TheExitWound

944: Rear Defroster Melting - Fixed

March 11, 2012

I turned the rear defrosters on about a month ago and noticed the faint smell of plastic burning. I turned them off quickly, thinking that it was the window tint aflame in my trunk. I tried the next morning only to smell the same thing. A third day and then the smell stopped...and so did functioning defrosters. This is what I found.

http://www.theexitwound.com/944/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1331492657&archive=&start_from-&ucat=2

944: Perhaps a Big Belt Problem

January 02, 2012

I was investigating some oil leaking from higher up on the engine when I took off the timing cover. To my shock, I noticed that the timing belt seems to be shedding a little bit. Whether this is normal in any regards, I have no idea. I've gone to the forums asking questions and seeing what I can do to alleviate the problem. As you know, a timing belt failure on a 944 is usually catastrophic in nature, totally the engine (or at least its head).

http://www.theexitwound.com/944/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1325559637&archive=&start_from-&ucat=2

journal: Insane Murder of Crows above Penn State

December 01, 2011

Autumn in State College is always interesting. This time, the crows came to poop all over the cars, make a whole lot of noise, and cause people to pull out their cameras.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1322789562&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

journal: The Drums Start to Age

October 20, 2011

It's been about seven years since I bought the drums. Drum heads have been changed. Sticks broken. I've had an original set of Zildjians since I learned to play back in 1996 that are still in one piece, still going strong. The set that came with the set seven years ago has started to crack. Not only that, my double bass pedal had its first major failure with a seized universal joint.

More pictures inside...

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1319157553&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

944: Road Rash

October 02, 2011

I got a parking pass for my new job. I thought it'd be a good thing to drive to work in the rain and wind rather than bike, especially if I'm dragging a laptop around with me. But the very first day I drove, I misjudged the distance between my car and the curb. The end result is not pretty.

More pictures of the damage inside...

http://www.theexitwound.com/944/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1317589750&archive=&start_from-&ucat=2

journal: YAKS: Yet Another Kidney Stone

September 11, 2011

I knew it had to have been a stone falling. The sensation is unlike anything else. It wasn't really pain this time as much as just an internal ache that would occasionally cause me to twitch or spasm as it spiked in being uncomfortable for a split-second. It's a small one and passed without much problem. I was able to work all day through it without noticing it much so that's good.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1315774051&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

944: Odometer Fixed Again

August 05, 2011

I decided to reset the odometer on my car every inspection to see how many miles I put on the car (at a glance rather than doing simple subtraction). Turns out that by doing so, you take the risk of jamming the gears in the odometer. Nothing was broken. No infamous deteriorating plastic gears. Just good old misalignment.

Videos and pictures through the link...

http://www.theexitwound.com/944/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1312587636&archive=&start_from-&ucat=2

journal: New Additions to the Cannondale

July 24, 2011

Slowly, the Cannondale has been getting updated parts. I snagged a used bike seat for $5 and a kickstand for nothing. The original kickstand had to come off to fit the new rear fender. But due to age and road salt, its mounting bolts snapped in half and well, that was that. The new kickstand fits well...although the damage to the paint from the road salt and rust is obvious.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1311553588&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

journal: It's a Wee Bit Toasty Out There

July 22, 2011

Just a little hot.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1311362574&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

944: 944 Passes Inspection with Minimal Fixes Needed

July 15, 2011

The higher the gas prices, the less I drive the 944. At ~$4.00/gallon here in PA most of the year, I just can't afford to drive it. This year, 422 miles were put on the car, down from the 600 I put on last year. The good side to that is that wear items don't get worn. What's quirky is that the one item I've almost never used is the one that failed. The horn stopped working. A quick walk up the street to NAPA, $15 later, a new high-tone installed. It's a meep-meeper, but again, I hope to never use it.

http://www.theexitwound.com/944/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1310761884&archive=&start_from-&ucat=2

journal: Summer Grades are In!

July 08, 2011

There was a lot of chance for extra credit in the class. The teacher was really good, always eager to help and actually felt like he was there to teach us, rather than just earn a paycheck. Java was fun, although difficult to really go deep into it in a six week class.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1310160661&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

journal: I Just Realized Something...

May 25, 2011

I just realized that my chair shipped with non-matching arms. The left arm is from a different model. There's no white stitching and it's of a different leather.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1306374082&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

journal: New Computer Chair

May 10, 2011

I found myself spending a lot of time sitting in front of the computer now that I'm taking classes again. There's a lot of programming to be done in a Computer Science major. The previous chair was older than I am, I'm sure, and far more uncomfortable than any chair should ever be. Behold, my new chair.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1305076588&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

journal: Comments Changed to Disqus Platform

May 06, 2011

Due to having to continually fight spam about Viagra, shoe sales, and penis enlargement in the comments on this site, I've had to change the format from the built-in commenting system to one hosted off-site. Disqus comments allow you to log in using your Twitter, Facebook, and countless other accounts. I've left commenting open to the public though as well with no login required. We'll see how long that lasts. If spam continues, I'll lock down the comments to moderated, account-only posting.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1304719481&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

journal: The Tire that Wouldn't Hold Air

April 05, 2011

I've been having to pump up the rear tire on the Cannondale each morning. It would decrease from 40psi to ~7psi in just a few hours. I bought a replacement tube because I couldn't be doing that every day. Even the bike shop couldn't find the leak. After 20 minutes in the tub, I found my leak.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1302056402&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

journal: Dead Dinosaurs Clean Cannondales

March 17, 2011

The weather broke 60� today for the second time this year. I wanted to spend at least some of it outdoors since my office has no windows at work. I took the Cannondale out for some cleaning in preparation for its overhaul. Road grime and grease doesn't clean well with water alone. Since I was all out of Paint Thinner, I went for the next best thing: motor oil. I have to admit, the results weren't bad!

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1300399822&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

journal: Front Bike Fender Installed

March 13, 2011

The bike fenders I ordered from Planet Bike required a little bit of modification to fit properly on the Cannondale due to its age. After a little help from my buddy George, we managed to mount the front fender adequately.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1300066178&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

journal: The Bike Gets New Shoes

March 03, 2011

The Cannondale has seen its days. It's done summer biking, winter biking, rainy biking, snowy biking, even sleety biking. Since I got it in 1996, it's not needed too much of an overhaul. I believe back around 2000 it got new brakes and wheels. Other than that, it's been really reliable as a transportation vehicle for me. It's time, though, to give it what it deserves.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1299194198&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

journal: Thinksound TS01 Earphone Review

October 31, 2010

I bought some replacement headphones last week when my Zune headphones suffered a broken wire. I attempted to fix my Koss Mac-5's as a stopgap solution. I bought some Thinksound TS01's, bio-friendly headphones. Indeed.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1288575090&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1

journal: Koss Mac-5 Heaphone Repair

October 28, 2010

My Zune headphones finally took a crap after three years. While the headphones themselves still work, the wire at the adapter started to fray. Since it's nearly impossible to fix those insulated wires, I dug out my old Koss Mac-5 headphones, the BEST headphones I've ever owned by far. Despite a broken head strap, they worked perfectly although with a rattle. I took them into the upgrade shop to see what I could do to fix them.

http://www.theexitwound.com/journal/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1288313862&archive=&start_from-&ucat=1