Bucko and the Flamboyant Johnny Lue

by Randy Hendrix

May 30, 2001

1. Restarted strand #2 E.M.S. coil. No fault indications.


2. Like Indiana Jones in search of lost treasure, I entered the tomb-like underground dwelling, which houses the underbelly of the truck scale. It seemed as old as time, or at least circa 1970. As I descended into the wet and damp , dreary room, I noticed the last step on the stairs would surely give way with the weight of a person of larger stature than I and I thought to myself, "This is why I was chosen for this mission". Never letting my guard down as danger is always near, I proceeded to the faulty pump unit. I found the 110V submersible pump to be running electrically, but not pumping one teaspoon of the foul, dark, wet liquid known to us in the business as steel mill water. As I grabbed onto the stiff hose to pull the mighty beast out of its dark, murky home, I felt the grating beneath my feet give away and the grating disappeared into the bottomless pit. Realizing that I was next and not wanting to fall prey to what lies beneath, as well as not wanting to lose another leg to yet another water-related accident, I hugged that large hose like it was a Mexican Senorita, quickly pulling myself out of the depths of the death pit which tried to swallow me. As I restored myself to the cold, wet floor, safe again, I ascended from the pit that tried to claim me if only to give another account in the life of "MECOMAN", the industrial electrician.

In short,

a) Mech. needs to pull the pump out.

b) We need to order a new 110V submersible pump.

c) Mech. needs to make a new grating and repair the stairs.

d) And be careful with the grating gone due to the water, you cannot 
tell where the floor ends and the hole begins.