Fighting Nemo - February 2013

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Fighting Nemo - February 2013

Until ...
Thursday afternoon - Snowthrower prep. Starts? Check. Gas? Check. Shear pins intact? Left side, check. Right side, no.

Off to Home Depot. Purchased 6 brass bolts plus nylon locknuts. Back to Wayland, right side shear pin replaced, check.

Friday evening - Put on my full Alpine ski setup including pants, balaclava, and goggles). Fired up the snow thrower. Engine running a bit rough, a bit concerned about old gas, but running.

Until the throttle cable came loose. I was worried about my ability to fix it in the cold and dark if a part had gotten lost, but it was just a threaded connector that worked its way loose. One minute reconnecting and I was back in business.

Until the auger cable came loose. Same worry about cold, dark, and parts. Turns out, a cable came off the tensioning spring. Another minute and I was back in business.

Until the engine died. Old gas? No, out of gas--apparently, my Thursday check hadn't been much of a check at all. Fortunately, gas can full. Another two minutes, and I was back in business.

Until no snow came out the chute. Plugged. Another three minutes, unplugged and back in business.

Until I pulled the starter cord and it came free--the cord separated deep inside the reel. Fortunately, the snowthrower has a plug-in start option. Another five minutes, and I was back in business.

Until I realized the cars in the driveway weren't doing me any favors being parked on one edge. Zachary helped me clean them off an reposition them in the center with space for the snowthrower all around and in between. Back in business.

Until I was done. By then, at least another 2" of snow covered the spots I'd cleared first. On the ground, 10" when I went inside at 10:00pm.

Saturday morning - Another pass with the snowthrower, uneventful. On the ground, 21' when I went inside at 9:00am. Nemo appears to be heading on.

Until next time.