46 replies to this topic

[The Matt]

Well, the thread was a healthy debate IMO, a healthy debate that was 99.9% concluded.

There are lots of threads that not everyone will want to read, but still informative to some people.

[midridge2]

what i find strange is that 3 people with engineering background all have different opinions on the same subject, why, if engineering is taught to a standard then all the answers should be the same.

[Shifty]

There's usually more than one way to skin a cat and that certainly applies to engineering.

I quite like threads like this, a decent healthy and informed debate, no name calling or malice. i've learned some stuff and i'm sure other people have to.

[The Matt]

The nature of engineering is that there are different schools of thought. Different standards over different time periods, not to mention one of the engineers in question being "taught" 5000 odd miles away in the US.

There are so many different branches of engineering that have so many different standards that often engineers from different backgrounds will have no common ground when trying to solve a problem, then discussions like this are had and compromises are found...

[MRA]

I wasn't attempting to create an issue by my statement above, all I was pointing out is that imperial parts are available :)

[dklawson]

Matt... I'm an "engineer in question"? "Taught" ? Definitely an engineer and definitely taught.

Midridge, sorry if the debate bothers you and I don't think this has turned into an academic slugfest. There are engineering standards and the practical application of those standards that result in disagreements. Engineers are taught to question almost everything and accept almost nothing at face value. I have no problem discussing differences with anyone as long as they make a good technical argument based on published facts or industrial practice.

What I find truly amazing is that my original post that started this thread was dated June of 2009 and I was hesitant to open the topic as I expected the debate that has surfaced now... almost 3 years later!

[The Matt]

By "engineer in question", I meant "engineer that had been mentioned" I wasn't questioning that any of the 3 people were engineers..... My point was that the 3 engineers he mentioned will all have different backgrounds, different disciplines and different views on many engineering matters.

[dklawson]

Just ribbing you Matt.

[MRA]

Does ribbing strengthen a thread ??

[Ethel]

You're thinking of stockings, Martin.


Surely this is exactly what interweb forums are for? It isn't compulsory to read everything on TMF either (I know, hard to believe), as long as a topic interests someone enough to scribble a reply then it's worthwhile.

[MRA]

LOL :) caught out again

[Spud_133]

I was enjoying reading this thread and the differing opinions of you three, I have to say, I do not agree with one statement made in here, and that everything has to be as strong as possible, but that cannot be possible, there will then break something more valuable, and/or difficult to replace. I would love to be proven wrong as I have no engineering knowledge, only mechanical experience.

[tiger99]

Spud_133, your suggestion makes perfect sense, a weaker plug so it will save the gearbox casing from damage would be a good way to do it. You really don't need a lot of strength in a drain plug, as you suggest.

Maybe a plastic plug, but it would not sustain enough torque to make a good seal with a copper washer, so a Dowty seal would have to be used.or even an O ring let into the face of the plug. I can't see why it would not work, but the cost of making an injection moulding tool to make them, in relation to the likely number of sales, is much against it, I fear.

That does not stop anyome with access to a lathe from making a few, of course.

Oh, and I am an engineer, in a very different field, but I have used a lot of nuts and bolts over the years, and in my particular job I need to have a good working knowledge of far too many things outside my main area of expertise. Disagreement between engineers is perfectly normal, and healthy debate is good. No-one here was trying to make personal attacks on anyone else, as far as I can see, and I know that the other participants are not stupid, from many of their posts. Engineers are influenced by their sources of information, and things like standards cost money, so often we have to use data tables and such like from free sources such as the internet, which may not always be correct. And, we are influenced by local practice and custom, besides which there are many ways of doing most things, some of which will be almost as good as each other.

[Spud_133]

I completely agree that it would definately not be cost effective to produce such things. I did however have a though regarding sealing a standard gearbox with a standard bolt, and insure that a new washer was used to stop over tightening, some of the major suppliers could add a Dowty washer to a oil filter, as they are mainly replaced when doing an oil change. Or is that too unecommical?

[MRA]

How about a rubber plug, that way it would seal and prevent damage all in one easy component :) .... I'll just nip out to my local wine merchants and get a few....

A plastic injection single action multiple cavity tool would cost about £2000 or so, 30 seconds per shot, lets say 8 off at a time... would be about 7000 per shift :)

Not quite sure how the magnet would fare in such conditions though