What did you do today? (2013)

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Luke,

I've only just read your post, so I hope this isn't too late.

Shortening an existing Coil Spring will make it Stiffer; so there is no point cutting it.

You need thinner wire and/or more coils [not less] and/or a larger overall diameter to produce a softer spring.

MichaelG.

Can confirm what MichaelG said.

Shorter spring = harder spring

I lowered my 105e Anglia by cutting 2ins off of the front springs, and that made a significant difference to the ride.

Resorted to having a new standard set reset 2ins shorter.

The cut springs worked a treat when I eventually converted the car and raced it at Kyalami.

Geoff - Daydreaming about my youthful escapades.

Hi Michael and Geoff,

you're both quite right, I also have had a couple of cars lowered by cutting the springs, and the ride is much harder. This was all the rage in Queensland when the ink on my license was fresh, even though it wrecked the ride of the (street) car by any sensible standards. It was a cheap modification you could do to have your car stand out and look a bit different, hence the appeal at the time!

I didn't explain fully what I was doing, but the reason I had to cut is so that I could have room to loosen the nuts holding the spring on, and therefore create a softer setting. The nuts were right at the end of the rod, and it took quite a bit of compression just to get them on.

So although the spring in question is now shorter, it has (almost) the same length of travel, and therefore is much softer overall, and has room to adjust in both directions. Total force to move the valve is now about the 180g mark. Still a little high, but much closer to where it should be. I mistyped on my earlier post, it was originally 400g! The "textbook" figure is 100g.

Regards

Luke

took my good ladt down to hospital fo a op.... can we now get rid of this boreing thread

Did a bit yesterday.

Finished welding up my vacuum chamber (I think, it hasn't been tested yet).

Separated and cleaned up the port faces from my previous post.

Wired the mill computer power button up to the machine control panel so I don't have to climb underneath every time to turn it on and off. Replaced the BIOS battery as well, which needed doing.

Generally tidied things up in the shed and found the floor again. Machines no longer covered in brass.

Also planted some mushrooms!

Today I'm going to see if I can get an order in for some bits to make a QCTP. Is cast iron a good choice for the main post? I am thinking a 3 inch cube of the stuff is the way to go for a Warco 1232. I'm planning on steel tool holders to go with it.

Edited By Luke Graham on 25/10/2013 14:50:51

Well Springbok

| " can we now get rid of this boreing thread"

You don't HAVE to read it!

It would seem too that 66,500 (plus) readers will not agree with you.

N

Edited By NJH on 25/10/2013 14:57:42

Paul,

I converted my BS0 to stepper control a while ago. I used an Oldham coupling to connect the motor to the head and it works flawlessly. I have been using a division master to control it but recently built one of Steve Wards indexing controllers, significantly cheaper than the DM and better facilities.

CB.

Gave the Boxford shaper a fresh coat of paint this week.

P.S - don't for one minute think this thread is boring although maybe should be archived at the end of this year and a new one started for 2014.

Yes following the replys to my questions a week or so back the thread will be locked on 31st December and a new one started. What does make it boring is posts about non ME related stuff. If people are bored with it either don't read as Norman suggests or post something interesting and on topic.

J

[quote]you're both quite right, I also have had a couple of cars lowered by cutting the springs, and the ride is much harder. This was all the rage in Queensland when the ink on my license was fresh, even though it wrecked the ride of the (street) car by any sensible standards. It was a cheap modification you could do to have your car stand out and look a bit different, hence the appeal at the time![quote/]

Wow, back in '68 I too in NQ lowered my '52 FX like that... the traps were all over me again.

I worked on my 1930 Ford street Rod last night, and removed the fuel pump from my Lister Diesel project...again!

Edited By HobbyNut on 25/10/2013 16:53:19

For a relative novice, much written on this 'ere fread is interesting and informative. Do I read correctly, that Springbok will be locked up on 31st of December ?

Dennis

Yes, Dennis. In the cell next to Papillon.

Martin.

What does make it boring is posts about non ME related stuff.

JasonB

Not everyone is a model engineer! Surely there is space on a forum like this for ideas outside strictly model engineering?

And this website covers MEW as well as ME.

It has been noted before, by at least two previous MEW editors among others, that quite a lot of people who take the mags are into engineering but not specifically the making of engineering models.

Well, if I have to report in on today's activity in order to qualify, I spent the day machining tongue & groove joints on boards for my new (wooden) garage doors.

Jim

I was refering to things like painting the spare bedroom, visiting the mother in law, taking the dog to the vets, etc As per Springboks post.

I'm quiet happy for it to include anything engineering/ home workshop related. The whole reason I started the thread was to get people to say what they had been upto in their sheds/workshops, that is why this thread is in the "Work in Progress and completed projects section. If you read the second paragraph of my opening post you will see I wanted it to be a place where people could show what they had been making.

J

Edited By JasonB on 25/10/2013 20:46:55

People don't seem to find the suspension discussion boring so...

I could never understand the 1980s obsession with raising suspension (unwise...) or even winding bits of plastic into the coils (ruin the ride for no gain).

Neil

Jason

Well the thread title is "What did you do today? So that really could be anything. In my view the thread is predominately " workshop related" so the odd " took the dog for a walk" is legitimate and, in truth, doesn't bother me much. I guess you could name your new thread " What did you do in your Workshop today" which might produce more focused contributions but there can be no assurance of that other than extreme moderation or banning " off topic" posters.

( I would be quite pleased to hear of your day unblocking the sink or scrabbling around fitting a new bog seat as that tends to by my experience of life whilst your superb daily efforts leave me open mouthed in admiration . It might be comforting to know that you too suffer from time to time!)

A days shopping with my wife tomorrow - but hey - I will enjoy that too.

Regards

Norman

This thread is what it has become, not what it was intended to be. Such is the way of these things. Personally, I appreciate getting to know a little more of the day to day of our contributors. Not least it helps to understand why A is knowledgeable about X or why B can take approach Y.

It's also one of the 'friendliest' long running threads and it would be a dire shame if it descended into the same mire as as some others.

Neil

With that in In mind yesterday I finished of the hopper for a Baker "ball hopper" Monitor, quite weighty with not a lot to grip and 5.5" dia.

Also updated the Galloway build over on MEM Forum while watching GP qualifying

Edited By JasonB on 26/10/2013 09:40:19

Not knowing a "ball hopper" from an Anglia front spring even if they walked up with an identity card, still enjoyed looking at the photos and hopefully deriving some benefit from them.

Dennis

I have no idea what Jason's building either, but he's getting through some very pretty castings.

neil

Something similar to this though the one I'm doing is a 4HP not the 2HP illustrated. Basically its a vertical Hit & Miss engine and the ball hopper on the top held the cooling water.

20 iron and one bronze casting, all very crisp