Every fourth Thursday, my phone reminds me that it’s time to start and run our generators and two-stroke power tools. I set up the tickler in my calendar because it’s wise to exercise small engines every 30 days or so. That’s the best way to prevent sudden disappointment (to put it gently) and problems in general.
Confession: I blew off last month’s reminder. I don’t remember now what was more important then — my to-do list is endless — but for whatever reason, I skipped it.
So when I finished burning trash this morning and began addressing our quartet of generators, it had been roughly 60 days since they’d seen action. I’ve become accustomed to this ritual being relatively easy and uncomplicated, but it wasn’t long before I realized that wouldn’t be the case today.
Neither the Predator 2000 nor the Generac 3000 wanted to start. Sitting still for two months, exacerbated by it being a cold morning (last night’s low was 33°F), made them unwilling to fire without a fight.
The Predator 5000’s battery was dead, so I had to pull-start it, too. And the Firman 3300 refused to cooperate at all. I ran the battery down trying to wake it up, charged it, tried again, gave pull-starting a shot — nothin’.
I admitted defeat (temporarily) on the Firman and devoted my attention to the other three, plugging in a space heater to run each under load. Then I moved on to the two-strokes.
They were somewhat less troublesome. Only my Stihl saw resisted — the starter rope was hard as hell to pull. I got it going, though, and ultimately it ran just fine.
Once I had the power tools put away, I went back to the Firman. I fiddled. I cussed. I added fresh gas. Eventually, it started.
I plugged in the space heater. The previously reluctant generator handled a 1500W load for 15 minutes without further complaint.
Putting off this exercise may have bought me time a month ago, but it cost me time today. It took more than twice as long. And with winter coming, we can’t risk having tools and equipment that aren’t ready when we need ’em. In short, I know better.
Lesson (re)learned.
I ‘ve managed to amass quite the collection of tools and supplies that go with me everywhere in the Ranger. Most of it has been riding in the bed the last three years, a molded-plastic tray keeping stuff from rattling around too much.
It’s been rained on, snowed on and covered in mud, and honestly, I’d grown tired of the dust’n’rust. So today, I gave myself an upgrade.
It’s a hell-for-stout Husky toolbox, big enough to hold my regular kit with a little room left over. My gear will stay dry, clean and together.
A handful of large items will remain “loose” in the bed — a folding stool, a tarp, a wheel chock, 100 feet of 3/8-inch braided rope, a machete, a bow saw, loppers and a small shovel. That’s worked out fine.
This’ll function as the equivalent of the bed-mounted toolbox (also a Husky) in the Silverado, something I never thought I’d use and now couldn’t live without. As goes the truck, so goes the Ranger — practicality wins again.
(Maybe you thought I’d be saying more about the incoming Trump administration, the kerfuffle over nominees and such. Nope — I’m keeping mostly to myself on that, fervently hoping that America can survive 76 lame-duck days under a reckless, vindictive and dangerous regime.)
The western sky this evening, just as Deb arrived back on The Mountain.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB
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