02 Base for my son

[Snowbound]

Snow sucked this year! Never ride my Sidewinder after I put about $6k into it getting it ready for season. Early january I still had a few things to do on the sled and we heard the snow was coming but in southern Wisconsin so I dragged my Viper home that weekend we did the mud room.
I installed a new rear bumper on the Viper at work after my shift because I only had a day or two before we went up to Johnson Creek WI for a 3 day weekend. The bumper was also a support for the tunnel so I could mount a hard storage bag with a 3 gallon fuel tank. It’s a stacked unit but I didn’t want to bend the tunnel from the weight.

 

[Snowbound]

Nick and I got 318 miles in on that weekend and that was it!!!!! Trails never opened in northern Wisconsin. El Niño kicked our rears this year.
And it hurts after I spent so much time and money on my sled. But Nick spent about $8k modifying his over last summer so he felt it too.
My new facelift. I replaced a-arms, skis, powdercoated skid rails and all suspension parts to get rid of that hi-viz scheme, new custom springs, shocks rebuilt, bigger tune that runs on closed loop with a wideband, billet water pump impeller, rebuilt the clutches and put in some modified parts. A lot of time and money to not ride it this season.
What it was at end of last season.

How it sits now. I even had the bottom of seat reupholstered to get rid of that obnoxious color.

It’ll be ready for next year I guess. But I didn’t stop there. Oh no sir, you know me, I love to punish myself more than not.
This is Yamaha’s final year in the industry. These sleds will not be made any longer and I really love my 4 stroke turbo sleds so I pulled the trigger on a brand new 25 Yamaha XTX 146 LE EPS (electronic power steering) , LE means it has an electronic shock setup that can be controlled from the handlebar as oppose to having to manually adjust rebound and firmness. It’ll be here Oct/Nov so that means it won’t snow again next season. I already know it.

 

[Snowbound]

I blame Jess because as soon as they released the 25 Yamaha models she tagged me in this post.

She doesn’t like the gray Sidewinder, she likes the all black Viper so she wanted me to buy a new black one.
Crazy money for these things but this is the first new sled I’ve ever bought and probably ever will.

Put a deposit down the first day you can preorder or snow check as they call it and then I’ll have to pay balance when it comes in. I’m debating leaving it in the crate for the first couple seasons.

 

[Snowbound]

Also I bought a new tool box for up north because I’m overflowing the small box I have in the sled garage. Paid $900 for a nice US General HF box that’s 56x22 and ordered it in white.
Took 2 months to show up and this is how it came.

Can you believe this? I finally got it flipped and unwrapped to only find more damage.

Ordered 01/02, showed up 02/27, set up return right away after they offered me 10% discount for being damaged but that would end any factory warranty also. Nope, told them come get it. They didn’t come to get it until 03/22 and I still to this day on 04/21 have yet to get a refund or credit. I’ve been getting b ignorant with these people when I talk to them. It’s like they just don’t care!

 

[Snowbound]

Last but not least, my son Jack turned 19 on the 13th of this month and he is shipping off to Lackland Air Force base on July 16th to start his journey as an Airmen in the United States Air Force. He graduates on September 5th from BMT. Jess and I have already bought our airfare, hotel and rental car to go to Texas to watch him graduate and so I can tag him out. One proud dad here and I know he’s going places. He wants to be stationed Japan after he does his schooling in Mississippi right after basic training. This is gonna open doors for him that I never got to experience. He got his #2 pick for jobs, something to do with cyber security and intel apprentice. I know he will do great. Wish him luck.

 

[adventurenali92]

Last but not least, my son Jack turned 19 on the 13th of this month and he is shipping off to Lackland Air Force base on July 16th to start his journey as an Airmen in the United States Air Force. He graduates on September 5th from BMT. Jess and I have already bought our airfare, hotel and rental car to go to Texas to watch him graduate and so I can tag him out. One proud dad here and I know he’s going places. He wants to be stationed Japan after he does his schooling in Mississippi right after basic training. This is gonna open doors for him that I never got to experience. He got his #2 pick for jobs, something to do with cyber security and intel apprentice. I know he will do great. Wish him luck.

Happy bday to the kid! And good on him for wanting to serve his country! That’s awesome! Proud dad moments for you sure!! Sounds like he’s ready to put in the work!

 

[Tonyrodz]

Man! I wondered what happened to you. Glad to see you back, and everything is going--mostly--good for you!

 

[Snowbound]

Man! I wondered what happened to you. Glad to see you back, and everything is going--mostly--good for you!

Work fired the youngster back in October because he’s a drunk and now we’re down to 3 guys. That put me back on afternoons (3-11) which I absolutely hate because I don’t see my family all week and I can’t get nothing done at home so I’ve just been working 12-14 hr days and did 7 days a week for 13 weeks straight due to the lack of snow and not going up snowmobiling.
Been looking for another job recently, been on a couple interviews. High school in my town wants me for maintenance supervisor. Little less pay and nowhere near the OT but I’m ready to slow down anyway. 8 years I’d be fully vested and they have a pension there which is good. Citgo offered me a position too but that’s swing shift which I’m trying to get away from. 18 years with this company and it’s hard to walk away but I think it’s time for a change.
But that’s about it.

 

[adventurenali92]

Work fired the youngster back in October because he’s a drunk and now we’re down to 3 guys. That put me back on afternoons (3-11) which I absolutely hate because I don’t see my family all week and I can’t get nothing done at home so I’ve just been working 12-14 hr days and did 7 days a week for 13 weeks straight due to the lack of snow and not going up snowmobiling.
Been looking for another job recently, been on a couple interviews. High school in my town wants me for maintenance supervisor. Little less pay and nowhere near the OT but I’m ready to slow down anyway. 8 years I’d be fully vested and they have a pension there which is good. Citgo offered me a position too but that’s swing shift which I’m trying to get away from. 18 years with this company and it’s hard to walk away but I think it’s time for a change.
But that’s about it.

I hear ya on these sentiments! In a very similar boat myself, change is good sometimes! Best of luck in whatever you decide to move forward on! Still an absolute machine just cranking stuff out! Impressed your level of hard work!

 

[Snowbound]

Put a new stereo in the Esky. This thing cranks for everything else being stock.

 

[RAMurphy]

Put a new stereo in the Esky. This thing cranks for everything else being stock.
View attachment 436120
View attachment 436121

Any pictures or thoughts on how you got this bad boy installed. Looks great.

 

[Snowbound]

Any pictures or thoughts on how you got this bad boy installed. Looks great.

It installs like a normal radio and the screen goes on last. You can adjust screen up down left or right and I had to bring it up left and tilted in on left side so the shifter wouldn’t contact the screen in park. I had no idea the screen was going to be that big but I really like it. A little bright at night even after I dim it down. But it is loud and clear.

 

[RAMurphy]

I did look up that radio and saw it was set up for single din radio. Sharp looking radio. I already made the "upgrade" to a double din set up. Wonder if a similar radio exists for a double din setup? Hmmmmmm

 

[Snowbound]

I did look up that radio and saw it was set up for single din radio. Sharp looking radio. I already made the "upgrade" to a double din set up. Wonder if a similar radio exists for a double din setup? Hmmmmmm

I was going to put a double din in this 02 and I bought a new dash bezel that was suppose to be for an 03 which would have allowed me to do the double din but when it arrived it was for an 02 so that didn’t work out. So I just decided to try this radio and it worked out. The 02 is like a din and a half size and hacking up the bezel didn’t look right. At least now it’s all unmolested and I can always go back.

 

[Snowbound]

Now for the 02. Week before last on Thursday I was driving home from work at 11:30pm and while I was accelerating from a stop light, under normal throttle, at about 45MPH I heard a loud “bang” and the engine just revved. Like there was no connection between engine and transmission. I thought at first the chain broke in the transfer case. Coasted to the shoulder and assessed the situation. Good oil pressure, engine temp, trans temp but no gears forward or reverse. Looked underneath and no leaks or signs of damage at all. Checked atf and level was good and didn’t see any glitter on stick.
So here it is 11:30 at night and I’m on a dark desolate road trying to figure out who I’m gonna call. Ended up calling the guy at work to give me a ride home. Called for a tow and they told me $240 to go 6 miles! I told him to pound sand and rented a U-Haul trailer the next day for $62. Wasn’t fun getting truck on trailer with a come-a-long but I did it. Brought the truck to work and dropped it because I have another vehicle at home I’m workin go on that I’ll show in a minute.
Still need to investigate further at a later date but the parking pin still holds so I don’t think it’s in the transfer case. Something exploded inside the trans. I’ve had transmissions slip, shutter or lose one gear at a time but I’ve never had this happen outside of the drag strip. I’ll update as I know more.

 

[Snowbound]

The other vehicle I’m working on is an 03 S-10 ZR2 I bought for my other son Josh. If needs a cat and some TLC, it’s been sitting for a few years and has some rust which is typical for these but it’s not awful. He will probably destroy this one anyway so I’m just getting him driving for now.

 

[Snowbound]

September has been a crazy month. Jack’s graduation was the only good part of the month.
Some of you may remember me mentioning the time back in 05 when I was burned really bad, some may not. I was set on fire when a truck I was working on backfired and blew gas and fire on me.

I mention this because about 8 months after that I was at work fixing an electric window motor on a vehicle and cut my thumb and finger pretty good and had to get stitches. They couldn’t get me numb, they gave me shots in my cuts about 10 times and then tried a different medicine at the base of my finger and thumb but it didn’t work for some reason. I just had them stitch me up without being numb and they even had to cut my thumbnail off to do it.
I thought maybe that was because my hands were burnt so bad to get skin graphs that there was nerve damage or something. Well, I went in to get a vasectomy and I gotta tell ya, that was not a good experience. I got the shot no problem. Wait a couple minutes for it to numb up and the doctor starts digging. WOW!!!! He says you can still feel that? OH YEAH! So he shoots me with a couple more shots. Now this is suppose to be a non evasive, no stitch procedure where they pull the tube out the hole that the numbing medication went in, make a cut and cauterize the tubing then push it back in. Simple right? Not for me.
Doctor starts again and I can feel him prying around inside my coin purse and I’m squirming and he asked, “you can still feel that?” Yep. He said I shouldn’t. So he calls for the nurse and has her get him more medication and tells me he’s never had to give this much to anyone. Shoots me up once again and waits a few minutes. Touched me down there and asks if I can feel it. No, I didn’t feel that. So he proceeds. Soon as he gets in there it feels like someone is pulling on my guts and yanking them down. It’s the only way I can describe it. Doctor says he don’t know what he should do. I said just do it, I’m here and we’re this far. So he did and it was horrible. He ended up having to cut me and then put 3 stitches in. Once that was over I let out a sigh or relief and said that sucked. His reply, that sides done now we have to do the left. OMG! I was so close to telling him forget it, I’m done. But I struggled thru it in pain and discomfort the entire process. I’ll never forget that feeling. Not recommended.
So that took place 9/13 which also happened to be Friday the 13th. The week before I went to dentist because I broke a tooth and it got infected. They told me I had to go to an oral surgeon to have the tooth pulled. It’s was a wisdom tooth so they said might as well get them all pulled. So I had to go to my sons graduation with an infected and throbbing tooth and my man purse stitched up and still sore.

Get back from Texas and I get in to oral surgeon the next Tuesday. I went thru the same thing, they couldn’t get me numb and the doctor said he can’t do it with me being in so much pain while he’s digging at it. I told him there’s no way I’m leaving without at least getting the one out because he’s already been digging at it, prying at it and it’ll be even worse when the medication wears off. My cheek and lips were numb but anytime he would pry or pull I could feel like an electrical shock from the nerve. I just grabbed the arms of the chair and said GO! He was apologizing while pulling it, “I’m sorry James, I almost got it. Breathe thru your nose. Hang in there. Don’t kill me.” Hahaha. Then only put one stitch in because he said I experienced enough for one day.

I have no idea why I don’t get numb. It all started after I got burned. I’m gonna be put under when I go for the other wisdom teeth.
6 days later I had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic and I was on fire itching from it. Come to find out the side effects from that antibiotic is rash 7 days later and collapsed lung. I got the rash in 6 days and was short of breath and was told to discontinue antibiotic, was given steroids and told go directly to ER if breathing got worse.

Thankfully all that is behind me and now I’m looking forward to going into management and not working all this overtime come November 4th.

 

[Sam Harris]

September has been a crazy month. Jack’s graduation was the only good part of the month.
Some of you may remember me mentioning the time back in 05 when I was burned really bad, some may not. I was set on fire when a truck I was working on backfired and blew gas and fire on me.
View attachment 440825

I mention this because about 8 months after that I was at work fixing an electric window motor on a vehicle and cut my thumb and finger pretty good and had to get stitches. They couldn’t get me numb, they gave me shots in my cuts about 10 times and then tried a different medicine at the base of my finger and thumb but it didn’t work for some reason. I just had them stitch me up without being numb and they even had to cut my thumbnail off to do it.
I thought maybe that was because my hands were burnt so bad to get skin graphs that there was nerve damage or something. Well, I went in to get a vasectomy and I gotta tell ya, that was not a good experience. I got the shot no problem. Wait a couple minutes for it to numb up and the doctor starts digging. WOW!!!! He says you can still feel that? OH YEAH! So he shoots me with a couple more shots. Now this is suppose to be a non evasive, no stitch procedure where they pull the tube out the hole that the numbing medication went in, make a cut and cauterize the tubing then push it back in. Simple right? Not for me.
Doctor starts again and I can feel him prying around inside my coin purse and I’m squirming and he asked, “you can still feel that?” Yep. He said I shouldn’t. So he calls for the nurse and has her get him more medication and tells me he’s never had to give this much to anyone. Shoots me up once again and waits a few minutes. Touched me down there and asks if I can feel it. No, I didn’t feel that. So he proceeds. Soon as he gets in there it feels like someone is pulling on my guts and yanking them down. It’s the only way I can describe it. Doctor says he don’t know what he should do. I said just do it, I’m here and we’re this far. So he did and it was horrible. He ended up having to cut me and then put 3 stitches in. Once that was over I let out a sigh or relief and said that sucked. His reply, that sides done now we have to do the left. OMG! I was so close to telling him forget it, I’m done. But I struggled thru it in pain and discomfort the entire process. I’ll never forget that feeling. Not recommended.
So that took place 9/13 which also happened to be Friday the 13th. The week before I went to dentist because I broke a tooth and it got infected. They told me I had to go to an oral surgeon to have the tooth pulled. It’s was a wisdom tooth so they said might as well get them all pulled. So I had to go to my sons graduation with an infected and throbbing tooth and my man purse stitched up and still sore.

Get back from Texas and I get in to oral surgeon the next Tuesday. I went thru the same thing, they couldn’t get me numb and the doctor said he can’t do it with me being in so much pain while he’s digging at it. I told him there’s no way I’m leaving without at least getting the one out because he’s already been digging at it, prying at it and it’ll be even worse when the medication wears off. My cheek and lips were numb but anytime he would pry or pull I could feel like an electrical shock from the nerve. I just grabbed the arms of the chair and said GO! He was apologizing while pulling it, “I’m sorry James, I almost got it. Breathe thru your nose. Hang in there. Don’t kill me.” Hahaha. Then only put one stitch in because he said I experienced enough for one day.

I have no idea why I don’t get numb. It all started after I got burned. I’m gonna be put under when I go for the other wisdom teeth.
6 days later I had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic and I was on fire itching from it. Come to find out the side effects from that antibiotic is rash 7 days later and collapsed lung. I got the rash in 6 days and was short of breath and was told to discontinue antibiotic, was given steroids and told go directly to ER if breathing got worse.
View attachment 440828

Thankfully all that is behind me and now I’m looking forward to going into management and not working all this overtime come November 4th.

Holy shīt man!! That’s some messed up stuff. Hope you’re feeling better and healed up quickly. God Bless

 

[adventurenali92]

Dang man that’s some rough shenanigans. Hopefully feeling better happens sooner rather than after for you! Congrats on the kid graduating!! Proud dad moments for you I’m sure!!!

 

[Snowbound]

I know it’s been a minute since I’ve updated. A lot has happened. I was in process of taking the maintenance supervisor job at the high school in town when one of the corporate big wigs came to me at the plant out of nowhere and offered me the maintenance supervisor job at our plant. I don’t know if they got word that I was seeking employment elsewhere or if it was just a coincidence but either way I took the job and started in November.
Our project manager that is in charge of our plant and 3 others put in his notice of retirement so I had to step up and start intervening in all the operations of those plants as well as mine. I think they were grooming me to take over his position as well as do mine so I had to nip it. After traveling to Niagara NY, Henderson NV, Augusta GA more than a few times to oversee projects and deal with contractor issues, I had enough. When I brought it up, they threw a bonus along with more money at me to get me to finish what I started while they searched for a replacement. I did, and they did finally find someone who started beginning of this month. So now I’m not having to travel as much although I do have to finish the project in Niagara so I’ll be going back first week of June again but hopefully that will be it.

Jack did make it home for Xmas. He was able to stay for 2 weeks for RAP (recruiter assistance program).