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RE: Pressure regulator suggestion/confession time

To: "Robert E. Shlafer" <PilotRob@webtv.net>, "Geoff Branch" <gjbranch@comcast.net>
Subject: RE: Pressure regulator suggestion/confession time
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2004 10:51:01 -0500
Cc: "Michel R. Gagne" <mgagne@unc.edu>, "spridget list" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Reading Capt. Bob's post got me to thinking about the years when I used my
Midget every day, year-around, as my business transportation.  I had zero
DNFs, as well as zero DNSs and no "delayed in route".  It was all open road
driving (mainly along the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers), seldom
less than 100 mi. per driving day and with several cross-country trips of as
much as 700 miles.  Keeping in mind that I was a whole lot younger, then, I
look back very fondly on those times.
OK.  Confession time.  Are you guys ready for this?
I carried a spare fuel pump (SU, of course).  And a spare coil.  And a spare
dizzy.  And a bunch of tools, along with other spares (including a half
shaft).  I figured that Murphy would probably leave me alone, if he knew
that I was PREPARED.  Apparently, it worked.
In defense of LBCs, I should state that I was starting a new business and
wanted to establish a record for dependability.  So, I left nothing to
chance.
I became paranoid about being stranded along the road after experiencing
three strandings while driving Porsche 356s, in HS and college, and one
stranding at the hands of a '67 VW beetle.  While it is fun to look back and
laugh about those incidents (which were entirely due to driver
error/maintenance short-cuts/stupidity), I resolved to never put myself or
one of my cars in that position, again.
Capt. Bob's statement about routinely replacing a fuel pump, after x number
of hours/miles/years of service reveals his aircraft background.  Like a
commercial aircraft, if one wants his/her spridget to be totally dependable,
it is important to follow all factory maintenance recommendations,
carefully, as well as to supplement that maintenance with preventative
maintenance based upon the service history of the spridget, of which there
should be a lot documented.  While a major component failure on one of Capt.
Bob's aircraft would very likely mean A BAD DAY AT WORK, at the very least,
a major component failure, on the road, in one of our Spridgets can also
turn out to be pretty bad.  Hence, the aircraft maintenance mentality
applied to LBCs (and VWs and 356s) by yours truly, with very gratifying
results.
Bud Osbourne

-----Original Message-----
From Robert E. Shlafer [mailto:PilotRob at webtv.net]
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 7:32 AM
To: Geoff Branch
Cc: Bud Osbourne; Michel R. Gagne; spridget list
Subject: Re: Pressure regulator suggestion


Since like any electric pump they can
suddenly quit working, I use to replace them automatically every few
years
when I commuted to my "office". Now
that I'm retired and doing far less miles,
maybe every 5 years or so.

I've used Facets for years..swear by 'em.




Cap'n. Bob
     '60 :{)






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