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Monday, October 6, 2014

Pencils an' starters...a good combination

On this trip to Georgia, "Sally da house" had starter problems. Some of ya probly forgot all bout that a long time ago. But the old Billy Bob don't forget stuff like that. I needs fixed.

Now...just how do ya make a starter repair a little bit interesting? "Herb, hand me that wrench over there". "Spice, shut the hell up an' git out the way".
Bla bla bla....fix'n starters. Car starters are simple to work on. Shoot, cars are simple to work on. But this is a great big ol' motorhome....an' things are a bit different. Don't ask me why they are different 'cause I ain't got no idea. Some kind of safety shit I suppose. Either that or some dealership big wigs got together an' decided the "starter control circuit" would run through the "PCM" (Powertrain Control Module), an' be controlled by little electronic doo-dads an' gizmos. I'm tell'n ya folks, no person in their right mind would do that.

But alas...."Sally da house" has a starter system that runs through the PCM. Me an' Robert spent a good 4 hours check'n voltages, trac'n wires, pull'n relays....an' cuss'n. Drawings were made on how a "regular" starter works. Internet searches were made for wiring diagrams. We were at a dead end.

"Oh wait Robert, look what I found". A complete wiring diagram for a 2004 Workhorse W22. 56 pages of wiring diagrams for anything electrical on a Workhorse W22. But....I ain't got a W22. I got a P32. It should be the same....right? Scroll scroll scroll....look see look see....where the hell is the starter wiring diagram. Oh, there it is, right at the top. From the ignition switch, the start wire goes straight to the PCM. From there it goes to the starter relay. From there it goes to the starter solenoid. An' then, the motor cranks up. Simple huh?

Ok, here's my problem. I turn the key to start. The engine cranks up. That's good huh? Well there are times that it don't do nuttin. Just a click behind the BCC (battery control center). Turn the key to off, wait 5 seconds. Turn the key to start an'....walla, the engine cranks up. But....there are times, all it do is that little click. I'm scratch'n my head...this ain't right. I know it an' Workhorse knows it. POS big wigs and their grand ideas.

All 12 volt systems were disconnected to reset computers. Mainly the PCM computer. It still don't work. This is where we stand today on "fix'n a starter".

Now, I suppose I could mention pencils. Not everbody uses pencils, but the old Billy Bob do. I use lots of 'em. Been us'n 'em since the first grade. By the way, when I started school, they had ink wells at every desk. We used dip ink pens way back then. Go home every day with blue stained fingers.

Anyhows, from a early age, I drawed stuff. Lots of stuff. Draw a dad gum fence post, a fireman truck....landscapes, mountains an' shit like that. But, find'n a good pencil for draw'n was next to impossible. The lead was either too hard or too soft. Break the lead ever time ya sharpen 'em. The erasers were junk. They still sell the same junk pencils at any Walmart ya go to.

But, one day I was in Walmart, just look'n round ya know, an' I spied a new brand of pencils I ain't never see before.
I purchased a pack of these things an' MY GOD, these are the best pencils I ever use in my whole life time. The lead is a medium between #1 an' #2. It's perfectly center in the round wood. The eraser removes mistakes like I ain't never see. But...Walmart don't carry them no more an' I only got bout 8 left. Office Depot ain't got none. Staples don't got none. Online I found them, but I ain't gonna pay no $7.95 for shipping. So NO, I did not buy pencils. Anybody that does pencil art, I recommend you get yourself some of these pencils.

Now back to my back ailments. My god, I love my new chair. Now I ain't say'n that my back don't hurt none, but it sure do feel somewhat better. The pain in the vertibrea (sp) don't hurt none this morn'n. But that dad gum right hip sure is do'n a number on me. Only 8 more days till my next doctor appointment. Hope he do more than talk that first visit.

Ha....was it cold? You can bet yer bippie it was cold. Night before last got down to 40 degs. Day time yesterday was 68.....or so. To some, that's perfect weather. But for the old Billy Bob, that's "winter".

Bout this blog stuff. Boy howdy, I been hav'n me a really hard hard time with it. I see I've lost a couple three or eight more followers in the last week or so. But there ain't nuttin I can do bout that. With nuttin excit'n go'n on in my life, I ain't got nuttin excit'n to write home about. But I'll continue on with what I got.     
   

14 comments:

  1. Hang in there, Billy Bob. Love your blog just the way it is. Check out Amazon- think I saw your pencils, with free shipping!

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    1. Amazon free shipping is if your order is over $35. An' I ain't bout to buy $35 worth of pencils no matter how good they are.

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    2. You could get some dog treats for Sadie Mae.

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  2. Hi, BB. Missed you yesterday. Too bad the starter problem has to be so complicated. The fancier the new model, the more difficult to fix! About the shipping costs. I never pay that. Amazon has that deal of free shipping for orders over $35. I saw your pencils as an "add-on item". So keep a list of things you need. Just add those pencils on when you order something else from Amazon to pass the $35. When you fill out the order you have to pay attention, because even though you qualify for free shipping, the order won't automatically give that to you. You have to look at the shipping choices and choose the free shipping option. Ask me how I learned that. Hope you have a good day.

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  3. Hey BB. I think you can order the pencils from Staples (on line) and have them shipped to a store near you. No shipping charge!! How great is that?

    Thomas

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  4. I just love it when you talk "starters" and things like that!

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  5. My father-in-law once said not to ever give me a wrench, 'cause I was dangerous with tools in my hand. Way back when I changed brake shoes on my truck and when I put it all back together, there was a part left over. They seemed to work, so I didn't bother taking them all apart again. Never had any trouble with it afterwards. Go figure? I envy you for your mechanical ability and that you can "fix" anything.

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  6. Just checked again on the pencils at Amazon, and I think the pencils sold by Tradecozone say free shipping.

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  7. billy bob, i've been reading you for years even when you was barnacle bill . just never took the time to comment. now i'm commenting for the first time. love your blog, it is interesting even when you say nothing. you are a smart tough ole character, just what the world needs. i grew up the same time as you about the same circumstance only there were 11 of us. you bring back memories and the past life is what made us survive. i doubt people today could, some are tooo soft. enjoy your new chair.

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  8. Billy Bob, Read your blog everyday and miss it when you occasionally miss a day. You keep writing and I will keep reading. Glad to hear you like your new chair. The POS of couch in my RV is uncomfortable and I am considering options.

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  9. Fixing those wiring problems can sure be frustrating, but I just know you will get it right.

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  10. Really like that new header up there.

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  11. Yum, How I'd like to be sitting there beside the doggies. I yearn to go to a beach, stretch out and relax for a few days. That salty atmosphere is very physically healing.

    When I was 4 yr. old, I was taught by my daddy and grandpa how to sharpen my pencils with a pocket knife. Never breaks the 'lead' either. Actually, I find this method of sharpening gives me a pause of meditation. Same method for all colored art pencil. Oh yes, I used to whiz one through the sharpener in school - ha, they didn't last long either. Today, I hate the pencils encased in something other than wood.

    I also looked online for a supplier of your favorite. Several there. Reasonable + free ship

    Hope your day shines, Billy Bob. No pain + lots of laughter = shine

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  12. You didn't lose me. I was traveling and now I'm on a project but I'll catch up on reading one of these days. Don't think you can shake me loose that easily.

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