[SEL] Engine Trip

[R & M Ingold]

Ah! but what did ya miss out on??
Reg & Marg Ingold.
Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
randmingold at hotkey.net.au
http://www.oldengine.org/members/randmingold

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Rotigel" <rotigel at alltel.net>
To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 12:45 PM
Subject: [SEL] Engine Trip


> Hi All,
> Yesterday Arnie and I drove down to Charleston WV to meet up with Spencer 
> Yost to help him find an oil field engine. We arrived at 9:20 and met 
> Spencer at Hardy's (exit 5 off Rt. 79.) Spencer had been joined by two 
> good ol boys from WV (Vertis and Bob) who had assured Spencer that they 
> had some good 20 HP Reid engines that he might want to buy and take off 
> the wells that they were on.
> By 9:45 we were walking the hills of southern WV looking for engines. The 
> first 3 we located were not much more that "parts." The 4th one was a nice 
> 20 HP--but in and almost impossible location for removal. (Spencer is sure 
> that his bull doser is capable of the removal--I'm not so sure!) By that 
> time it was 1:00 and we were all ready for lunch.
> After lunch (ie. 1:30) we were off again looking (this time) for a 15 HP 
> that Vertis and Bob had never seen, but were sure was "just up thar on 
> yonder ridge." Four ridges (and about 6 miles later) we had still not 
> found the damn engine and Spencer was no where to be seen! After yelling 
> to him for about 15 minutes we heard heavy breathing and Spencer appeared 
> from a "hollar'" winded, sweating, red faced and gasping for breath--but 
> other than that none the less worse for wear. He HAD NOT found the elusive 
> 15 HP Reid!
> We tried one more (one mile) ridge looking for the 15 HP Reid and then I 
> suggested that we all go back down to the "hard road" from which Vertis 
> and Bob assured us we "can see the engine--but you hadn't try to cross 
> that guys land to get to it." A half hour walk (like all the rest--UP 
> HILL) and we were at Spencer's truck. Fifteen minutes later were looking 
> across a field at the engine shack where the 15 was housed!
> We (Spencer, Bob and I) then walked to the closest trailer and Knocked on 
> the door. Spencer introduced himself to the scantly clad chick who 
> answered the door and asked her for permission to cross the field and the 
> creek in order to have a look at the engine. She kept asking him "Is that 
> all you want?" and after the 4th time he said "That's all!" she said "OK 
> then do whatever you want!" and slammed the door.
> Spencer and Bob headed for the field (past the 2nd trailer) and forded the 
> shallow creek. I, seeing the old man with the gun looking out the window, 
> decided to hang back a bit to see if there were any shots fired. I, then 
> went back up to the road to wait for Spencer's report on the 15 HP. Upon 
> return Spencer reported that there were some parts missing, but it wasn't 
> stuck! Vertis and Bob assured Spencer that they had the parts at home and 
> that the engine would run!
> We then parted company with Vertis and Bob and went to have a sandwich. We 
> talked about the engines and how they might be "extracted" from their 
> locations. We also talked about the price that Vertis and Bob were asking 
> and what they might take for one of the engines. Then Arnie and I headed 
> for home (240 miles) tired, sour, buy happy with the day!
> I haven't talked to Arnie today, but I can tell you that my legs are sure 
> sore! (I'll bet that I'll be taking it easy for at least two weeks!)  I 
> can't tell you when I've walked 10+ miles (that's a conservative estimate) 
> up and down hills in one day!  I do know that if this would be the last 
> "engine trip" in my life it would be one of the best, GOOD friends, good 
> hunting, good conversation--it just doesn't get much better than that!
> Dave
> PS, Life is GOOD!
>
>
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