MercCrucible Update

At first, straight forward. Rusty line, fasteners, normal stuff. A challenge for sure. Had it all together, one last fitting on the end of a hydraulic line didn't thread right. I've spent 10 hours working on that one fitting. At this point, I've cut out the line - my cousin offered to remake it for me tomorrow. Here's to hoping. Haven't touched the exhaust or brakes.

To update the analogy of a challenging exam:

Things start well, the questions are a challenge = pulse quickens as your preparation and focus pay off and pour on the paper. 45 minutes in, and you know you're ahead of the game.

The room is dead silent.

In the distance, down the hall, a dull thud. Then another, much louder. The door to the hall bursta open - a flash-bang grenade rolls in and explodes. Your ears are ringing, you can't see - the first row and proctor are on the floor. Some are moving, some screaming - all as a band of German paramilitaries fan out across the room through the mist and chaos.

They're looking for you - the one that dared to crawl under a specimen of rolling national pride - the one that dare lay his American hand upon the delicate underbelly of a Mercedes Benz.

In and out of consciousness, tied down on the proctor's table. Hydraulic fluid drip, drip, drips into your eyes from a perfectly engineered torture device suspended above your head. Your captors sprinkle rust flakes into your face. One even throws the occasional box wrench onto your chest.

Why should I have expected it to go any other way?? :) Love it. Been riding the Puch by necessity - brilliant!

MerCrucible?

I traded out a few complications in my life - the Range Rover and BMW 535i, for something new.

The car, to me, means a move towards simplification, reliability; shoring up a better foundation for projects to come.

For years, my cousin's told me that Mercedes made before 1996 are some of the most dependable and over-engineered cars ever made. In particular, the series known as the w124, produced in the late 80's and early 90's, seems the business. I found an estate version, and bought it.

212,000 miles be damned. Most solid, nicest car I've ever owned. Tomorrow, I get serious about the mechanics. I'll be replacing two magical spheres, called "accumulators." These glands use the fascinating power of hydraulics to keep the car from bouncing like an empty school bus (which it does now). Also, hoping to simply bolt on some new exhaust system components and bleed the brakes.

I feel all together different about the coming adventure. I've studied with an academic bend. Applied myself to preparing the workspace, sought guidance, collected the proper documentation. It feels like my first exam in a challenging college course - the first time you feel like you really have to try to nail it - but know that in the end, you can. Let's see where we are in a few days, then back to the Puch. Promise.

This is what I'm talking about

This is James Dean. This is James Dean on a Puch Twingle. This makes all the difference in the world. I'll see you on the street...

Thanks for finding the photo Frankie! Check him out - Handverker - frankieflood.blogspot.com