| Author |
Message |
R TERRY (152.163.252.163)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 1:28 pm: | |
The green genie in the back of the bus had faithfully granted us the first two wishes. Now, more than ever, we needed a third one, and I didn't care from whom, anyone: genie, fairy godmother, Tinkerbell, Santa Claus, Rosie O'Donnell. Please, blink your eyes, wiggle your nose, wave your wand, whatever, just give me one simple wish: A bus mechanic!
I decided not to wait too long for that third wish. We were blocking the alley, running out of time, and I was about to... what? Throw a hissy?
I pulled hard on the parking brake lever. It didn't work. I let up on the brake treadle, confirmed the bus was not moving, and hopped out from behind the wheel. "Ryan, have a seat!" We did a comprehensively thorough bus systems orientation consisting of, "That's the brake pedal and that's the shift lever. Keep your foot on the brakes." I went back to see what was going wrong.
With all of the engine compartment doors open, I scowled at that big green motor. "Bad Genie!!"
For the next few minutes, I had Ryan move the direction lever as I studied the mechanical operation at the transmission, hoping to discover something amiss, like poor linkage adjustment. I did find a solenoid that when actuated manually from the rear, squirted rusty water out the front. OK, that doesn't work. Is that what keeps the gears from grinding when moving the direction lever? At this point, who cares?
"Ryan, put it in Forward!" From the way it sounded, it went into gear. "Give it some gas!" Nothing happened. "Now put it in Reverse!" When he did, I could see the drive shaft start to turn. "OK, give it some gas!" The drive shaft turned some more and the bus began to back up. "HOLD IT! Put it back in Forward!" This time I could see the drive shaft try to turn the other direction.
We went through this routine four or five times, Ryan getting to drive the bus backward about ten feet. (Hey, who needs a Camero when you can do this all day?!)
Numb with excitement, I seem to detect a trend. Put it in Reverse first, go backwards a foot or two, then knock it into Forward and go.
I'm sure this is exactly how NASA does it.
R TERRY |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 2:38 pm: | |
You forgot the tooth fairy and FF. LOL
Richard |
Johnny (67.241.224.20)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 6:56 pm: | |
Sounds like something might just be rusted solid. Hmmm. Stupid question: you're not trying to drive the bus forward through a hole, are you? |
Johnny (67.241.224.20)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - 6:56 pm: | |
Also, it's spelled CAMARO! Not Camero, CAMARO! |
R TERRY (207.230.144.240)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 11:03 pm: | |
In my previous post, I spelled "Camaro" correctly, but typos happen, and I have no editor. The last time I was in an English class, the Beatles were number one on the charts with "Yellow Submarine"!
R TERRY |
Karl 05 Eagle (216.190.111.74)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2003 - 2:20 pm: | |
Is this happening now? or is this something that you went thru? |
The authors son and editor if I had the time (199.195.109.23)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 15, 2003 - 10:10 am: | |
Its something we went through during the past summer. It was fun.
Ryan |
|