I'm back in Calgary for a few days, where I'll be attending a Kohler update school.  Normally, these are one-afternoon presentations, though I often spend a couple of extra days in Calgary to do some shopping and visiting.  This time however, it's a three-day hands-on school, where we will be tearing down one of Kohler's new EFI (Electronic ( Read more... )

     Today was the last day of classes at the Kohler Engines plant down here in Kohler WI.  The classes were excellent, and I think I (and the others) learned a lot about Kohler's line of diesel engines.  I don't know how many of these things I'll ever see in my shop, but at least now I have the training to know what I'm looking at, and the ( Read more... )

     Wisconsin is referred to as "America's Dairyland", and I can see why; There are dairy farms everywhere, and the cheese here is awesome!  I had been told that I have to try "deep-fried cheese curds" while I'm here, and having done so, I can definitely say that this is advice well-heeded!  Absolutely delicious!!

Today's class was very ( Read more... )

     The continental breakfast offered here at the Super-8 motel isn't going to win any awards, but it is good, and probably one of the healthiest I've had in a long time.   They have a Belgian-waffle station, orand and apple juices, teas, coffee, assorted pasties and muffins, cereals, yogurts, bread for toasting, and fresh fruit.  I had a waffle, ( Read more... )

     Things continue to (slowly) move out of the shop.  Today I finally got that blasted Sears roto-tiller completed; I flushed the fuel tank, and that seems to have eliminated to major problem.  Pain in the butt, and something I need to remember.  I had a lawn-mower with a similar issue earlier this Spring, and it would have saved me a lot of time ( Read more... )

     Molly gave everyone a bit of a scare this morning;  I had gone into the shop early, to try to get caught up on some of the backlog.  Around 10am, trixstir called to say that Molly was laying down, and wouldn't get up.  She had been walking around when I left in the morning, but Trixstir said that she had tried to get her up, but she just kept laying ( Read more... )

     Today was the key point of this trip: The training/update seminar with Kohler Engines.  The update covered a number of minor issues and new information about the engine line, as well as giving us a chance to see one of Kohler's new direct-port fuel-injected engines.  The engine in question was a 25HP twin-cylinder engine, and the fuel ( Read more... )

     I'm back in Calgary for a few days for a training session with Kohler engines.  The training is actually only a half-day, but I have other business to attend to while I'm here, plus I had to allow for a day's worth of driving in each direction.  It irks me to have to head out on Valentine's day instead of sharing it with Trixstir, but it was ( Read more... )

     Well, it's a Monday...

I arrived at the shop this morning a little before 11am, wound up wasting about 20 minutes chatting with a customer who was looking for a part that I don't have, but also for other parts that I can order, so it's not a total waste of time provided that he actually decides to order said parts.

I checked my shop ( Read more... )

     It's been a long week, or so it feels, and yet very little has been accomplished.  While keeping the bowling alley open later at night has definitely helped its revenues, it seems to be doing so at the expense of Iron Pony's.  I simply cannot be coming home past midnight, and then try to open Iron Pony on time in the mornings.  When I drag ( Read more... )