MOCKUP When I mockup to check for piston to valve clearance or pushrod length, I use cardboard strips to simulate the compressed gasket thickness. I lightly snug down a couple of bolts and save the gaskets for the final assembly. Another handy mockup tip is to wrap...
BALANCING TIMESAVER In the past, I balanced individual parts like everyone else; match all to the lightest, piston to piston, rod to rod, etc. But a few years ago, I started following this procedure: Assign all parts an identifying letter, then weigh and record all...
HOW FITTING On some crankshafts, the pilot bushing bore is undersize or irregular. Driving in a bushing with too much interference would lead to the I.D. of the pilot bushing being too small for the transmission input shaft. Simply mic the bore and adjust the bearing...
REMOVING PIPS Often when parting off a work piece in the lathe, the tool may leave a "pip" or thin ring attached to the work piece....even when using a right-hand cut-out insert or blade tip. Here's an easy, quick way to remove the unwanted "pip" or thin material:...
CLEAN CUT When cutting O-ring and receiver grooves for top fuel hoops, it’s important to have plenty of cutting oil to get a nice clean cut in the heads and block. Instead of spraying penetrating oil all over the bench, we do them in the honing tank and flood the work...
BEFORE COVID AND BEYOND Way before the Covid virus I was concerned with getting infection by customary handshaking. I was cutting or scraping my hands on a regular basis in the shop. To keep any germs from entering my body I used the “newskin” liquid bandage to seal...