It Never Ends…Part 2

Two hours after the HVAC tech left yesterday, the new system stopped pushing air through the vents upstairs. I know next to nothing about HVAC systems, but it sounds to me like something fails when the operating temperature reaches a certain level.

We tried an experiment last night. We shut the system down for over an hour. When we turned it back on cold air came out of the vents, but only for about an hour.

We had rain in our area last night, which cooled everything down, so even though we left the system on hoping for a “failure” it didn’t run. If a tech arrives today, I hope I get some lead time so I can set the thermostat to a temperature where it will run before he arrives and, maybe, the system will fail while or before he gets here.

It is only when machines fail that they remind us how powerful they are.

Postscript: because we have two HVAC systems we are given lower priority than a house with one system that is not working in terms of scheduling repairs. I understand that, but since the system that is failing in our house is a brand new one, I have to wonder about that prioritization.

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The first picture is not by me and not from here, the rest are:

 

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On this day in 1906 Louis Henry Perlman applied for a patent for his invention of the de-mountable tire-carrying rim, similar to those used on today’s cars. From 365 Days Of Motoring (still not a secure website), more of this story:

 

The patent was issued 4 February 1913 (U.S. No. 1,052,270). Perlman’s innovation made possible the spare tire. Perlman was then bankrolled by William C. Durant, the founder of General Motors, to create the Perlman Rim Corporation, which soon manufactured tire assemblies for more than 1.5 million cars annually. (Perlman would also receive a new GM car every year; he stored his autos in a lengthy barn extension at his home in Montrose, New York.)

Perlman was born in Kovno, Russia in 1861; his father was a rabbi who eventually founded congregations in St. Louis, Cincinnati and Charleston, SC. Perlman was a graduate of City College and a co-founder of the Pictorial Associated Press, the first news agency to syndicate images and photos to newspapers. He had to defend his tire patent against infringement for years, and then lost his entire fortune in the 1929 stock market crash.

 

According to Perlman’s great-grandson, Louis Henry was given $3 million directly (in cash and GM stock) by General Motors and Durant, along with other private investors, gave Perlman the seed money to create his corporation. He also received a large payment in 1916 from another company ordered by a federal appeals court for patent infringement.

His great-grandson says Perlman lost most, not all, of his money in the stock market crash, but never again had anywhere near the wealth he had before. From the article by his great-grandson, a picture of Louis Henry Perlman:

 

Perlman - Louis Perlman Line-drawing

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Fewer than 60 days remain until I take my Z06 into the shop for more upgrades. On a sort of related note…would you trust a company selling C7 ZR-1 lookalike wheels for $1,500 a set when “real” ones cost $5,000?

I found a company that sells such “knock-offs” for $1,500. They don’t claim they are genuine GM wheels and the ZR-1 logo does not appear anywhere. The wheels come with a lifetime warranty except a two-year warranty for finish. Although the company claims to have them in Chrome, when I selected that option here is the picture displayed:

 

2014-2019 Corvette C7 ZR1 Style Wheel, 20x12

Should that make me nervous? I guess I can just call the company to confirm availability. Oh, the chrome wheels cost more than the black ones. Are black wheels losing their appeal? Am I nuts to consider buying wheels for the “wrong” Corvette for my car?

My answer: Carpe Diem! Nos non fides cras! (Seize the day! We are not guaranteed tomorrow!)

 

#ItNeverEnds

#NatureViews

#LouisHenryPerlman

#NewWheels?

#CarpeDiem!

#NosNonFidesCras!

#somanycarsjustonelife

#disaffectedmusings

If you like this blog please tell your friends and share the blog URL (https://disaffectedmusings.com). Thanks.

 

 

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5 thoughts on “It Never Ends…Part 2

  1. If the company is a long term reputable wheel manufacturer, I would seriously consider buying the wheels. American Racing comes to mind. If a reputable tire dealer, such as Tire Rack, offers the wheels, that is another one to consider as Tire Rack will be protective of their own reputation if a problem should arise. The price difference between $5000 and $1500 is considerable and I would have to do some serious thinking before deciding to buy. Another option would be the ever present eBay where you could buy a set of original GM wheels that are from various reputable sources.

    Good luck with the HVAC tech finding the problem this time. The problem I understand you are describing is that there is no air coming from your vents. Not just cold air, but no air. That sounds like a problem with the fan in the air handler stopping due to high temperature. This could be caused by any one of several problems.

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    1. Thanks, Philip. I was not impressed by the customer service rep with whom I spoke this morning. He did “confirm” that the ZR1 wheels would fit my Z06.

      We will not have an HVAC tech out here until Monday. Fortunately, the high temps today and tomorrow will only be in the 70s and just the mid-80s on Sunday. At most, we’ll have one uncomfortable night.

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