Cracked Flange A Blessing and Stopped A Disaster From Happening.

Our Location today is Windsor, Ontario.

Click on thepictures to enlarge.

This morning knowing our start time was not until 8:00 I took my time getting to the Plant by 7:20. I had barely opened my door when Ivan arrived wondering if I had slept there because he had hurried to get there before me. The laugh was on the both of us because Paul had unlocked the door at 6:50 thinking we would be starting early.

We all had a laugh and had a chance to talk before the start of our shift. After getting changed into my Coverallswe double checked the repairs we made yesterday. We even replaced the Guardingupstairs that the Electrical Contractorhad failed to put back.

In an attempt to get more accomplished I set Ivan up using the Air Hoseto clean out the Blower Fansthat we had worked on recently. Even though we had flushed the Fluesthe Burnerswere still not working at peak efficiency.

I started removing the Boltson the Pipe Spoolthat had a leaky Flange. The timing worked perfectly because Ivan was finished just when I needed his help to remove the Spool. Back at the Compoundas I worked I was explaining why I was doing things so he’d be more knowledgeable if another such job came up. We lucked out (or did we) finding a Two Inch Plastic Flange with a Six Inchpiece of Piping already attached.

Paul needed Ivan’s assistance but by the time they returned I was making the final adjustments on the new Spool. Everyone was happy that it was progressing so quickly and we were soon installing it talking about the next job I wanted to accomplish today. Since these Flangesare made of Schedule 80 PlasticI gently snuggedeach Boltuntil progressively they were all leak proof tight which means I hold the Wrenchin the middle so as to not over tighten it. As Paul stood watching there was a loud Snapand I watched a large Crackappear. Paul reminded me that the Flangeson that Pump werealways cracking and he had faith I would fix it.

Ivan and I searched the Compoundand the Compressor Roomwith no ~~Luck~~. He was amazed at all the FittingsI had gathered from the Warehousewith still no ~~Luck~~. I started looking at Pumpsin hopes of finding a usable Plastic Flangebut no ~~Luck~~. What I did find was a Metal Flangethreaded for a Two Inch Pipe. Ivan could not believe that I brought it back to the Compound. I found a slightly damaged Plastic Adapter. By shaving back the damaged threads I was able to screw it into the Metal Flange thenglue theTwo Inch Plastic Pipeof the Spoolinto it.

Paul asked where I had gotten the Plastic Flangefrom and when I told him he said it was probably already slightly cracked and that was why it had been removed. He then said “See I told you that you would fix it properly”.

I sentIvan to remove a Fan Coveron the Number Two Pump Motorso we could clean it out while I was installing the now complete Spool. He thencame to tell me he couldn’t get the Fan Coveroff the Motorso after putting my other Tools away I went to try. Putting a Chiselon edge and gently tapping it with aHammerI opened a Disasterwaiting tohappen. There was a Greasy Mound Of Dirtfilling the Coverand along the top edge of the Motor wherever the Fan Impellerdid not touch. It took Thirty Minutesof scraping and wire brushing to clean the Two Heaping Dust Pansof Debrisout. We are certain that Motor will definitely run cooler now.

After the stress of the broken Flangewe packed it in early and punched out at 3:00 but would spend another Ten Minutescleaning Two Inchesof Wet Snowoff our vehicles.

Kathy had just gotten off the phone with our friend Vera. When she last spoke to her Vera had been feeling ill but felt much better today.

For supper Kathy served Sweet and Sour Chicken Ballson a bed of Vegetable Ricealong with the Leftover Pineappleas well as Fruitcakefor dessert.

Since theCoverallsI have worn this last week were mostly Dirtyand not ~~Greasy~~afterthe 6 o’clock Local NewsI brought them directly to the Laundry Room. As planned I washed them Twiceto get all the Dirt out.

The Weather Networkshowed we had a high temperature today of 28 F(-2 C) feeling like 23F(-5C). Tomorrow all our accumulation will melt away.