I was really working to get "Rhonda" ready for her maiden voyage on this cruise. I guess it didn't happen. Neither did "Rhonda" ! I spun a rear main bearing due to one small ball bearing I found in the oil feed hole to this bearing. So, i had to remove the engine and disassemble it down to scratch again. Run time was about 1 minute until it locked up at an idle!
The crank was fine after a little emery cloth application with the crank chucked up in the lathe...good as new ! Another set of main bearings, and gasket set and back together again. I have no idea how the ball bearing got in there or even if it was something that came with the new crankcase. I haven't been playing with ball bearings lately so who knows. I'm really careful about making sure I don't lose any nuts etc when I am assembling and engine. I even cover it when I'm done working on it for the day. In over 40 years, this is my first time to have this kind of crap happen to me. I've read about it many times but this is my first time.
Anyway. I guess I'm happy if the Paramount Ranch Cruise didn't happen. Maybe there's a chance that it will in the near future. The Weather here in LA area is starting to cool down a little now and maybe it would be a better time to try to get this cruise going. It sounded interesting and fun............Aircooled
