IFP Tool and TALAS workings...

Well, the cost of having a TALAS cartridge serviced by Fox, PUSH, etc is so heavy, that I was able to make a few mistakes and still come out well over 100 bucks ahead of the game. Additionally, I now have a genuine understanding of how my fork works so I can continue to keep it working without the Fox Service umbilical. Also gained some more hum-drum practice in basic machining with mild steel.

Pictured is an IFP tool I made for myself - ones I sold on ebay tended to appear more refined.

In the works is a java applet that illustrates the TALAS system in action - a simple enough mechanism that is far from complex: Best described as clever and finiky. Initial Charles' Law calculations using empirical volume measurements and pressures indicate the system is only marginally linear under a narrow band of ideal STP. An idea is brewing for an infinitely adjustable TALAS type system that offers better linearity with less finikyness.

torches can't quite fix everything...or can they?

Aluminized steel used in exhaust piping doesn't take to the brass particularly well, even though it's listed at only 3% Al, 96% Fe. I'll be looking to put a sample under the EDAX here this week and see what that says for composistion.

I ended up finishing this job with my max torch tip, full throttle on the fuel and a coat hanger as stick. I guess it'll hold. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one to attempt exhaust adjoinment via brazing. Now I know why. It's too bad since the joint would never corrode.

The ol' green machine has some much bigger concerns these days, anyway...

The dashboard lights burned out. The heater core was clogged. I should install two coolant lines for proper grease car conversion. The air control box failed. The blower motor lost both bearings. The cruise control controller had a loose wiring harness. AND I had a pretzel from like 10 years ago stuck in the bottom of the shift linkage box. So, now an eviscerated mess.

I know, deep in my heart, that a torch can fix this situation too. I will consider it sporting to avoid this resolution, for now.

town bike revitalization

Well, it's not pretty - sort of like toothpaste for the Iron Giant - but I had it stripped down and brassed over in about 15 minutes. I spent alot more time making a small bracing part to fit inside the dropout form to keep this circus rollin'.

I'm guessing it'll hold just long enough to make some new track style dropouts and repair the paramount as a substitute townie while I do the green monster up right.