Reading Assignment
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: Chapters 12-13
In-Class Discussion
Shop Class as Soulcraft
Themes:
- Stochastic arts – include mechanical repair and medicine – work is always variable in constitution because it has not been created by the mechanics/doctors and is not absolutely understood.
- Attentiveness – Crawford emphasizes the importance of this trait rather than assertiveness in the stochastic arts.
Mechanics
- Bearings: Packing an open wheel bearing with grease between the inner and outer races – provides lubrication, prevents seizing. Our motorcycle has caged bearings.
- Swing axle suspension: Allows motorcycle to maintain holding upon hitting a bump – one wheel can go up while the other stays down.
- Shock absorbers in the back – gas vs. fluid shocks (the former uses air, the latter hydraulic fluid). Gas shocks work better upon hard impact.
- Improving performance:
- Double-barrel carburetor – facilitates air intake at high speeds when air flow is rapid, allowing engine to run better at higher RPMs.
- Free-flowing exhaust – better air flow.
- Lightened flywheel – engine with heavier flywheel will start up more slowly.
- Nitride coating inside bearing – minimizes friction and prevents wear.
- Blueprinting, match porting – makes sure everything is within specs and holes align; minimizes turbulence and improves air flow.
- Spring strength – ultimately determines speed of engine in terms of valves opening/closing.
- Signs of wear
- Galling – two metal surfaces fuse together from heat, inadequate lubrication; pieces gouged out.
- Mushrooming at valve tips – occurs at sites of impact.
Lab:
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S.Y.