Uh oh! Chesney, you should not have opened that door! Oh wait – I said a few days ago that I would have opened the door too. Oops! My bad! What kind of Pandora’s box has Chesney gotten us into now?
Well, as some of you might have noticed, I wasn’t around yesterday. I was meant to be exhibiting at a model railway show yesterday, but things didn’t go according to plan.
I was driving at 60mph in my Ford Transit van on the dual carriageway about 8 miles from home when there was quite a load BANG!, followed by some clattering and thumps from underneath. First thought was I had hit something in the road, but I hadn’t noticed anything and couldn’t see anything in my mirrors. I checked the dashboard instruments and saw that the battery charging light was on and the power steering wasn’t working and so thought that the serpentine belt that drives the rotating ancillaries had broken. Pulled over to the side of the road, got out and opened the bonnet to see what had happened. To my surprise the belt was still intact, although off of the pulleys, so my thought was the tensioner pulley had failed (I had had that happen on my previous Transit), but everything looked in place, until I looked at where the main drive pulley attached to the crankshaft should be.
It wasn’t there!!
So the loud Bang! I had heard was the main drive pulley shearing it’s mounting bolts and exiting the engine compartment in a downwards direction, the rest of the clattering and banging was it hitting the underside of the vehicle as it passed rearwards. At this point the van was not in a fit state to be driven because although you can drive them without the power steering and servo assistance for the brakes (strong arm and leg muscles required!), the main problem is that the engine water pump is also driven off of that belt and therefore you can cook the engine in fairly short order as the coolant isn’t being circulated.
The local Traffic Police decided that I was making the road look untidy and so towed me to the next junction (about half a mile). It was quite fun (not fun!) being towed on a short(ish) rope knowing that I only had limited servo assistance for the brakes left. I got the vehicle recovered (BIG thanks to the RAC), and it is now sitting round at my local garage awaiting repair.
I had to say my final good-byes to my Cuda today (my new avatar). 14-1/2 years old. She was a Maine Coon and knew she was the queen of the world. She loved people and would always greet them at the door. She would sleep with overnight guests (if they permitted it – I don’t think anyone ever turned her down) and had a purr that sounded like her namesakes. Besides her daddy and me, she leaves behind her sisters Hemi (14-1/2, we rescued them together), Sarajevo (7 years) and Freyja (18 months). She ruled the household and Sarajevo misses her already. R.I.P. Cuda, April 4, 2004 – October 15, 2018.
LastRoseofSummer Premium Member over 5 years ago
Oh this is good, be prepared Annie, turn around for…..?
rush.diana over 5 years ago
Uh oh…Wait until they both turn around……..
LastRoseofSummer Premium Member over 5 years ago
Well Dale didn’t want to eat today, one step forward, one step backward. Tomorrow….
DennisinSeattle Premium Member over 5 years ago
You’ve got to look, Annie, or you won’t see anything. I’d like to see that Dragon!
laughingkitty over 5 years ago
Uh oh! Chesney, you should not have opened that door! Oh wait – I said a few days ago that I would have opened the door too. Oops! My bad! What kind of Pandora’s box has Chesney gotten us into now?
Happy, happy, happy!!! Premium Member over 5 years ago
I’ve seen that little guy someplace.
ladykat over 5 years ago
Good morning and happy Monday/Funday, Graham Crackers!
I don’t know whether to tell Annie to turn around or have her stay exactly where she is.
Dry and Dusty Premium Member over 5 years ago
If you turn around, Annie, you will see it with your own eyes. :-)
Popcorn over 5 years ago
Famous last words Annie! Now who do you suppose will have eyes as large as the green alien?
jessegooddog over 5 years ago
Looks like Chesney has made a new friend!
bbear over 5 years ago
Today’s BBEAR posts:
1. A short video: You can’t coax a kitty out of a box if she doesn’t want to come out.
https://i.imgur.com/7kx8uPS.mp4
2. This kitten is dressed up for Halloween. Can you guess what he is?
https://i.imgur.com/tcKvhEn.jpg
3. With apologies to Guns ’n Roses.
https://i.imgur.com/l3QLW1W.jpg
4. This year’s family Christmas card was successful only because of an unintentional photobomb.
https://i.imgur.com/j2H9WVn.jpg
5. A catitude post: kitty’s aim was off but he doesn’t care (it’s the thought that counts).
https://i.imgur.com/GD69AP5.jpg
6. A cute kitten post: when a kitten just has to dance to get adopted. (Hey! Look at me!)
https://i.imgur.com/7DR1IXt.jpg
7. This kitty has an explanation (and a possible alibi).
https://i.imgur.com/Q7gDSUC.jpg
8. When kitty is going bald (alopecia) and Margaret is making fun of him.
https://i.imgur.com/l1IB1Qo.jpg
9. Kitty wonders if there is a Ghostbusters App because either his human’s phone or house is haunted.
https://i.imgur.com/rgbyUw7.jpg
10. This latest World Domination Plan just may work!
https://i.imgur.com/BmhnzGU.jpg
11. This kitty uses his tail to help stake out his sleeping territory on the bed at night. (My place is saved.)
https://i.imgur.com/Dv07nqh.png
12. Cats don’t need fancy plastic cat toys (although catnip mice are appreciated.)
https://i.imgur.com/3cjprMj.png
13. A cute kitten post: caution! Known to cause insomnia in new parents.
https://i.imgur.com/lDiCzXY.jpg
20 pictures and 1 video were posted to Ten Cats Fan Club this morning
More_Cats_Than_Sense over 5 years ago
Those “Little Green Aliens” look cuter than these!
https://i.imgur.com/s0JhTZ8.png
https://i.imgur.com/8mitDsC.jpg
Though the “Brain Slugs” from Futurama were quite cute :-)
https://i.imgur.com/rlL9EMz.jpg
Though I reckon most people would prefer this type of “Little Green Aliens”
https://i.imgur.com/vtIUxgy.jpg
As for Vampires……….
https://i.imgur.com/wf5VqZU.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/g8Cnkg6.png
https://i.imgur.com/JxfGItr.jpg
But we know someone…………
https://i.imgur.com/96k8Ib5.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/GnnhFgW.jpg
But these Vampire Bunnies might be beyond even Buffy!
https://i.imgur.com/hxYob6A.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eh8DRSj.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CHbPiLV.jpg
And I don’t think Chesney should go out to the Loading Dock any time soon!!
https://i.imgur.com/SrWpyeX.png
https://i.imgur.com/huGYfFN.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Tomwkyz.jpg
More_Cats_Than_Sense over 5 years ago
Well, as some of you might have noticed, I wasn’t around yesterday. I was meant to be exhibiting at a model railway show yesterday, but things didn’t go according to plan.
I was driving at 60mph in my Ford Transit van on the dual carriageway about 8 miles from home when there was quite a load BANG!, followed by some clattering and thumps from underneath. First thought was I had hit something in the road, but I hadn’t noticed anything and couldn’t see anything in my mirrors. I checked the dashboard instruments and saw that the battery charging light was on and the power steering wasn’t working and so thought that the serpentine belt that drives the rotating ancillaries had broken. Pulled over to the side of the road, got out and opened the bonnet to see what had happened. To my surprise the belt was still intact, although off of the pulleys, so my thought was the tensioner pulley had failed (I had had that happen on my previous Transit), but everything looked in place, until I looked at where the main drive pulley attached to the crankshaft should be.
It wasn’t there!!
So the loud Bang! I had heard was the main drive pulley shearing it’s mounting bolts and exiting the engine compartment in a downwards direction, the rest of the clattering and banging was it hitting the underside of the vehicle as it passed rearwards. At this point the van was not in a fit state to be driven because although you can drive them without the power steering and servo assistance for the brakes (strong arm and leg muscles required!), the main problem is that the engine water pump is also driven off of that belt and therefore you can cook the engine in fairly short order as the coolant isn’t being circulated.
More_Cats_Than_Sense over 5 years ago
The local Traffic Police decided that I was making the road look untidy and so towed me to the next junction (about half a mile). It was quite fun (not fun!) being towed on a short(ish) rope knowing that I only had limited servo assistance for the brakes left. I got the vehicle recovered (BIG thanks to the RAC), and it is now sitting round at my local garage awaiting repair.
It made for an eventful day!!
RonnieAThompson Premium Member over 5 years ago
@LAST ROSE: I’m praying for you and Sale. God Bless You Both.
SheMc over 5 years ago
Come on Annie, HE’S BEHIND YOU !!!
pchemcat over 5 years ago
I had to say my final good-byes to my Cuda today (my new avatar). 14-1/2 years old. She was a Maine Coon and knew she was the queen of the world. She loved people and would always greet them at the door. She would sleep with overnight guests (if they permitted it – I don’t think anyone ever turned her down) and had a purr that sounded like her namesakes. Besides her daddy and me, she leaves behind her sisters Hemi (14-1/2, we rescued them together), Sarajevo (7 years) and Freyja (18 months). She ruled the household and Sarajevo misses her already. R.I.P. Cuda, April 4, 2004 – October 15, 2018.
tad1 over 5 years ago
Great pictures today. :)
tad1 over 5 years ago
Didn’t The Munsters have a dragon in their basement?