I suppose the primary reason for the fuel solenoid is to prevent the afterfire bang. It also could be said that a properly working fuel solenoid reduces the volume of unburned hydrocarbon emissions into the atmosphere, but I think that aspect is just a "consequence" of how the solenoid quells afterfire. I need some help from some other "seasoned citizens" on this: I don't remember the backfire/afterfire being so prevalent in the days of my youth. Seems to me that we were always able to just shut off the engine (which meant in some cases, bending that springy metal tab over to touch the exposed spark plug cable) and we never had to worry about getting blasted. But my dad and uncles always shut the throttle to idle speed before killing the ignition, and that's how I was taught to do it. But I also remember you could buy 103 octane rated "High test" at any gas station, and regular grade gas of the day was around 97 octane (no such thing as "mid grade" or "plus"). Did the incremental reduction (since the early 1970s) in pump gas octane ratings (made possible by gov mandated lower compression engines AND elimination of tetra ethyl lead from the formulae) finally reach the point where it was guaranteed to produce an afterfire bang every time the engine is shut down? Lower octane fuel ignites at lower temperature than high octane fuel. Anyone want to share their memories (please, only if your birth date is earlier than say..........1955)....:^)

Kim - Won't have them for the summer swap, but I'll have plenty of all blue and all red to share, come the fall or spring swap. Plus Purple Majesty. Just remind me when it comes around. After the swap my initial shipment came in so my garden is like a forest of spuds. I ended up with 5 lbs of seed spuds in all blue. I'll also have LOADS of J-chokes if anyone wants any. We're still keeping you and hubby in our prayers. Stay strong! Doors are opening and I pray they bring a miraculous outcome...I know it's hard....but know you have many here pulling for the two of you. Wanted to post a quick update. As I've been posting, I've been experimenting with the grape cuttings, to see how late they would root. I've been told they have to be taken in the late fall or winter and I've been told they won't root any time but early Spring, before they come out of dormancy, so I decided to prove that to myself....I took a few cuttings on Easter, April 12th and they have rooted beautifully, but also took cuttings on April 26th and they are beginning to root like crazy too. I'm not sure, at this point, what kind of success rate the 26th cuttings will have, but they are beginning to shoot roots everywhere. Had a 9-1 rate with the 12th cuttings, so I'll keep track of the 26th cuttings. This was the bagging method AND I pinched off any larger leaf growth to force energy back down in the stem. They are now starting new leaf growth. Did the same with some new kiwi cuttings. Had to pinch out new growth from the kiwis, but they appear to be pushing roots. I don't know the success rate, but they all look good so far. I'll post again when I know. Oh bless her heart, I was in a swap with another GW'r and she sent me some REALLY Special cuttings. She started them before she sent them, so I walked her through the process, but she did such a great job! When I received the packages of cuttings, one of the cuttings already had roots over 1/4 inch long. If that isn't just amazing!!!!!!!! I love cuttings!!!!!!! I'M HOOKED!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR OPENING THIS DOOR MARK!!!!! If a new thread is opened I'll post some more pics... Oh I want to see more pics of others roots and successes. If anyone needs help posting pics, please let me know, it's very easy, I'd be happy to help. Toni

I use the screen capture utility Picpick for things like that. It is recommended on gizmo's site. Push the print screen key and it opens, select capture region and hold down the mouse key to draw a rectangle around the puzzle and you can print it, paste it, save it or other options.

We had lots of trouble with mice getting in vehicles when we lived on a farm, so did my mom and dad and in vehicles we drove every day of the world. It was worse in the winter.... and we did not keep any type of food in our vehicles....once we were going to town in my Cadillac and it just wouldn't run, step on the gas and it would just bog down. We made it to Walmart, pulled in and my husband took the top of the air filter off and the whole compartment was just stuffed with sunflower seeds from the bird feeders. My dad used to find dog food stuffed different places in his truck, along with chewed wires, they can do a lot of damage to a vehicle.