A must read for the Engineer? I think so… “Unsafe by Design”

Posted on January 8, 2015 by George B.
Unsafe-design

Unsafe-design

 

 

 

 

 

 Are you interested in Engineering?  Do you judge a book by its cover?

Most who frequent this blog have seen some real failures in engineering, at times we simply can’t grasp how it was allowed to happen.  Jack Belk is very much a ‘hands on’ man, and as many who drop in here  know;  that’s where the real learning happens.  We know first hand how little you learn from the text and drawings as compared to dancing with the parts, components, and the whole of it. And Jack has done that for a lifetime.

Jack’s book  ‘Unsafe By Design’.  I think it’s a most excellent read, but you need stick with his style for a bit, and perhaps set aside what you’ve heard from others.  Just like almost all of us, we are products of our environment, and Jack is no different.  As you read towards the middle, you get a better idea of his writing style, his roots and what all has   formed his expert view.

Many years ago, I bought a pocket pistol, I took it apart at least 20 times and marveled at the crudeness. I later saw a review of the same pistol in a Gun magazine. The reviewer talked about the small size, he mentioned the caliber, talked about the fact that it had wood grips.   Never did he mention cheap die cast parts or the fact that it didn’t feed right. Nor the poor finish.  So of course I thumbed through the Magazine, and there I found an advertisement for the same little Pistol.  At that time, I wondered, just where does one go to get an honest opinion as per the safety or quality of a firearm?

I really do think  this  book is a ‘must read’ for any Engineer or mechanic, and it’s a reminder that there are genius designers, and then there are the bean counters who engineer.  The latter a sad note about reality. I do recall being in the drive line tunnel of an an economy car and finding an ‘arm’ mounted off the transmission with pig iron weights attached. At the time I thought it was some type of weight added to counter some resoanance problem? To think this was an ultra light weight car with pig iron weights added? But the car was also known for it’s exploding gas tank when hit from behind. Not exactly an award winning design I guess.

But now.. in a world that embraces the probability of a failure as the measure of things safe? Does anyone think we really need a safe safety anymore? That’s a question that Jack Belk explores, and to my knowledge he’s the first person to explore and explain the difference between genius design, and what the bean counters design.  

Here’s something in the news today that should >NEVER< happen, but it happens all the time, why? I think Jack answers that question with a degree of certainity.

http://www.usatoday.com/…/police-officer-accident…/21267619/

Adding comments here is easy, just keep scrolling down and look for the comments tool. I’d love to hear waht readers of this book have to say.

All the best,

George B.

 

Posted in Critical Thinking | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Witch Doctors

Posted on December 16, 2014 by George B.

Yes, you can keep your Witch Doctor, but the fees he charges are near incomprehensible.

Just another Monolith? 

For all of human history Witch Doctors scheme and draft stories of our demise.. and reasons you need pay them for protection or a cure. But never has there been a worldwide coalition of Witch Doctors  till the UN and their IPCC.

Our clown Josh Fox, did he convince all of Europe that they need depend on Putin? Witch Doctors have so much power.

Posted in Buyer Beware, Critical Thinking, Fighting Propaganda, The New Green Movement | Tagged | Leave a comment

When Do You Know The Argument Is Over?

Posted on December 10, 2014 by George B.

When do you know the Argument is over?
Free-Range-Chicken

When was it you learned of your bias? The concept that we all see the world through our filters and convictions? Are you an expert on warfare, but never been to a battle field? Maybe you think you’re an engineer, but you’ve never turned a wrench?

I really do think there’s two groups of people on earth, those who think everything is easy, and those who think most things not already done are more complicated.

What relationship is there between maturity and knowing your bias? Is it good manners to just look on as the world burns? When is it OK to torch your neighbor’s house to make a point? When is it that thoughtful men did things in a Partisan way and thought it wouldn’t lead to trouble?  It was ACA, and now the CIA?  Is it because they know their opponents are cowards, or that their base will support what history says fails every time?

How many Americans see America as a beast that needs to be carved up? To feast off the carcass, and then?

It was just the other day, I shared some figures shared by another, I think it literally enraged a reader, who quickly found two websites that contradicted that data. Just Minutes later, he explained how I had been snookered, how I was too ignorant to play the game? It took him just minutes to know the game and the reality of it.

I do remember a time, when I was younger, and most things were simple. But at my age, I am skeptical of most things. My filters do suggest it’s wrong when others think it right.  It’s wrong to yell rape just to injure your opponent, and take him out of the ring, like what’s her name did.   But it’s where we get our information that forms our filters that may be a nonpartison question?  It was once history we could count on, but now there’s such a big effort to re-write it.

So let me ask.. If you wanted to peddle your propaganda, what would you call your website? And what would you call the person who went there, and used that information as if it were handed down as the word of God?

Our founders did warn us, that our way of life, our liberties, our freedoms depended on an educated population, And there we need ask another question… Will you allow your children to be educated by those who make every effort to re-write history?

At this very moment, I think the battle is lost, and my filters suggest that all too many have never learned to think.

As a small example, you might visit politifacts.com, and then check out politifactsbias. Just which site will you tout as the word of God? And just what all does a free range chicken eat? And how free is a free range chicken allowed to range?  I do think Evan Sayet best.

George B.

Posted in Critical Thinking, In The News, Survival Skills | Tagged | 7 Comments

Is it worth a Muse? Tim Cook

Posted on November 18, 2014 by George B.
New-Head-Office?

Amonix Head Quarters?

It’s worth a muse:

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple is really into the ‘sustainable’ vision? Apple hired the Activist Lisa Jackson, and they’ll run it all on Solar and Wind? They’ll get those emissions down to a minimum, and paint every Apple building green?

Do you find it ironic, that Apple’s goal is to sell you a new version of the old one every week? It seems its part of their effort to put the cover on tight so you can’t put in a new battery or add more memory you might want or need. But next week’s version has that little bit extra,  and of course all the kool kids will have one, and you want to be cool don’t you?

The Mechanic can’t help but imagine the emissions made in earning the money to buy a new one every week! Can we move the decimal place far enough without scientific notation to measure Apple’s in house efforts to reduce emissions as compared to what they encourage the world to emit? Does the world struggle to own this week’s Apple product, and how big of fire does it take to help earn the money?

If the con men and the marketing people all died tomorrow, who would order all that gang green paint? And Tim Cook, how does he sleep at night? I’d imagine he does so with the heat turned up on high.

GB

And where is Amonix now? Was it just last week, our government was ‘hyping’ the brand? Well, at least Apple isn’t feeding out of the public purse…. or are they?

 

Posted in Critical Thinking, Earth & Energy, Fighting Propaganda, The New Green Movement, Your Wasted Tax Dollars | Tagged | 19 Comments

November 13 2014, Email of the Day.

Posted on November 13, 2014 by George B.

Here’s the email of the day, full of learning?

Our Place of Worship

Amonoliths

From: Matt W

Subject: Screwy ST Head Modification

Hello George, really enjoy your site.

Came across a video of an Indonesian that modified an ST head in such a way to make it low drag. I’m not sure I quite understand this.  Is it a prank or is there something to it?

Have a peek and let me know what you think. I’d surely value your opinion.

Thanks much,

Matt

MY Answer:

Matt, with the time allowed, this appears to be one of a thousand or more ‘free energy’ claims that can be found on you tube.

It’s all very simple to figure, first step is to pick your God, whether it’s Mother Nature, Jehovah, or the ‘strum of the great harp string’, there is a set of laws that hold it all together. The one we need remember is:

“Whatever the device, we never get more energy out than what we put in.” The universe demands a payment, and that payment is never less than no payment at all. Power out is equal to power in minus the losses, and here on Earth, we are rich in losses.

This would be easy to keep straight in your mind, BUT it’s a fact that many Humans want to deceive themselves. Some of us call them Democrats.  Did it all start with fairy tales and our desire to believe? Did you ever lay awake in bed, and wish for all it was worth that Peter, Wendy, and Tinker Bell would drop by and take you to Never Never land? Some of us have never ‘learned’ to let go of that childhood dream. ‘Hands on learning is the mightiest of teachers’.

As I have mentioned, there are parallels between energy and money, and I guess we need note that money is no more than life’s energy, and when it’s not, there is fraud and corruption at work.

Jonathan Gruber is this week’s example, and we really need note that the free energy crowd is only copying what our Government is presently doing. They think you are stupid,  or want to deceive yourself to the point where you need them as your keeper, they of course have the wisdom of the Gods.

Always Remember What Nancy Pelosi said, and remember she is exactly no different. The reason she said “we need vote on ACA before we see what’s in it”, is because she knows ACA is full of losses. But she is totally inept when it comes to common sense, her liberal mind can not grasp and hold the fact that the frictional losses are so great! She was hoping ACA would fly at least until her body came to rest, and being free of worry as per the ethics, her mind free to pitch the myth! And the typical DIYer? We want to leave our grandchildren with the same freedoms we had, we know the promise of security can’t be granted by Government.

The larger scammers are at the DOE, if they didn’t know that Ivanpah was full of losses, if they didn’t know that any machine built that doesn’t provide a benefit to man or beast is a tribute to the Gods. The fact is, there are many who will be richly rewarded for building Ivanpah, regardless of the fact that it will shortly be no more than a scar on the land.

One thing you can bank on, those who vote for the free lunch will never note that any of this doesn’t work, after all, it is their religion. It is ironic that so many of them call themselves secular, and make fun of Christians.

This old scheme has been playing well since man leaned to farm. The pyramid Cheops worth a note? All that wealth squandered to build it, and the treasury emptied and not available for needed things. A tribute to the Gods, and a resting place for Royals? The Pyramids, the tall stone figures on Easter Island, the Fields full of Amonix 7700s, and Ivanpah, they are all Monoliths built by man, and none are more than a tribute to the Gods.

No ethics, no morals, no manners, and they lead the world? The Chinese are left to scrape gum from the underside of their tables. Of course this is another of George’s rants, but History will prove the public purse was squandered, and Jonathan Gruber at MIT says no problem! You are too stupid to take note.

GB

 

 

 

 

Posted in Critical Thinking, Free Energy, Question of the day, Your Wasted Tax Dollars | Tagged | 16 Comments

An Historic Note? Will Ivanpah be referenced in Literature for one thousand years or more?

Posted on November 10, 2014 by George B.
Our Place of Worship

Amonoliths

Imagine if >you< promised a whole pie and delivered one with three Quarters missing! But imagine further…. what if you told the world it would be the most magnificent Pie of all time, and then it tasted like a slug scraped from the bottom of your shoe?

“The Ivanpah solar energy project is generating only 1/4 of the energy it promised and is looking for a $560 million fed bailout to make payment on a $1.6 billion taxpayer loan?”

“Ivanpah has also become notorious for burning up birds in mid flight. Workers call them “streamers” after their black trails of smoke as they fall to the ground”.

The DOE robs you blind through the public purse, and you won’t say a word? They’re no different from highway men I think.

Amonix a previous under performer, did it ever meet the promise? Too bad all the Investigative reporters are dead. But with that said, is it time to encourage our Grandchildren to look at that trade? It seems the world could use a million good Investigative reporters.

Cow Pies out in the field, they’re worth a fortune? All you need do is paint them green. I know a woman who ruled on what was greenest, she helped pick the prize winner. She had no knowledge of green, but her degree in English Lit allowed her to market the occasion  with a special flair.

It was some years ago, I made fun of Jon Ralston in Las Vegas. Jon had invited the Amonix hypester on TV, and I thought he gave them free pass. Once those monoliths got placed in the field, there was the sound of silence! Did Jon Ralston ever wonder why? Did he ever take a moment to look back? One of the Gang Greenies I contacted was frustrated when he was denied access to those Amonix power plants, all he wanted to do was praise the effort and marvel at the monoliths, but it seemed the keeper of the gate didn’t want the limelight.

Before these Monoliths were planted, it was like the circus had come to town, a major assembly plant in Vegas, and it was world news! Those of us who follow the gang greenies knew about that Amonix power plant in Spain, were those Spaniards happy with those monoliths that left as big of scar on their land?  Reporters of our age report on what’s dropped into their in basket, but it seems in also needs to be double spaced, and in digital form.  It need be like pabulum fit for a baby, nothing hard to chew.

We know how necessary the Media is, we need them awake, and not in some narcotic stupor, or outright owned and given their opinions. Do I owe Jon Ralston an apology?

Did he ever look back on those fields of 7700s and ask if they would earn their keep? I think there’s a larger question, and it has to do with even bigger scars on the land. We can guess that those monoliths on Easter Island did little more than exhaust a generation of Life’s energy, did it lead to an exhausted food supply? Was there also the sound of silence once those great Monoliths were all tipped up?

And now Ivanpagh, how did it get built? Is there a single reporter, a single entity that ever went on record to ask, “will this really work?” I did note a reporter at the LA times, she was critical, and shared that the early performance of Ivanpagh was not looking good. Of course the dim-witted, corrupt, and religious left pummeled her, and I wonder if she lost her job? And just maybe that’s what Ralston knows.. does he need to survive living under Harry Reid’s nose?

Today is Veteran’s Day, and a large gift to all Veterans is the promise that a bloated and corrupt leadership at the VA will get axed. But for those who care to note, the DOE is just as broken, and the EPA models itself after a broken D.O.E.

Ivanpah is like a Trojan Horse, those who worship the sun are mesmerized, and I’m not so sure they’ll ever care if it works or not. Those who own the tower are dropping down ropes, and lowering themselves into the public purse.

God forgive the Media and the ‘just pretend reporters’, for they know not what they do…

And one thing you can count on, those who so blindly believe in all things green, also believe in AGW.  Isn’t it ironic that they think ‘we’ are evil, but they as well as conspire with evil men?

GB

 

 

 

Posted in Free Energy, Uncategorized | Tagged | 7 Comments

Huge Chinese Singles: recalling my first encounter

Posted on October 28, 2014 by George B.

During the VN War  years, we visited Hong Kong as a Liberty port. For a young sailor who liked mechanical things, Hong Kong was magic, so much was different, the food, the cars, trucks, buses, trams and more. The water front and harbor of special interest, famlies living on Junks, and many of them quite large.

I remember our ship in the harbor, and a nearby  Junk attempting to pull anchor and get underway. The Junk was maybe 60 feet long, and when the engine started it blew three huge smoke rings, and stopped. Poof! Poof! Poof! I figured it had to be a single, but just how big?  The voices grew louder and louder on that boat, the person at the helm yelling orders,  others on board relaying messages from the person in the engine room.  About 45 minutes later, I heard the Poof Poof, Poof, and the junk was underway, the smoke cleared to a light haze, and the Junk was quickly up to Hull speed. I wanted to go aboard a junk, but I was way too timid to ask.

This Junk was built the first year I visited Hong Kong.

The Chinese singles are all over the Far East, and even some Yanmar engines that were built in Japan. Whether it’s powering a line shafted machine shop, or re-powering a truck for Ag-work, it was always interesting to see what these backyard engineers came up with.

In my later years, I learned of Western formed minds using Chinese Singles to repower trucks that had lost engines, and were too expensive to fix, and Gwyn in Belize sent me a picture of a Truck the local Witch Doctor owns. I guess it’s the name I give hin, as he sells a number of popular medicinal products to locals, and tourists alike. Snake Powder is Popular in Belize.

Belize 077

Notice the reduction, and Imagine the torque delivered to the rear wheels when the manual transmission is in compound low. Note the engine block is still in place, a simple cover over the top of the block. The local roads are said to be bad, so a top speed of 15mph is all you need.

Yes, I’ve been saving an 1125 Changfa for just this reason, but my list of projects is way too long, and my life grows shorter every day. If you live closer to Seattle, and this sounds like a fun project, consider writing me.

This new and never fired Changfa brand engine is a big bore brute, electric start, electrical system, even provisions for lights! And of course, spares and tool kit included.

I have no interest in shipping quotes, but engine is still sitting on the original pallet bottom, and I will assure it gets loaded into the back of a truck, or to a nearby loading Dock for Pickup. I need the space.

If you are a wooden boat fan, here’s a power plant with that special old boat sound!

It would cost a lot to deliver this engine to Seattle if it were legal to do so today, a relic of the past, but parts will be available for many years to come.

Update, 10/30 looks like this engine has a new home in Southern Oregon, Tom D, Has an 1125 powered generator, and wants another one..

Thump, Thump, Thump. $899 cash and carry… If you were here, you’d know I need the space.  There are secrets to making these engines reliable, a flexible link in the intake and exhaust and remote mounting is a good move, mounting fuel tank off the engine another great idea. All easy to do, and done by those who know.

email me if you like…. george@utterpower.com.  And please… don’t tempt me with the perfect boat or old truck, I’m feeling weak in the knees already.

Some of my pages on Viet Nam https://www.utterpower.com/asian_work_horse.htm

George B.

Posted in DIYer Skills, Engines, Projects, Slow Speed Engines, Things I like, Vehicle Design | Tagged | 4 Comments

For Sale: Complete Lister generator with PMG for sale!

Posted on October 26, 2014 by George B.

It’s all a little south of Seattle.

 

This item sold in 30 minutes, with back up offers, it has a new home in Oregon..

Listgen_PMG

I am buried in projects, and this must go soon, it’s blocking part of the shop door, and there’s stuff outside that needs to be moved in. This was from a batch of good clones.

There’s a number of concerns I have when buying a 6/1, a major one is shipping cost, another is, what if you get a bad part? Poor flywheels are a major concern. The better dealers in India will send you a spare, but the shipping costs can be very high.

This particular machine was a known good runner, a seasoned block, known good flywheels, fitted with new parts, and there’s even spares. This is a stationary set up, heavy Eye Beam frame, electric starter, cooling tower, AND a brand new PMG! Lots of extras on this machine.

You’ll need to check timing, and do a minimum amount of checking compared to a kit. If you find any part is less than a good part, you’ll get a spare from me..  but you’ll get a lot of spares with your purchase.

PMG, drive pulley, Belt, Transfer box, fuel tank, filters, can’t imagine what else you’ll need.

Many people want a PMG, so no need to take it as part of the deal..

You’ll pay a good bit of money just for the steel in the generator’s base.

I’d be quite expensive to ship what’s here, you’ll love the cooling tower.  I’d much rather make a local sale, but if you send an agent, I can load it into a pickup truck or trailer. The starter  was made by a local Fabricator, owner said it provided good service. The generator no longer needed when an off grid family abandoned their property due to job loss. I bought it knowing its history, and place a higher value on it than an unknown new one.

Just a note, Listers are open flywheel engines, they’re dangerous, so what you are buying is an unfinished kit, you’ll need bring it up to OSHA safety standards on your own..  If you are not mechanical, I don’t want to make the sale, unless you have a mechanical mentor in your life.. you’ll get a copy of my CD that covers a lot of Lister topics..

$2995.00 for all, and the opportunity to own a new and totally tested PMG.  Price a kit engine, and shipping to Seattle, and you’ll know this is a good opportunity.

send me email at george@utterpower.com

 

Posted in CHP/ Co Gen, Engines, Generators, PMG, Slow Speed Engines, Small Diesels, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

ST5 generator head for sale in Bloomington IN.

Posted on October 26, 2014 by George B.

John L is a retired Engineer, and wrote a few articles here on Burning Wood. John is moving south, and attempting to lighten his load.  He say’s he’ll make somone a good deal.

Of course we all know, the best deal will be had for the guy who lives close and has no need to fund a shipping Bill. I’d love to meet John face to face, he understands energy and machines far better than most.

 

 

Posted in Generators | Tagged | 1 Comment

Kiss Ideas. When is KISS too KISS? Or when is a Critic too Critical?

Posted on October 10, 2014 by George B.

I was thinking about this today, and thought this might be a good example:

Notice how high the eye is above the plastic hole? This extra length acts as a fulcrum, and the amount of force applied to it could eventually break out the plastic hole. This might never happen with a bungy cord, but what if someone attaches a line to it? What if that line gets wrapped around an axle?

We’d likely never have the what Ifs…. if that plastic part was cheap to replace. But if we are concerned, how do we improve on the DIYer design?

tie down

tie down

Now true DIY KISS should cover the majority of our worries, and it need be as SIMPLE as possible.  The rubber piece is a #4 stopper with a hole in it stock, these are bought from Lab supplies, and do come in black. There’s a seller on ebay that sells them by the pound cheap. The ring is a heavy duty key ring, you buy them by the hundred count. The piece the ring is supported by is a hardware store 1/4 by 20 thread ‘connector’ you can make two pieces out of each connector.

The ring is our ‘fuseable link’ With a static 60 pound pull, we are just starting to deform the ring, remove this force and the ring is not damaged, but apply another 5 pounds, and the ring will pull apart and assure your plastic hole is not broken.

I posted this for several reasons, first, I think Polaris is making some amazing products, the new RZR 1000 is close to Alien Technology, and I think these holes they supply will find a dozen uses. I’m thinking of using one hole for a CB antenna. The hole idea? It’s an old idea, older than the expanding drain plugs used in outboard boats.

If you have a Son or Grandson interested in mechanical things, it might be fun to get him interested in designing a handy thing, and attempting to sell same on ebay.  A tiny drill press and a hacksaw could be all your young one needs to start a business.

George B.

       

Posted in DIYer Skills | Tagged | 2 Comments