Just a short update, no pics :-(

[Dawn Michelle]

It's been awhile, but fixes have been progressing at the rate of Methuselah.  

Mostly because of my lack of skills and knowledge.  How could plumbing be so complicated you ask?  It's actually not.  My rig is 21 foot - there's a couple of short runs and everything with a connection is accessible.  A couple of back twisters but only because I don't move quite like I used to :-)  For Lakota's young buck in the WalMart parking lot it would be a breeze!  And, seriously, my connections can't get any simpler.  City in, tank in, water pump, move the water in one line on the other side of the pump to the bath sink where cold goes up and the shower nozzle is hooked to the faucet.  Then it loops around and under the shower pan (little bay back there to access) and then under the kitchen cabinet where it is plumbed into the hot water heater (ah, wait for it...) and then back to the hot water taps on kitchen and back to bath.  Seriously simple.  Even I can figure that out.

Much of problem has been the learning curve when it comes to connections (freaking four types at least and it seems every salesperson has their favorite so I now have one of everything), getting the wrong sized connections (lowe's only carries 3/8 od not cts - same brand, same color bag), having to go to the next town to find the right connections, settling for different connections (compression) that I then screw up when I'm down to my last elbow I should have ordered more but didn't foresee the bend it needed to make, the extra insert and collet I ended up with after I have everything connected, and then....

...there's chasing down the leaks.  The quick fits are awesome once you get them pushed in - and they work fine on that polybutylene.  Forget the compression - easy to find but I either tightened it too much, or my edge wasn't straight enough (too cheap to buy a cutter so tried a hacksaw and then a tube cutter - and spent the money I should've and bought the right tool in the first place).  Gave up and ordered another quick fit elbow from Amazon.

And then there's a pinhole leak in the fitting on the back of the toilet - just above the water line - ugh.  I am going to try a patch with gorilla construction adhesive and eternabond. Beats doing nothing or replacing a whole toilet mechanism...or toilet.

And did I mention the PO had shoved a stick up the tank drain line?  How long did it take him to find the perfect size 3/8 cts I have to ask myself?  I'm framing that stick with the words - "creative, but not a permanent solution."  And going to hang it above the back of the toilet in the event my glue and tape fix works for the interim and I need a reminder...

Oh, but the water heater (are you still waiting for it?) - it's not really plumbed in!  Nope, a closer look reveals the polly-buuu-ta-leene is all hooked up to itself (no quick disconnects here) to circle back. So I have more figuring out what connections I need fun ahead.  Who knows if the tank will work - but when I popped the valve a few weeks it did have pressure (and only a spitting of water) so I feel optimistic I have a good tank - that has to be good for something, right?

Now does the cold water go in the top ... or the bottom valve?

I feel very inadequate some days!  Ah well.  The water pump is in its new spot waiting for me to do some carpentry once I get all the leaks chased down.  

On a positive note however, the vent crank I took a chance on at Amazon worked.  And, the gravel pad is in (although not done right - I just have to move on and work with it - I plan on spending more time traveling than being here - at least no more sinking in the mud).

Finally,  my mechanic made a house call Tuesday and spent half an hour with his head under the hood. He's recommending we replace the carb - and I'm going to go with that.  Already put too much in this one and this way I'll have something with a warranty.  Hopefully by end of the week or first of next he'll have room in his shop to bring her in and get her fixed :-)  It will be interesting to see what else he finds.  He knows I need safe and reliable but won't sell me anything I don't need.  

No pics...it's just plumbing!  

[Lakota Wolf]

At least you have an Honest mechanic,,Not charging you for things you dont need.  Sounds like you got things going well for you...