This morning I fired up Homer the Super Bus and headed north on 27 out of the "triangle" going to work. Before I got out of town my generator light came on.
Now, for the past couple of months, my generator light has been coming on for brief periods of time. Since I haven't found anything else wrong with it, I have decided that it's due to the brushes being just about worn out.
So, when my light came on this morning one side of my brain said "Hey, you better stop and make sure it isn't the belt." . . . Then the other side of my brain said "It's 17 degrees. You've got worn out brushes. Your belt is fine. This bus is cold. Hurry up and get to work before you freeze." The second side did more talking so it won the argument. I kept driving. Past AutoZone. Past Advance Auto Parts. Past O'Riley's. About a mile and a half past O'Riley's the second side of brain spoke up again. "You know, that light ain't never stayed on that long. You better listen to the other side of your brain and check your generator belt."
So, I pulled over, parked, got out and checked . . . the heater boxes are smoking . . . all the oil that's been leaking on them the last couple of years is being burnt off. Both sides of brain gang up on me now . . . "Those darn things must be HOT! Maybe it has something to do with this broken belt? You big dummy! Now you're a mile and a half past the nearest parts store and your walking! And it's 17 degrees! What were you thinking?"
I've got a spare belt in Homer. Somewhere in Homer. I've also got a Shopsmith, a ladder, a black and decker workmate, all the power tools and about half the hand tools I own, a computer, a bunch of camping gear and who knows what else in there. The belt is under all that other stuff somewhere. It's quicker to walk back to town and buy a belt.
So, I called my boss and told him I would be late (he understood . . . he used to own a Thing) and started walking. In the 17 degree air. Got a mile and half to go. To get to the parts store I passed a few minutes ago. Most folks would have been upset, but I knew someone would come along and save the day. I hadn't made it 50 from Homer when a southbound car pulls into the the turn lane . . . and Smelly Cat himself rolls down the window and says "need a ride to the parts store?" How did he know? OK, maybe this BROKEN BELT in my hand gave it away. I hopped in and away we went . . . O'riley's was not opened yet, but Advance was. Got the belt and bought an adjustable wrench just in case I couldn't find the right size when I got back to Homer. He took me back to the "scene of the crime" and dropped me off. I threw the belt on and took off. I was only a half hour late for work. Too bad I forgot to turn my lights off when I got there . . . but that's another story.
Thanks SC!
