October 4 Here we are at Starved Rock Marina where we last blogged. On September 29, when we were leaving Ottawa, Bob was doing the morning pre check of the systems and discovered that the oil in the transmission was down 1/2 qt. We decided to go to the nearest marina with a mechanic to check it out and that happened to be this marina-6-7 miles from where we were docked.
Of course, being Saturday there was no one on duty in the mechanic department until Monday. Oh well, we'll wait--we're retired. In the meantime, Bob reads the transmission manual, calls the company and anyone he can get a hold of and continues that until the mechanic Shawn comes on Monday. He says we have a leak in the seal and he can get one the next day---great. We'll be able to leave Tuesday. Tuesday he installs the new seal, we go for a run and guess what--there's still some leaking from the transmission. He crawls around down there and finds a crack in the transmission which is oozing oil.
This is major...a new transmission. Shawn goes to lunch--Bob gets on the phone and confirms everything with the transmission company and whoever else he can talk to. So, the new transmission is ordered--should be here maybe Wednesday (unlikely--it's coming from Michigan) but for sure Thursday. Great---we'll leave Friday.
Wednesday-good news- the transmission arrives overnite. Shawn gets it in- we go for a test ride. Engine runs really smooth, not noisy, runs up to 3800 rpm with no shuddering, etc. We get back to the dock and Shawn again goes down to make sure there's no leaks, etc. Guess what--there is a pinhole leak in the oil pump casing of the transmission ! He orders this particular piece--that should be here Thursday (today). Should I say we might be able to leave Friday or is saying that bad luck ?
Aah...like one of the other loopers said...."don't sweat the small stuff".
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