I discovered that I missed resetting the permissions on the files within the cache_builders/custom directory to 666. I don't konw if that solved the problem. At the same time I deleted the data in the /cache builders directory per gliderdad's suggestion above. Then I cleared the cache again from the cp. My extermal islands updated right away and continue to do so.
But the portal copies of the islands are not updating. The other odd thing is that in the external portal, the times displayed are the server time. I have my preferences set for the -1 offset. All the times on the actual forum postings display correctly with the offset. I suppost that the external island has to post the server time because it doesn't know who is requesting it or if they even have a registration on the board. But the portal copy of the new post and new topic islands is not updating. I have the cache time set at 5 minutes and have waited much longer (about 30 minutes).
