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David Denny Around and About August 2006

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Around and About, May Onward
David Denny

Above picture by Greg Hayden, all pictures below by David Denny.

Eradication – Retribution – Reward -- Paul Smith has taken on the serious job of keeping the bee population regulated and controlled. The pesky little varmints like to make their happy homes in a secluded, secure place. This includes metal containers, such as flywheel enclosures of tractors, and other places, similarly hidden. I.H. crawler tractors have large spaces where the steering clutches reside. Other tractors have openings into final drives (rear ends), engine oil pans, all have been bee hives, here. So have large trailer vans, truck seats, with a slit in the upholstery, also wooden cable reels with a hole in the end. Farming equipment, such as combines and threshers make excellent bee homes!

We would not mind so much if the little rascals were not so protective of “their” space. Enter: Paul Smith! Paul has undertaken the project of Eradication of these nasty little insects. He has been sealing entrances and exits with plastic covers, and silicone caulking, then anesthetizing them with ether, (engine starting fluid ). This is done at night, when the flying “gun ships” are in port. One day Paul decided to check on the starting crank of an elderly vintage International 10-20 tractor, knowing full well he was going to irritate the residents under the hood. After trying to crank the stuck engine several times, he continued to irritate the pests to no end by just being in the vicinity!

Retribution: drawing its sword on the fly, a defensive guard stabbed Paul on the hand, the hand he had been cranking with. This action produced a serious reaction causing extreme swelling and the expected pain! The Result: go back to nocturnal operations, and continue ridding us of those pesky bugs!

Reward: occasionally a fresh bit of comb honey, not purchased at the market. Not much reward for putting in money, time and placing himself in personal danger, for being allergic to bee stings, one time may bring on more serious results the next. A thank you when you meet will partially help.

Sunday, Mother’s Day, two groups in. Also not many workers in. Frank and Andy McCune working on? What else, but a John Deere tractor. Mike Churchill was in bringing sorted fasteners, nuts and bolts. As the week progresses, they are getting closer to the end of the flower field season. It has been very small ridership and the flowers are diminishing in quality. About quitting time! Bud and Barb Watson are in to do the last few days, and Sunday will be all. Thursday, Bob Morley returns the first tractor to the Museum, as it needs minor repairs. Bud painted a word picture of Paul Smith hanging on to the side of the thing, working the broken throttle piece by hand, while Bob turned it around and headed it to the trailer! Pfoey! No camera there!

Bruce Yoho and Cecil Morton have been overhauling one of the about 7 or 8 TD-6 IHC crawler tractors we received last year from a benefactor in Grant’s Pass Oregon. The engine is good, but the clutch is rusted tight. They will keep working on this when they have a little spare time. The weather guesser from channel 7-LA says maybe rain this coming Sunday afternoon. Saturday, being May Parts Exchange day, looks like we may have a dry one, with rain possible the day after. I don’t know how we will be able to stand a dry one!

Two members were in earlier this week, with weed whackers, working around the grist mill and along the fence. I did not get their names, but all such help is appreciated. The weathered man hit it just right, we had a dry parts x-change. Small, but active. Lots of things changed hands.

Among the things to do Saturday was the moving of the McCormack Deering 10-20 (or the bones thereof) that has recently been residing at the gate area, in the fork in the road. Bob Morley resurrected the old Hyster fork lift, it is a heavy lifter, and hauled the 10-20 back to it’s former home. That is out at Santa Fe Ave, “pulling” the wagon with our sign on it. -- Pictured above left -- note Virgil White driving his Go-Gittem International roll back in the left turn lane out on North Santa Fe -- with Paul Smith in the white Dodge pickup behind him.

It arrived out there in time to greet our latest good acquisition an apparently good Caterpillar D-6 with a ‘dozer blade. It was operational due to the services of Caterpillar guru Paul Smith. Paul went over to the ranch where it resided, and brought it back to life, after it had been sitting for a very long time (10-12 years) in one spot (Virgil White was down, and hauled it on his International “go gittem” truck. -- Pictured above right.

The following Sunday the next trip was in order. A delegation of retrievers went over to the Escondido area and returned with an Oliver OC-3 crawler, in pieces AND the remains of the most abused Cat 30 with McCaffrey ‘dozer blade in existence! -- Pictured above -- It had reposed in a creek for many years, was full of sand and mud. Rusted beyond belief, it is recognizable as a Caterpillar, barely! The crowning glory of this “thing” was the engine. It is early Caterpillar, with individual cast cylinders. These were broken off at the crankcase, showing evidence of severe trauma! Someone more technical than I can give the general consensus of the cause. Everyone seeing it for the first time just has to return for a second look, in order to prove the statement “seeing is believing!” The worth of this monstrosity ‘show and tell’ and the many usable parts, carburetor, radiator, fan, water pump, maybe cylinder head, and so on. They will take a major rebuilding, but there are not many of them out there to rebuild. Its purpose now is “show and tell”.

Our Cat crew has been working on the RD-7 Cat (the one some Varmint stole the lights from). Paul Smith, Keith Richards and Mac McKenzie and they turned to, and deciphered the mysteries of the non - operation, got it unstuck and tried starting it. It did, and had indigestion, and vomited a large gob of the fuel oil Paul had placed in the exhaust stack to help un-stick the engine. It unstuck all right. The engine returned most of the oil squarely on Paul’s anatomy, clothing and all! It saved just enough to deposit a batch on yours truly’s cart and myself when I passed it, making me and the cart painted like Dalmatian spotted dogs or Appaloosa horses. Many other things had to be fixed before it got a field trial. But it runs, and sounds pretty good. There is still a difficulty with disappearing oil pressure tho.

The flower fields are all over for this year. Bob Morley and Dar Jewell got the last tractors and wagons back here Thursday, May 25, and we survived for this year. The next event is the June Show. Displays and tractors are being spruced up and soon now it will be time to go! And we still have tons of grass and weeds to cut. Chuck Alee is detailing the old, wheeled aircraft tug for a bright yellow paint job. It will be used for moving “dead” tractors and trucks around. A pipe tow bar and chains will do the job. The Memorial Day holiday is over, had a few visitors in, no huge crowds, but so very interested in all that is going on. I was told over and over again, how they had lived in the San Diego area for X number of years, and did not know we were here! A secret for 30 years? WOW!

Paul Smith and Keith Richards have been working on the RD-7 Cat and with Cecil Morton they found something in the relief valve in the oil filter system, or something. Anyhow it is now operational. Bob Morley was in Tuesday for a meeting with Rod Groenewold and Flower Field officials for a final wrap-up of the year’s operation. We’ll hear the outcome, later!

The next project is the pump on the well Ernie Walker used to use to get water for the roads. Lately he has been getting it out of the creek, but that may dry up, or somebody may get all bent out of shape about using that water. Anyway we need an alternative source. Thursday May 31st Paul walked the Bucyrus Erie crane out there. -- Pictured above left. A regular eucalyptus forest was growing in the way now. A half day of Ernie Walker and chain saw, Keith rigging cables and Paul moving limbs and stumps with the crane. -- Pictured above right

Then try starting the old generator engine to check out the pump. #1, all the gauges on the engine were smashed in??? Now who would do a thing like that? You don’t suppose a kid or two would do malicious mischief, do you? Next Ernie put gas in the starting engine tried the starter. The battery was still hot. It cranked. Paul worked with it no start. Good spark, Paul got close to see how good, when the spark reached out and grabbed him. They had to pull a cylinder head off, and believed a valve spring was broken. Back to the drawing board. Start over! Take a temporary break from that.

Enter the weekend. This is Bob Morley’s work weekend. Friday there was a surprising turnout, for nobody was called. That was good news. Just remember the first weekend in August there will be another work weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.) If nobody calls just come on out, there will be something to do. Of course that applies to every weekend, work weekend or not. I guess I write this because I get lonesome for new faces here.

My Doctor would be happy to hear I went to make another pot of coffee to sustain me, and I only have about enough for 2 cups. Small cups at that! I am not a very good patient in that respect. Evenings without a cuppa Java do not appeal to me! Editor, Greg Hayden, is in working on the Cushman Cart he purchased from Paul Freiling. This well known cart has not been running for two or three years and will be an excellent reporters wagon for the area.

The grassy area is looking better, they mowed it, removed the short posts, fixed some sprinklers, and sprinkled it, and it may be looking OK for the show. Not perfect, but OK. It was slated to be tilled, new sprinklers installed, and grass planted. As may be noted, that did not happen. But, as the old song said “it’s what you do with what you got, that pays off in the end”. Julius Schnell used the Ford Backhoe, and dug a trench for a retaining wall to be built around the west end of the Weavers Building. Also he started a trench under the East end to get the water line hooked to this building. This will be continued at a later date, sometime after the Show.

Chuck and Marion Goebel were in, Chuck getting their “new” cart back from the service shop, where it was having some rough terrain springs installed. It did not like bumps before. Chuck also did some preliminary getting ready for show, emptying out tanks, checking out expensive fuel on hand, and generally readying all for the big event. The Rancho Guajome Adobe area has been having some problems with lawn mowers and tractors so they have enlisted the help of “our gang” a tractor fixer, and Keith Richards and Mac McKenzie and flail mowers and “bush hogs” to make the place presentable for wagon ride tours during our upcoming show. Our large expanse of grass has been mowed, what we need here is weed cutting around sheds, equipment, trucks, out back tractors, old stuff, and hard to get to spots such as in deep ditches, and in rocky gullies. Fire prevention area cleaning is important, along with improving the looks. We must keep fires where they belong, under the coffee pot.

Neil Crampton was in doing some cleaning on his Farmall Super C tractor, getting it ready for show and the paint gun, soon (he hopes). He did not think he was interested in undertaking the job of restoring the new Cat 30 (the one earlier described)! The days pass, getting closer to June Show. So much to do, and so few members out cleaning the grounds, making our place presentable. Will we get it done? Time will tell. Ernie Walker has been doing roads, watering them hauling fill for the ruts, and grading level. Problem: some thieves stole the big gasoline powered pump, used to fill the water tank. We had to rent one for show water pumping. This thieving is getting serious! Show is now lots of tractors, all over the place. We are emphasizing safety, trying to satisfy the insurance company, and still keep our members and visitors happy and pacified. We must not have an accident, or no more shows, PERIOD!

The Fields family and friends who always before have brought in several loads of old engines, cars, trucks, and misc. things were satisfied with a couple of loads from home, and using engines and equipment from here. This is good, for equipment from here needs to be operated to prove we do have things that do run, not just “look nice”! Someday let’s have a display day with nothing but Museum equipment running, not ‘outside’ exhibits. It would be lots of work, but a real show off for our Museum.

The first weekend is history we had a good show, from our personal standpoint, but a fair turnout of crowd. Not bad, not good. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, but we could have used more ‘goodtimers’. The campground had a lot of vacancy, but ‘happy campers’ seemed to be the ones there. Gas Engine Row did their ‘thing’. The Threshers made grain out of hay, the Steam Engine Row boiled water, made steam, ran engines, blew whistles, and has a new knife sharpener in the southeast chair. Welcome ‘Captain’ Ron Mealy to the group. (Knives & Knots) I can not report on the farmhouse as I did not get in there, this weekend, but I shall try to check it out next weekend. Same for the bakeshop area. My Doctor says “lay off the cake, pie, and ice cream no sugar allowed”. Next week will be a different thing, tho!

In between weekends, seems to be fix up, clean up, and ready all for the final push for the summer show. I used to hate the thought of being done for the summer, but we have so many summer events scheduled now, it’s just go from one to the other. When is vacation time, anyhow? We have had a lower than normal turnout attendance this year-why? Some of it has to be fuel costs. $3-$3.50 per hurts everyone, especially large motorhome drivers. But other reasons??? If you have any ideas, let’s hear them.

Cecil, and Connie Morton left for Nebraska with Rod Groenewold’s daughter Shay. They will return soon. It’s all over for June. Sat was pretty good, attendance wise, Sunday not so good. It is hot here, as all over So Cal. I never saw a place empty out as fast as it did Sunday after the parade! Everyone seemed to take off ASAP we just looked around and the crowd was gone. Monday there are just the regulars here it seems, with a few exceptions; Pat Mackin, and Rich Eckert are still here, working on things, fixing and foolin’ around. Chuck Goebel is gathering Culligan tanks to be returned, maybe next time we’ll have our own hooked up. George Bohn is readying things to go home and others picking up and putting things away, until October. The Caseys are still here, Dave picking up sound equipment, making ready for the trip back to Del Rio, Texas. (How in the world did San Diegans turn into Texans?)

Above left: Pat Mackin steam cleans our Cat generator while Bob Swaim looks on. Above right: (left to right) Mac McKenzie looks on while Rich Eckert reassembles the Cat generator pony engine, Pat Mackin on the right.

The whole crew jumped in, and they did a very good job on the generator engine, serviced it, replaced gaskets, filters, lubed it where needed and got it running about 7 PM Thursday evening. An outsider would have thought they had left the doors to the funny farm open, and let the inmates out to do the job, but for all their hi-jinks they did a very professional job of repair. It’s ready to go. The generator was returned to the campgrounds, wired to the pump, nothing happened. The engine started, ran perfect, but did not make electricity. Pat took his test meter checked things, decided the problem was setting too long without protection, and needed a good cleaning and adjusting. He and Rich did “field service” on the generator, turned on the switch and the pump ran. It did not pump water, however.

Answer: Ernie Walker knew how the thing worked, and gave help and directions on how to remove the pump, Paul lifting the motor off with the Bucyrus Erie crane. Then using the crane, pull the pipe and power shaft out from the well, 10 foot sections at a time, using very large wrenches and ‘comealongs’ to disassemble the joints.

Above left: Disassembling our well pump. That is Pat Mackin on the left, but I do not know who that is in blue, back to camera. Above right: (left to right) Rich Eckert, Keith Richards, Pat Mackin and Ernie Walker view our well.

As the bottom end arrived, I entrusted my camera to Mac McKenzie to take a few shots. He even took one down into the 74 foot hole, and did not drop it! The bottom end and pump were taken to the Ashbeck building for disassembly in shade and comfort. The whole lower end was packed with small rocks that had been sucked up through the bottom grill. There were rocks all the way to the top of the pump. The pump was disassembled cleaned out, and reassembled. A new suction screening pipe was manufactured and placed on the bottom replacing what was there before. Wednesday morning the whole thing was lowered into the well, section at a time, Paul on the crane lowering cautiously till it was all in, the motor reinstalled, and it worked!

Above left: Ernie Walker on the left and Paul Smith test our rehabilitated well pump. Above right: Well repair crew (left to right) Paul Smith, Keith Richards, Rich Eckert, Pat Mackin and Ernie Walker. That is Pat Mackins 'tool truck'.

Not a bad job for a bunch who claimed to know nothing about well pumps. I asked Rich what was next on the to do list, received a dirty look, and was answered “Go Home”! actually they did not leave until Friday Morning. They shall be missed. The Civil War re-enactors started arriving Friday afternoon The Cavalry and Artillery, Infantry sojers, Generals and Presidents, all in blue or gray. Stars and Stripes, or Stars and Bars and the Band, and drum and bugle all with canvas tents, also the accompanying suttlers, and sellers. All things of civil war era were for sale. (Some actually made here, most from China)!

They had a couple of battles Saturday, and in the late afternoon a Spaghetti dinner was available. In the evening the band set up and played for a short cotillion (dance) on the concrete pad in the green area. Sunday services were held, then two more “fights” and the war was over! I wonder who won? By Monday morn the encampments were empty, and just a mountain of trash to be picked up. Most of the trash was in cans, which is more than can be said for many groups we have had in here.

Quiet here again. Mechanic Bruce Yoho is working on the big Clark forklift, and mechanic Paul Smith on a 2 ton Hyster forklift. Both will add to our stable of working tools. They will both be in good shape when the mechanics get done with them. We have mentioned putting the “Old Gray” B&B lift in semi retirement when they finish! Things are coming in for Auction now, not much so far. It has been HOT here, just lie in the shade with an iced cold drink weather. Maybe that has something to do with arrivals being slow.

Thursday July 13, 2006 hotter than yesterday, cooler than tomorrow, for we are in a heat wave. Bob Morley was in this morning, hauling Pat Myers’ old pickup in to go in the auction. Bob hauls two loads in from Tom Gordon’s place, to be sorted, save -- or sell at auction. Some will wait until tomorrow before he gets at it. Another busy day. Monday July 17th it has slowed down again, most weekenders have gone home. Not that there were that many to begin. This heat has slowed many down.

Friday afternoon Bob Morley went to the El Camino rental yard and picked up a loaned stump grinder of a larger size than we rented before and the stumps on the west side of the grassy area are history. The grinder took the roots down and a D-8 dozer did the rest. On the south side some were removed however the big ones on the south east corner are still pending. An axe separated stumps from roots and the rest is still pending.

Bob Morley would like members to consider patronizing El Camino for all their rental needs. Bill Miholich of El Camino’s Carlsbad yard, 5701 El Camino Real – near Palomar Airport – has been VERY good to our Museum. Cecil Morton has returned from his Nebraska trip. He is to go to the hospital soon to have those bum knees repaired. Good luck. Rod Groenewold is heading to Chicago for son Sam’s graduation from training at Great Lakes Naval training center. Next more schooling and then? Rod will return here before Auction on the thirtieth of July. As we come to the end of this period of around and about the museum grounds, stop and think of the changes in the grounds, and the people manning our museum. What started out as a playground for a few antique engine collectors has grown up. I hope we as members have grown also. Till next time, David.