IAC 2015 (Round 8)

It was weird not having Melissa or E around for Colin's appointment this year, the first time in eight years. Among other things, it meant no one besides ourselves was available to take pictures. My only shot is immediately below, the rest are Colin's.

Given that I'm living out of Ludwig during the week, my overriding concern was dependability. The acuity of this concern increased dramatically a week and-a-half before Colin arrived as Ludwig ceased starting. We installed a new starter which neither of us like but it starts for now. Why didn't we like it? Well, usually a starter needs to be connected to the Muirian hot start relay after it has a few years under its belt. This one needed help right away. The rebuilt Bosch it replaced lasted only three years. Conclusion: unless you wanna pay for a boutique unit, any starter you get is gonna suck.

We replaced Ludwig's center pin, integral to the steering. Colin said it was the worst he'd ever seen (left). He left me instructions to replace another part after which Melissa and I will have to adjust to entirely non-sloppy steering.

Getting the new center pin's bushings in was onerous. Usually new parts fit crappily loose. These fit crappily tight. Nothing fits anymore because no one cares anymore, but then why would they? Thanks hippie wannabes. We shaved some material off the new bushings with a cylinder hone. Ghosts of dead German engineers wept.

We replaced the points (pitted) and condenser (probably the cause of the pitting), and set the timing. I adjusted the valves where we discovered Ludwig has the fancy Porsche-style elephant foot adjusters. How didn't I notice this before? Because I can be pretty clueless, that's how.

Colin clearly cropped this photo to head off any accusations of fostering a gut.

Once the work was done we sat back to enjoy some very fine and very cold beer, courtesy of Belle Plaine. (Thanks again BP.) Colin drove off to Missoula and I hit the sack in Ludwig behind the library.

And then the next day, Ludwig wouldn't start*.


*This is by no means a criticism of Colin's help (you'll see).