How will you use NeverWet?
Posted By RichC on June 24, 2013
Too lazy to post any original content today … besides thinking about posting more from this weekends car repairing marathon, but I’ll resist!
Continued maintenance and repairs on the Mercedes 300D
Posted By RichC on June 23, 2013
Since I’m on a car repair roll at the moment, I’ll continue to update the condition of my 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel. 
It has come apart this weekend primarily to set the clearances for the valves, something that has to be done regularly and manual as this is a pre-hydraulic valve adjusting kind of car. Being that the cast aluminum valve cover has to come off and all the vacuum lines and crazy network of throttle linkages needs to be disconnected, it was the best time to access the glow plugs and remove the jury-rigged repair from last week (waiting on new part). I’ll include a photo of the failed throttle rubber bushing and rusted mount (below), and after looking at it decided that I really should have realized it was going to fail, but I’m live in the “if its not broken, don’t fix it world.”
After removing the throttle linkage, vacuum lines and fuel injector return lines, the valve cover came off easily with 4 nuts. The gasket between the cast aluminum valve cover and head is so much nicer than anything I’ve replaced in the past and the new molded silicone rubber one fit perfectly. Actually, I think I could have reused the old one, as it was in great shape and could have easily been reused … oh well, $13 for a new gasket isn’t going to be the item that breaks the bank.
After a quick inspection, I set to figuring out how my new Hazet wrenches fit. Some have plenty of access, other are a bit challenging to adjust. At first look, I thought, “man these are way out of adjustment?” Then I realized, oh … the feeler gauges need to be in “mm” not in “inches.” Whoops!
For the record, the setting for the 300D is .10mm for the five intake valves and .35mm for the exhaust while the engine is cold.
After all the valves were set, the next challenge was figuring out how to squeeze my hands and wrenches in under the fuel injector lines, etc in order to remove the glow plugs and ream out any excess carbon with a Kent Bergsma handy dandy reamer tool.
Besides the tight access to the glow plugs, everything was easy to do … just not as speedy as I thought … sort of glad I only had 5 of them to replace.
Replaced the crazed and cracked headlight doors
Posted By RichC on June 22, 2013
Besides spending the day at home catching up on pool cleaning and some minor yard work, I spent the day in the garage working on the Mercedes 300D’s valve adjustment and glow plugs (more on this tomorrow). The more obvious update was installing new Bosch headlight doors I found on Ebay. They look just like new … well they are [grin].
MB 300D high speed testing and minor jury-rigged repair
Posted By RichC on June 22, 2013
While traveling this week I decided to give the old 1982 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel a workout. Even though it kept up with interstate traffic and pegged the speedo, I found that it did a little shake from 73 to 80 mph. Maybe an alignment and suspension adjustment when I decide new tires are in her future?
Unfortunately I also ended up with stressed throttle linkage (heat and age issue) requiring a little bit of a jury-rigged linkage repair using vice grips and some good ol’ duct tape. I babied it coming home to Cincinnati from NE Ohio, but also found the parts for $60 online so I can replace the failing part. Whew, the excitement of traveling in older high mileage cars!
Updating WordPress to 3.5.2 as well as misc plugins
Posted By RichC on June 21, 2013
Doing a little late Friday afternoon updating for several of the WordPress blogs that I maintain as the new 3.5.2 is now the current version. Along with that, plugins are next to follow, of which I’ve updated a couple installed on my server.
Thankfully the blog has been running without a hitch recently a testament to this solid old server … nearly a decade old!
Tech Friday: Frustrated with WordPress search options?
Posted By RichC on June 21, 2013
Are you frustrated with the basic search feature available in WordPress? If so, join the club. I’ve been back and forth with several different search plugins and have even tried customizing my own using a Google API. Unfortunately none of them worked well for me when I was searching my own site for items that were posted years ago. Eventually I would give up on the built-in or customized search and go to Google directly and tried the advanced settings. I can only imagine what a normal reader would do?
After all the trial and error, I’ve finally agree with what many believe is the best search option for WordPress – the Relevanssi plugin. I’ve decided to stick with it for now and wait for complaints or praise. Give it a try.
Testing the Avast VPN wifi option while traveling
Posted By RichC on June 20, 2013
Looking at using the paid Avast VPN option while connecting to unsecured wifi connections. So far it works just fine and seems transparent … except LastPass does not like the overseas routing. Speeds are good, at least at McDonald’s; not so sure about busy hotels or the marinas?
An Oahu, Hawaii photo that was too beautiful not to share
Posted By RichC on June 20, 2013
Karen Hutton of KarenHuttonPhotography posted a gorgeous photo from Makapu’u Lookout in Oahu, Hawaii yesterday that makes me want to return to Hawaii. (our 2006 trip) Her description was nice too:
I could almost see the curvature of the earth on the horizon… it was dizzying! And wonderful, and blue, green, gorgeous and stunning. I stayed up there for awhile, just soaking in what had to be a blessing from all of Creation. Who, incidentally, said "take this home and share it with as many people as possible!" So… here we are.
Video: The Bamboo Train of Cambodia
Posted By RichC on June 19, 2013
A travel oriented video clip for today’s post from a guy in the Peace Corp. The Bamboo Train of Cambodia iis built on narrow gauge French tracks in a region called Battambang. According to the videographer, “it goes crazy fast, its crazy rickety, its held together by momentum and weight, and its just plain crazy.”
Lexington Lab Band playing the music of my generation
Posted By RichC on June 18, 2013
Lexington Lab Band for more
Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.