Parts is parts

I remember we used to toss the phrase "parts is parts" around the maintenance hanger; particularly on those late night grinds to get something back in the air to meet the next day's schedule. Sometimes (complying with all the applicable paperwork and meeting the regulatory requirements - of course) some bit needed on the subject plane could be found on another plane that was in for a more extended maintenance stay. Low and behold, "parts is parts" and the schedule would be met.


Unfortunately Kintala has no such stable mate available to donate missing pump bits. But as it turns out the bits needed actually were sent on their way just before the tornado hit and, though a day or two late, arrived in New Bern quite unexpected. By mid-afternoon yesterday the bits were assembled back into a working pump. As fate would have it new friend Ellen was going to New Bern yesterday afternoon anyway, grabbed said pump, and had it in my hot little hands by 0900 this morning. Parts is Parts!

A tad more than 9 hours later and the engine assembly was done. All that remains is bleeding the air out of the system and trying to start the thing; and that will wait until morning. There are two reasons for this. The first is that bleeding our Westerbeke is a first class bitch of a job that will probably take several hours. It was time to call it a day. The second reason is a bit more esoteric. I do not want want to crawl into bed tonight having discovered yet another show stopping failure keeping Kintala from being rendered operational. Rather I seek sweet dreams that tomorrow will be a good day. If it turns out otherwise, I will deal with that tomorrow night. (We also installed a new pre-heat relay that is functioning perfectly - thank you. I will nod off with the happy thought that at least one thing is definitely working that wasn't working when we got here.)

One problem not addressed is the broken overheat warning switch. My thinking on this is as follows: Worst case is the engine overheats, I don't catch it because the switch is broken, the overheat turns catasrophic and the engine hand grenades itself. Then there would be no choice but to repower the boat and thus be relieved of the burden of the Westerbeke forever. True, that could be a bit risky. The eninge might hand grenade when actually - desparately - needed and thus other bad things might happen. But what are the odds? Honestly, we will work diligently to get a new switch and be back as close to 100% as I can make this beast, but we are not going to sit here waiting for that to happen.

Assuming the engine actually runs come tomorrow.