Sammy the Volga is running smooth again…

cardanFinally, after several days of searching for the culprit, we found the issue. The cardan joint as they say on this side of the world, or the universal joint and the front one, located near the gearbox, was going out…

I knew it was a u-joint, but since I have issues with getting the car off the ground, I tried to rely upon others to tell me what is wrong. Finally with Sveta’s help. We did a methodical drive train search and finally found the bad part. We used large wooden blocks and lifted the car to get at the underside. Sveta used her muscles and yanked the rear tire; front to rear and soon I found and heard the clunking noise. Faint, but the vibration it caused was almost violent…

Then after doing our own diagnostics, we took it to a guy who has use of a lift and got the new u-joint installed. U-joint 600 rubles, install 2000 rubles and a huge jar of fresh just gathered honey as change…

Oh my! The honey is perfect (beautiful clear amber) and the jar we got was worth a 1000 plus rubles when sold in Moscow…

Sammy is one happy girl right now… 🙂

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welderOh Sveta made me one happy boy! No! Get that out of your mind and think boy toys. A welder to be exact…

Down in the village I am able to have a shop area and building up a supply of tools to fix anything. I use to do and create all of what I need and without some basics to work with, it just does not happen. I can now, in the next few weeks repair some damage to Sammy the Volga and strengthen the frame in two areas. I also now can get some body parts and start making Sammy look like a pretty girl again…

By next year, I hope to have an anvil and a vice, plus maybe a grinder?

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Sveta brought up that when she goes back to Moscow, she is thinking of learning to ride a horse. There is a riding farm within easy reach for her from where we live. I grew up with horses, ponies, and jackasses; so they are second nature to me, but Sveta is a city girl and she wants to seriously look at raising horses and selling horses, plus having some to ride. I have done both and I really hope that she catches the horse fever. For we live in the perfect place to raise actually ponies and they would sell like hotcakes here in Russia…

Imagine a horse farm in the Russian Village?

Just another village thought…

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People send me emails about what I look like and why I do not post enough images of me? They all seem to have seen Sveta numerous times and Boza, but me images are lacking. Many still feel that I am a fake and just a Russian trying to play games… 🙂

I may be a grumpy bear, but occasionally I attempt a smile. This is as good as it gets and Sveta is in trouble for taking even this image. 🙂 I am sitting on my bench I made and if you notice, I have long sleeves on. Yes it is summer, but it is actually cold here in our village. Fall is coming and coming quick…

This image below is better…

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I do not smile much, but I do think a lot and plan out a future…

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I am going to end with the best buddies in the world…

Sorry, but Sveta would not get on the ground and scratch her back, so you have to settle for just Boza… 🙂

Have a nice day…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

About the Author

Russian_Village

A survivor of six heart attacks and a brain tumor, a grumpy bear of a man, whom has declared Russia as his new and wonderful home. His wife is a true Russian Sweet Pea of a girl and she puts up with this bear of a guy and keeps him in line. Thank God for my Sweet Pea and Russia.