Monday, January 30, 2012

I will not rant.....

The cost of an emergency room visit?  $4800. Now that's right up my income alley. Took Deb there for more tests, and they still don't know what's wrong with her. At least she is walking (or hobbling, anyway). We have been to the hospital several times over the last 2 months. The figure above reflects just one visit. We are making it, though. At each of our sites I configure some kind of steps to get her in and out. Mostly out of scrap wood and cement blocks.

We are jacked up in my mechanic's shop, putting yet another transmission in the rig. The pathetic 700r4 tranny that came out was ridiculously undersized, and the difference between that one and what's going in (th400, with no OD) is huge. Planetary gears about twice the size. Yokes about one third again bigger.

Can you see what these bolo's did to us when they stuck this tranny in? Greed, the final frontier of the american businessman. Yeah, I was negligent (twice) by not watching every single thing these yahoo's did. I was very distracted with other things, and I offer no excuse for not crawling under there with them.
  Now I am crawling under the rig right with the mechanic, being a PITA because of all my questions about this system. It is kind of a return to old school mechanical systems, because of the lack of an overdrive.
  We are planning on resuming the trip west next month, and I betcha I know this tranny inside out by then.

14 comments:

  1. I hope Deb is getting stronger and feeling better!

    I feel ya on the transmission, having a problem myself. I sure hope this is the fix! $4800 is definitely NOT in my budget!

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  2. Thank you, Cyndi and Stumpy! Deb is a survivor, as most who visit this blog are. Hope your problem is getting resolved. As for the $4800 and all the additional hospital bills, I ain't paying 'em till they enact the debtors prison again...

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  3. Good to see you back. Sorry about the problems your having. I really HATE companies that take you for a ride. Made they they rot in you know where. They knew what they were doing. Good for you too not take taken again. I had a friend who painted a spot on his tranny when it needed to be replaced and took a picture of it.. He got it back with told new tranny. Guess what...it still had the paint on it. He sued them.
    Glad that your wife is feeling a bit better. Hobbling is better then not walking at all. Sending good vibes your way.

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  4. Your good vibrations make my day. Thanks, Tippy!

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  5. Ugh, it really stinks how often people are taken advantage of. Sorry to hear of the emergency room visits. When we cross paths I'm more than happy to help you two in any way I can. I'll be sending good thoughts your way until then.

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    1. Hope we cross paths...the only help we would need would be your friendship...thanks for the good thoughts!

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  6. took me a while to remember... years ago... when we moved from Arizona to Colorado, I burned the tranny out of a 3/4 ton Chevy.

    That was when I discovered, that when it came from the factory, GM was building that TRUCK with the same transmission they were putting in a Camaro! uh... Seriously?!!! and they wonder why they've lost market share? Looks like you're doing what they SHOULD have... Lookin' good.

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  7. Have I mentioned that my father is a carpenter and my mother had an anurism about four years back? They're going through a lot of the same things and all with great humor. Good luck to you!

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    1. Very glad your mother is OK...a burst brain anuerysm can be devastating to all, not just the patient. The statistics say that 75% don;t survive, and of course the rest are never the same. To have great humor through all of that is a gift indeed.

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  8. Glad to hear Deb is doing a bit better. Its easy to be overwelmed with finacial problems, so many of us are. Glad we have each other over the internet.

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    1. Dragonfly, thanks for your support. I too am glad we have each other over the internet. It has been a life saver for me...

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  9. Guy, I hope by this time you have your transmission problems behind you, so you and Deb can soon see that location in your rear view mirror.

    Hospital and meds cost can be devastating. I am so lucky to have Medicare and Blue Cross to cover me, since I have type 2 diabetes, and in the last six years I've had a Stroke and a brain hemmorage, Congestive heart failure, arrythmia, stints put in both carotid arteries, a pace maker installed, etc., etc. I feel like the Million Dollar Man.

    I am not complaining as the docs and hospitals have done well for me. I took a licking and I'm still ticking. I hope Deb continues to improve. Good to see you blogging again.

    Bob (aka stude53)

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  10. Bob, hang in there, buddy...you make my problems sound minuscule...stay brave, please..

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  11. Thanks, Guy

    I'm doing okay. I know my health problems have caused my main caregiver(Loving and much-loved wife) a lot of concern, worry, sleepless nights, hard work, etc., much as Deb's health problems have for you.

    We'll just have to both hang in there ... stay strong and give Patchy some pets and hugs for being there for you as my two little black girls (Cocker Spaniels) are for me.

    Regards,
    Bob (aka stude53)

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