Power Is On

In December 1999, we purchased a 5,000 watt generator. While others were buying them in fear of Y2K, or whatever the year 2000 computer scare was, we purchased ours to have emergency back up power for our home in the event of a long electrical outage. We did have an outage in February of 2000 but before I could get the generator started, the power came back on. It was run for a total of 30 minutes. Since that time, it has sit idle waiting to be used.

Today, Little Buffie and guest helped move it to the HITW for use during the construction phase. Not being started in eight years, it was a little hesitant to start, it fact it would not even try. Gas leaking from the fuel filter, perhaps the clamps need tightening, but being that they were crimp on, Lady Eagle was dispatched to the hardware store to purchase two 1/8 inch hose clamps. Returning,they were installed but still a little gas seeping, perhaps the filter was cracked and it was getting to much air. Lady Eagle dispatched one more time to get a new filter. Returning with the exact fit it was installed. Still it would not start even with starting fluid. Perhaps, the spark plug which Little Buffie had mentioned as possible problem, but with only a half hour on it, it had to be good but why take a chance. Lady Eagle made a third trip to the store and returned with a new plug. Installed, it would turn over with a good squirt of starting fluid but die.

Everyone else grew weary of watching the "generator light off" and headed out in all directions leaving myself and Little Buffie to deal with the problem. With him pulling a lot of false starts and our tinkering, we finally discovered that it was not getting gas because the butter fly valve was not opening due to "dehydrated gas". Activating the valve, one small pull was made it and it roared to life. Letting it run for a half hour to build up the power as recommended by the manufacturer, we decided to see if it would really make electricity. The only electrical equipment that we could find to test it was a "coffee grinder", it to purred like a kitten when plugged in. I still do not know if it will power a compressor, but at least we will have fresh ground coffee.

Tomorrow, the "Bobcat Man" will move onto the site and do additional "dirt work" that is required to level out the sites. Billie Bob Woodman delivered a load a wood today, enough to last perhaps a day but Boy Moose and I will whack it up tomorrow and throughout the week pick up another load or two from the back up distributor. Perhaps, this weekend we can dispatch some to pick up additional wood that will last us throughout the season and perhaps even a load of gravel or two to resurface the Fire Pit and other areas that can use a little gravel. The "Green Project" is looking good, the nearly perfect two Christmas trees that I transplanted this week are looking much better and I have upgraded them to a 37% chance of survival.

Enuff said.