On Thu, Feb 20, 2003 at 10:31:45PM -0800, Bill Frantz wrote:
> At 8:32 PM -0800 2/20/03, Major Variola (ret) wrote:
> >[Aside] I recently learned that back before you needed a license to drive
> >(ca 1930)
> >you would manually adjust the spark timing (!!) according to your engine
> >speed.
> >After handcranking the engine to start.
>
> Yes, and you got a broken arm if you didn't retard the spark before you
> cranked the car. (Hand crank of course)
My first motorcycle, a '47 Harley, had the spark advance on one hand grip,
throttle on the other.
BTW, the concept that people would be afraid to work on their own brake
system is laughable. I've been doing my own mechanics for 40 years. Unless it's
under warranty, I won't let anyone else touch my vehicles. Why anyone would feel
safer letting a garage do it is beyond me, there's one heck of a lot of
incompetent mechanics out there, and even more crooked ones. That's why I
started doing my own -- because I'd had auto shop in highschool and knew when I
was getting bs'd by the mechanic. Got ripped off really bad by one shop a long,
long time ago and figured as much as I hate turning wrenches, watching an engine
destruct shortly after the 90 day warranty for the rebuild and knowing you got
burned is a lot worse.
And yes, I do the new cars too. Electronic fuel injection is really pretty
simple once you figure it out, there are cheap ($150) meters to check the engine
codes when your "check engine light" comes on, and, of course, you need a good
manual. Even better, get a diesel. The older ones are pretty simple and
bulletproof, the newer ones like the VW's are awesome and you can get cool
computer tools like Vag-Com to customize the ecu. Very, very hackable.
Besides which, when you're crawling around under the car it's a good time to
check for those GPS monitors. 8-)
--
Harmon Seaver
CyberShamanix
http://www.cybershamanix.com
