Final preparation for full time RVing (short term)

This is a late entry. I took Sadie, shortly after the installation of the new satellite antenna, to visit our favorite mechanic. In addition to lube, oil and filter change, I asked John to investigate why, when Sadie sits for a while, it takes a lot of cranking to start the engine.

Well, true to form, John and his colleagues investigated and found that a) it is not a fuel pump problem; b) it is not a fuel pump relay problem, as had been suggested by fellow RVers on an internet forum, because the fuel pump is mechanical, not electrical; c) the 22 year old carburetor had a tiny leak, so the fuel was leaking out of the float chamber. Hence, Sadie would start fine, if she had only sat for a day or two, and she would require extensive cranking if she had sat longer.

After I recovered from the shock of what it costs these days for a carburetor rebuild, I told John to go ahead and fix it. The idea of fuel leaking on the top of Sadie's engine, was not appealing to me. It took 24 hours, but the job is now done, and I look forward to more reliable starting. That is a good thing, because we will be living aboard for about 4 months, while our new home is under construction. So, starting the engine will not happen frequently, as it often does on a road trip.

We are now ready to move aboard, scheduled for June 15th. In the meantime, all we have to do is pack up all our worldly possessions for storage and move them into P.O.D.S. (Portable Onsite Delivery System) so they can be hauled away to a warehouse for safekeeping until our new home is ready.

Stay tuned.