Reading Assignment
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: Chapters 10 – 11
- Shop Class as Soulcraft: Chapter 4
In-Class Discussion
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
- At the beginning of Chapter Eight, John realizes that there is a strange noise coming from his motorcycle. He checks the tappets, which can only be done when the engine is cold, and finds that the black plugs are covered in soot.
- John realizes that the stoichiometric balance of the oxygen and fuel is off due to the high altitude. The engine is too fuel-rich and because fuel is a hydrocarbon this creates a build-up of soot.
- He fixes this problem by switching to standard jets, from the oversized ones that he was using.
- Theme: One of the major themes in Chapter Eight has to do with dividing a motorcycle up into two parts: components and functions, and from there dividing components into the power assembly and running assembly. This ties back into the discussion of the Romantic versus Classic view of objects and machines. Pirsig stresses the importance of the hierarchy in dividing things into their basic parts.
- Theme: Chapter Nine brings up the idea of logic, specifically inductive and deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning is the idea that observations lead to general conclusions. Deductive reasoning is the exact opposite, specifically that general knowledge allows us to predict specific observations.
Calculations
- We measured the torque required to make the clutch slip. This is an important calculation because at a certain force, the clutch will slip to protect the engine and keep it from overheating. We measured the force required to slide a canister resting on a wooden block past another wooden block. If there are multiple sets of plates in a clutch you can get multiple torques at which the clutch will slip. This allows for a larger torque in a smaller engine.
Lab
- Top End: Took inventory in preparation for mounting the carburetor onto the engine
- Bottom End: Prepared the oil pump for testing
- Electrical: Measured the centrifugal spark advance using computer software
- Frames, Forks, and Wheels: Sandblasted the nacelle, wet sanded the mudguards and primed them, and disassembled one of the braking mechanisms
E.W.