Replacing the Van’s Alternator and Working On Some Other Stuff Too

Monday August 22, 2022 Guerneville CA.

Van work

Today was the day to get the new alternator on the van. I had it all prepped and ready to work on so I just needed to do the work with the tools, but I wasn’t into it.

Chair hopping instead

Instead I did some chair hopping around the yard until a bit later in the day when I finally grabbed the wrenches and started to do the work.

Finally got started on the job

I had to remove this old alternator to start out with so I got under the van and started wrenching things, removing the belts and the wires.. Things were a little tight to work in the space.project1

 

It took a bit of persistence but I got all the stuff off it and was able to remove the old one.out4

 

And getting the wires back on starting the nuts was a bit difficult but more persistence got that done. All adjusted and tightened up.new5

 

Fluid leak

While I was under there I noted the small fluid leak at the radiator hose.hose2

 

Not a big leak but it needed the clamp tightened up which I will do.leak3

 

I tightened the clamp up and that should stop that leak, I hope.clamp9

 

Gas cap

And I needed a new gas cap. I made a  hole for the chain so I don’t leave it someplace like I usually do.cap6

 

Checked the oil

I checked the engine oil and it needed a half quart so I added the oil.oil10

 

Ready to test out the new alternator

To do that I needed to hook up the battery so I did.batteries

 

Battery clamps

I like these quick clamp battery terminals as it’s much easier to deal with hooking things up or changing the batteries. They seem to be holding up well.

This is the extra battery for living in the van which also has solar panels hooked to it.clamps8

 

The test

I started the van and checked the voltage gauge to see if the new alternator was working and it wasn’t.,,,,,,,,,,, but.

I had read the directions before I started and it said if there’s no output from the alternator to hold the plus wire on this one screw for a moment and it should start to charge, but it was getting late so I didn’t get to that part yet.

Instead I went in the house for the day and called it a day.

Nice day.

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Trying To Catch the Neighbors At Home High In the Hills

Sunday August 21, 2022 Guerneville CA.

Ride up into the hills

I was going to take the dirt bike for a ride up to try and catch a neighbor that lives up on the hill tops for a visit.

Here’s a couple of drone shots to show where I rode the dirt bike and where the neighbor’s place is.

Drone shots

I rode on up this valley in the forest and then off to the right through those hills.hills2

 

And over to  the first grassy  hill top on the left. They live just over the other side of that hilltop.hilltops6

 

Their house is just up this road a bit.roadup

 

Almost there

I stopped and looked over the side of the road. Their  house is just up ahead in the trees there.ranch

 

And the view from there. I could see some fog trying to sneak in, up the river. Fog, off the ocean is our air conditioner, which keeps our temps fairly moderate. Unlike humidity, fog is cooling and not hot and sticky. It mostly comes in at night.fog

 

Neighbors

The guy I wanted to talk with was out on a bike ride and not around but his wife was and their grand daughter so we sat around and shot the bull for some time.

To the pond for a swim

Eventually Grandma took her granddaughter over to the pond for a swim so I headed on back to our place and rode the dirt bike around for some exercise.

Checked on the yellow jackets

Of course, I stopped to check on the yellow jacket situation and there was not one around. I walked the trail to the end and back just because it’s a nice trail and it’d give my older legs a good workout.

That all used up most of the day. I rode on home for a nap and that was it for me.

Nice day.

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