Helping to rebuilding a friends 12/2  (new crank, bearings, pistons/rings/liners, camshaft etc), But have run into a binding problem - crank is difficult to turn with one con rod torqued down (haven't got to the second one.)

Followed the book and torqued down the rod nuts to 55 ft/pounds then backed off one and checked with a feeler gauge - only .004" - recommend .004" - .006" - so does this one require a shim or is it good and just torque down"

I'm also in a quandary about how to properly set the end play in the crank so the roller bearings are adjusted properly (we adjusted the number of gaskets at each end and then tightened down the set screw for the center roller bearing).

Got something mucked up - any assistance would be greatly appreciated



On a side note, there were no timing marks on any of the new parts (cam, idler or crank), ended up drilling our own timing marks.



Cheers, Fred

There is a big difference between concrete you walk on and concrete that's hanging over your head.     Fiber reinforcement additives are awesome - carbon fiber might be a little overkill.

Now we need to pray for no typhoons or earthquakes for a month or so during curing.

Fred

Great day today, pumped (poured) 34 yards of concrete for the roof of our upstairs addition (no one hurt, no blow-outs and hit the right amount of concrete).  Anyway, while lookin' at all that steel i bought being buried in concrete started thinkin' about how much the price of steel has gone up since we built the first floor in 2000.  back then we paid something like $275.00 per ton for rebar - when we started the walls and columns in july it was $900.00 per ton and when we bought the steel for the roof a coupla weeks ago it was $1400.00 per ton.  I thought the price of gas and diesel was bad, hell they don't hold a candle to steel. 

Just some random ramblings about the cost of things.

Cheers, Fred

Sometimes it Feels like the edge of the earth, but it is Saipan.  Type into google earth "marianas country club saipan" - we're in the "boonies" to the south, nice spot to live if you've a good inverter, batteries and a 'roid for power - (solar coming soon).

Good luck Chad on your lister hunt, wonderful machinery.

Cheers, Fred

 Power plant may explode but don’t panic
Tuesday, 19 August 2008 00:00 By Gemma Q. Casas - Variety News Staff

Here's a link to the full story;

http://www.mvarietynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9442:power-plant-may-explode-but-dont-panic&catid=1:local-news&Itemid=2

Hey Bob, great photos - the solenoid clamp will be an easy fabrication - and great insurance.

Here's a picture of the general setup - 6X8 pull boxes mounted overhead one each for ac and dc - plan on adding meters etc at a later date. The temp probe is mounted at the upper outlet and still trying to figure out the overspeed sensor setup.



given our collapsing power situation, I'm much more motivated to produce power ahead of maintaining the aesthetics of the engine (mind you I would like to, maybe when the power situation isn't so critical).

Wired my solenoid and switchgage thru a Murphy 117 tattletale - and a basic ignition switch at startup - momentary start energizes the solenoid - ignition wired thru the tattletale maintains "hold" on the solenoid until the switchgage needle closes the preset contact and releases the solenoid and shuts down the injector pump -works well.  Mounted  the solenoid on the #2 cylinder injector pump so it's out of the way and doesn't interfere with the compression release.

Cheers, Fred

This morning the power went out from 0100 to 0400 (found out from a friend) then again at 0800 to 1300 and again at 1600 to 1800. Was in maintenance mode changing water filters. UV bulb and finally adding water to the batteries during the time that island power was back on.  Noticed the Fault light was illuminated on the inverter so checked the panel to see what was wrong - low utility voltage so even with utility power available the inverter wouldn't switch over to utility power and charge batteries, batteries were gettin' low - utility power was crap so I needed to run the roid to charge batteries.

With the cooling fan thermostat roached (my bad - burned it up during the installation of the auto shutdown solenoid) and needing to charge batteries found an even better method for controlling the engine temperature that keeps the temp spot on;



Boy those San Miguel beer cartons are a real life saver

My wife has finally seen the light - took her a while to appreciate the inverter - even longer for the roid but as the grid continues to collapse she's finally decided that the "iron bitch" isn't just an expensive toy but a welcome member of the family.

Cheers, Fred