Author: Cecilia Zubler

We started out class by going around and sharing something we learned about or worked on on Monday. Some things we discussed included:

• What is the sand blaster? (it removes paint, rust, and other materials in order to prepare a surface)
• one group cleaned up an oil leak
• one group counted piston movements during a wheel rotation to see what type of engine they were working with
• why wet sand? (prevents overheating and clogging the sandpaper)

Then, we watched a video about motorcycle mechanic and enthusiast Adam Cramer

We discussed the reading for class from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

• Chapter 4:
  • about the tools and equipment that the group brought on the road
    • we passed around examples of such gear
  • how motorcycles gain personality over time
  • the difference between seeing the world from a motorcycle and from the inside of a car
• Chapter 5:
  • Robert’s suggestion of using a beer can to fix a handle vs. John’s distaste for such a solution
  • How the sound of a motorcycle tells you a lot about how it’s running
  • The different views of reality that John and Robert each hold
• Chapter 6:
  • Robert introduces Phaedrus and his views on classical vs. romanic understandings
    • classical is a breakdown of how things work, very technical
    • romantic takes things for how they appear

We started out the class by going around and each student sharing something they learned last week. Some topics included:

• What “running rich” and “running lean” mean
• The design of a carburetor
• A 2 stroke engine vs. a 4 stroke engine

Next, we observed a model of a 4 stroke engine (based on Henry Ford’s Model T) made out of building toys that allowed us to see each step of the process

• intake, compression, power, and exhaust

We then started to discuss the chapters of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance we read for class

• Chapter 1: introduces the conflicting attitudes towards motorcycles held by John vs. the narrator
  • themes: what is best? how do you do a good job in your work?
  • motorcycle references: dealing with an engine that is choking
• Chapter 2: the narrator’s experience with mechanics messing up his bike
  • themes: taking pride and ownership in your work
  • motorcycle references: the role of tappets and difficulties with spark plugs
• Chapter 3: the group encounters a bad storm on the roads and the narrator discusses ghost stories
  • themes: how do the scientific and fantastic interact?
  • motorcycle references: how to deal with adverse conditions on the road and the role of instinct connecting you to your bike