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Showing posts from June 29, 2008

Wyoming and Idaho

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We are back from a quick vacation. I managed to score three (actually several more) bucket list items in 4 days. 1.) Long Snowmobile Trip. 2.) Yellowstone Park and 3.) Wyoming. I reached my 50th State --Wyoming! And we took a 90 mile snowmobile trip in Yellowstone National Park. We went to the "Craters of the Moon--National Monument and Preserve" in Idaho and also stopped at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) where I got to see (with my own eyes) the very cool nuclear powered twin turbojet engine. It was a successful experiment in the 1950s and 1960s. https://whatisnuclear.com/safety-minutes/htre-3-meltdown.html Of course, I had my Radiacode scintillation detector with me and yes, the apparatus is "Hot". The screenshot of the readings from my three walk-arounds the artifact. I swear you could smell the radiation. There was a very un-natural burnt smell something reminiscent of burned bakelite. Although, I am quite certain the emitted radition was not the source...
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It looks like I have to drive to Michigan. I did my homework. I have to go pick up my new lawn mower. It is a 2004 ExMark Commercial Lazer Z--60 inch deck with a 27 HP Kohler. It is rated at 4 acres per hour. It will do my front yard in 15 minutes! These things cost $10,000 new. I paid significantly less. What did we do before eBay.
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We got the pony motor to fire. That is enough to keep us going. I expect one more work session and we will have the diesel going after 30 yrs of slumber. Starting an old D6 like this has a real complex procedure. The basic steps are 1.)Get mony motor Running, choke, throttle, fuel shut off, out of gear. After the pony motor has warmed up for a minute or so continue. 2.)Open compression relief valve. 3.)Engage pony motor (may have two speed transmission, if so use high) 4.)After oil pressure rises turn on diesel fuel value, smoke appears. 5.)Close compression relief valve 6.) Cover ears!