Movin’ on up
Partner is out of town prepping for a job interview monday. I wish him all the luck in the world, but the selfish asshole in me hopes they aren’t offering much cash so he won’t move so far away.
We went to Cabelas friday just to see the guns, and he to get a fresh pair of dress pants to go to the interview. On the way back to dinner he shared a story I’ve heard him tell before, we were both trying to figure out it’s origin, but he believes it was his grandfather, who had a small garage and repair shop years back.
Customer comes in complaining about how his car runs, and gramps gives it a thourogh going over; the plugs are a bit fouled, he cleans them and road tests it and it’s perfect. This would have been in the late 50’s early 60’s. the customer returns in less than a week saying “My wife says it still runs like shit. There’s no pickup and it bogs down, it never seems to run well” So gramps goes through the same exercise; no change, it runs fine. After several of such interchanges and the increasing irritation of the customer, gramps says ‘bring in your wife”. he wants to see if her driving style has something to do with the problems the car is having.
So he hops in next to her.
She adjusts the mirrors, the seat, starts the car, and PULLS THE CHOKE OUT, AND HANGS HER PURSE ON IT.
She thought it was a purse hanger.
It’s the 50’s version of the computer CD drive/cupholder story.
Good luck to you, Partner. Make enough money that I can come down there and mow your lawn for you.
I could see a broad doing that back in the 50’s.
Put a choke knob in a car today and they’d do the same thing.
Og, can I steal the choke story? I have friends that would love that one.
Hope you get over the funk quick.
Blind: It’s not mine to give, but as I always say, if you’re gonna steal, steal from the best.
I used to be the mechanic for a school system. Most of the buses had International DTA360 engines which used a mechanical fuel shutdown – a handle on the dash that when pulled would cause the fuel injection pump to stop delivering fuel.
One of the drivers used to hang her purse from the handle. Over the course of her route the purse would swing and slowly pull the shutdown almost to the point of stopping the engine – just enough to cause loss of power and performance.
Took a little troubleshooting (and a ridealong) to figure that one out!
Hey Og, Come on down. There is always room for one more. They are expanding all the time, and it is automations which is right up your alley. Come down and check out the club and the machine gun shoot is just around the corner. Not to mention deer season. Hope you kick the summer cold and feel better soon. Take care. Rich
I mind a woman I used to hang out with. She had an old Chrysler with a sticky auto-choke. Her regular cold-starting drill involved wedging a screwdriver in just the right place in the carb to make the choke work.
Of course, she was not a normal woman. I suspect her of having autistic tendencies.
Sigh! The world needs more Aspichix!
My father-in-law tells a story of a fellow pilot friend who was taking a new girlfriend for a ride in his plane when, at altitude and looking for a place for her purse, she reached out and pulled the mixture full-lean. I don’t think there was second date!
I swear my power mechanics instructor told us the exact same story in 1976.
I’ve only heard it 12 times in the last 34 years.