tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040486715126429420.post4133442268307863359..comments2024-01-16T21:08:41.534-06:00Comments on On a Wing and a Whim: UnderpoweredOn a Wing and a Whimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754595334684845895noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040486715126429420.post-65844775139430182602016-06-09T17:39:42.487-05:002016-06-09T17:39:42.487-05:00Years ago, we drove from Okc to Sacramento to visi...Years ago, we drove from Okc to Sacramento to visit Jennifer's family for a couple weeks in my 18-y.o. Civic. Incidentally, the odometer rolled past the 200k-mark on that trip. When we started out, the electronics were acting... (what's the word you used?) ...hinky. I had a feeling it was the alternator, and although I must have stopped at half a dozen shops, the alternator tested good, even under a load every time. We were out in the middle of the desert, somewhere between Hither and Yon, not another car in sight, in the afternoon, when the battery light very slowly dimmed on. I watched it suspiciously with an "ah ha!" when suddenly, there was a squealing from under the hood and a momentary drop in engine power, as the alternator fully locked up for just a moment. When the squealing stopped and we had full engine power again, the battery light was on brightly. The car was carbureted, with no electronic controls. We rolled down the windows to shut off the AC and turned off the radio. I didn't know how far we were from civilization, and I didn't know how far the battery alone would run the ignition system, but it was all we had. Later that evening we rolled into an AutoZone, where I was able to get the battery charged and tested, the alternator finally confirmed bad, and the guys in that store were able to get me fixed up with a new one. No, I wouldn't want to be caught in the air with a bad one, but being caught out on some lonely desert highway probably wasn't much better.<br /><br />Good job on knowing the machine so well! Stay safe.Evyl Robot Michaelhttp://evylrobot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040486715126429420.post-5210030212849890532016-06-04T15:16:27.878-05:002016-06-04T15:16:27.878-05:00Great moments in aircraft checkouts: I'm getti...Great moments in aircraft checkouts: I'm getting a refresher in a C-182. It makes A Noise. CFI looks at the enginish part of the gauges and says . . . "I've never seen one do that. What's going on?"<br /><br />Almost did a 360 overhead break to landing in order to get back on the ground. Oil pressure light came on and so did the overheat light. Happily, the pressure light was a failure in the circuit, but we found a partial blockage of the airflow over the engine because of damage to baffles and a rag in the wrong place. <br /><br />Yes, first flight after engine work. Why do you ask?TXRedhttp://www.almatcboykin.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040486715126429420.post-40078140394559248602016-06-02T10:24:46.077-05:002016-06-02T10:24:46.077-05:00What Old NFO said. Better you identified the probl...What Old NFO said. Better you identified the problems, no matter how unpopular with those responsible for fixing them, too. <br /><br />I'm glad you're still here to tell the tale.Rev. Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588179227576383679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7040486715126429420.post-85494619794972796432016-06-01T21:37:58.044-05:002016-06-01T21:37:58.044-05:00Better on the ground than in the air... :-)Better on the ground than in the air... :-)Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.com