03-22-2020, 01:51 AM
(This post was last modified: 01-31-2022, 02:02 AM by Terry Bentley.)
Chapter 25
I did not sleep in late Saturday like normal, so finally jumped back on the Cates kart project. Saved up a little money mowing some lawns the last few weeks. Got a pocket full of coin from collecting coke bottles from a nearby car wash. After a quick walk thru everyday those 3 cent deposits started to add up.
Sure glad most people are lazy and not think much of a meazily 3 cents. For one bottle, I see how someone might not care. But occasionally I would haul in a few dozen bottles at a time. Free money for next to no work at all. The few dollars do make it worth while since I need to buy a handful of bolts for the kart from Lindops Ace Hardware.
On the first assembly of kart frame, it was obvious some tweaks were needed. No big deal. That was expected. Another issue was finding out the axle was bent really bad.
I knew an elder from church who owned a machine shop close by. He specialized in grinding automotive crankshafts. Floyd Bailey owner of Bailey Crankshaft. If anybody knew a good way to straighten this axle I thought it had to be him.
At first he looked at the axle and just shook his head. Then asked if I was very patient when working on things. I nodded my head yes. Didnt know exactly what he meant by that yet. But going with it right now.
He told me to come back later. Today was a heavy work load but he would think about a way to help out. Shortly after lunch, I dropped back by the shop. There was a big grin on his face. He then motioned me to follow him in the back room.
Sitting in there was the biggest arbor press I have ever seen. Atop the table was my axle sitting in vee blocks. On a magnetic base was a travel dial indicator. He gave me a quick tutorial and said the shop was closing up in an hour. So I better get busy.
![[Image: attachment.php?aid=4613]](https://www.vintagekartforum.com/attachment.php?aid=4613)
After several attempts at trying my luck at straightening, I now realize why he asked me about being patient. I guess he heard me grumbling a few times. He came walking back in there and was chuckling somewhat. I was irritated enough to make a smartaleck remark, but probably smarter to just keep my mouth shut. Since he was helping me with something I was not able to do myself.
After watching my awkward attempts at straightening, he then explained the problem I was causing myself. Now it was time for the advanced training course he says. Then gave me some more instruction about what I should try.
He said I needed to spend some time working the press to get a feel for it in order for this new instruction to now be useful. I was really irritated, but after trying what he explained this time made so much sense. I completely understand now why he made me work the press first. Then to change and do it this way.
I am starting to realize what experience really is. Anybody can sit here and fumble like I had been doing. They might get the job done if following all of the required steps. If I had kept trying to straighten this axle as I was first told, then might eventually stumble on how to improve that way a bit.
So any numbnuts can sit in front of a machine and do nothing more than what he is instructed. Put X part in there, then pull lever Y. Hold down until the red light above turns green. Remove part X and set it in basket Z. Repeat over and over again. Do this until you hear the buzzer. Stop, then take a lunch break until the buzzer sounds again.
Back to the machine. Put X part here and pull lever Y. Red light turns green. Set part X in box Z. Keep this up until you run out of parts or the buzzer sounds. Then work day is over. Come back tomorrow to repeat this for the rest of your life. How awful to think this is how the rest of my life could turn out.
Did any of them ask what to do if the light doesnt turn green? What happens if the part gets stuck? How do I shut the machine down if there is a problem? No they just do as told until pay day. Yikes, that sounds bleak. Hope my future has some options better that this.
Maybe there is something to getting a proper education. I have met some people working now they are finished with school. A few of them decided to drop out and just get a job instead. They are bragging about the money being made. Able to buy their first car or take trips out of town. Of course these same people are still living at home.
None of them really struck me with being very smart. They came across as clueless on just about everything. One person made a big deal about being employed at a professional welding and manufacturing shop. Also bragging about his pay. I asked him for a recommendation for any certain type of welding rod that might work best for repairing my ongoing project. The answer was typical of what I had heard from others like him.
Instead of just saying he didnt know, I would get a some arrogant jerk response. He said, Like you would even have a clue what I was talking about. That it was too complicated for me to understand and way above my pay grade. My pay? I am still a lowly student, remember? Then later found out that big job was emptying the trash baskets and sweeping floors after hours. His grandfather owned the company, and this was his bright future for right now.
It took every bit of the last 30 minutes, but that axle was running true for the whole length now. I was strutting myself out to front of Mr Baileys shop and had a big smile. He asked how things were going. Yes sir, I got it done. It is all good now.
A really big thank you for all of the help while he was ushering me out the front door. It was his anniversary and he had an engagement with his wife that evening. Otherwise we could have sat there for the rest of the afternoon and talk shop.
It was really a very small shop. Those two Sturm Vulcan crankshaft grinding machines mostly filled up the whole front room. They were huge. It is amazing to watch him set up a crankshaft to grind the journals. I had never given thought how to actually do this.
I can see how to grind the mains. They are all concentric and easy to setup on centers. So I assumed after seeing these big machines. But the four offset journals on a V8 engine crank seemed to be a little more difficult. Watching him tho it was like setting the crank on that machine and just start grinding. Except it wasnt anywhere that simple.
He is well known by most of the better engine builders. Especially in the racing community. Anyone that built engines for cars at the Devlis Bowl would have him do the work on those cranks. He was the go to guy around here.
Mr Bailey is also a local celebrity with the kids. He lives right across the street from my school. Each year the school puts on a parade. He makes a dedicated effort to participate every time. In his garage there is a miniature Ford Model T car that is powered by a 3 hp Briggs and Stratton engine.
![[Image: attachment.php?aid=4944]](https://www.vintagekartforum.com/attachment.php?aid=4944)
ModelT
It is so cool to see this little car cruising down the street. Some days I would take the long way around the school grounds just to look over at his house on the way home. Occasionally if the garage door is up and I get to see this little Model T sitting there all alone.
That car gets to lead our school parade around the neighborhood. This is always one day regular school duties are put on hold. I thought it would be really neat to drive that to school every day. Yea right. Dont see it happening tho.
I did not sleep in late Saturday like normal, so finally jumped back on the Cates kart project. Saved up a little money mowing some lawns the last few weeks. Got a pocket full of coin from collecting coke bottles from a nearby car wash. After a quick walk thru everyday those 3 cent deposits started to add up.
Sure glad most people are lazy and not think much of a meazily 3 cents. For one bottle, I see how someone might not care. But occasionally I would haul in a few dozen bottles at a time. Free money for next to no work at all. The few dollars do make it worth while since I need to buy a handful of bolts for the kart from Lindops Ace Hardware.
On the first assembly of kart frame, it was obvious some tweaks were needed. No big deal. That was expected. Another issue was finding out the axle was bent really bad.
I knew an elder from church who owned a machine shop close by. He specialized in grinding automotive crankshafts. Floyd Bailey owner of Bailey Crankshaft. If anybody knew a good way to straighten this axle I thought it had to be him.
At first he looked at the axle and just shook his head. Then asked if I was very patient when working on things. I nodded my head yes. Didnt know exactly what he meant by that yet. But going with it right now.
He told me to come back later. Today was a heavy work load but he would think about a way to help out. Shortly after lunch, I dropped back by the shop. There was a big grin on his face. He then motioned me to follow him in the back room.
Sitting in there was the biggest arbor press I have ever seen. Atop the table was my axle sitting in vee blocks. On a magnetic base was a travel dial indicator. He gave me a quick tutorial and said the shop was closing up in an hour. So I better get busy.
After several attempts at trying my luck at straightening, I now realize why he asked me about being patient. I guess he heard me grumbling a few times. He came walking back in there and was chuckling somewhat. I was irritated enough to make a smartaleck remark, but probably smarter to just keep my mouth shut. Since he was helping me with something I was not able to do myself.
After watching my awkward attempts at straightening, he then explained the problem I was causing myself. Now it was time for the advanced training course he says. Then gave me some more instruction about what I should try.
He said I needed to spend some time working the press to get a feel for it in order for this new instruction to now be useful. I was really irritated, but after trying what he explained this time made so much sense. I completely understand now why he made me work the press first. Then to change and do it this way.
I am starting to realize what experience really is. Anybody can sit here and fumble like I had been doing. They might get the job done if following all of the required steps. If I had kept trying to straighten this axle as I was first told, then might eventually stumble on how to improve that way a bit.
So any numbnuts can sit in front of a machine and do nothing more than what he is instructed. Put X part in there, then pull lever Y. Hold down until the red light above turns green. Remove part X and set it in basket Z. Repeat over and over again. Do this until you hear the buzzer. Stop, then take a lunch break until the buzzer sounds again.
Back to the machine. Put X part here and pull lever Y. Red light turns green. Set part X in box Z. Keep this up until you run out of parts or the buzzer sounds. Then work day is over. Come back tomorrow to repeat this for the rest of your life. How awful to think this is how the rest of my life could turn out.
Did any of them ask what to do if the light doesnt turn green? What happens if the part gets stuck? How do I shut the machine down if there is a problem? No they just do as told until pay day. Yikes, that sounds bleak. Hope my future has some options better that this.
Maybe there is something to getting a proper education. I have met some people working now they are finished with school. A few of them decided to drop out and just get a job instead. They are bragging about the money being made. Able to buy their first car or take trips out of town. Of course these same people are still living at home.
None of them really struck me with being very smart. They came across as clueless on just about everything. One person made a big deal about being employed at a professional welding and manufacturing shop. Also bragging about his pay. I asked him for a recommendation for any certain type of welding rod that might work best for repairing my ongoing project. The answer was typical of what I had heard from others like him.
Instead of just saying he didnt know, I would get a some arrogant jerk response. He said, Like you would even have a clue what I was talking about. That it was too complicated for me to understand and way above my pay grade. My pay? I am still a lowly student, remember? Then later found out that big job was emptying the trash baskets and sweeping floors after hours. His grandfather owned the company, and this was his bright future for right now.
It took every bit of the last 30 minutes, but that axle was running true for the whole length now. I was strutting myself out to front of Mr Baileys shop and had a big smile. He asked how things were going. Yes sir, I got it done. It is all good now.
A really big thank you for all of the help while he was ushering me out the front door. It was his anniversary and he had an engagement with his wife that evening. Otherwise we could have sat there for the rest of the afternoon and talk shop.
It was really a very small shop. Those two Sturm Vulcan crankshaft grinding machines mostly filled up the whole front room. They were huge. It is amazing to watch him set up a crankshaft to grind the journals. I had never given thought how to actually do this.
I can see how to grind the mains. They are all concentric and easy to setup on centers. So I assumed after seeing these big machines. But the four offset journals on a V8 engine crank seemed to be a little more difficult. Watching him tho it was like setting the crank on that machine and just start grinding. Except it wasnt anywhere that simple.
He is well known by most of the better engine builders. Especially in the racing community. Anyone that built engines for cars at the Devlis Bowl would have him do the work on those cranks. He was the go to guy around here.
Mr Bailey is also a local celebrity with the kids. He lives right across the street from my school. Each year the school puts on a parade. He makes a dedicated effort to participate every time. In his garage there is a miniature Ford Model T car that is powered by a 3 hp Briggs and Stratton engine.
ModelT
It is so cool to see this little car cruising down the street. Some days I would take the long way around the school grounds just to look over at his house on the way home. Occasionally if the garage door is up and I get to see this little Model T sitting there all alone.
That car gets to lead our school parade around the neighborhood. This is always one day regular school duties are put on hold. I thought it would be really neat to drive that to school every day. Yea right. Dont see it happening tho.