Old & Rough Tool Case - part 12 -- Cleaning the top of the case (about 1/2 way through)

With the front lid installed & closed, Started cleaning the top of the case.

I don't have a key for the lock so the front lid won't stay in this closed position.  If the case gets tilted, the front lid will swing down...

The fit of the front lid to the case is actually pretty good.

I'm using 409 household cleaner.  Again, amazing amount of dirt on the leatherette...

This is after a lot of wiping with the shop towel...

Started moving across the case...

These initials were completely not visible until the dirt was cleaned.  It was surprising to see these initials appear.  A little bit like magic...

JMR was born in 1900.  If this case was made in 1928 (which is possible due to the design & features on this case), then JMR may have been in his very late 20's when he acquired this case.

JMR passed away in 1979.

As I use this case to store stuff in the future, I'll always think of JMR, even though I've never met him...

 

Monday, October 12, 2020 -- Manhattan Beach Pier & Dockweiler Beach Parking Area

A few people at the pier but nothing like it was on Saturday...

It's a very nice day at the beach (low 70's).

This is the parking lot at Dockweiler beach where I usually cut across from the bike path to the parking lot service road.

Some people apparently spent a lot of money on some tires...

This is where I usually ride up and turn left to go along the parking service road.  The construction is ongoing on the road above the bluffs... 

1995 Acura Model Line Brochure

 

Phil & Enzo - part 20

Old & Rough Tool Case - part 11 -- Cleaning the inside of the case & installing the front lid back on

Started cleaning the bottom on the inside of the case.  Amazing amount of dirt on the leatherette...

The RH side is being cleaned & LH side is before cleaning.

Again, the amount of dirt is surprising...

The drawer guides are wood and there's a channel cut into the sides for the front lid's pin to ride in.  When the pins arrive at the very front of the case, the pins drop down to kind of lock in place so that when the lid is raised vertical, the bottom doesn't move fore-aft.

Continuing to clean the leatherette on the bottom of the inside of the case...

There's a pencil marking on the bottom of the case.  I think it says 28-B.  Don't know if this is a date code (1928?) or an internal code to keep track of something? Or?  I was careful not to clean this off.

Good picture of the RH side channel for the front lid pin.

LH side front lid pin guide.

Showing the wooden drawer guides on the LH side.

RH side drawer guides...

Cleaning the wood portion of the case bottom...

Started  cleaning the leatherette on the front opening edges...

Started installing the front lid.  First insert the RH side pin in it's furthest out and down position.  Then bring the lid up to this angle to make a triangle with the bottom of the lid to the front.

Showing that the RH side pin is in it's guide and fully forward & down.

The LH side pin is above the channel that it's supposed to ride in.

Even using this technique, there's a slight interference between the LH side pin and the side of the case.  At this point, gently push through the interference until the pin moves into it's guide channel.

This is after installation, showing the slight damage to the side panel's wood above the channel.  The damage is actually pretty slight.  Maybe about a mm of interference.

After slight sanding & cleaning, it looks pretty good.

Plus, this area is not visible when the drawers are put back in.

Right after front lid installation.

Front lid slid in to it's "open & stowed" position.

With the drawers reinstalled.

 

Charging the battery on the 1973 MGB

First, put the top up to get it out of the way.

Then, remove the carpet piece sitting in this well behind the seats.

The carpet is sitting on the decklid in this picture.

The cover panel over the battery is held in place with four 1/4 turn fasteners.  The screws have a flat screwdriver head.

I carry a stubby screwdriver in the glovebox for this purpose.

There are two wells for the battery.  Originally, the MBG came with two 6-volt batteries connected in series (to make 12 volts).

When I got the car, this is the way it was set up.  Just one 12V Odyssey battery jury rigged in place on the passenger side well.

The Odyssey battery is much smaller than the original 6-volt battery.

Battery charger connected to the battery.  I set the charger at 2A, which is the slow charge setting (it's better for the battery to slow charge over several hours, if you have the time).

Redoing the battery mounting is one of the items on the to-do tasks for the MGB.  It's a long list...

But for now, the car drives so it lives the way it is...