[SEL] blunders and goofs (from the past)

[Mike Royster]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mike royster" <mr at carolina.rr.com>
To: "Royster" <stevesam at earthlink.net>; "Steve Royster"
<steve_royster at hotmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2001 11:11 PM
Subject: hard lessons


>
> Our topic for discussion tonight is:
>           "Why a dirt floor is beter than concrete in a shop"
>
> 1.  Never have to sweep it, twice a year just rake it.
> 2.  Never worry about stains from oil or antifreeze, they just blend in.
> 3.  A dirt floor won't break your 5hp Economy when it falls!!!!!
>
> What a day!!!  Went out to the shed about 1:30 to work on the Worthington,
> but decided to crank some engines for background music.  First the Alamo,
> then the Jaeger, then the Economy.  Greased and oiled everything up,
checked
> the drip rates, and made sure the Economy was scotched properly on the
> plywood as over time it walks towards the edge on the compression stroke.
> Once I was assured all was well I started working on the Worth.  I took
the
> latch off and cleaned it, then reversed it.  I turned my back to the
Economy
> and started cranking on the Worth.  I pulled it about 3 times when i heard
> this incredible crash and felt the ground shake, and things went strangely
> silent.
>
>   I turned to see the Economy lying on the non-mag side of the floor of
> shop, against the Gulf Oil Corp sign and the wall.  Not a pretty sight.  I
> shut off the other motors and returned to exime the damage to all.  Of
> course it squashed the Gulf sign a little bit and it bent my oiler some,
but
> nothing appeared broken.  The big pulley was buried in the dirt as was the
> muffler.
>
>   Evidently what happened was before I would push the Engine back on the
> plywood every 30 minutes or so, in order to keep it from coming off and
> tipping over.  About 4 days ago, I placed paint paddles on all sides of
the
> cart wheels to keep it from hopping and it worked.  I noticed as it was
> running today it bounced little, but was staying on the plywood.  What I
> must have failed to notice is it must have been moving on top of the cart,
> cause off it came.  What if I had been oiling it or working on that side?
> Dead man.
>
>   How does one raise a 1000 pound motor from it's side by himself?  Not
too
> good!  Nothing to hook a chain fall to, and no help around though it would
> take 4 or so to right it.  So I went to the workshop and got my 5 ton jack
> and picked up some cribbing and bricks.  Long story short, I jacked and
> cribbed til I got it to the breakover point then set it upright.  About 45
> minutes of VERY careful work.  Well, now it was time to see what all broke
> and if the flywheels were bent or broken.  On first look everything seemed
> OK, so I slowly rotated the flywheel and still had compression.  I pulled
> the plug and spun the flyweel and to my suprise it was true!  No cracks or
> breaks anywhere I could see.  Put the plug in it and it fired right up, no
> problem.  The oiler is slightly bent, but I might can fix it.
>
>   So, it was a crappy day, but a wonderful day!  I thought I was the most
> careful motorhead around, but I got a lesson today.  Play hard, work safe;
> and pay attention to the small details!!!
>
> MR
>
>
>
>