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Friday, November 30, 2012

They had the parts!

Yesterday morning, we went into Mazamitla to go to the bank, and on the way back we stopped in at a little auto parts store to see about getting new brake pads for Sherman. There's another store in nearby Valle de Juarez, but we figured we would stop at this place because we were driving right by it.

I had brought the old pads with me to make sure they compared if by some chance they had them in stock.

Kevin, waiting for Sherman's parts.

I explained what I was looking for and had to write down what type of vehicle chassis it was for the girl. She then disappeared into the back with the old parts in hand. It took her a while, and then she came out and went to the mechanic next door and they both went in the back for a while. Then they came out with a box in hand! Sure enough, they had the new brake pads in stock.

Sherman has a 1995 Chev P30 chassis and on the box it was marked 1990-2000 Chevrolet microbus. But the new pads were undoubtedly the proper ones.  And the price? 270 pesos ($21.60). I couldn't believe it!

So yesterday afternoon I completed the passenger side because it was in the shade. This morning, I'll do the driver's side as soon as I'm done posting this because the sun won't move around to that side until later this morning.

These three guys have been working in the field next door all week harvesting the corn by hand!

Two of these big white birds flew into the tree.

Anybody wanna buy a bag of peppers?


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16 comments:

  1. Wandering MikeNovember 30, 2012 at 10:38 AM

    Great luck on the parts. Sometimes it is good to drive an older rig that is pretty standard "underneath".

    The corn harvest also looks interesting. It would be interesting to know the process after the harvest. Is it dried on the stalk? Is it ground into cornmeal or masa someplace? How's it get to the end product we might buy at the tortilleria? Or maybe it is for farm animals and not human consumption.

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    Replies
    1. Kevin ReadDecember 2, 2012 at 9:00 AM

      The corn harvest is interesting. Some fields are done by machine but most of the ones around here are all manual labour. The corn is generally used for animal feed around here so it is left on the stalk until it is old and dried for the most part, then cut by machete and left to dry a bit more in the field. Then they came around and stacked it. It will then sit there until they come around with a grinder/milling machine where they will hand feed the stalks into the machine and grind it up and put it into sacks. We saw this being done in March/April this year for last year's corn crop. I will try to get more info from Sal as to what crops of corn are used for the tortilleria's and what is used for animals when he comes back.

      Delete
  2. our awesome travelsNovember 30, 2012 at 12:02 PM

    Thats awesome that you go the parts right there. Sure does pay to have an older vehicle in Mexico, better luck at getting parts than a new one thats for sure.

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    Replies
    1. Kevin ReadDecember 2, 2012 at 9:02 AM

      Yes, it sometimes does pay off to have an older vehicle here.

      Delete
  3. Kenny And Angela's AdventureNovember 30, 2012 at 4:50 PM

    Thats great you found the right parts..

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  4. John's Florida BlogNovember 30, 2012 at 4:53 PM

    I told you those pads are cheap. Great that they had them.

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  5. Paul and Marsha Weaver OCT. 17, 2009November 30, 2012 at 5:47 PM

    That is amazing that they had your pads on hand. Great news.

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  6. GerryNovember 30, 2012 at 6:16 PM

    Now I know a mechanic in Mexico I well be sure to stop by I have a few jobs that I need done.LOL

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    Replies
    1. Kevin ReadDecember 2, 2012 at 9:07 AM

      He is cheap labour on our unit but expensive on other units, lol!

      Delete
  7. living.boondockingmexicoNovember 30, 2012 at 7:50 PM

    Mike hit it on the head when he said it is a good thing to have an older vehicle in Mexico, especially if it is from the U.S.

    I guess your Spanish is coming along, ordering parts at a parts place in the hills.

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    Replies
    1. Kevin ReadDecember 2, 2012 at 9:09 AM

      Yep, older and more common, helps!

      We keep trying to use our Spanish as much as possible. Can't wait for our Spanish lessons with you and Juan.

      Delete
  8. Contessa December 1, 2012 at 9:41 AM

    Isn't Mexico great?

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  9. CroftDecember 2, 2012 at 12:58 PM

    That is the same chassis we had on our 1994 Chevy motorhome. I sure preferred that 454 Chev to the new V-10 Ford. We got more power and better gas mileage from it. Sorry Ford.

    ReplyDelete

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