Waterbury Clock: Spring-Driven Regulator

The Cuckoo clock got me started -- I'm really interested in how these mechanisms were devised and constructed, and my next chance to see this was the US-built Regulator Clock Below.

You can see the clock spring [Dark steel against the black background makes it hard to see] at the bottom of the movement.

The symptom: The clock wouldn't wind
The ultimate case: The winding shaft couldn't retain the innermost winding of the spring.
The fix: I used a file to sharpen the tooth on the winding shaft to engage the spring's innermost winding, which had a small hole to accept the tooth. I also removed some excess oil which had dripped onto the spring [probably from above when the clock was oiled] that made the spring very slippery, possibly missing the winding tooth. In the process, I discovered that the clock was a Left-Hand wind -- it seems to have been designed this way. With a full wind, it can power on for about a week! This is quite a bit more than the Cuckoo clock which needs almost daily winding.

Clock ticking well with a slight diagonal motion on the pendulum swing

Black Forrest Cuckoo Clock Repair [Regula Movement]

Over the holidays, I began repairing a family Cuckoo clock which was around since my Aunt was a little girl. The clock is very simple and well constructed to be modular and relatively easy to work on. It is the modern [Post WWII] equivalent of traditional clocks dating back to the late 1600s. Brass Gears and the Movement Frame are stamped and then the gear forms are cut [not completely clear on the process]. The gear train is assembled using a special fixture -- I didn't have access to any of this for the tear-down.

Cuckoo Clock with Roof and Rear Panel Removed: Cuckoo lifting wire should be flat, adjusted slightly towards the Cuckoo to follow the left bellows swing

Strike Ratchet Gear Assembly. [Ratchet Side Faced Down -- Middle Gear in Photo]

Strike-Gear: Ratchet Tooth attachment [72 Teeth]

Something had sheared the ratchet tooth away, leaving a burr, and little material left to engage.

Ratched Engage-Tooth [After filing]

Side view of the Movement. Pendulum suspended from the wire on the left of the shot.

Cuckoo Repair Links:
http://www.clockworks.com/clock-repair/clock-repair-help-4.html
http://www.cuckooclock-repairs.com/simple.htm

Cross fingers and try rebuilt Fuel Injectors?

While taking a look at my local Mazda dealership, the red car wouldn't start -- I had to tow it to the repair shop across the street and the diagnosis was 1 bad fuel injector.

The labor was quoted at 4 hours, but the bulk of the cost was from original Porsche Factory Fuel Injectors:

Instead I tried Pelican Parts for some rebuilt injectors from GB Re-manufacturing -- we'll see how they do tomorrow. [4 rebuild injectors = $200+ with seal kits sold separately]
It also looks like this is a popular item to list on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/porsche-944-fuel-injectors

Concern with New Injectors:

-> For a car this old [going on 30 years] the stock parts may have been sitting in storage/inventory and degraded

Concern with Used Injectors:

-> Shorter lifespan and if re-manufactured, possibility of missing original equipment spec.

[Updated Jan. 2015]
Final Verdict:

I've been running the rebuilt injectors for over a year now and no problems!

Sailing Supplies

Working on boats can be fun, but there are many expensive things to slow you down. Part of the problem is getting specialty items from established "botique" places such as:

West Marine
Svendsens (Alameda, California)
Others?

For rigging and skilled tasks like splicing, harness building and other such pursuits, these shops are often your only place to go, unless you know someone skilled in these arts. I've recently started to follow Youtube for examples of people splicing, braiding and otherwise performing for the camera.

If you're looking to repair covers and harnesses (as I now am) here is a relatively cheap Online spot to pick up nylon webbing and D-rings:

http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/

I'm finding that the small Brother sewing machine that I purchased, may not be up to the task of sewing through nylon webbing and canvas. Time to investigate new alternatives !

Huangpu River, Shanghai

Looking at Shanghai Pudong from the West

Hanging Bean Building

 

 

 

Tetrahedral Element - reminds me of FEA modeling

"Hanging Bean Building" from the Huangpu

Clutch Pedal Hits the Floor -- Removing Air from the Clutch System

After not being driven for 2 weeks and then left on an inclined surface, I went to drive the 924s one morning and found that the clutch pedal hit the floor.

No fluid inside on the carpet and no fluid spotted inside the engine compartment.
Bleeding the clutch has proved quite difficult so far. First I tried the pedal pump method, but was unable to get this to work.

Next I consulted an online video for a similar BMW system where the mechanic injects fluid from the slave cylinder bleed screw -- this didn't work in the case of the 924s. The small bleed screw doesn't allow much fluid in, and is difficult to close effectively from underneath the car.

My next step is to pressurize the reservoir and drive the air out the slave cylinder bleed screw. Up to 20 psi is said to be safe for the master cylinder and slave cylinder seals. The trick is finding or making the appropriate cap that has an air-tight fitting for pressurization. I just ordered a generic cap from this source:

• http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Porsche-356-914-924-928-Brake-fluid-reservoir-CAP-OEM-1-year-Warranty/94910489

My plan is to drill a hole in the center of the cap, attach an air fitting (1/4 inch or 3/8 inch pipe thread, secured with epoxy or glue) and then pressurize the reservoir. The reservoir must be full and I should be ready to open and close the bleed screw to get this method to work. I have an assistant, and hopefully this process will work.

Update: It turns out that the clutch master cylinder seal had blown after all. There was no detectable fluid -- other that the fluid that I later spilled trying to fix the problem. In the end since I couldn't get the car to shift, I had to have it towed to the dealer and all parts replaced. [> $1000 to fix]

And I have a spare cap.

China's Architectural Rise

I am always amazed when I have a chance to visit China -- while so traditional on one hand, it seems to be outpacing any other region in terms of skyline architecture.

St. Regis Shenzhen (442 meters, over a quarter mile high)

Jin Mao Tower Shanghai

3rd in a grouping of 400m + buildings in Shanghai

3 Pillars of the Shanghai Pudong Skyline

Shanghai WFC with Park Hyatt and Observatory on top

"Jeans" Building in Suzhou