Konrad

Not in my day. After the Brown court all but abolished the apprenticeship programs I can't say what the scene looks like today. That is why I said they are hard to find.

All the best

NM2K

My Feedback: (14)

abolished the apprenticeship programs? When did this happen?

I was offered a mechanics apprenticeship by the Dupont Company, but refused it because I wanted to be a Millwright. That was in 1969.


Ed Cregger

Konrad

All but. With the hiring quotas that most corporations instigated, the impact of apprenticeship programs was all but gone by the end of the 70's

Looking at the IAM web site I don't see a qualification for "Master". I suspect you are correct.

Ladyflyer

My Feedback: (2)

Apprentice programs are still alive but the finished product for the last 30 or so years is a watered down version of the previous standard. BTW, "Master" Machinist is pretty much the old term for "Journeyman" or a graduated apprentice. (Time and abuse of terms tends to blur meanings) The Brown Court ruling established a ratio of Apprentice to "Master" machinists AFAIR.
Yes indeed they make small bore hones but I try to avoid them for bearing surfaces in many non-ferrous materials. Personal preference is for single point diamond boring.

However, when resources are limited we make do with what we have and that is the magic. I am sure Earl's rods worked and worked well.

Konrad

Points well taken. I seem to recall that the only guys we called master came from the old world (most were eastern Europeans). I now suspect that term had a very different mean over there, back then.

All the best,

Konrad

Ladyflyer

My Feedback: (2)

From my experience, country of origin is not positive indication of "Master" status.... Far from it.

Konrad

They produce duds just like the rest of us.
My though was that they might actually have a formal Master vocational type program, or board review process. I don't think the IAM does this.
I will say there are journeyman that are more journeyman than others!

Cyberwolf

My Feedback: (4)

Konrad being a Journeyman Machinest for over 40 yrs I can't agree with you more about some being more of a journeyman than others but we won't go there *LOL*
Sunnen makes pin hones for there honing machines that would work well for a rod, but as lady flyer stated you wouldn't want any stone deposits imbedded into the rod or bushing. Thats why you use the correct stone for the material that your honing to prevent that sort of thing.
I'm sure the factories use a Diamond lap of sorts, the new rods I have seen in the better engines have a cross hatch, so That tells me they have been honed with something.
To do a bushing and have it hold up it should be burnished before machined to size.

Jeffie how far out of round is the rod, remember the rod only rides on the top of the crankpin and a person would be supprised at how much clearance a new rod will have on the crank pin. Alot more than I thought they should.

Ladyflyer

My Feedback: (2)

They must have exported ALL of them

jeffie8696

I think Iremember it being .18mm out of round. Significant.

Cyberwolf

My Feedback: (4)

Yep thats a mile .003 -.004 a person can live with but .007 is to much.

jeffie8696

Took it to my buddy and he agreed it was too far out to be run. Iasked him if he could install a bushing and he simply replied "ya know Ihappen to have a piece of titanium sitting around " so I guess it might be getting a completely new rod.

Ladyflyer

My Feedback: (2)

A somewhat heavier new rod if he makes it to the same dimensions as the aluminum rod

Konrad

Now he could take the opportunity to make a diamond cross section rod to lower the windage and aid flow around the rod as it moves across the face of the inlet port. I also don't think I'd want to risk heat build up on the journals (not a real concern). So I'd make room for a bushing on the rod ends.

What, I think I hear my industrial arts teacher screaming; Stop gold plating the trash heap![X(]

All the best,

Konrad

jeffie8696

Do you think turning the rod to a round dog bone shape using the titanium material would yield a srong useable rod? bushed of course as Ido not believe titanium is a suitable bearing material. Seems to me it would be the easiest shape to make and all my Norvel engines are made this way including my AX.40.

Konrad

For sport yes. But I think if he has a mill the classic flat bar is easier to make.

jeffie8696

It is completely up to him but Ithought Imight throw it out there. Ican imagine turning it out on a lathe would be fairly simple. Maybe not getting the radius just right but still. Ithink he can program it in with his CNC end mill easy enough.