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Highlands Today

Having Problem With That Boat Starter?

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By Raleigh Whiteman | Highlands Today

Published: May 22, 2008

Many of us who live on the canals used to get access to Lake Grassy in Sun 'N Lakes, south of Lake Placid, really have little use of our boats until we get a substantial amount of rain. It is hard to imagine how much rain it will take to fill the lake to its normal level, which is almost four feet above the present level. However, I still want to keep my boat running in case it ever rains.

Here's a tip if you have found that your boat is getting hard to start or the battery seems to be a bit low, as was my problem a few weeks ago when I tried to warm up the 20-year-old engine.

It would just barely crank as though the battery was dead. I charged it up overnight but the next day it still only grunted, so I bought a new marine battery but it still would not crank. I took the starter off and found the brushes were badly worn, so I replaced them. Still, it only grunted.

I decided the almost antique starter was worn out, and was going to buy a new one this week. But over the weekend, I realized it was possible that the starter may have some corrosion and the new brushes were not making good contact. After taking the starter off again and disassembling it completely, I cleaned all of the armatures and connections until I had good circuitry through all connections. That fixed it really good, and it now runs as good as any 20-year-old motor.

Memorial Day And The Flag Code
Section 8i of the Flag Code reads: The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

The VFW Honor Guard had stated they would not assist in the Memorial Day service at Groves of Victoria Park next Monday, if the company's corporate flag is flown beneath the American flag and the POW/MIA flag is not flown as prescribed in the Flag Code.

Monday afternoon, a representative of WHR Company, which runs the facility, contacted me, and when informed of the correct Flag Code, stated they did not want to offend anyone and would comply with the regulation, remove the corporate flag and replace it with the POW/MIA Flag.

Headlines From The Year: 2029
Mary Slaybaugh, who lives in my neighborhood, sent me the following. I know that just about everyone I know also received the same in their e-mail, but I find some so amusing and somewhat ironic that I know hundreds of others will also think that these headlines are altogether possible because of the way things seem to be going in today's world.

White minorities still trying to have English recognized as Mexifornia's third language.
Couple petitions court to reinstate heterosexual marriage.

Abortion clinics now available in every high school in United States.

Castro finally dies at age 112; Cuban cigars can now be imported legally, but President Chelsea Clinton has banned all smoking.

George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2036.

Postal Service raises price of first class stamp to $17.89 and reduces mail delivery to Wednesdays only.

85-year $75.8 billion study: Diet and exercise is the key to weight loss.
Average weight of Americans drops to 250 pounds.

Raleigh Whiteman, of Lake Placid, is a contributing writer to Highlands Today. You can reach him on the Internet at rwwhiteman@comcast.net

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