Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Pop says he’s going to make a mechanic out of me yet… really I’m not all that interested in fiddling with engines and mechanical stuff but I’m learning because I have to.

Living in rural British Columbia, in a town of 250 people (none of whom want to work) means you have to be self-reliant if you need a job done.   So, Pop has taught me how to get my outboard motors on my boat winterized then tuned up and running in the spring.  Really, it’s not ALL that difficult, but it’s not a job I enjoy or want to do, but it’s necessary.

We went through the same learning procedure with the generator, not because I wanted to but because I MUST have internet access when the power goes out.  I’ve learned how to winterize the service building (toilets, sinks, showers, pressure tank, water heater and water system), not because I wanted to, but someone has to do it.  Same goes with the motorhome and the floats – everything has to be put to bed for the winter then opened back up in the spring – every year.

So, the latest little problem to contend with was the brake lights on Pop’s truck.  When Pop had his oil changed a few months ago Canadian Tire told me the brake lights weren’t working and that maybe we needed to replace a fuse. I checked ALL the fuses and they looked ok. Pop pondered the situation (talked non-stop about it) for a few days then suggested to me perhaps it was the switch on the brake pedal that wasn’t working. I wiggled it around while Pop sat watching on his scooter behind the truck – and the lights worked. GO ME!!! Then a week later they didn’t work. Then Mike & Tracy came to visit when I wasn’t here – Pop got Mike to take a look and Mike said the switch attached to the brake pedal was at fault.  Mike took it off to get the number and Pop ordered a new one.  Meanwhile Mike put the switch back on.  I picked up the new switch from Pender Harbour Diesel and Pop he said he was going to change it. Ummmmmm…. ok, that’s good… I knew how difficult it was to get your head down low enough to see the switch high up on the brake pedal.  Off I went to the post office, store and thrift store and was gone for at least an hour.  When I got home there was Pop still on his knees, in exactly the same position as he’d been when I left and he was struggling and swearing at the switch.  I knew I had to help him since he had been working at it all that time so I laid down on the seat and floor of the truck to see what he’d done.

The old switch was off and he had the new one nearly on but it was crooked and he was frustrated because he wasn’t strong enough to get it clicked into place.  He had his headlamp on and a large mirror on the floor so he could see what he was doing in the reflection.  How smart was that?

It’s not easy to take over a job when you weren’t the one to take apart all the pieces.  When I reached up to try to get the switch into place 2 more pieces fell off.  Pop tried to tell me how to put the switch on the little shaft thing but it didn’t make sense – finally I held it up to show him and he told me which way was up.  I know it should have been obvious but it was complicated (to me).  I managed to get it on then Pop asked if I’d put the spacer on.  What spacer?  Oh, this little white thing lying on the floor under my head… aha there were two of them and a black thingy too so I put them all on in the order I guessed they must go from what Pop was describing he took off. 

I was totally stumped when it came time to put the orange cotter pin in as I’d never seen one so fancy and it didn’t seem to have any give.  I tried and tried but it was tougher than me.  Pop told me how to hold it with the needle nose pliers so it would open easily but it totally stumped me so Pop suggested the hammer and he went to get it out of his scooter.  If all else fails use a hammer.

I relaxed for a minute and looked in the mirror that was lying on the floor – all of a sudden I could see exactly how the cotter pin had to go to be twisted into place and I had it done when Pop got back.  I think he was really proud of me that I’d figured it out so I had to tell him it was because of his mirror that I was able to do it.  So, at that point we needed to check to see if the lights worked.  I realized Pop was all in and I was stuck on the floor of the truck, wedged between the seat and the dash with my feet hanging out the door and I couldn’t move.  Pop pushed my head to help me slide up and out.   He’s a smart cookie!  He started the truck, stepped on the brake and the lights worked – woohoo – and when he put it in reverse the backup lights worked too.  We were both tired but very pleased with ourselves when we went inside.  We’d been sitting for about an hour when he told me he’d make a mechanic out of me yet…

Really, I just want to blog.