I have another car question, as the Big Blue folks have been helpful in the past.
About a week ago, our 2011 Mazda3 started making a very loud & noticeable scraping/rattling creaking noise coming from (I think) the front of the car. It mainly happens when driving slowly at 30 mph or less, especially when going over speedbumps. It's totally fine on the highway driving at 50-60 mph.
I had the car diagnosed at our Mazda dealer yesterday. They said the #3 engine mount is failing as well as the transmission mount. This may or may not be the cause of the issue. But I did some googling, and consulted with a retired mechanic friend, and found out that these failing mounts could very well be the cause. As the mounts fail, various components in and around the engine become loose and rub against each other, thus making noise.
I had another mechanic friend look at it two days ago and he said the suspension was fine. The Mazda dealer also didn't see any obvious suspension problems.
Does this make sense and has anyone else had similar engine/tranny mount problems with their cars?
Christmas 2022 my family gave me a wooden steam engine to assemble. It was fun working on it and kept me occupied for quite a while. The progress from that project are in this thread, and here's the results:
This past Christmas, knowing that I like to target shoot, this time they gave me a machine gun to assemble. As I remember, that steam engine had about 300 pieces. I also remember that because of a problem with some loose parts in the drive spring assembly, the engine wouldn't run and I couldn't repair it unless I took the whole thing apart. I find that this gun has just about as many laser-cut parts, but the tolerances are a lot tighter, so parts fit a lot better. That being the case, and if I follow the instructions properly, there is hope that the gun will fire both rubber bands and wooden plugs when I finish the assembly.
I didn't think to take progression photos, so this is one after the fourth step. Just so you know, there are multiple steps in each step which is broken down in sub-assemblies. Step one has 24 separate steps and step 4 has 14. there are 8 main steps, than a few more to actually use it.
Well this winter is a busy one so far. Below are just a few of the projects that are on the workbench until the weather breaks. All but the PRR unit will be becoming Cambria & Indiana Railroad engines.
The PRR Caboose will be getting clear plastic added to the windows and lighting added.
The Conrail Engine is in the very early stages with the windows removed, bell taken off, and the cab grab rails taken off.
The PRR Engine will have a few modifications done to it. The engine numbers are to big and incorrect. I am searching to find a number I want to put on it. I am waiting for the micro set to come in the mail to start taking the numbers off.
The CN calf engine is already in the beginning stages of being painted black and yellow.
The PBNE engine will have the decal removed and a brand new C&I logo added with a engine number. I haven't figured out which number I want to put on it yet but in time I will.
There is one more that is not picture and it is a C&I Caboose that is painted in tuscan red. I am going to take it back apart, take the decals off and paint it yellow. I don't need to worry about painting the roof black as it is already black.
Hard to find jokes free of foul language, sex or politics but here goes1
A little boy's Grandpa dies and he asks his mother "mommy when I die will I see grandpa again ? " Mom replies "not if you are good! ".
A man is telling his friend about his grandma passing away. "She was a tough old bird. She had buried three husbands, however two were only taking a nap at the time".
My wife was working on the downstairs computer when Zoey decided she was being neglected and employed an attention getting device:
Luckily she realized quickly that she was stuck and waited patinetly for me to move the module out so she could be shooed to the left and out of harms way.
A complete, fully operational 7' x 5' Great Northern freight HO scale layout for sale. DC powered. Four mainlines (two of which can also be used as power-off north and south sidings), a double reverse loop, two yards, one additional west siding and a crossover leading to a double track on a trestle across a gorge.
All track is ballasted Walters Shinohara code 83 flextrack. Nine turnouts controlled by Tortoise by Circuitron switch machines. One siding and the two yard track turnouts are controlled by manually operated switches.
Solid L-girder benchwork, with a slight elevation rise in the background, is supported by V-bracing on the sides and crossover bracing on the ends. The easily removable legs and bracing are secured with wood bolts and wing nuts.
Two power packs, a MRC model 9500 Tech 3 Power Command for train control and a MRC Rail Power 1400 Tech II for Tortoise and lighting control, are velcroed to a pull-out table top that can be recessed under the benchwork when not in use. The turnout and double reverse direction controls are activated by mini toggle switches, lighted by mini green and red LED lights, on a hand-built panel box attached to the pull-out table top and adjacent to the power packs. Toggle switches for controlling power to the west siding, the north and south sidings, the two yard tracks and a pavilion light are on the facia.
Based in the fictional Montana town of Sweet Grass, structures include: two cafes, post office, general store, pavilion on the town green, a church.
Rural structures include: GN depot, farmhouse, barn, workshop with fencing, a foot bridge and a road.
Trackside structures include: three track maintenance and repair sheds with tools and accessories and a tunnel (not shown here) cut through a mountain (not shown).
Interior and exterior (lamp posts) fiber optic cable lighting is by Dwarvin.
Locomotives include: MTH Alco FA-1 and FB-1 disel; Walthers EMD F7 A-B disel (the A unit needs electrical repair); Rivarossi 2-8-2 Mikado steam with tender; and a Walthers switcher.
Rolling stock includes: a variety (10) of makes and road names of 40-foot box, hopper, gondola, flat, stock, reefer, coal & ore cars and two cabooses.
Also included are thirty-eight books on all aspects of model railroading: layout design, track planning, benchwork, electrical, DCC, scenery, GN history, as well as numerous related how-to articles from Model Railroader magazine.
$3,000.00 by PayPal, cash or check. Purchaser must wait for check to clear before pick-up. Delivery is not available. Please contact me to make an appointment if you wish to see the layout.
Just and early start at wishing everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and hope Santa treats you well. Enjoy a white Christmas if that's what you expect, but have a safe and warm one regardless.
As I remember, that steam engine had about 300 pieces. I also remember that because of a problem with some loose parts in the drive spring assembly, the engine wouldn't run and I couldn't repair it unless I took the whole thing apart. I find that this gun has just about as many laser-cut parts, but the tolerances are a lot tighter, so parts fit a lot better. That being the case, and if I follow the instructions properly, there is hope that the gun will fire both rubber bands and wooden plugs when I finish the assembly.
