Neal

They printed your degree backwards?! Shouldn't that be in the venting discussion? Seriously, congratulations, that is a big step.

A Vision Ahead AVH SR-1 This mask isn't as common, I have the only one I've seen and I've never seen one for sale in a LHS, so for more information see the company's website: Hockeyfaceshields.com The mask combines a lexan shield with a black wire cage. I've worn this mask for 15 games now. It is on my main helmet and is used almost exclusively - 99% of the time. Fit: A Vision Ahead only offers one size for senior masks. I have a hard time finding masks large enough for my big head, so I was dubious it would fit well. The mask is only just large enough but it works. The fact it fits me, when a large Bauer 8500 is just big enough and several large iTech models are too small makes me wonder how this would fit a smaller head. 6/10 - for lack of sizing options. Protection I took a puck to the shield in my first game. I remained as beautify as I was before the game and the mask survived with only a rubber residue or scuff that buffed out easily with a microfiber cloth. I've been skating with some beginners who are less aware of their sticks and been clunked several times without injury or damage to the cage. 10/10 Weight This cage is not light. It is noticeably heavier than my previous Bauer 8500. 7/10 Durability The shield remains clear and almost scratch free after 15 games and several impacts. The cage is like new. The straps and chin cup are like new as well. 10/10 Vision I really prefer the vision of this combo. It is nearly as good as wearing a shield alone and much better than my 8500. 10/10 Fog Resistance The manufacturer claims there is no need for fog resistant sprays or creams. They recommend cleaning with 409 and a wet sponge. I've only had fogging once and it was 95 and 75% humidity outdoors and inside the rink it was 75 and the humidity was insane. Everybody's water bottles were sitting in pools of condensation. 9/10 Conclusion The price is inline with other high end masks. The fit works for me, but I'm dubious about more average sized heads. The visibility, durability and fog resistance are excellent and the protection has been perfect so far. Given that the manufacturer offers a full refund if it doesn't fit this mask is definitely worth trying if you are looking for cage protection with visibility similar to a shield.

CCM Vector helmet V08 size large. This is my main helmet and it has put all my others on the shelf. I was coming from a CCM 1082 EPP helmet. I bought this one based on the reviews here and wanting to switch to VN foam. I've worn it about a season and a half. Fit - I find the basic shape of the helmet similar to the 1092 and the 1052 helmets I wore previously with two exceptions. The V08 is a big helmet. I'm normally in the upper range of a large helmet. On the 1092 and 1052, both are larges and are set to nearly their biggest setting. The V08 is closed all the way to its smallest size and if I didn't wear a skull cap and sweat bar, I'd could have used a medium. As well this helmet is seems rounder than most, which fits my head well. Both the 1052 and 1092 took some breakin time to eliminate pressure on the side of my head. This helmet sits low on my head, which is unusual for me. The top of the face opening is right at my eye brows and I have a tall forehead and skull. It comes down equally low in the back. I like this feeling now as it feels more protective, but it took some getting used to. I like the tooless adjustment on this helmet as it seems very secure. I set the adjustment once and it has never shifted. 9/10 Ventilation - This helmet has good airflow. My 1092 was pretty poor in this area. I felt a noticeable improvement when I switched to the V08. 9/10 Protection- As I stated before, this helmet sits low on the head and offers very complete coverage. Thankfully, I haven't had to test its impact protection in any major way. I haven't noticed the stiffening of the padding that Chadd mentions. 8/10 - but based mostly on the impression of protection Weight - Very similar to my previous EPP helmets, but I hang a cage off the thing, so weight isn't a big thing for me. 9/10 Durability - My helmet looks used, but only has cosmetic damage. No major scratches anywhere. I'm impressed by the screws and other metal hardware. These have stood up to rust much better than my previous helmets. I've tried several masks on this helmet and the screws have always come free without excessive swearing. 10/10 Conclusion - This is a good option in helmets. If you have a big head, you need to include this helmet in your list. Definitely not a helmet to order online though as it fits differently than many helmets. It is both bigger (medium = large in most other helmet lines) and simply rounder if that makes sense. I'm very happy with this helmet and will probably replace it with another V08 when it is due.

Harrow 300 series tapered composite blade Curve: #4 (Recchi) Shaft: Harrow 300 series Grip Shift Time Used: 4-6 months Stickhandling/Receiving Passes This blade is the composite blade that I've found feels closest to wood. I'm a wood fan and have only experimented with composite as the selection of quality wood blades is decreasing locally and I don't like to order wood blades online. This blade seems to have a little extra inertia to it that makes knocking down hard passes or errant shots easier. Part of this is because it is a heavier blade. Definitely not a blade to go without tape though, as the finish is very glossy and has no grip. 8/10 Shooting This is my favorite blade for shooting. After 15-20 games it remains stiff and doesn't torque during the shot motion. 8/10 Weight/Balance This is a heavier blade. I tried it in a TPS XN10 shaft and the combo didn't make it through warmups. The stick felt blade heavy, which I don't like. In fact I prefer blade light as it gives me the illusion that my poke checks are quicker. A little more weight up at the handle would likely have resolved this but I haven't tried it. 7/10 Durability I haven't broken this blade yet. I've used it for 15-20 games and it is still very usable. The toe, top and bottom of the blade have several chips that I have had to epoxy and tape up, but this isn't unusual. The toe chipped quickly, in the first couple games, but has remained in similar condition and the stiffness hasn't deteriorated. I play defense almost exclusively and my blades wear fast. I normally get 3-5 games from a wood blade. Past non-pro stock composite blades have lasted 8-12 games. 9/10 Price These blades are an excellent bargain at their regular price. With the discount code that Harrow offers from time to time, they are by far the best blade dollar for dollar on the market. 10/10 Intangibles I like the clear labeling of the pattern, with curve depth, lie and curve type. I'd argue the pattern 4 is more of a mid-toe than a toe, but close enough. Conclusions If you aren't a gram whore, you can't beat the value and performance of these blades. As an indicator of how much I like them, I bought 8 when they were on sale. Overall 9/10

As an update to my earlier review, I've found that about 3 years or 40-60 games is the lifespan for an Oggie ergo grip. I bought 4 about 1 year before my earlier review and I've had to replace 2 in the last year. I broke both of them in the middle of the curve in the grip. I still strongly recommend them. I've never had one fail early in its lifespan, only ones with lots of use and wear. I won't use a stick without one.

Kor Shift 1 - size 11D Time used: 3+ years (2 pair, 1 for about 1 month and another for the remainder) Reviewer: 6'3" 250lbs, beer league defense Fit Out of the box, these skates felt too narrow in the forefoot area and the insole felt very flat. After heating the skates, standing in them and shaping them with my hands, the fit is very good. These are the most comfortable skates I've worn in 10 or more years. I never have issues with pain or discomfort. I do have to keep them tied tightly to feel like the support is where I need it. 10/10 Blade/Holder - I've only rarely changed from the neutral setting on the Pitch holder. After a couple early attempts at both +1 and -1, I realized I really like the neutral setting and haven't varied. The holder is plenty strong for my size and leg power. I never feel it flex noticeably, something I can't say for my Razor Bladz and E-Pros on previous skates. The holders have taken several hard shots without anything beyond cosmetic damage. I've never had to replace a holder. The steel is holds an edge very well. Durability has been good. I had to replace one blade on my first pair as it broke in the area where the front bolt goes through. I also had to shim the bolt on the front of one pair as the hole in the holder was too large. 7/10 Weight - These skates are heavier by about 20 grams than my previous Easton's according to a scale. On my feet I don't notice a difference. 9/10 Protection - I'm quite happy about the protection from these skates. I've taken several hard shots without any negative impact beyond some pain. I can't scientifically state they have kept from being injured. That said, I find myself using my foot to knock down passes and dump ins that are headed towards my feet and with a foot off the ice. I never would have done that with any of my previous skates. 9.5/10 Durability - My first pair failed quite quickly. Within 2 weeks of purchasing them, the graphite weave on the right skate cracked right inline with the back bolt on the inside of the holder. The crack was narrow but about 1.5" long. My second pair lasted nearly 3 years and then cracked in the same area. It doesn't seem to impact skating, but you can push in on the cracked area slightly. Beyond the cracks, my skates' exterior have held up very well, with little wear after nearly 3 years of use. You won't mistake them for new skates, but I felt they had at least another year to 2 years in them. As well, the liner and tongue appear nearly new. 7.5/10 Conclusion - The Shift 1s are the skates that fit my feet the best. I have a higher arch than most and these are the only skates I've worn that didn't require padding in that area for comfort. After the first pair, durability has been above average compared to my previous 4 pair of skates (Easton CompAir, CCM Externo E60, CCM Pro Tacks, Micron Air90). The only real negative is the cracking. At their original price, I could not recommend them. 2 pair to make it through 3 years (and one in 30 days) isn't good durability. At the price I paid for them, they are an excellent bargain. Overall 8/10

SubliTWILL, if this was my car, I'd take it to a mechanic that I trusted and have him inspect it. A good mechanic should be able to determine if there was any catastrophic failure (bad oil filter, gasket or seal failure, oil pan crack, etc) that would have dumped out all the oil. And he should be able to do it without breaking down the engine in any way. If you have proof that the oil didn't leave the engine, you have pretty good proof that it wasn't in the engine in the first place.

I have an 04 Frontier, so our vehicles should be very similar. My Frontier has a V6 with a clutch fan. These fans turn on as the temperature increases. Given that your truck warms up as it sits (i.e. no airflow unless the fan turns) I'd say the clutch fan has failed. RockAuto has one for $90. But before you spend that, check to make sure your rad isn't plugged with dirt and bugs and your coolant is topped off. On some clutch fans you can test them pretty simply. Drive your truck until the temperature comes up to the normal middle of the gauge. Stop the truck, turn off the engine. Grab the fan blade and try to turn it. It should at least be difficult. There is a fluid in most clutch fans that thickens as it heats up. That is what drives the fan. Once your engine is warm, that fluid should be thick, making it hard to turn the fan because it is engaged with the belts.

oops, double post...

the bad battery is probably sulfated. Try running it with a different battery if you have one.

Odd how being able to go back to a job can seem so good after being laid up isn't it? Some people would envy you being able to skip work for that long, but it drives me nuts to not be productive for too long and from the sounds of your posts it did the same to you. Glad you were able to make it through this concussion and I hope it is your last. My daughter drives me nuts on a regular basis, but every once and a while she does something that makes me realize she is a pretty damn good kid. Case in point, 2 weeks ago she decided she wouldn't ask for gifts for her ninth birthday party, instead she asked her friends to bring donations for the local food shelf. She followed through on Saturday and we'll be dropping off a big bunch of groceries later this week. Now if you'll excuse me, I have go upstairs to tell her how proud I am of her.

If the Leafs had an actual player with speed and size, like say Blake Wheeler, putting him on Kessel's line could be valuable. But a minimum level of skill is required and Colton Orr doesn't reach on his best night.

The Marquis is a nice car and one of the last affordable, RWD and V8 powered vehicles available. Very reliable and durable too. Decent mileage for such a big car too. But lots of senior citizens own them for many of those reasons, so most people perceive them as a geezer's car. The color of your Merc isn't doing you any favors. That same car in black or silver would look a lot less like Grandpa's car. At least you don't have a padded vinyl roof. I wonder what it would look like with the area from the pin stripe down painted a charcoal gray or black.

I have to agree, in fact I have a set of those rims from a Marquis on my 68 Mercury Cougar. Nice, cheap alternative to after market rims. That plus a decal from a 90's Cougar rim has people doing a double take all the time.

Oops. I'm always mixing those 2 up. And to be honest, I think the Oilers would willingly ditch Marc-Andre for a bag of pucks too. but the Pouliot who played for the Wild never impressed me. I've probably seen at least half of his games in a Wild uniform, so 40+ games and I can't recall a single one where I came away thinking he had impacting the game positively. Rarely negatively either, but that is damning with faint praise.

Montreal fans enjoy your recent addition of a player with limited talent, a poor work ethic and no grit. Marc-Andre Pouliot isn't good enough to be on an AHL team. I don't know Latendresse well enough to comment on his abilities as an NHL player but provided he doesn't bring a virulent, contagious case of the H1N1 with him to the Wild dressing room, the Habs got robbed.

My daughter's MRI, PT, CT and bone scans were clear as were the lymph node biopsies and tumor site tests. She is now considered low risk and won't need chemo or radiation treatment. I just hope I'm posting in this thread every 3 months for the next 5 years that the scans continue to be clear...

You'd better do a little research. Just yanking the fuse might also fire a check engine light. That might pull out timing, leaving you down on power and unable to peel the tires a bit here and there.

I just bought a Civic Si 2 months ago, but not after test driving the GLI and the TDi. The GLI is basically the Jetta GTI, just a bit bigger. The TDI though has some serious balls. I'd definetly look into one of those. People are claiming 50 mpg and that thing can MOVE My dad has been driving diesel VWs for 20+ years and has a 2009 TDI Jetta now. He is pulling down 46-48 routinely with a heavy foot in a mix of city and fast highway driving (80+ mph). And he has only about 8,000 miles on it. His experience is that mileage will improve by 10-15% after 10,000-15,000 miles once the engine breaks in. His last TDI, a 2000, had 280,000 miles on it when he sold it and is still on the road.

I skated on 3/4 through 7/8 depending on ice conditions. I adapted pretty quickly to the FBV. I think I was on 90/75. I actually went back to 3/4 for the summer as a training aid. I figured I had to work so much harder for my speed and lost my glide so much quicker on the the 3/4 that when I went back to FBV for league games I'd at least feel faster. It might be a placebo, but those work too.

I'd have to agree, not much resale value on that one. Those years of the Mustangs are not popular and show no signs of becoming popular. But if you really like it, it should be pretty simple to work on and modify. Parts specific to that model will be harder to find than any other Mustang, but drivetrain, brake and suspension parts should be easy to find because lots were sold and many of the parts were common with other models. It has the 5 lug wheels, so that is nice. that V6 won't make a ton of power and won't have much in the way of performance options. A small block ford fits with the right headers and lots of patience.

No, it was so hot the belt expanded. JR, if it wasn't anyone else, I'd have to call BS. Wow, that is hot. I wonder if a belt with kevlar fibers or other not so thermally sensitive materials could be made available by Blackstone for skating hotbeds like Dubai or JR's garage.

Are you thinking the belt slipped? Are the pulleys the belt runs in geared?

So why the under stroke? If you don't mind me asking... Class rules?

Lets see now. SBC, probably a stroker because no one builds them with a stock stroke any more. Aluminum heads (only cheap guys like me still run iron), belt driven distributor, electric water pump, vacuum pump (must be a big cam and lots of compression), dual carb tunnel ram with provision for 2 stages of nitrous, 1 & 3/4" headers (thermally coated of course). This all means I'm drooling and really jealous and probably about 850-900 hp on gas alone and then up to 1000-1100 with both stages of nitrous. Am I close?