Can you help?
We are looking for volunteers. If you are
a classic bike fan and can provide any of the following :
Journalism/Writing
Technical Information
Events/Race News
click here and send
us an email, we do offer incentives for published work.
|
|
|
|
Molegrip the mechanic
called me into the workshop one morning. "Boss" he said,
"I just can't shift the flywheel on this scooter thing"
(he had a problem with anything Italian, especially scooters).
I don't have such a problem, being utterly cosmopolitan in my approach
to what are these days referred to as PTWs (Powered Two Wheelers).
To me, anything with two wheels and an engine is worth a second glance,
and as I pointed out, this particular Lambretta was made in Spain.
"That doesn't alter the fact that the flywheel is stuck"
he grinned. I looked at the offending article, extractor wound up
tight, and the hammer lying on the floor below it. "You've tried
hitting it with that have you?" I asked. He nodded gravely.
I turned and pulled my favourite 4lb lump hammer from a drawer in
the bench. Molegrip frowned. Carefully positioning myself for a nice
easy swing I addressed the extractor with the lump hammer as a golfer
addresses his ball. "Stand back" I advised as I began a
long, slow swing.
The heavy hammer made good firm contact with the centre of the extractor,
the pent up energy of the hammer transferred itself to the wound up
extractor with lightning effect. The flywheel sprang from the shaft
taking the hammer from my hand as it went and flew straight into the
oil drain tub under the bench.
The 4lb hammer hit Molegrip's leg, and as he hopped about feigning
agony, he slipped in the oil splashed from the tub and fell upon the
floor, writhing pitifully.
I refused to be moved by his theatricals "Clean up that oil before
you carry on". I observed over my shoulder as I left the workshop,
"it's a health hazard, oh, and put my hammer away won't you".
The moral to this little tale is of course, that one good blow with
some weight behind it, is worth a hundred inaccurate taps. It isn't
the best way to treat a crankshaft, but in this particular case it
was coming out anyway, so we could check it for "truth".
By the way, Molegrip got no compensation for his injury
- but I bought the drinks after work.
| Comments |
| Jonno 5th March 01 | G'day sport. Nice site.
|
|
| Add Your Own Comment |
|
|
 |
|
