One size does not fit all!

That's close to what I encountered yesterday. I was very optimistic about my day. I only needed to replace one specialized air fitting and a leveling valve on BS 222. The entire project would entail only two bolts, and five press release air fittings.

When I arrived I backed my pickup beside the "patient" truck, opened my tool box and then laid out the new parts. The first part of the project, the specialized fitting was completed in less than five minutes. YES! I then grabbed the new valve, a ratchet, extension and the appropriate size socket along with a screwdriver to press the releases on the air fittings. In about fifteen minutes, the new valve was in place and ready for testing and adjustment. Crud! When the valve was activated it worked opposite of what it was supposed to do. When the cab was low, the valve released to make it go even lower. When the cab was too high, the valve closed and applied more air raising it even more. Frustrated, I went back to the pickup and retrieved the instructions. (I know it's a male thing). The instructions entailed two pages of diagrams and arrows. Picture one was designated for one particular truck model, picture two for another, picture three for yet another and finally picture four was for all others. You can probably guess where my project landed. I inventoried the valve kit (which had been open when I picked it up at the dealership) and I found it did not contain one bracket. I went back over the instructions and found this to be irrelevant because this project truck didn't fall into that particular group of instructions. I then began experimenting. I turned the control arm around. It still didn't work correctly. I changed places for the supply and charge lines, still no luck. More and more it appeared that I needed that mounting plate. Finally I was so frustrated I called to talk with my parts man. He was alarmed that the box had been opened but outside of that offered very little advice. Finally, using what I was presented with, I began flipping and inverting the valve, changing the angle and direction for mounting and finally I hit it right. Don't ask me what I finally did. I do know that the valve is set up almost the complete opposite of what it was when it came out of the box. My fifteen minute valve replacement had grown to over four hours.

I would like to have a talk with the engineer who wrote the instructions for the multiple vehicle valve! It was kind of like having written instructions for a Rubik's Cube.

Personally, I think engineers should stick with trains!

I visited yesterday with one of my long time co-workers. It always does me good to talk with him. He is very laid back and quiet spoken but when he speaks it is usually worth listening to. We had brainstormed earlier this summer about a project that never came to fruitation. I hated it for me and him both but I am glad we didn't get so far that he tied up time and money in the hundred mile commute to get it going. He is ready for the fall work to begin. And so am I.

I plan on doing our yard today so I am hoping for a cool cloudy day. Krl had made a deal with a friend to do it after the yard man had to have surgery. This friend does not charge as he is doing it just to help out. He is also using our lawn equipment. The two times he has done the yard it was only after his spouse reminded him of his commitment and it never happened on the appropriate day. I figure I will save Krl and I both some grief and just do it. Of course this will be the first Friday I have been home since everything became unsettled.

FATHER, I am struggling.