How to open the hood of a 2002 Honda CR-V when the pull goes limp

The other day, after checking the oil in the CR-V, I closed the hood and it failed to latch.  I messed with it a bit, hit it with lube, and finally, it grabbed.  Fast forward a few weeks, and I went to check the oil before heading out on a dirt bike adventure, and the latch pull inside the car pulled and went limp.  I assumed a broken cable, but the boy confirmed that he could hear something happening at the latch.  He tried pressing down on the hood as I pulled harder and harder on the latch, to the point of it almost coming off in my hand.  So, I searched the Internets, and pretty much came up with a lot of conjecture and bad advice about getting the thing opened.  This is how I did it in 15 minutes.

Warning.  Doing stuff is dangerous. Cutting a metal flag pole could cause a sharp edge that could rip off both your corneas.  Wear eye protection, etc.

Supplies and tools:
An old section of hollow, metal flag pole cut to about 22 inches.
A medium flat blade screwdriver to pop the fasteners on the belly pan.
Rubber mallot
Eye protection

Steps:
1.) Take off belly pan.

2.) Lying on Back,  Look straight up at the latch and identify blue plastic cable collar at end of black hood cable.

3.) Just to the left of the blue piece is the flat silver nub that it pulls on - fit the flagpole end around his nub, and pivot the bottom of the pole to the left.  Far enough over so you can smack the shit out of it twice with the rubber mallet, driving the piece to the right. Slather everything with lube, and snap the blue Collar back in its groove (mine had popped out.)

4.) Tell your significant other that you saved 200 bucks.

5.) Put the flagpole and mallot in the back hatch in case it happens again.

ICOM IC-751

I picked up a circa 1984 ICOM IC-751 at Hamvention this year.  It is in nice shape, and performs well, and there is a whole lot less tuning involved than with the Heathkit!  Night before last, I got a 569 report into Sweden.  Last night, Slovania was booming in at 20 over.  Last night, I replaced the stock battery backed ram board with the aftermarket PROM board from PIEXX.com.  http://www.piexx.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=26
It works great!

xr200r and xr250r have joined the stable.

hot tub delete

Having a hot tub was great, until it started to be a pain in the ass.  First, it got lightning in the topside controls, then, the shell started to crack from age.  I had waxed it a few times a year with zymol, but it still cracked.  So, I built up the area where it was with some furring strips and laid down new 2x6s.  If we ever decide to get another hot tub, I will just take a circular saw and cut out a dugout to fit the new one.

19.2 kW

My old seat was destroyed by weather - cause dirtbikes live outside - so, I ordered some medium duty vinyl for 10 bucks off of Ebay and cut and stapled a new hide in place today!

Fixing the crystal on a 1930 Elgin 303 Grade 7 jewel 12s open face pocket watch

2012 Nissan LEAF

1000 miles so far.
3.7Miles / KWh overall
problems = none

in Feb, I went 420 miles and used about 125KWh (2% from Solar, 98% from coal)

2012 Nissan Leaf!

I bit the bullet and kicked down for a Nissan Leaf.  In the 3 miles I have driven, I find it to be TOTALLY FRIGGIN' AWESOME!  I have a Huge EV-Perma-Grin, my friends!

Off Balance Cotton Candy Maker

One of the kids dropped the very important spinny thing from their new Cotton Candy maker and it got off center.  I used a HF lateral runout gauge and got it to within .018" of perfect.  It runs better now than it did out of the box. :-) It is really picky as it runs at a high RPM.

Husqvarna Huskystar e10 Sewing machine motor fix

A new device entered our house a while back.  It didn't work.  This will not stand!  Traced it back to an open thermal Cutout (TCO.) This gave the result of the light coming on, but no power to the motor.  I replaced the TCO with a smaller value because although it had blown, the value was silly-hot in my opinion, so I think I used a 108 degree C TCO.  The pack came with 2 of them in case it ever burns out again and they were cheap.  My guess is that someone tried to sew leather with the thing and overheated the crap out of it.

Fixed Cold Solder joint on Frigidaire Fdb710lcq0 Dishwasher

Developed a cold solder joint on the circuit board on the Frigidaire

Fdb710lcq0 Dishwasher.  I have heated up all the joints, and it is working great now.

GE Water Heater Timer Model #15207

I installed the GE Water Heater Timer Model 15207 last night.  It works - does what it says.  Now, I just have to determine the best schedule.  I love how it is granular - can come on during the day, etc.  I've started out by shutting off power to the WH at 10PM, and turning it back on at 5AM.  I may shut it off again at 10AM, and pop it on again for a half hour around 2PM, then back off 'till 10PM, I'll post an update on KWH savings.

Style 30 Wheels for the e36!

Electric Air at New Vienna!!!

Went halfsies with the_boy on a Fender 25R Frontman

NICE SOUNDING AMP!
http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0231502000

HAMVENTION 2012

Picked up a couple awesome things at Hamvention!!

Dyson Animal DC-41

http://www.dyson.com/store/product.asp?product=DC41-IRSPU

The Dyson Animal DC-41 appears to be a lightweight, awkward, flimsy, plastic, expensive tool compared to the 45 dollar Bissel - at least, that is how it looked initially at Lowes in the lineup of new vaccuums.  NOT THE CASE.  Although it costs a Brazillion dollars, it is worth every penny.  When at home, on carpet, it is a graceful, well-built, bulletproof tool, that TOTALLY SUCKS the sh*t outta the carpet that must have been there since it was installed!  The difference in the price is worth seeing the 3 containers of trash it pulled out of just the livingroom carpet AFTER I used my existing vaccuum!  BUY ONE TODAY!

****************UPDATE***************

Although this sweeper was awesome in the beginning, it has started to "suck" in a different way.  It appears to be akin to a Ferrari - all geeked out and finicky.  run over a hair pin, and you'll puncturing the gasket surrounding the mouth of the beater bar.  Dyson is good about support, but they wanted me to ship the thing to a service center.  I said just please ship me the parts and I would just fix it myself - they did.  However, they sent a whole lower section, and I swapped that out successfully.  I saved back all the old parts, which is good, 'cause I ran over a throw rug with the thing and broke the motor - and had to grab it out of the old one.  If someone took this thing and cast each and every piece out of Magnesium - (might catch on fire, so maybe Aluminum,) then it would be awesome.  it now creaks under the weight of itself - I don't like the action - it is too "bendy."  Still cleans carpets well, though, I have to admit.

Adjusting the tilt

Time for a new helmet

Old and New

New brushes for the bike!

Smelled the expensive smell of burning electronics on my commute. Pushed the bike the rest of the way to work and pulled the brush cover. Some of the brushes were not touching the commutator and all were burned in their holders. I bought a new brush set and cleaned the comm with a stone, sandpaper, and an eraser, put the new brush set on, and it is happy again!