Nothing exciting to report for today. I decided not to do much of anything or go anywhere. Due to the chillier temperatures from that cold front that moved through, I’ll be giving my fingers a bag balm treatment tonight since they’ve begun to crack again.
When I got here, I didn’t set up the DISH, but just relied on the antenna for TV reception. As I stood on the stool to crank it up, the crank fell out on the floor. This happened last year, but my friend Denny was able to fix it for me. Well, Denny isn’t around this year so I was stymied as to what to do. I really didn’t want to climb up on the roof to see if it was sticking up at all, so I stood on the picnic table across the street and sure enough, it was up off of the roof. Can you see the non-mechanical gears turning in my head? I finally thought to get back on the stool with a pair of pliers and began turning the post that was sticking out of the ceiling. I felt absolutely brilliant until I went back outside and found that all that I had accomplished was to move it further up off the roof!
Okay, back inside the rig, dummy, and turn it the other way. I can’t tell you how good it made me feel to hear that distinctive clunk as the antenna seated itself down on the roof. Now, if I could just figure out how to make the water hose stop leaking where it enters the rig. It leaks at both the top and bottom of the pressure regulator that the hose hooks up to. When I got here, I just let it leak while I filled the fresh water tank and have been using that tank full of water while I’ve been at the state park.
It was not a good picture day for me today. Emma and I went on a hike, but the pictures turned out miserably, and my lens cap popped off and went through the crack in the overlook we were standing on and splashed down five feet into the bayou. Ugh! So, I spent the afternoon rereading part of my favorite book. “Hanta Yo” by Ruth Beebe Hill. It is out of print now, but I have a hard copy that I pull out every three years or so. I find it a great read no matter how many times I’ve read it since 1979.
Tomorrow we’re off to Mississippi. Sure hope it’s an uneventful trip and I can find a gas station that’s easy to get in and out of.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
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Safe travels, Miss Judy.
ReplyDeleteJudy,
ReplyDeleteOld mechanics use a product called "corn husker lotion" for cracking hands...Their hands were always in oils and greases and solvents....It works and is in-expensive...Can be found in Wal-Mart at the pharmacy....
Hopefully you will find someone to fix the cranky crank ☺ Could you google it and find out how to do it?
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck finding a good filling station.
There is a small set screw in the crank handle it probably just came loose you can use an allen wrench and put the candle back on the shaft and then you use theto allen wrench to tighten the set screw back up and then it should work fine
ReplyDeletesending some good karma your way.....
ReplyDeleteI wish I could help you with any one of your dilemmas but I'm not too mechanical. Good luck with everything, and I hope it all works out tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteChuck and Anneke are totally correct about reattaching the handle for the antenna but just make sure you have the large spring in place before attaching it.
ReplyDeleteThe water hose needs new rubber washers. you can pick them up at dollar stores, hardwares, or building supply stores. People forget that they compress and don't last forever.
Now armed with that information you'll be able to have a side job doing RV repair.
It's about time.
That bag balm works pretty good for chapped and cracked hands, doesn't it? I used to use it when I had bad splits on mine. Saw it just the other day again in BiMart (a local store). Glad you're o.k. 'cause I thought maybe you got too close to that hawk the other day. Nice up close photos, there. Too bad about your lens cap...but that's the law, you know...whenever you drop anything, it's bound to end up in the most inaccessible spot around...in this case, the water!
ReplyDeleteOMG...really?? I have the cracked finger syndrome BIG TIME...since I was a kid...My Dad had it and carried Chap stick in his pocket..What the Hell is Bag Balm..sounds like a cow ointment..am I right?? What a day you had...relax...again, you are my hero...I would be in the fetal position on the floor...
ReplyDeleteWhen we don't have cable, I always try over the air TV without raising the antenna. Many times it makes no difference whether it is up or down.
ReplyDeleteJC
Ugh...Judy, it sounds like our rigs are certainly babies from the same mamma ("big bertha" I think they call it in Forest City!). Yes, my dumb TV antenna handle did the same thing as your's a couple years ago. Wingard sells the replacement handle assembles by the boatload apparently. I think it was under $100 for the dealer to install it and relube the antenna (who knew!), but I'd almost want to go with those new antennas Winnebago is using as of this year-- the ones that no longer have that dumb handle and crank! And, of don't get me started on the leaky water inlet bib. Mine has seemed to leak since the day it went out of warranty. It's probably another easy repair for a dealer to make, but I've not yet bothered to ask-- too much fun lately w/other repairs :-). But I still love my Winnie as I'm sure you do yours! Have fun in MS.
ReplyDeleteJudy, Dave has that kind of hose leak from time to time. He puts in a new hose washer, then he wraps the male end of the hose (the part that screws in) with a white teflon tape, which can be purchased at a hardware store. The store will show you how to use the tape. It gets wrapped before you insert it into the coupling. I hope this remedy works for you!
ReplyDeleteHave you put new seals on the ends of your hose?
ReplyDeleteI would also try replacing the rubber washers if they are compressed but that teflon tape works wonders.
ReplyDeletehttp://travelinglongdogs.blogspot.com
Some days just flat out stink!
ReplyDeleteLefty loosey, righty tighty!!
ReplyDeleteSame thing happened to us in Texas. We tried to put it back and tighten the tiny hex screw inside the handle (after figuring out where the spring goes) but it would not tighten. We then saw a tiny hairline crack in the handle. Luckily we were overnight camped at Camping World, so bought a new one and the technician came out to the RV and put it on for us.
ReplyDeleteHad the same problem with our antennae handle a couple years ago and tried the plyers and vice grip solutions too. Ended up getting a new handle and all was well.....but not before we lubricated the roof assembly. It is important to keep that roof antennae gear part lubricated because it gets stiffer and stiffer over the years putting stress on the plastic handle inside. A simple spraying of WD 40 on the gear assembly made a huge difference in the ease with which our antennae goes up and down now.
ReplyDeleteHi Judy, thanks for the book recommend. I found a used copy on Anazon!
ReplyDeleteHanta Yo - I hadn't thought about that book in years. It is an excellent tale. Use Napawaste' as your role model - only apply your "good hands" to the mechanical issues. ;)!
ReplyDeleteAl is always fighting with our water hoses. He also uses teflon tape.
ReplyDeleteWe rarely use our tv antenna, but our handle has fallen off. We replaced one on the old motor home and it is a simple job...even for me. :) The new handle assembly is very expensive...I'm thinking under $10.
Isn't it nice to have a book that is an old favorite and invites us to cuddle up and read again every now and then? Have you ever read "Black Elk Speaks"? Good one . . .
ReplyDeleteBoy I've had "those" days and they often seem to occur with not so great weather. Glad you Weathered the storms. :-)
ReplyDeleteI too have the hand cracking problem and have found a great solution at the check out counter of Bed Bath & Beyond no less. It's called O'Keeffe's Working Hands and is a cream that sells for about $6. It will take care of the cracks in a day or so and if you keep using it as a hand cream they don't come back. I love it!
Judy your blog is priceless not only for the great pictures and text but for the information provided by your commenters when you have troubles.
I have a 2004 Winnebago which I do LOVE and haven't had any trouble with the antenna but then I don't watch much TV. Still I was very happy to read about lubricating the roof assembly and will do that today. My problems seem more of the jack won't go up all the way and then won't come down type unfortunately.
Sherry
www.directionofourdreams.blogspot.com
Judy: WARNING! I-10 is under construction in the Denham Springs area just east of Baton Rouge. Be prepared for some traffic, and do NOT try to get thru there during rush hour.... Just a heads-up. I live here and avoid I-10 like the plague.
ReplyDeleteRest days are good. Have a safe trip today!
ReplyDeleteSomeone else also mentioned Cornhuskers. Brought back memories....my dad swore buy that stuff...maybe because his family was from nebraska.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sherry about learning from your readers' solutions to your problems. It's nice to have such helpful friends, isn't it? The RV community seems to be full of them and we all benefit from that.
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to get your antenna down. Safe travels tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteKevin and Ruth
www.travelwithkevinandruth.com