Sunday, March 13, 2022 -- Costco Gas

Stopped at the Costco gas station on the way down to Long Beach Swap Meet @ just past 6:30 AM, when the gas station opens.

It was already busy!

Had to wait a few minutes.

I've done the same stop in the past and this is the busiest I've seen the Costco gas that early on Sunday.

Must be because of the rise in gas prices.

Paid $5,35/gal.

 

Porsche mug -- 2-part epoxy fix

Handle broke into two pieces.

Thus, 3 glue joints.

Will let it set 24 hours.

 

Sunday, March 13, 2022 -- Long Beach Car Swap Meet -- part 1

 

Broken Mavic Ksyrium ES Spoke -- Part 6 - Adjusting spoke tension

The wheel is not running true, after the broken spoke replacement.

I adjusted the tension on the silver replacement spoke as much as I can, but the tension is not quite as high as it should be.

Not much I can do since the nipple is about as deep as it can be.

This is the nearest spoke to the replaced silver one.

This is the one that I previously replaced a few years ago.

The replacement spoke was the right length/type except for the nipple design.

It's similar to what's on the wheel but the nipple is larger and requires a different tool.

I had bought the right tool when I installed this spoke.

I tried to tighten the nipple but the spoke is stuck to the nipple and turns with it, which ends up twisting the spoke.

I applied some penetrating oil & will let it soak over night.

I'll see if I can get the spoke to turn in the nipple tomorrow.

I also tried to adjust the spoke on the other side of the silver spoke to increase the tension on the non-drive side to better true the wheel.

This is an original spoke nipple and is pretty corroded inside (galvanic corrosion plus the salty air that I ride in).

I applied some penetrating oil and tried to turn it but the nipple broke apart.

I'm not too surprised since the broken spoke nipples seem to be pretty much stuck (both had to be drilled out).

Now that the "tool" portion of the nipple is broken, the only way to get it out is to break the spoke and drill it out like the other ones that broke.

For now, I'll leave it alone.

Ultimately, this wheel will become unserviceable due to the corrosion issue.

I guess about 8 years of riding at the beach has done it in.

On the bright side, 8 years is not bad for dealing with the corrosive environment.

I have a feeling that the aluminum nipple and the aluminum rim are made of different grade/type of aluminum and there is some galvanic corrosion contributing to the stuck condition also.

 

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 -- Beach front bike path -- still sand covered in spots

It was extremely windy last Saturday.

The bike path got covered in sand in many places.

They've cleared about 1/2 the bike path of sand but the other half still has spots that are impassable by bike, closer to the pier.

I either walk the bike over the sand or in placed where the walking "strand" is above the bike path, I move up to the walking area and progress...

So, in the area near the pier, I took the walking path (strand) above the bike path to go around the sand.

This is where  I crossed over from the bike path to the walking path.

 

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 -- Marina Del Rey Bridge -- After several years, they're getting close to finishing at the end of the bridge

 

Sunday, March 6, 2022 -- PCC Swap Meet -- Part 6 - Walkabout drink bottle cooler

Something actually made in Australia.

 Hung it here for now.

Sunday, February 27, 2022 -- Driving Museum model car swap -- Part 11 -- 1978 Chevy Chevette

It might have been around the late 70s, when my dad's friend, Watanabe-san, bought one of these.

I thought he was crazy!

It's such a crappy car.

Piece of junk, even when new.

There were much better Toyotas, Hondas, even Fiats & Renaults were probably better!

I didn't understand why he bought this thing.

Many years later, I have a theory on why he bought it.

Watanabe-san went through the Japanese interment camp (prison) ordeal during WWII.

The Japanese-Americans were questioned at to their loyalty to American and even had to sign a document pledging such allegiance (no other Americans had to do this).

My guess is that he probably decided to always show who's side he was on & probably decided to not buy Japanese over American.

I can't imagine the trauma/pain he must have felt, being jailed for several years for no reason other than pure prejudice by the American government/people.

 

Sunday, February 27, 2022 -- Porsche Show/Swap @ Boys Republic -- Part 16