So much for no rain. It sprinkled through the night, then when Al got up this morning to meet Colin, the mechanic, it started raining again. The combines were about 10 miles NW of the yard and it hadn't rained as much up there...but it was still too wet to start very early.
The guys got the thermostat installed, but when they went to start the combine to see if it worked, the combine wouldn't start. Upon further inspection, the lift pump for the fuel had a broken wire and the other one had rubbed through from one of the shields on the side. We needed a new pump.
Of course, it's Sunday and nothing is open...although you can call parts departments for a $50 fee. We needed the pump, so Al called Rocky Mtn Equip...they were no help...couldn't even look to see if there was another one in the area. Al then called down to Windthorst...different story there. They found one in the parts depot in Regina and had it put in the "will call" box for us. We were off to Regina 252 km one way from our new work spot.
We took the north way into the city, grabbed the part then drove right back to the farm. On the way in, we got a text from the farmer saying it had rained again and there was no rush to get back, however, on the way back, he texted to tell us they had started combining because...you know the line..."it only rained a tenth at the field".
We got out to the combine and started taking off the old pump while we waited for the mechanic to come back. He showed up with all the right tools and before you knew it, the combine had started and was running like a top.
Al went out to the field to start combining while Marilyn went back to the camper to do a bit of plumbing. We figured we better fill the fresh water tank in the camper, since it was supposed to get down to freezing overnight.
Marilyn went back out to the field to ride around with Al. He noticed the cab wasn't very warm and the heater was cranked up fairly high. We thought perhaps when the thermostat went in, the heater valve got turned off...or perhaps it was never on. We stopped to see if we could turn it on...but first we had to find it.
The old engines had them nice and handy on the back where you could find them right when you got to the top of the ladder. Not the new one. They have the valve on the front side of the engine, down so low that someone has to hold you by the ankles as you go head first down the narrow passage that is the engine compartment. Al had a long reach and was able to get to it without getting stuck. We hoped that would fix the issue.
The farmer says that bad luck comes in three, so there will be smooth sailing tomorrow. We can only hope...
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