• 20240623 - Contact from Jeremy

   Out of the blue, Jeremy Rowan sent a text offering help with the Singer. Yes, it has been a year and two months since any progress [?) has been made on the Singer. There were lots of issues and excuses. Brad had one knee replacement and maybe a hip, Cathy has had many new challenges, and I will be 80 years old in October. It's been easy to ignore the fact that this project very well might spend its seventh year in this garage.

• 20240724 - Rinse and Repeat

    Not surprising, nothing resulted from this contact with Jeremy.

• 20241223 - Christmas comes early!

    Cathy and I bumped into Brad at Ace Hardware in the Bon center a couple of days ago. Just as if he was asking about whether we found any bargains at Ace, he nonchalantly offered, “say we got the Singer running yesterday". I didn't fall down in a faint, I didn't start crying, but I did do a short dance of joy in the parking lot!

    I went to the shop today and met Kevin, the person everyone credits with getting the ball rolling again. He showed me the progress he has made and his optimistic plans for the future:

    • He sealed up the leaks and claims there is no longer antifreeze on the floor. I am amazed but was too afraid to ask how those last two bolts were shortened and made to fit on the plate behind the manifold.

    • He said the battery box was too low and interfered with the throttle. We've got to investigate this further, because I made no modifications to the battery box or the throttle linkage.

    • He re-tapped (SAE) the exhaust manifold holes which contain a union that is somehow used to balance (something?). I suspect this is OK but will probably need further investigation since neither of us have ever seen this accommodation before.

    • The valves have all been readjusted from the top, and he has done minor timing adjustments which have resulted in the motor running for three seconds (but no longer).

    • He is adjusting to the wiring being done in reverse (positive ground system). As soon as he can get the engine to run his plan is to carry on with the wiring for the lighting systems etc. This needs to be preceded by reattaching the body parts that hold those lighting fixtures. (note: I need to talk to him about the separate wiring for the trafficators).

    • The front hydraulic brakes need to be bled and made to function along with adjustments to the rear mechanical brakes.

Kevin has set February as the time when the Singer will be drivable! I’m about to wet my 80 year old pants!!

   • 20241224 - Kevin, the Christmas Eve Elf

I stopped by First Rate to drop off some Christmas cheer for Kevin (some Guinness), Brad (some Jack Daniels) and Floyd (a mixed half case of beer). My Christmas present soon followed when Kevin was able to get the Singer engine actually running!

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