Author: Rupert Peacock

Wednesday

We are going to have a philosopher come a week today, then hopefully an expert on combustion the Monday after spring break. We also have a fluid mechanics expert lined up too.

 

Stay healthy folks!

 

Carb: Moving and cleaning carbs

 

Electrical: WARNING DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN OR CROSS-THREAD SPARK PLUGS! Otherwise adjusting the timing of the spark to just before top dead centre, and soldering tail lights.

 

Top End: Ordering parts for the alternator

 

Clutch: Starting the terrier

 

Detailing: Sanding and Priming. Found out that the front wheel and front fender move together, but the rear ones don’t.

 

Frame: Glen had a look at the frame because there seems to be a crack, but Glen is happy and that it’s Triumph’s fault not ours.

 

By the end of Spring Break, read to the end of Part 4.

 

Book discussion:

19 – No motorcycle references. Philosophy – There is a dilemma between the subjective and the objective. However, Phaedrus merely gives up on the dilemma and creates a third option, claiming that the question regarding quality is an invalid one. We like the idea of thinking outside the box when going into the arena – the idea of the left and right horns. P. 239, “classic is about understanding,” “romantic is about seeing”. Robert plays around with different definitions of quality. One as the idea of “goodness” and another as “beauty”.

 

20 – P. 249, we get the impression that Robert is leaving Phaedrus behind. Now, his new obsession seems to be quality. He does a really wacky thing where he replaces the Daoist philosophy with quality. The result is a new dilemma between Eastern and Western philosophies. Comments on the metaphor of climbing a mountain and the avalanche.

 

21 – We get a lot of plot and Chautauqua. One particular detail on p.260: “pioneers are inevitably mess-makers”. Are they pioneers? They left the road behind and are making a mess…

 

What is coming up is particularly relevant for Gideon (the philosopher that’s coming to talk).

 

Rupert Peacock

• Joseph Henry – first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
• He invented the Telegraph, Electromagnet.
• In 1831, he transmitted “Long Distance Electronic Current”

 

“I’m going to be talking about sparks” M. Littman

 

Taylor – Carb + detailing learned how to use the sandblaster (had to troubleshoot sand blaster)

 

Jen – We began to work on Jon’s master plan of using gasket compound to stop the bolts from leaking… hopefully

 

Andy – We are still cleaning. We have to re-seal the inner timing cover on the green motorcylcle. It is really important to make it totally clean before re-sealing.

 

Daniel – One of the forks in the transmission has come apart so we have to re-assemble that

 

Kate – We had a little play around watching the piston move up and down and then oiled the piston

 

Reese – Used a strap wrench. There were threads inside a bush on the stanchion that were puzzling.

 

Anna – Depending on where you put the key on the rotor, you change whether you’re powering the motorcycle with a battery or energy transfer.

 

“A battery makes it easier to start the bike. The magnet is a six-pole magnet that creates a current. The trick is to fire when the current is greatest to get the biggest spark. If you miss the window where there is current, you won’t get a spark. This highlights the importance of timing. FYI, doesn’t matter whether you fire on positive or negative.” M. Littman

 

Benjamin – There was no ground-breaking news. Continuing to wire and solder with the aim of making the taillights work.

 

Cecilia – Needed to sand blast a piece before welding because you need electrical contact. Started to dry sand a tank so that the primer would apply well.

 

Macey – Saw an engine that Jon had milled for demonstration.

 

Rupert – Had a look at the evolution of the shape on the barrel and cylinder over the years.

 

Kaixing – Ordered a set of stanchions.

 

Daphne – 2 side taillights only have one wire coming out of it. Figured out that some of the lights ground themselves automatically.

 

Hien – Starting to work towards the fender. Looking at cutting to shape and size and drilling holes into them.

 

 

Prof. Littman’s background is not in motorcycles, but in spectroscopy, or the behaviour of atoms when they are excited. He is, however, best known for his work in tunable lasers.

 

Spark Demo: We saw an adaptation of how the ignition coil works in a motorcycle. There is no spark until you slide the outer coil over the inner coil.

 

THE SPARK IS THE STRIPPING OF ELECTRONS AND INVOLVES HEATING UP THE METAL. IT IS THIS HEAT THAT IGNITES THE GASOLINE.

 

Bud Light Demo: You can see what chemicals are present in a reaction based on the light that is produced. With this in mind, you can use fibre optics in an engine to see what’s happening inside.

 

Alternator Demo: The iron core is key to creating the voltage.

 

Rupert Peacock