Hello Jay.re: But rather than cheer from the sideline don't you think there's more to be learned by tearing an engine down and following along?
BTDT.. 100s of gas engines...from COX049s to BBV8s, though no diesels, well, 1... for an RC Airplane I once built.
I also have designed/built a LOT of electronics from crystal radios to optical emission spectrometer data acquistions computers to remote controlled energy management systems, hand soldering everything or wire wrapping.
Current project is to make a towable, small scale rotary soil trommel. something the BX23S can tow, then use tractor to load the hopper. While not as 'complicated' as an engine rebuild ,it's more challenging.
Re: Fixing Hole In Sides of Personal Philosophy ...
You and Joe have rarely-seen Persistence to do what you have done... more than me, although I've done many of the things you mentioned, starting with Cox and Ohlson engines, in 84 years.
Back when designing computer controlled measurement systems at IBM, I got to talk with Buckminister Fuller. We talked about starting new projects. One thing he said that I have adopted, but wish I had heard when I was 12 was: "Dare to be Naive ! ! " QUOTE
Joe was Naive about Brazing. Didn't bother him at all, or make him stop. He asked questions.
What is it that keeps us STARTING over and over again??
Regards, Terry
PS: Yeah, you made me look up a word! "soil trommel"