DVLA

Cybex 500C Upright Stationary Bike Repair

2011-04-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Our Stationary bike stopped working suddenly. One day it just failed to light up when it was pedaled. I let it sit for several weeks before doing anything about it - I wasn't sure where to start.

Finally, I started searching for posts like this one, but I found no accounts of owners' experiences in troubleshooting and repairing Cybex 500C upright bikes. I did find sites that sold repair parts, though. All of these sites offered a replacement sealed lead acid battery. This seemed like a likely candidate for an electrical failure, especially since one site indicated that you could expect an 8-year useful life from these batteries, and my bike was 11 years old.

I didn't think my bike had a battery, though. It started generating electricity when you pedaled, and it shut down when you stopped pedaling, so why would it need a battery?(I guess it must help to smooth out the variable flow of electricity that comes from pedaling). Anyway, I removed the side cover from my bike and did in fact see a battery such as the one pictured on the parts sites.

I found the battery available for about $26 -$66 dollars plus shipping at various sites, but I wasn't sure if these replacement batteries were the same quality as the original. After removing my battery, I found a manufacturer's name and model number: Hawker Energy 0819-0012.

When I searched for that, I found the battery available from an Amazon affiliate for $21 ($27.65 with shipping). I ordered it on a Sunday night and received it the following Friday.

It took less than an hour to remove and replace the battery, and the bike worked fine afterward. The shop where I bought the bike wanted $150 plus parts to come out to my house and repair the bike, so I figure I saved $150 plus whatever markup they would have charged on the battery itself.

Removing the right side panel:

1. Insert a small screwdriver and pry up under both sides of seat-post boot to release the 2 small clips that connect it to the side panels.

2. Remove 9 Philips-head screws from right side panel.

3. Align right pedal with seat-post and gently work the panel to slide it upward in the direction of the seat-post until it clears the pedal. (This may take a few tries).

Removing the Battery:

4. Remove the wires from the battery terminals. (Be careful when replacing these wires on the new battery as the terminals seem to bend easily).

5. Remove the 2 nuts and screws that hold the battery to the frame. You will need to find a Phillips-head screwdriver that you can fit in to the limited space, as the screw will turn when you try to loosen the nut. Be careful not to damage the circuit board while turning the back nut.

New Desk Chair

2009-01-11T11:40:00.000-08:00

It seems like a good time to acquire a good used desk chair, as the economy slows down and the demand for them dwindles. I got this Steelcase "Leap"at ABE in El Monte, CA for $200. It was made in 2001, but it looks and feels as good as new.

I love this thing. My old desk chair was also a Steelcase, which I bought used in the mid 1990s. It was still in great shape, but it had no arm rests, and not very many adjustments. I had trouble working at my computer for very long because I would start getting a lot of old-man aches in a very short time. Now, I hope I'll be able to stick to more of the desk tasks I'd like to get accomplished at home in the evenings.

I looked at a very simple Herman Miller chair at Costco earlier this week for $300. I'm sure it was well made, but comparatively, it seemed like a box-kite next to my new (slightly-used) Blackhawk helicopter.

I'm thinking that if you spend a lot of time in your desk chair, the money you spend to buy a good one is one of the best investments you can make, and it's a buyer's market for used desk chairs right now.

It has lots of adjustments to make it fit the owner, and even a mini user-guide beneath the arm-rests, so you don't have try several different controls to find the one you want.

Smoky Skies over Beautiful Southern California

2008-11-15T18:47:00.000-08:00

Empty Doorway

2008-06-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago while we were on vacation, Socks stepped out and never came home.

Although neither Sandy nor I are really enthusiastic pet owners, we both missed him and kept thinking we heard or saw him, and both of us dreamed several times that he came home. Aside from our efforts to provide acceptable provisions, and to aid in his quest for the right side of every door, there were several regularly ocurring ritual events that were part of the normal week, and the loss of each of them struck me several times. Here are a few that stand out now.

He had the particularly annoying habit of walking out to greet us when we were pulling up in the driveway, and then casually sauntering into, and around in, the path of the car so we would have to sit and wait for him to get good and ready to move his hairy butt out of the way so we could park the car and get out.

On trash day, each time I returned from wheeling one of the containers out to the street, he would walk directly into my path so I could bend over and pay his road toll of a few strokes long his back.

When I went out to mow the lawn, he loved to assist me by sleeping where I had not yet mowed, and if promped to move, he would begrudgingly relocate - but only to another un-mowed spot.

Socks wasn't very playful in his old age, but he seemed to enjoy our company. He liked to be with us, but of course he maintained an air of indifference. I remember how he followed Ellen around when she came to visit, but always seemed to be looking at something else, and if Sandy and I took a blanket or some chairs out on the lawn under the tree, he would inevitably end up close by, and then turn his back to us. We never were sure if this was to clarify our status, or to do his part to provide for the common good - facing out from the center of the group to keep watch for any neighborhood threats that might approach from his side .

Gateway Monitor Trouble

2008-05-04T22:15:00.000-07:00

Grandma Charlotte's 14-month old Gateway FPD2185W monitor stopped working a couple of weeks ago. A helpful fellow on the Internet said that we might get results by replacing these 8 green capacitors, so I gave it a try, and it worked! He's a genius!

The new capacitors:

Radio Shack Part number 272-1030. ( I had to drive to 3 different Radio Shacks to find 8).

Banished capacitors:

Spring in the back yard.

2008-04-12T12:18:00.000-07:00

Guarding Her Eggs

Early Morning Decorations

2008-03-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

As toilet-paper decorations go, this is the best I've seen. The individual strands were swaying together very softly on a light breeze, and the lighting gave the whole scene an eerie effect that made me forget it was vandalism.

Grandchildren!

2008-03-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

..more Grandchildren!

2008-03-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

...still more Grandchildren!

2008-03-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

Christmas Dinner

2007-12-25T12:34:00.000-08:00

(Socks got his hair back)

Our Poor Kitty!

2007-08-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

Socks seems to have stopped grooming himself, and his coat started matting rapidly.
The cat groomer said all he could do was shave him, so we gave him the OK, and afterwards this was all that was left of our kitty!

New Pictures on Flickr

2007-03-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

I posted my month's quota of pictures on Flickr last Sunday. Some of the pictures are from the Budd's visiting Southern California,

and some of them are from the day trip Mom and I took out to see Bruce and Cheryl and their family.

I got a truck!

2007-03-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

I'm keeping the car, too. The truck is 2o years old, but seems to be in great shape. I actually got a reduction in my insurance by adding the truck, because the multi-vehicle discount on the car was more than the total cost of the policy on the truck!

Humming Bird in Mexican Sage

2006-10-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

August Trip to Prescott and Flagstaff

2006-10-08T22:53:00.000-07:00

August Trip to Prescott and Flagstaff - 2

2006-10-08T22:50:00.000-07:00

August Trip to Prescott and Flagstaff - 3

2006-10-08T22:45:00.000-07:00

August Trip to Prescott and Flagstaff - 4

2006-10-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

Neighborhood Wasp Nest

2006-10-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

Big Neighborhood Wasp Nest

2006-10-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

Robber Fly

2006-10-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

Back Yard Monsters

2006-09-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

Brown Widow (Latrodectus Geometricus)
Jumping Spider
Juvenile Katydid (Scudderia Cuneata?)

Ant Lion

Wasp

Fruit Fly (Drosophila Melanogaster)

Green Bottle Fly (Phaenicia sericata)

Socks (Pestus Exceptionallus)

Gooseberries

2006-07-10T21:25:00.000-07:00

They looked very interesting, but tasted less so.

Morning Glory Update

2006-07-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

The upper tendrils are higher than the 8-foot fence now.

Our Back Yard

2006-07-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

Really Bad Photos, but ...

2006-05-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

I really did see a Hooded Oriole, even if no one else did, and he passed by here again today.

Morning Glory Seedlings!!

2006-05-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

We don't have very many places in the back yard that get a lot of full sun, so we're going to try to grow these behind our back fence and see if they might spill over the top into our yard.

Leaky Board

2006-05-13T22:49:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a fence out back an one of the redwood 2x4s had a lot of sap in it that seemed be loosened up by the heat of the sun.

Unusual Backyard Visitors

2006-05-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

We saw these Cedar Wax-Wings int the mulberry tree in the back yard on 2 different days. I took this picture las weekend. On Friday and Saturday this weekend, I saw a Hooded Orilole in the same tree, but I didn't get a picture either time. I'm hoping he'll show up again tomorrow.

Dwarf Lime Tree

2006-05-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

Trying to keep it's head above a raging sea of Nasturtium pot-mates.

Praying Mantis Update

2006-05-13T22:14:00.000-07:00

For a while we had dozens of them patrolling our potted plants, but this is the last one I saw and that was about a week ago.

First-Born Praying Mantis?

2006-04-01T21:34:00.000-08:00

(Well at least it's the first one we saw).
The Praying Mantis eggs we bought at Armstrong Garden Center seem to have started hatching today!

You can see the egg-case under the tree on the right side.

Breakfast in San Clemente with Bryan and Kim

2006-03-25T18:31:00.000-08:00

It was a little foggy at first, but we had a nice breakfast at the restaurant on the pier.
Kim's sparkly shoes!

Touring San Clemente in Bryan's Convertible

2006-03-25T18:30:00.000-08:00

Later that Afternoon

2006-03-25T18:29:00.000-08:00

Bryan and Kim headed for San Diego, but we decided to hang out for a while.

View through a knothole in the pier that Sandy discovered.

Not Too Happy...

2006-03-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

... about me digging around in the garden.

Backyard Hospitality

2006-03-05T10:03:00.000-08:00

We had an early morning visitor...

Socks wanted him to stay for breakfast!

But having dropped in uninvited, our guest felt that he should not linger.. so he made his way to the garage roof, ambled around to the back and disappeared.

And on a smaller scale

2006-03-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Weeds

2006-03-05T09:59:00.000-08:00

Around the House - March 4th

2006-03-04T19:19:00.000-08:00

2006-03-04T19:18:00.000-08:00

2006-03-04T19:17:00.000-08:00

Anne in Pasadena

2006-03-04T18:14:00.000-08:00

2006-03-04T18:08:00.000-08:00

Fine Food and Family Photo Frenzy

2006-02-05T17:33:00.000-08:00

Exceedingly Large Lemon

2006-01-01T21:50:00.000-08:00

Stopping in Solvang on the way to Mexico from Canada

2005-11-13T11:45:00.000-08:00

(Not me - the Monarch)

Pocket Stallion!

2005-11-13T11:30:00.000-08:00

Moonrise and Sunset..

2005-11-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

At the Cliff House in Mussel Shoals

The Spider that Stole my Sunglasses

2005-11-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

We found this fellow along a road out by the Wineries near Santa Ynez

Keepsakes from Grandpa Bob

2005-10-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

Anyone interested in Grandpa Bob's little birds carved from 21 different kinds of exotic woods?

Or his leather-working tool set packaged in a Samsonite briefcase? If the tools aren't too heavy for carry-on luggage, that might be the most economic way to ship them, but I can help out with shipping costs if needed.

Historic Davis Family Traveling Geranium

2005-09-29T21:45:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember the actual origin of the geranium in the backyard here?
Does anyone wish to have a cutting to grow a great-great-great-grandaughter bush from?

Jenny Practicing for her Trip

2005-09-21T22:12:00.000-07:00

I got a kennel today for Jenny to travel in. She and I figured she should start getting used to it now.

The Homestead is in Escrow

2005-09-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

Well, it sold for $1000 more than I listed it for. I've had the termite inspection, and the buyer's inspection with no big surprises. We've figured out where Jenny will go, and every thing seems to be going amazingly well and very fast! It was just a week ago last Sunday that I first met with Charlie to discuss the possibility of selling.

My next order of business is to find a suitably sized shipping kennel for Jenny, but so far everything I've seen is too small or too big. I need to get it quickly so I can start getting her used to it. Delta says they can sell me one that seems about the right size, so I may drive out to the airport tomorrow night if I don't find one locally.

The Homestead is on the Market

2005-09-11T13:45:00.000-07:00

I signed up with Charlie Dunn today. The cost of houses is just too high around here for me to feel comfortable owning one, since I'm hoping to retire elsewhere. I think I'm going to take some crazy person's money and run. I plan to rent for awhile.

At the Corner of Walker and Pine Mountain Roads

2005-09-04T15:47:00.000-07:00

Porch Light Patio Party

2005-08-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

Bend Oregon Bumble Bee

2005-07-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

On the Road to Newberg

2005-07-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

Friendly morning ice cream

Stopping by Eugene to visit a friend.

We had a little rain

Anybody know what these are?

On the Road to Redding

2005-07-07T21:37:00.000-07:00

Ominous Shadow Over Peaceful Garden

2005-06-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

Tired moth poses on breakroom window-pane.

After the Ant Feast

2005-05-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

Immature Black Widow

Fashion Island Koi Pond

2005-05-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

My Drinking Buddy

2005-05-21T21:14:00.001-07:00

Well, he watches me drink a beer after I clean his litter box. This is "Socks" - my new horizon for the week. I'm cat-sitting while Sandy is visiting relatives in Kansas City. I think he kind of likes me.

Traveling Companions

2005-05-21T21:10:00.000-07:00

Sandy and her Mom beat the crowds to the airport. I'm missing that smile.

Grazing in the Grass

2005-05-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

Seldom seen and little known, the California Rocking Cow was spotted soaking up sun at a La Mirada garage sale on Saturday morning.

Colleagues at company bash

2005-05-10T18:43:00.000-07:00

2005-05-08T23:01:00.000-07:00

After the Mother's Day Barbecue

Wary Wall-Crawler

2005-05-01T16:07:00.000-07:00

Old Soldier Meets Valiant End

2005-04-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Former residents of this establishment may feel some nostalgia and a sense of loss for this trusty Salad Fork, which, (old-age not withstanding), was fearlessly breaking up a mass of frozen peas when it met a tragic but noble fate. The peas had become quite forbidding and stalwart - brooding and gaining strength unobserved since time immemorial in the far recesses of the freezer.

The Fork had long dominated such formidable frozen foes with crushing effect, and braved many sorties into boiling pasta water and non-stick frying pans. The Fork survived its mate, the Salad Spoon, by many years, which disappeared under circumstances that none now remember. It is not clear whether this inestimable loss had any bearing on the Fork's selfless exploits and apparent lack of concern for self-preservation.

Lying in State.

AZ Trip

2005-04-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

I went out to Prescott Valley this weekend to inspect the house for warranty claims against the builder. I hired a guy to do the inspection and write a report since I had so many difficulties in dealing with the construction superintendent last year. I don't have the report back yet, but the gist of the verbal summary was that nothing real bad turned up (yay). Sandy was going to go with me, but some family responsibilities came up, and she had to stay home. It was a very nice drive, with some entertaining thunder showers on the way back.

I made some good contacts. Roger, the inspector, who I think I will hire again if I have any more real estate business in the area, and Ben, the renter. Ben is in the real estate business, and is building what sounds like a very nice home over in the trees by Lynx Creek. Unfortunately for me, he hopes to complete it by the first of the year, so I have to start figuring out what to do about a 6 month lease or just going month-to-month. I'm a little concerned about trying to get a new tenant in the middle of winter.

2005-04-24T18:33:00.000-07:00

Mt. San Jacinto by Palm Springs.

2005-04-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

First AZ Rest Stop on I-10 after crossing state line from CA.

2005-04-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

Some folks seem to value their privacy.

2005-04-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

Desert Flowers between Hope and Harcuvar.

2005-04-24T18:26:00.002-07:00

Thinking about jumping?

2005-04-24T18:26:00.001-07:00

2005-04-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

2005-04-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

Lady and Gentleman? bugs engaged in discrete conversation.

2005-04-24T18:23:00.000-07:00

Tough little coyote - still looks defiant even after loosing an ear.

2005-04-24T18:22:00.000-07:00

Buford's Buzzard Roost in Yarnel, AZ.

2005-04-24T18:21:00.001-07:00

Hotel View PM.

2005-04-24T18:21:00.000-07:00

Hotel view AM.

2005-04-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

Prescott Valley House.

2005-04-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

Windmill outside of Kirkland AZ.

2005-04-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

The Road from Yarnel to Congress AZ. That's Congress in the distance to the left.

2005-04-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

Congress Cafe. Home of "Rose's cinnamon rolls".

2005-04-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

AZ State Rt 60

2005-04-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

I-10 in California

Wildflowers - Antelope Valley

2005-04-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sandy and Mom and I drove out to Antelope Valley to see the wildflowers. We missed the height of the wildflower season after all the rain we had this year, but it was still pretty nice. It was a little chilly in the morning, but very clear and colorful.

2005-04-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

There were only a few poppies left.

2005-04-09T21:58:00.000-07:00

This was about the most we saw in one place.

2005-04-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

Sandy braving rattlesnakes and wind.

2005-04-09T21:54:00.000-07:00

Your typical digital-camera-held-at-arm's-length-couple's-portrait.

2005-04-09T21:52:00.000-07:00

Sandy's turn behind the camera.

2005-04-09T21:50:00.000-07:00

Snowy mountains in the distance.

2005-04-09T21:45:00.000-07:00

2005-04-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

2005-04-09T21:37:00.000-07:00