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I call this one from the bleachers since I wasn't there -- but this needs to be answered, Pete is El Greco, an excellent mechanic in Smithtown, NY, with the Greek accent. Even if he isn't the diagnostician on this one, he is still an excellent mechanic. -000
Pete pinpointed the area of the problem.
Several attempts were made to remove plastic bits from inside the distributor.
One involved removal of the distributor and remounting.
We got fire on the first key turn, then nothing.
Pete reiterated that the distributor was part of the problem
Stan took the initiative to start drilling deeply into the distributor.
He found that the reluctor was not fixed in place as expected.
Then disassembled it. Found that the reluctor was unpinned, and that the pin had miraculously dropped out and affixed on the magnet. Wow.
He set it on the top of a trash can in the light at the lobby, where he beat the pin back into the hole with improvised tools. Sean and I watched this in somewhat disbelief. Stan and Sean remounted the distributor and Baaaaawhaaaaa...
I got schooled in the process. Suspenseful, drama-packed tech session. Very cool.
^^^This is exactly how it happened. Right after the engine fired up and many folks were congratulating Stan (Mr. Merlin) I heard him say something like "Hey..Pete figured it out". The team attitude and giving credit where it's due always stands out during these annual Frenzy Apollo 13-like repair sessions...at midnight..in a parking lot. One of the most dramatic moments was when Stan pulled the distributor out in the dark. Stan responds to those in disbelief "I can put it back". After cleaning plastic bits out of the inside of the distributor Stan had the owner put the car in gear and folks slowly rolled the car forward, others with flashlights in hand, while Roger observed for TDC on the right cam gear and Stan on the crank. Then took the car out of gear and pushed the car back into its parking space. It's an amazing process to watch. The rate at which hypotheses are generated and tested is impressive and entertaining to observe. Working with whatever tools are available and other improvisations always reminds me of how the engineers solved the problems for getting the Apollo 13 crew home. It's not an exaggeration (excluding lives aren't at risk!) - it's the same kind of working with what you've got, in a limited amount of time, under far less than perfect conditions.
Originally Posted by Landseer
Pete pinpointed the area of the problem.
Several attempts were made to remove plastic bits from inside the distributor.
One involved removal of the distributor and remounting.
We got fire on the first key turn, then nothing.
Pete reiterated that the distributor was part of the problem
Stan took the initiative to start drilling deeply into the distributor.
He found that the reluctor was not fixed in place as expected.
Then disassembled it. Found that the reluctor was unpinned, and that the pin had miraculously dropped out and affixed on the magnet. Wow.
He set it on the top of a trash can in the light at the lobby, where he beat the pin back into the hole with improvised tools. Sean and I watched this in somewhat disbelief. Stan and Sean remounted the distributor and Baaaaawhaaaaa...
I got schooled in the process. Suspenseful, drama-packed tech session. Very cool.
Last edited by Captain_Slow; 09-29-2016 at 07:43 PM.
Well I think I'm the last one to officially get home, just rolled into the driveway! Had a great weekend meeting everyone and look forward to next year. Son's graduation at USMC Quantico went great. Pretty impressive to see 280 Marine Officers in dress blues singing the Marine Corps Hymn!
Congrats to you and your son Kev Beats the heck out of the thugs I was hangin with at Octoberfest on Sat T
^^^This is exactly how it happened. Right after the engine fired up and many folks were congratulating Stan (Mr. Merlin) I heard him say something like "Hey..Pete figured it out". The team attitude and giving credit where it's due always stands out during these annual Frenzy Apollo 13-like repair sessions...at midnight..in a parking lot. One of the most dramatic moments was when Stan pulled the distributor out in the dark. Stan responds to those in disbelief "I can put it back". After cleaning plastic bits out of the inside of the distributor Stan had the owner put the car in gear and folks slowly rolled the car forward, others with flashlights in hand, while Roger observed for TDC on the right cam gear and Stan on the crank. Then took the car out of gear and pushed the car back into its parking space. It's an amazing process to watch. The rate at which hypotheses are generated and tested is impressive and entertaining to observe. Working with whatever tools are available and other improvisations always reminds me of how the engineers solved the problems for getting the Apollo 13 crew home. It's not an exaggeration - it's the same kind of working with what you've got, in a limited amount of time, under far less than perfect conditions.
There were several comments made at the beginning of Frenzy along the lines of "I really need to sell this car/my cars".
But after experiencing the camaraderie of fellow owners; seeing the plethora of used and new parts and services available to us; sitting in on a tech session; witnessing the brain trusts ^^ that were generously offering their expertise/helping folks with complex issues; seeing the help that Shawn got with his alternator issue that went way beyond help on the side of the road; and joining 50 cars in an impressive rumbling procession along some of the more scenic parts of VA... those comments changed to "I think I'll keep my 928".
Current and potential 928 owners that haven't been on this forum and haven't experienced an event like this first hand, are only getting a part of what makes these cars so enjoyable to own.
I've never even driven one, much less owned one, and you guys are pretty special. Makes me want to come to the frenzy next year just to see the great cars and meet some great people!
I've never even driven one, much less owned one, and you guys are pretty special. Makes me want to come to the frenzy next year just to see the great cars and meet some great people!
Please do! Fair warning, though: You'll end up buying one.
Congrats to you and your son Kev Beats the heck out of the thugs I was hangin with at Octoberfest on Sat T
That's right ! Thugs! ALL Of THEM ! (see that guy with the double beer. He's an A-Hole....oops, not Hans)
Originally Posted by JPTL
There were several comments made at the beginning of Frenzy along the lines of "I really need to sell this car/my cars".
But after experiencing the camaraderie of fellow owners; seeing the plethora of used and new parts and services available to us; sitting in on a tech session; witnessing the brain trusts ^^ that were generously offering their expertise/helping folks with complex issues; seeing the help that Shawn got with his alternator issue that went way beyond help on the side of the road; and joining 50 cars in an impressive rumbling procession along some of the more scenic parts of VA... those comments changed to "I think I'll keep my 928".
Current and potential 928 owners that haven't been on this forum and haven't experienced an event like this first hand, are only getting a part of what makes these cars so enjoyable to own.
AMEN JP! Couldn't have said it better. I'm in awe every year when I see these guys relentlessly helping out a fellow owner until the problem is solved. This group, RL members or not, are what make owning a 928 so special.
Originally Posted by Raffey1
I've never even driven one, much less owned one, and you guys are pretty special. Makes me want to come to the frenzy next year just to see the great cars and meet some great people!
It doesn't matter if you have a 928 or not yet. You'll be welcome and have a hell of a time. Guarantee.
09-29-2016, 12:13 AM
Beats the heck out of the thugs I was hangin with at Octoberfest on Sat 
T
