debilitating pain! I hope it continues to get better with each passing day.

There's no guarantee my SIL will buy my motorcycle. Frankly, I hope he doesn't, only because I want him around to take care of my daughter an grandkids. There seems to be be more and more fatal motorcycle accidents around here anymore, just one of the reasons it won't break my heart to get rid of mine.

My Mopar buddy has been doing ok, and moving along with his Dart restoration. He was suppossed to get back to me a couple days ago and then I didn't hear from him. I need to check back with him. Since he was diagnosed with his cancer and had a big operation, it always worries me when I don't hear from him for a little while, but I don't want to hover over him either. It's a fine line to walk.

 

Mike - Ya know what, Mike. I should have called then driven the 35 miles (one way) to my John Deere dealer; but, I've ordered these parts on-line via Amazon every other year for the past six years - free shipping, no running around, no spending money on gas. Ah buggers.
Glad you're feeling better. Hope it's a decent muscle relaxant. Stick w/ it if it's working.

Andersen representative called. Likely won't know anything until next Tuesday or Wednesday - long holiday weekend. Like any large company, things need to move in stages so as to remain w/in the confines of established protocols. My hands are tied - I need to toe the line.

I don't talk about it much, but my 1972 4-4-2 (1976 - 1981) was the exact same color blue w/ white striping hardtop & not a W-30. Bought it from a guy in Palm Springs, California. It was a blast to drive & I made several round trips from California to Illinois in it. It was on that 4-4-2 I learned how to remove front coil springs & change out control arms - in a USAF DIY automotive shop on base. Yes, I was young(er) & scared shitless compressing those springs into bombs.

 

I don't believe so, as I was given no indication of that when at the Dr. office, and no antibiotics were prescribed. Today is the first day in about three weeks that I haven't been light headed or dizzy at any time. Mike, when I talked to the nurse on the phone for my other malady, she wanted to know if I had someone to drive me to the E.R. Being German and stubborn, I drove myself. Glad to see that you have improvement on your leg pain. Chris, that's a nice W machine, in my favorite color to boot.

 

Dan - It's really good to hear that you went a full day without any lightheadedness or nausea! I hope it stays away!

Ya, that's a gorgeous car he has, pristine in every way. Of course the complete frame off resto was just completed late last summer. He went to the Old's Nationals, but didn't take the car. I'm not sure why he didn't take the car because he has a dual axle open air car hauler, he could have wrapped it in cellophane, but I didn't ask him why he didn't take it. If it were my car I'd have it entered in and displayed at MCACN, it would be accepted there in a heartbeat!

 

Hi guys,

Not much exciting today. Dawn was down the street cleaning house for the elderly neighbors until about 1:30. I spent most of the morning doing Healthcare (us and the dogs) documentation and paying bills.

I got a very interesting text late last night from my daughter Blaire. Not many details yet, including an exact date, but Gabe's Hockey team is going to be playing in a Tournament in Holland, Michigan in February. Holland is only about and hour and twenty minutes from where I grew up. It will be a good chance for my grandkids to meet some of their relatives if the relatives can make it over to a game or two. My daughter and her family won't have the time to go running around to visit family, those tournaments are crazy hectic as is, but I'm hoping some will get there to watch Gabe play and visit with the rest of the family. I'm going to get up there come hell or high water! I'm hoping to find some kind of arrangement for dog care that is amenable to Dawn so she feels comfortable going. She really needs to get up there and see her Dad anyway! I really wish this was happening in the late Fall, before the possibility of heavy snows and bad roads, but better then than never! I haven't seen my Sister or any other relatives since 2019, way too long!

Dan and Greg - I'll keep you both informed as I get more details. What would really be nice is if you guys could come to one of the games and we could all go out for dinner and drinks after!

 

A possibility.

 

Good morning everyone.

Slow start to the day. It's Friday, so a fraction of the normal amount of people are here. And then a guy was an hour late and brought donuts. Impromptu break! I heard a rumor that if we hit 100 today we'd be in good shape.

John I wanted to clarify my comment about 100LL without muddying up your other topic. Since I live on an airport I have access to avgas and I run 5 gallons a tankful in my 6 cylinder Valiant, and I notice no change in performance. But the exhaust smells better. I run 5 gallons a tankful in my 283 V8 57 Chevy and it gives it a little more pep. Not much. But you're looking for octane and you aren't going to find any pump gas with any regularity at 100 octane. Also, it looks like gasoline so no local hot headed constable is going to be able to stick your tank(like a diesel). If the airport won't sell it to you don't push it. They can get in a lot of trouble, since no road tax is being paid with it. Bring a gas can, tell them it's for a race car. Our airport makes a little money on avgas, but I don't know how many people, other than a couple of neighbors like me, who use it for something other than an airplane.

Chris that's awesome the team is going on such a road trip, and that it is so close to family. I know some people in Holland from the Amphicar club. Maybe you can take a couple extra days and hang out with the family. Last time I was in Michigan was 2012. I went to see the Chrysler museum just before they closed in Auburn Hills, and also the Corvair museum in Ypsilanti. Didn't you say the 442 came from Warren?

Dan I must be German. I wouldn't call myself stubborn but I can be a bit determined. I let myself get pushed around a lot when I was younger, and now as I approach middle age I'm over it. Mom says I'm like an old mule. Hm.

I'm thinking of pulling the plug on the physical therapy. I told the guy I couldn't stand for long periods of time so the first thing he had me do was stand by the wall and roll the beach ball up the wall and stretch. I think I lasted about 20 seconds and said that's enough. The rest was sitting or laying on the table. I was restless all night and when I got up this morning felt terrible. Sort of like one step forward and two steps back. I didn't feel any pain in my back when I started, and now I've got this muscle injury so I'm going backwards. I think my attorney is full of it.

Okay I'll do a little work then get ready for break. Friday is upon us. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

 

Yep could happen for me too, I really would like to get together- I have met Dan once . Yeah Chris, let us know as you find out more. Wifey and I are going on a big trip in February but if it's in the first part we could prolly meet up.

 

During my five years as a Boomer Sooner (Univ. of Oklahoma), Norman, OK, I was close friends w/ Kim DeWeerd, Holland, MI. Kim's dad owned his own Phillip's 66 Gas/Service Station in Holland. For many years on my various trips to Houghton Lake, Michigan (where I once owned property), I'd stop in Holland. I think I stopped once during Tulip Time.

 

Mike - I have had had major back issues since 1984, caused by Degenerative Joint Disease, a fancy term for a form of arthritis. What would normally be the fluid filled "Discs" between the Vertebrae in my back have literally had the fluid forced out of them by many years of heavy weight lifting (Squats with 380lbs) and collisions. As a result of the collapsed Disc's, the Vertabrae in my back are significantly closer together than they should be, making it much easier to pinch nerves that are located between the Vertabrae if I bend over or twist awkwardly. If I do pinch a nerve in this fashion, the body's reaction is for the muscles in my back to go into a severe Muscle Spasm. These Muscle Spasm's are not a tear or strain, they are an extreme tightening of the muscles surrounding the area of the pinched nerve/s for the purpose of protecting the pinched nerve/s from further trauma/damage. I am not an Orthopedic Surgeon, but I believe this is what you may be experiencing. No amount of PT is going to help, it may actually hurt, until you are able to get the Back Muscles to relax and stop Spasming. One time I was on my back, on Oxycodone and Flexerill (Muscle relaxer), for a whole week until the Muscles relaxed. I'm not.saying this is what is causing your current pain, my point is that you should go to a competent Orthopedic Surgeon to diagnose the issue instead of a simple visit seeing an NP. A thorough investigation may involve more x-rays and probably an MRI. This is probably the only way you're really going to know what's really going on and make a plan to relieve the pain, and prevent future episodes. This is just because I care!

Yes, my 4-4-2 was restored in Warren, MI!

 

Greg - It would be great if we can all get together, I'll keep you both apprised as I get more details!

 

Norm - That's interesting in "it's a small world" kind of way. I have only been to Holland once, way back in the late Fall of 1976, on a football recruiting visit to Hope College there. My Dad and I were treated to a nice lunch and then went to the football game. I remember Holland as being a very nice little town. Hope College, which was in the same Athletic League as Albion College where I ended up going, only lost out because Albion was nationally recognized as a strong recurring competitor in DivIII at that time. I wanted to be a part of a team that was a consistent top performer.

 

As well, I found it interesting Greg lives ~1.5 miles from the Houghton Lake property I used to own (along Old US Hwy 27).

 

Thanks Chris. I have two different issues going on. I started PT because of bulging discs due to that wreck I was in last January. I've had little to no pain from that, though the Xrays I had at the orthopedic place showed the bulging discs. This therapy is to make them unbulge. The pulled groin muscle is from some rambunctious stretching while at therapy. I'm not sure where this ends. Do I have 4 weeks of therapy then take more Xrays to see if it did any good? If it didn't do I go back for more? These are questions I should have asked at the beginning and didn't know to ask. My feeling is that if all my relief from the quick center was undone by one session I'll be laid up for 6 months if I continue with the therapy and don't let the muscle heal.

I have spoken with the orthopedic surgeon and (surprise of surprises) he said I'll have to have surgery, but the PT has to be done first. I have no intention of having back surgery. I wish my hip surgeon was still there, I would have talked to him. He left the place and moved to New York for some family reason. Didn't he know I'd need him two years later?

I may have to try my trick of Tylenol and Kahlua and cream. That did wonders for my knee when I knelt on a screw at work. OOh Kahlua. I haven't had that in a while.

I'm here at my desk with a heating pad. A guy made fun of me for having it. I said, let's trade. You have a pulled muscle and I'll make fun of you. He didn't want to. I gave him a common expression of derision and he went away. You gotta know how to handle these creeps.

 

Drinking and acetaminophen should not be done together.

 

Mike - Good advice by, John. Watch yourself, buddy.

Regarding PT, pain, etc. How about a daily routine of ~10' - 15' of stretching? Do not overly stretch the muscles - light stretching - don't overexert.

 

BLT on toast, today (several). I always purchase the thick center cut bacon from Oscar Meyer. I fry bacon for ~30' - 45' on a very, very low setting.

 

You're welcome, just hoping you can find some relief soon. I hate to hear about friends who are suffering with chronic pain!

 

Those sound delicious Norm! I love BLT's, as you well know from my trips to Crown Candy Kitchen. Dawn buys the Hormel Black Label thick cut which is good also. Funny you mentioned Bacon, we're having Scrambled Eggs, Pancakes, Sausage, and Biscuits for dinner, I can't wait!

 

Good afternoon guys,

Pretty slack day. Got all my bookkeeping/accounting work caught up with yesterday. Most the morning was just relaxing except for a quick trip with the 4-4-2 to the gas station for a fill-up so I don't have to stop on my way to the Show on Sunday morning. Normally I would just fill-up on my way home from a Show but last weekend I was on such a tight schedule to get home and then get back out to get Gabe to his hockey practice I didn't have time.

No real plans or have-to-do's for the rest of the day. Hope everyone is having a great day. 😃

 

Hormel is a good brand, as well.

 

Bouncing about on various sundry landscaping activities to include being a chatterbox today.

 

Chris - That’s a delicious meal.