DanD

Man that was a great read!!! Dan.

This seat bumping has been going on for years. The airlines will over sell tickets; in an attempt to make sure the flight if full. First passengers to check in get a seat or like in this case of this Doctor's flight; it was airline personal that wanted the seats. 20 some odd years ago, my wife, two kids (6&8 years old) and myself were flying back from Dubai on Air Emirates and had to transfer to Air Canada at Heathrow in London. Get to the Air Canada desk too be told there were only three seats left available. Well after already being in the air for 6 or 7 hours; we were not the most patient of people to be told this and raised a big enough stink; that they bumped someone else off the flight, as to get all 4 of us on. So the airlines can do pretty much what they want, when and if they want. Well maybe not drag a person off the plane; but I'd bet this Doctor wasn't the first to have this done too. Dan.

I'm a sponsoring member on a few (Automotive) forums; which gives you some perks, like no adds, not having to have a host for posting pics ect. If this board goes that route and if it was relatively cheep; I wouldn't mind sponsoring here. Dan.

I agree as well. There's no way he could have planed this; he may have seen an opportunity and took full advantage of it though. Dan.

X2 https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/1-8-x-18-in-self-fluxing-aluminum-brazing-rods/A-p8471088e A plumber's propane torch to warm the general area and then a mini torch to weld the crack. https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/mini-butane-torch/A-p8532301e The stuff works easily, almost like soldering. Dan.

Yeah but I have sometimers. Sorry if I offended you somehow. Dan.

As long as the trailer's hubs are 5 X 4.5" they will. Dan.

This may sound extreme, a friend of mine doesn't carry spare bearings or hubs; but a complete axle assembly. His logic and rightfully so, is that by the time you feel a bearing has failed while driving; the inner race of one of the bearings is likely welded itself to the spindle. You're not getting that off, while on the side of the road; not unless you have torches and grinders. Changing the axle, means undoing 4 u-bolts, dropping the old and stuffing the new axle in. My shop is right off the 401, here in London and I see a lot of bearings failures during the summer. I'm also only 10 minutes from Princess Auto where I can buy a 3500 lb axle for around $250.00, complete with hubs. Usually a half hour to swap it out, using my shop equipment. For the customer, it works out to be about the same in total costs; but he's leaving with an undamaged spindle and axle. Dan.

That's a great idea and what my son has in his sump. Just make sure you water test both pumps, at least a couple times a year. Why I say water test it, is that my son's back up pump would turn on electrically; but the seals in that pump were shot and couldn't pump any water. We were able to find a seal kit, that came with a tube of silicone grease to lube the seals and vane tips. Dan.

Trailer wheel bearings and or hubs are pretty much standardized; but you will need to know the weight rating of the trailer's axles. As in 1000 lbs, 1750 lbs ect, to get the proper ones. The only other way to be sure you're getting the proper bearings, is to pull the hub and record the numbers of the inner and outer (some are the same) bearing. The bearing numbers will have a corresponding catalog number for the bearing races. I use to keep a 1lb tub of wheel bearing grease in the truck; that I buried a set of packed bearings and hub seals into the grease. No worries of the weather getting at the bearings and they were ready to install. Dan

Where were this child's parents? When my kids were of that age and older; there was no way in hell that I would allow anyone to take my kids out on a river, above a water fall. Especially on an all but freezing, likely fast moving spring run off river. I'm not defending this guy who took the kid out; he was wrong and yes he was legally impaired. That means he could have had 2 beers in him; are you physically impaired or legally after 2 beers? Regardless it is very sad that a child has died; it could and should have been prevented. Again where were the parents; the people who are the ultimate care givers for the child? Dan.

Good on you Cliff!!!! I try and make sure my two employees are recognized for their work. I will always comment on how I feel the job had gone. As in good work on that whatever vehicle or maybe next time we won't do it that way again. LOL When they need repair parts for their vehicles; I usually pay for the parts and let them use the shop to do the repairs. If there are training courses, I pay for the course and that day's wage. At Xmas they get an extra weeks pay as their bonus. It must be working, my one tech has been with me for 23 years and the younger guy has been here now for 16 years. They're not family but damn near. Dan.

My OFC toque was in my truck when it was stolen I gave my windbreaker jacket to Junior in St. Lucia, after the day of fishing with him. Dan.

I do the same thing with SCC Parcel Pickup in Port Huron. Been getting parts from all over the States for my 50 Chevy and having it sent there. My son is an automotive engineer, working for GM in Waron Mi at the tech center. He crosses the boarder twice a day and SCC is only a 10 minute detour for him to collect the stuff. He declares whatever he's bring back at the board; but with his Nexis card, 90% of the time he's waved through. NO HST which is another 13% discount. Dan.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/casting-pro-boat-seat/A-p8598658e No idea of the quality? Just a heads up if anyone might be looking. Dan.

I can't say for sure but out on Simcoe a few weeks back, a CO came into the hut asking for our licenses. My brother in-law who is also 71, just showed him his driver's license, for proof of age. The only comment from the CO to my brother was so you've been collecting cash for life the last 6 years. LOL Dan.

Well I got the first offer to settle with the insurance today; they have written the truck off and it's not an unfair offer; but I think they owe more then just the blue book value of the truck? There's no mention of the hardwired, bolted too accessories that were installed on the truck; too the tune of better then a grand to replace. The low mileage on the drive train, that a salvage yard will get a grand for the engine alone. Not to be greedy; but I think I'll counter offer with their cash offered and the salvage rights to the Avalanche. But I'm going to wait a few days to respond to them; they're still paying storage on the truck and it may make them a little more cooperative in their negotiations to get out of the storage fees and close this claim? Dan.

When We went on our fly-in I brought this stuff. We made coffee, soups, boiled veggies and iced tea, after treating the water; no ill affects at all. It did give the water a slight smell and taste of chlorine; but I'd rather that then the squires. Mountain Equipment sells the stuff. Dan

Still no word from the insurance, as to what they're plans are for the Avalanche, sled or the contents? I want to start raising hell; but the wife says let them play their games for a while longer. I guess she's right we'll catch more flies with honey then vinagar? Now that I have wheels again, I can take my time and wait them out. I want the salvage on the Avalanche, so that I can part it out and hopefully recoup some of the monies; that I know I wont get paid for from the insurance. Besides that 5.3 engine would fit right into my 50 Chevy. LOL The odometer on the 17 just turned 125 kilometers this morning on the way to the shop. The last brand new vehicle I bought was a 1989 GMC Sierra; I've always slid into nice used trucks since then, till now. It sure does show off the salt stains; maybe should of choose a lighter colour? Dan.

Not sure though; they don't have all the bugs worked out?

I'm thinking of getting this accessory?

Pick this up on Friday. All I've seen of the truck is its build sheet. My wife took the pic; that's her desk in the foreground. LOL Said screw it, not waiting for the insurance any longer. Even if they do decide to fix the Avalanche, I don't want to drive it after what's happened to it. So if they do fix it (Not likely) I'll sell it ASAP; forget about it and take my losses. Dan.

LOL Even with the improved anti theft system; I'll be installing my own kill switch or no crank switch in it. Did that with my sons old F150; disconnected the horn from the steering wheel pad and rewired it to the neutral safety switch. To start that old truck you had to push the horn before it would crank the engine. Even the dumbest thief is not going to push the horn while stealing it. LOL This truck will have something hidden that will need doing before starting. Dan.

Still no news from the insurance; other then that my rental vehicle has to go back this Saturday or I'll be on the hook for the cost from there on.The insurance sure do take their time when it's on their side. They only collected the Avalanche form the towing company's compound yesterday? Probably wrong to do, assuming they're going to write the truck off; but I've got a 2017 Silverado LT, 4X4, crew cab, short box being written up for me and put on hold, until there's something official from the insurance. Had to laugh at the salesman at the dealership; made the deal for the truck over the phone. He asked when I was coming in to see and road test the thing. I said I'm not; does it drive any different then a 2015 or 2016? There was silence and then a meek No???? LOL. The only thing I ask is that when I give him the green light, the truck is ready to go; short of a couple of signatures. Dan.

Thanks guys for trying to warn me on the value of the 12 year old truck; I think I have a handle on that. If they offer me ten grand, I think I'll be Lucky. If so I'm going to try and get the salvage of the truck thrown in? That would make up for all the extras I had installed on the truck and not getting paid for. I could easily part the truck out and sell the drive-train and whatever else that might still have some value? I could easily get $3-$400.00 for the PCM and wiring harness. The guys that are putting the Gen3 small block engines in their old hot rods, are always looking for a know good computer. Will have to wait and see, what they decide and go from there? Dan.