The new engine arrived and the shop has installed it. Oh boy, this is not good. This engine has a very bad knock on the right hand side down low. It sounds like a bad bearing or a bad connecting rod. The shop is sending me to the supply yard where the engine came from. It's about 70 miles north of here. Both shops are watching me to make sure I get there ok. I'm going very slow and easy to make sure this engine gets me there.
I made it to 100 Mile New & Used. The owner listened to the engine for about 5 seconds and said, there was no way he was going to let me drive off with that engine in the Exploder. It will cost me another day on top of the 2&1/2 days I have already lost, but I don't see an alternative.
I can't tell you how impressed I am with both of these shops. They have both been 100 % on top of this mess. I's real nice to see people who exhibit such a high level of integrity with their business practices.
I'm sitting in the Imperial Hotel in 100 Mile waiting for the call from the shop. I went out side to walk around and get a little exercise, but it's awfully cold outside.
Here we are, it's noon and the engine is installed and sounds terrific! Joe Schweitzer, who is the owner of !00 Mile New & Used, apologized for the inconvenience. I assured him I was most satisfied with his shop and his people. I know he must have had a lot of ongoing work, but he made sure my engine got swapped out in under 24 hours, so I could get back on the road and not have to wait through the weekend. Very impressive and heart warming. Thanks to Joe and his staff for a super job!
Back on the road to Homer!
