CLEARLY CURTAINS Due to a recent addition of shop equipment, all our machines were moved to make room. To help keep close or neighboring machines from getting each other dirty from flying debris, I used an inexpensive shower liner as a wall between them. Hung with a...
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...
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...
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:...
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...