……..ummm……how long was your lunch Al?   

a couple hours.

Yesterday I drove past Steven's creek reservoir and I remembered a time I had been there to fish with Joel after his diagnosis and wasn't kayaking much. So today I decided that I'd bring a fishing pole when running some errands and I'd drop by and cast a line for the heck of it and remember old times.

That time I was with Joel there was a floating dock to tie up too when you launched, but alas it's gone now. But I remember that when Joel and I were there he was on that dock and just casting off the end while I was tossing a lure along the shore. At one point he started yelling for me to come quick, he had a huge bass on the line! I quickly reeled up and raced over to the dock and dove to the ground and made a feeble attempt to lip that bass but just as I reached it shook free with a good splash. Joel and I laughed so hard and then he told me how he was casting just a few feet on each side of the dock hoping a monster bass was there to bite his bait, and he was right.

Today I rigged a sort of similar creature bait, waled to the edge where the dock ramp would have been and made my first cast, visualizing the it would land just to the left of the dock if it was there. To my surprise it was fish on! Albeit not a monster, not more than a pound small mouth took the bait. I didn't want to harm it and fumbled getting a picture and it flopped itself free but I got a quick Pic before it went away.

It was the only fish I landed, but it made my day to feel like I was there with Joel and to enjoy a simple pleasure on a beautiful day. I miss him often, and today even more. His favorite phrase was Live Life, which we can all use a reminder once in a while to live and enjoy this life, it is the only one we have.

No other fish but snapped a few pics of the full lake. It's closed of course to boating which is unfortunate. It used to be the spot I would test out a new yak or bring newbies to fish. Still good for a quick shore pounding though.

Thanks Kevin!  Got the stablizer stuff coming tomorrow and will run it again and drain to be sure it's good to go next outage. 

Does your generator have a petcock to shut the fuel off?

Hey now, pet what? 

I guess that means shut off valve? No, it seems to be directly connected to the tank.  I didn't see a fuel filter either, but maybe I would need to take apart the rest of the chassis.  yeah, the pics are messed up, wont display, but seem to be able to download them.  I gave up, but maybe I can get them working in a bit.

Oh another question though.  The parts store mentioned using fuel stabilizer to prevent gas from going bad.  I almost never stored fuel in it, usually filling it only enough to have it run a few hours and letting it die and adding more fuel.  So each time I used it I ran it dry, thinking that would prevent gumming up and always adding fresh fuel.  I didn't do that the last time, but it was the only time I didn't do it.  Does a stabilizer help to prevent the gumming up as well as keep the gas stable? 

It's running my refrigerator right now just fine btw.

Quote from: Plug-n-Jug on March 13, 2025, 08:46:48 AM

Al, Sounds like a plugged Main jet or Pilot jet. The jets will plug if the float bowl isn't drained and it sits without being started. Post the make and model of the generator along with pics of the old plug and carb. These carbs are pretty basic and usually come apart with just a Phillips screwdriver. I just went through my father in-laws generator and got it running after it sat for over 20 years. We'll get you through this. You can Do it!
Kevin

What he said.  Also, if you want to bring it by my place this weekend, we can get it all sorted for you.  We can pull the carb and make sure all jets are nice and clean and tune it up from there.  If it doesn't fit in your truck easily, I can swing by and throw it in my pickup.  Let me know... glad to help!

Thanks Ted! It's a small briefcase type and easy to transport.  It's a Costco special called an IPower, but with a Yamaha engine.  Will post some pics later when I pull it out to work on it.

Glad it could give some people a good laugh.  I know I wasn't laughing at the time, but I can appreciate laughter