I've about got it I think, it's just a matter of getting proficient at typing on it. My only restraint seems to be that I have no way to upload to the university Dropbox, so I'll have to email files and do that from a computer occasionally

get the keyboard for the iPad. that is what i would do, if i were going to be typing entire documents on the thing. YMMV.

evening, gents. evening, tweeze.

I've found I can split the keyboard and I'm getting pretty damn fast. I've backed a project for a really slick case on kickstarter with a keyboard, but that won't come until December.... :/

sid, that is pretty cool.

i just got back from playing poker for 3+ hours. it is going to take me a while to chill out.

Are they really square? We had not talked about making any other than for the 911/914. That's what the original "copies" were for. I'm not selling them, so it's not really up to me. Do you think there would be a market for them?

not so much square, IIRC, but rectangular, yes. friction fit with a rubber shim, again IIRC. it has been awhile.

i'd love a wooden shift knob. the only problem would be the boot. i suppose the existing boot could be modified to fit under the knob....

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OK, that's pretty neat, drilling a square hole. Made me think about another manufacturing oddity, Honda's oval-pistoned bikes back in the early 90s. Honda NR - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'll ask if he wants some as well. Not really up to me. I'll check into the hole as well.

Okay, what happens when one plug fails on a piston like that? Seems like there would be problems.

probably the same thing that happens when a dual plug on a 911 fails. a lot of the ducati motors are dual plug, also. i imaging the burn is not as good, etc. however, i don't think i have ever had a plug fail on me. they were constantly coated with carbon in my triumph, but i don't think that is the same thing.

Cool stuff. I wonder how they got the "rings" to seat well? I wonder if this has any advantages other than getting around the maximum of 4 cylinders rule? And why did they not just make normal pistons in a larger diameter? I think they would be lighter for the same area.

$50,000! That is more than a Desmosedici -- no?

'Sedicis go for about $45K these days, but they started out around $72,500, IIRC.

"The final 500cc race version was capable of developing approximately 130 bhp at over 20,000 rpm."

that is a lot of power out of 500cc engine. wow.

If they were round, yes, but since they are oval, seems that the explosion may be bigger on one side if a plug fails, causing the piston to push down at an angle. Power would be down for sure.

The rods and cylinder + piston skirt will prevent the piston from really going down cockeyed, but it will have more friction on one side and may overpower the oil film.

power would definitely be down. still, how often do plugs fail?

I'm just asking a question, D! :D

My BMW burns oil but not enough to smoke visibly. The #3 plug gets fouled and will cause a misfire after about a year. So I would say they may not fail electrically but they foul and fail to function as intended.

and i am giving an answer. and also asking a question! :D