The knock in the engine
Would not go away,
So my wife Margaret, and I Decided
to stay.
Until we could figure out –
What, where and why,
For we were afraid,
Our propulsion would die.
Learning more than I thought,
I ever would need,
Digging into that diesel,
Was a challenge, indeed.
Checking injectors, valves,
Wrist pins and pressures,
We found a bad piston,
Needing serious measures.
Deciding to re-build,
The Lehman that day,
Resulted in changing,
Our plans just to stay.
The season was getting
Too late to depart,
Even if the re-build,
Went fast from the start.
Preparing to winch up
The engine was slow,
Supporting the deck
With beams from below.
Detaching transmission,
Throttle, shifter and mounts,
We lifted the beast,
As if only an ounce.
I built a steep ramp
With screws and some wood,
Up to the port gunwale,
As strong as I could.
The port door was narrow,
So just to be sure,
I removed all the trim
To gain an inch more.
Sliding on oil pan,
And sledding on tin,
Pulling thousand pound motor, Up with a grin.
It happened so easy
With barely a glitch,
Excavator and straps,
Plus little brother Mitch.
I’ll spare you the details,
So not to bore,
Sometime over coffee,
I can tell more.
Suffice it to say,
The rest just cost money –
Even that part,
Was ok with my Honey.
Now with more time,
To plan and to think,
Even so, that Great Loop trip,
Will come in a wink.
