Well, there goes my "big birthday purchase" money

[dvandom]

I'd been contemplating getting myself something nice with part of the birthday money from my grandma, probably getting my old laptop fixed up and upgraded to a modern OS and maybe wireless.

Then, while getting into my car this afternoon, I felt a snap and the seat suddenly lurched back. A quick check revealed it wasn't just the adjustableness being accidentally triggered...a metal strut holding the seat onto the rails had snapped clean through (I'm a big guy, so I'm not terribly surprised by this). And while it's theoretically possible I can just get that strut replaced, odds are high that I will have to replace the entire seat, or at least a big enough chunk that parts will run me a few hundred at least.

Sigh.

To make it more annoying, this happened after any repair place in town had closed for the weekend (repair shops are rarely open past noon on Saturday in this town), so I can't even schedule something until Monday morning. Plus, Monday and Tuesday are going to be pretty full for me, since I'm running another iteration of my intro to shop class, so I might not be able to take it in for even a looking-at until Wednesday or Thursday. Much less the wait for the parts to be ordered, and the inevitable "be without a car for a day or two" phase while the actual repairs are done. Manhattan Kansas has no mass transit (aside from a service for the old and disabled), so being without a car kinda hoses me.

To keep things from getting worse, I've shoved an old tacklebox (that I used to use to transport Mechwarrior clickies) behind the seat. Still some wobble, but hopefully not enough to make the other strut snap in the meantime.

Well, at least this happened now, and not right before my drive to Kansas City in early August.

Comments

[foomf.livejournal.com]

I had that happen to my Beretta. It's remarkably easy to replace. Go to an auto wrecking yard and get the replacement, it will be MUCH cheaper than the cost of anything new.

Especially if it's a 'pull it yourself' place.

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Well, there isn't an auto wrecking yard in town, but the guy who runs demo equipment for the department does a lot of his own auto work, he might be able to point me at something.

[foomf.livejournal.com]

There's probably an auto wrecking yard within 30 miles though. I had to go to one about 24 miles away because the nearer one didn't have a Beretta.

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know of one that's 16 miles away in Junction City. Rather not drive outside of town if I don't have to, mind you. And I'm okay with paying more for new, as long as brackets are all I have to buy. I'm kinda rough on the things, after all.

[celarain.livejournal.com]

Oof. That sucks. Sorry to hear.

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Update: looks like a shop where I've got a lot of work done (much of it at reduced cost, so I'm building up the ol' customer loyalty here) can do a bracket replacement. I'll take it in this afternoon so they can see what they need to order, then schedule the work to be done later in the week when I can take the afternoon off for it.