Continuing Thread: What Are You Fix-It'ing Today?

[Dixie]

I replaced my swaybar end links, plugged a tire, and then repaired the three fingernails I broke doing that.

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Please explain what the jewels actually do? I've always been curious.

I'm a gentleman so I won't answer that

[jrj3rd]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I'm a gentleman so I won't answer that

Incredibly durable bearing surface. Prevents wear with a minimum amout of very light oil.

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Please explain what the jewels actually do? I've always been curious.

Originally Posted by jrj3rd

Incredibly durable bearing surface. Prevents wear with a minimum amout of very light oil.

Yep, synthetic ruby is used as a sort of durable bearing surface in watch movements.

When you think of the "gears" in a clock or watch these will be made of metal and each one has a sort of axle, each gear needs to be precisely positioned relative to the next so that they can mesh perfectly. To hold the "axle" securely the synthetic ruby is used since it can be made to a very precise tolerance (so that axle isn't rattling around) but is also extremely durable and makes a low friction bearing surface. The "jewel" has a hole in the center to capture this "axle" and hold everything in place. (side note: in watch parlance the gears are called "wheels" and the axles are called "pivots" just to make things more confusing).



In the image below of the watch movement I was working on you can see a jewel pretty much dead center, this is the jewel for the pivot (axle) of the aptly named "center wheel" which you can see peeking out directly below it. If you look hard you can actually see the hole in the center of the jewel and the bit of "axle" visible there. So basically anywhere you see a purple jewel on a watch movement there is something rotating directly below it.



There are actually a few uses for jewels in a watch movement which are different than what I am describing above (in the balance and pallet fork) but that is more of a footnote... mostly jewels are used as described above. Last but not least, generally speaking super cheap watch movements have few or even no jewels (they use a metal to metal solution instead) so a high number of jewels became synonymous with "good watch." Broadly speaking this is true since a highly precise and highly durable watch movement will certainly be using jewels, but it led to some makers adding extraneous jewels for no purpose beyond saying they have more jewels than the other guy.

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by Tishabet

Yep, synthetic ruby is used as a sort of durable bearing surface in watch movements

Thank you, your post was very interesting and informative.

[Brian 162]

Replaced the control valve on my water heater.

[porsche930dude]

Power went out yesterday with the snow storm. 20 hours or so. Brothers boss generator didnt start. I cleaned the carb and it ran but went wide open. The governer wasnt doing anything. We all figured the goveroner gear went bad inside. Took it all apart and it was fine. Got it all back together and adjusted the arm and it was fine again. Kinda odd because it seemed tight and by the corrosion on it didnt look like it had slipped. We changed the oil. The hard way Anyway now he brought his sons generator because he thought it seized up. It isnt seized up but backfires like crazy and rips the cord from your hand. The flywheel key and valves seem fine. So I suspect the plastic came gear has slipped. Probably going to tear down that one tomorrow. Maybe after i investigate how off the cam timing is.

[A930Rocket]

Helped a buddy tow his (1997?) Land River home. Fuel pump went out.

Came home and washed the 330. Pulled the new used fenders off to roll the inner fender lips flat. Then sanded and Bondoed a few small dents on one of the fenders and passenger door. I’ll finish tomorrow..

[mthomas58]

Originally Posted by bugstrider

Wow, impressive work. Did you bend those verticals? They look nice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, got the aluminum balusters on Amazon.

Thanks!!

[A930Rocket]

Found and fixed a few more small dents on the 330 front fenders. Replaced thd AC belt and swapped the original steering column flex joint with a solid joint.

[porsche930dude]

I got that other generator running again. It was the compression release on the cam stuck.

[911 Rod]

Not today, but I found another project for my list.

[rsrguy]

Needed some comfort food after another 2 weeks of a cold... probably covid, but who cares anymore... am I right?
Anyway I cooked up 2 gallons of some bolognaise from scratch with beef, elk, pork, homemade from the garden pasata and marzanos.... 7 hours and almost a quart of cab... it's awesome. I dug out my pasta roller mill jacked it onto our kitchen aid and made a big mess of pappardelle... i finish my bolognaise with heavy cream not milk... Dinner was amazing and I slept like a babe...

[URY914]

Made myself a handle for the sliding door to my shop. It's about 10 inches long. I welded a few 3/8" bolts to the side and drilled a few holes. in the door. Rattle can flat black. Done.

[A930Rocket]

^^^^ Looks great!

[GH85Carrera]

My rain and freeze sensor died. The outside unit quit talking to the inside unit. I looked at a replacement outside only sensor, and it was more than a full inside and outside unit. So I got both, and replaced both just a few minutes ago.

It is nice to know I can trust the system to not come in weather below 34 degrees and if we get more than a 1/4 inch or rain. Both values can be adjusted, but I left the freeze sensor at the default, and the rain sensor down at 1/4 inch of rain. It was all just unscrew and install the new parts. Easy peazy job.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

My rain and freeze sensor -snip-

This is for your irrigation system I assume?

Rainbird?

You know......at one time a few years ago I was trying to offer some advice to someone looking for work. I told her she could offer a service where she serviced rain sensors only and stay busy all the time.

Of course we don't have or need freeze sensors. But our rainfall is so inconsistent having an operational rain sensor is very helpful!

They are required for all new systems but not (legally retroactive) required on older ones.

Servicing one is not hard work. You could easily put together a business model where you offer an annual check and service. Options could be once a year --- or more often.

We do have plenty of irrigation contractors but I bet the subject of rain sensors hardly ever comes up unless a problem arises. This would be a nice pro-active service for property owners.

[A930Rocket]

Stripped all the paint off the roof on the 330 and primed it. If you looked close, it was crazed. Now with everything either replaced or sanded down and primed, I’m debating what to do on the rear flares I did a couple years ago. They look like crap and it’s causing the car to be raised up in the back, due to tire clearance. It was the first time I’ve ever done any kind of metal work and welding. With the rear fenders finished, I’ll finally get it to Maaco for a track car paint job.

Mocking up the dimensions of the flare and what I will need to cut out and raise.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by rsrguy

Needed some comfort food after another 2 weeks of a cold... probably covid, but who cares anymore... am I right?
Anyway I cooked up 2 gallons of some bolognaise from scratch with beef, elk, pork, homemade from the garden pasata and marzanos.... 7 hours and almost a quart of cab... it's awesome. I dug out my pasta roller mill jacked it onto our kitchen aid and made a big mess of pappardelle... i finish my bolognaise with heavy cream not milk... Dinner was amazing and I slept like a babe...

I bet. Do you hand cut the pappardelle or do you have a wide cutting attachment. Mine only does fettucine...

[rsrguy]

Hand cut.. mine only does fettuccine as well.