Coffee 8-23-2014

Freddy wrote:I made it to north camp.....anyone up for a drive PM me & I'll give you directions. Free Seadoo rides!

Lisa.... what's the fix for BPV? I was with Eloise & that Dr seemed smart, but he didn't mention a cure.

Hi Freddy, you need to find another ENT. This is a pretty common thing. I was dizzy on and off for 30 years but only investigated the cause when I started driving the bus for obvious reasons. The first ENT I went to spotted the problem right off. My head injury had caused the crystals in my inner ear to move around. If I changed positions relative to gravity, my head spun; not all the time but often enough. To fix it he moved the crystals back to their original position. He did this by having me lay backwards off the table so my head was upside down. Then he moved my head around and recreated the dizziness - that moved the crystals. I was in this position for about 10 minutes. I couldn't believe that was all it took so I went for a second opinion and he did the same thing. That ENT couldn't recreate the dizziness at all. I haven't had any other occurrences but at the first sign of one I'm to go back and have it done again. What a deal after having had dizzy spells my entire adult life.

As I said this is more common then you realize and easily treated. I suppose that's not really a cure but it is treatable. That's not to say the your friend couldn't have other issues but I'd ask the ENT about BPV to start with. There is a lot on the internet concerning this, check it out.

lowfog01 wrote:

Freddy wrote:I made it to north camp.....anyone up for a drive PM me & I'll give you directions. Free Seadoo rides!

Lisa.... what's the fix for BPV? I was with Eloise & that Dr seemed smart, but he didn't mention a cure.

Hi Freddy, you need to find another ENT. This is a pretty common thing. I was dizzy on and off for 30 years but only investigated the cause when I started driving the bus for obvious reasons. The first ENT I went to spotted the problem right off. My head injury had caused the crystals in my inner ear to move around. If I changed positions relative to gravity, my head spun; not all the time but often enough. To fix it he moved the crystals back to their original position. He did this by having me lay backwards off the table so my head was upside down. Then he moved my head around and recreated the dizziness - that moved the crystals. I was in this position for about 10 minutes. I couldn't believe that was all it took so I went for a second opinion and he did the same thing. That ENT couldn't recreate the dizziness at all. I haven't had any other occurrences but at the first sign of one I'm to go back and have it done again. What a deal after having had dizzy spells my entire adult life.

As I said this is more common then you realize and easily treated. I suppose that's not really a cure but it is treatable. That's not to say the your friend couldn't have other issues but I'd ask the ENT about BPV to start with. There is a lot on the internet concerning this, check it out.

I've been there and done that! The therapy applied in first video, the Epley Maneuver, solved the big problem. The second video is something I learned to do myself from my chiropractor after the ENT/balance practitioner instructed me to consult a chiro to treat the remainder of the the BPPV.

I've never had a dizzy spell in my life that wasn't self-induced ( ) up until this year. One day I felt like I was spinning all day long. I still sort-of have that going on, although not as bad. The conspiracy theorist in me says it's something in the food supply ...

I've never ridden a jet ski in my life! Worked on plenty of them though. Used to have a test tank at the shop I worked at in Glendale, AZ. MMI also had one in their watercraft course classroom - got to run quite a few in the tank with that scale hooked to the back to measure thrust. Those engines are EXACTLY like snowmobile engines. The Rotax in that Sea-Doo has a rotating disc instead of reed valves. That's the only part of a rebuild you need to pay attention to. It has to be timed right, or else no fuel or air gets into the engine. Love those engines. Even back in '99-'00 when I worked there, we had a handhelded computer gizmo to program all kinds of crap in the onboard computer. If I remember right, it was mostly diagnostic stuff ... and stuff to spy on you. So, if you melted down your Sea-Doo with .3 hours on the clock, we could go in there and see that you instantly held the throttle wide-open, which your not supposed to do during break-in, then call you up and let you know your warranty claim was DENIED. Saw some pissed off people over that one! All that stuff can fairly easily be bypassed on the newer ones if you know what your doing.

As usual this time of year, I get alot on my plate and start feeling the pressure. I said the hell with everything on Monday, and went out for a 220 mile motorcycle ride on me trusty RD350. Me and my buddy hit Mt. Greylock out in North Adams - the highest point in MA at 3,491' above seal level. PERFECT day aside from being on the chilly side - could see for miles! Had a BLAST, & met alot of people admiring my work. It's a good feeling hurtling down the road at 90mph on a 40 year old machine that has your fingerprints on every single nut, bolt, screw, & mechanical part ... and not ONE transistor ... well, except for the modern regulator/rectifier.

The minute I got back, the forces of the universe sought to punish me for my day of joy. The hopper was completely empty on the boiler when I got back, so I let it sit cold through the night. Relit the next morning and had a hell of a time getting it burning right, then continued on my day. Next morning I was greeted to an outfire! So instead of working I spent the ENTIRE day screwing with the boiler. Since it was cold, I figured I might as well install that 6006 I bought back in June, to keep the ash pan from overflowing with coal in the event of an outfire while I'm away. Got it installed and relit. Half hour later, it's out! WTF .... this thing has been pretty much hands off for the past 10 straight months, so I knew I was missing something. I hope I didn't sound ungrateful to Wood n Coal, Dan, & VigIIPeaBurner who were trying to give me suggestions - I appreciate the ideas!!

Long story short, after 8 outfires , it ended up being the prong in the female electrical plug in the Reading idle feed controller - it was shoved all the way in, just barely hanging on. I happened to figure that out while walking away after relighting .... and heard a change in sound. Looked and noticed the little fan onthe stoker motor was stopped! SOB! Touched the plug, and it came back on for a second. Kept wiggling it, and eventually it stayed running ... for 2 minutes. Took the cover off and saw the prong sticking way up above the plug. Must've just made light contact with the male plug to the stoker, causing an intermittent loss of power to the stoker feed. Glad that's fixed!!

Gotta get back out there and finish disassembling a set of Showa cartridge forks off a RM-Z450 4-stroker. Replaced the cam chain, adjusted the intake valves, and cleaned out the airbox (which required taking the whole ass of the bike apart). Forks are the last item on the big list.

Later! Enjoy the pics from Mt. Greylock & the French King Bridge in Gill:
North Adams, MA

Nice Freddy. I enjoy the jetskis as much as I can good fun. Make sure the fuel lines are changed from the grey ones. Ethanol eats them and clogs the fuel system. Also make sure to add the anti- ethanol stuff every tank and you should be good. I Have 3 now I have my fast fun one the 04 RXP 215hp supercharged 4 stroke. Old reliable my 97 GTI 2 stroke. And a 97 XP with a 787 2 stroke I just bought with a double trailer that I wanted. I have not run it yet on the water. I will be selling that one just because I do not need it I just wanted the double trailer it was on.
Smitty that looks like an awesome Hang glider launch in that pic. I wish I was still doing that I really do miss it.
Well me my wife and daughter took our green belt tests today, it was grueling. But a lot of fun and rewarding. We all passed and did well. I am really proud of my 7yr old daughter, and my wife for how well they did. I have been fighting some hip problems but it seems to be getting worked out. I think it was a little rigor-mortice that set in over the years.
We have been busy as heck at the shop. I underestimated the planning this year for stoves. Its been tough keeping up with demand. Seems like this is the year we have been hoping for since we bought the company.

Glad to hear that Dave!

And yes, that spot where I took those pics - you could just run and go with a hang glider. It drops straight off right there. I'm pretty sure you'd be met with the strong arm of MA law when you landed unfortunately ...

Everything fun is illegal in MA ....

Real good shop news Dave. Hang Glide huh??? I think I'll pass on that one--rigor-mortice indeed!

Good news on the boost in stove building.

But that means more people will be buying coal so we better stock up now!

There is a Triathalon in the area this morning and we are on the bike route. So we are off to set up a water table at the end of our lane and cheer them on.

Nice bike Smitty.2 strokes are a blast.

I underestimated the planning this year for stoves. Its been tough keeping up with demand. Seems like this is the year we have been hoping for since we bought the company.

Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch. I wish you fame and fortune with the company.

Of course, there should not be rush as the REALLY smart people bought their 180s when it was 90* in the summer.

There is a Triathalon in the area this morning and we are on the bike route. So we are off to set up a water table at the end of our lane and cheer them on.

I crack myself up.

Wow...what a coffee session! Lot's of stories & lot's off good information. Thanks to all!

I just spent some time getting rid of "offerswizard". A malware that's a pain in the butt, but not too hard to get rid of.

I'll let Eloise know about the BPV stuff. Oh, and I forgot to mention.... along with the dizziness, her blood pressure spikes. That's the odd part. Oddly, I have (had?) that problem & they've never figured it out. I take blood pressure meds three times a day & one of those times is 2AM. It works for me! So, for Eloise, as for me, they will be testing for sleep apnea. I do not have apnea so it's still a puzzle as to why my BP spikes at 4AM. The walls at camp are thin & I've never heard Eloise snore...maybe I can't hear her over my snoring LOL.

I discovered that you CAN get wet on a jet ski! With a twist & a throttle you can bring a big wave right over the nose. Yeehaaa! It'll be days before my shorts are dry. At least I had the sense to leave my wallet home.

Smitty... I didn't know that MA had ANY good views & you actually found one! Amazing. Still love your Yamaha.... It's been a long time since I drove my 350 ring-ding. It was the wheelie king! Well, until I got my 500 Kawasaki triple. Now THAT was the wheelie king!

Rick..... those look like a working mans hands. Glad they cleared up some. Can you say nitrile?

Time to get back to work on the little deck.

Thanks Scooby & Freddy. Yeah I love the thing too. I ended up selling my Roadliner, because it sat parked all the time - was so much easier to just jump on the RD.

AND it didn't take 4 hours to change the rear tire on the RD either! I can rebuild that 2-stroke engine with less effort!