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Showing posts from October 6, 2019

The Nissan Leaf Gets a New Rear Axle

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Well, I finally have a salvage title for the 2013 Nissan LEAF (Actually I dont have the title yet, but I think they mail it to me. We are far from settled with the insurance company for sure. It has been six months since Angie was rear ended. The following chart shows a very sad and disturbing trend. Insurance companies aren't paying out. It should be criminal. I went shopping for a new rear axle so I can get the car driving again. The rear ended axle was so bent, the car couldn't move. The new one with no connecting bits was over a thousand dollars. The cheapest used ones I could find on ebay were over 500 dollars. I finally scored at a local used parts place for 95 dollars (removed) and with associated bits such as bearings, bushings, parts of the brakes. It took me a concentrated day with cancelled and moved meetings to get the axle replaced and the car running again. The accomplishment felt good. I am now configuring the car with tractor tires and other modifications t...
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Angie and did some more exploring in CA this weekend. We ventured up into LA county with the S2K. I had some fun with the car turning around in a traffic jam. The car has a great power to weight ratio and delightful oversteer. It can do a 180 turn from a dead stop quite dramatically when you are inclined to merge with traffic. Smoke was involved.
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I was up in San Francisco earlier this week. I participated in SDL Connect again. I have been a few times both in the US and in Europe. I usually speak, I was on a panel this time. I had a few nice experiences on the airplane up and back including flying on a brand new A220. It was the flight attendants first time as well. Also leaving SF, the "fleet week" airshow going on -- look closely and you can see the smoke from the performing planes.
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We are back from a quick trip in Duluth (Georgia). We were busy and didn't take many photos. We accomplished much in three days and most of it had to do with fellow humans, not stuff. My flying club is doing great. My partners are great guys. I enjoy spending time with them. We have 4 planes now. "My" plane (N733NXE) now has more avionics and an autopilot. I did my bi-annual flight review, I am good! It was great to be in the air. I am looking for a flying club in Cali; I am saving the challenges of John Wayne airport for later. Otherwise, I got to see friends and my Brother. It felt great. I even enjoyed catching up with my Barber. Jaws dropped when I walked in there. My Brother is off with my truck and sawmill to Maine. The group photo represents Russia, France, US and Denmark. Great to see folks.