Playin in the shop today...

[Kevin Pharis]

Had a chance to get away today and bring my new Winfield home from the carb guru. Here is a pic of the carb on the flow bench

This little carb did look a bit out of place amongst all the big dog 4 barrels in his shop... some of those monsters could have passed this thing right thru!

[Kevin Pharis]

Had a fella work on the polish... now it’s wasaaaaay to nice to put on anything I own...

[Rich Eagle]

How nice to see that.
Thanks
Rich

[Scott_Conger]

Kevin

that really is nice

I wish that more people/parents would view manufacturing as the excellent career that it is, and also wish that we valued this sort of endeavor to the extent that we recognized that a good life and rewarding career can be had without necessarily forcing all kids into higher education as an only option.

I suspect that the average high school senior would be shocked to learn that someone can turn a piece of metal into functional art, without contracting through China.

[otrcman]

"FUNCTIONAL ART"

Boy, truer words were never spoken.

Dick

[Dan McEachern]

" Why are you making that dad? Why don't you just buy one? " Not my kids, they know better but...….

[Kevin Pharis]

Everyone round here knows I’m carb crazy... My wife calls this project “the other woman”, the kids call it the “carb-inater”. After almost 2 years of obsessive designing and machining... it’s kinda like a part of the family now

[RajoRacer]

That would look real good on my Racer, Kevin !

[Kevin Pharis]

I wish that more people/parents would view manufacturing as the excellent career that it is, and also wish that we valued this sort of endeavor to the extent that we recognized that a good life and rewarding career can be had without necessarily forcing all kids into higher education as an only option.

I suspect that the average high school senior would be shocked to learn that someone can turn a piece of metal into functional art, without contracting through China.

I work with a bunch of the local high schools and colleges here in northern califunny, and times are changing... slowly, but they are changing. When I was in high school (23 years ago) manufacturing was a 4 letter word.

Now, the very same school is spending millions of dollars to create what they hope will be a leading program in the region. CNC mills, CNC lathes, MIG/TIG/gas welding, robotic welding, sheet metal, manual machining, 3D printing, tube bending, construction tech, cabinet making, CNC routers, etc...

Most of the schools around here are creating manufacturing programs, and this is a step in the right direction, but the kids are still being programmed by society to “purchase” rather than “create” tho...

[david_dewey]

that's good to hear. I have the last (so far) BA in Industrial Arts conferred by CSU, Chico. I went back to college much later in life, and graduated in 1990. Long story, but the simple explanation is that the college has to honor the degree programs in the catalog in use when a student starts at the school. By 1990 they had moved onto "Manufacturing Technology." Good to hear that the pendulum is finally swinging the other way.
T'ake care
David Dewey

[Henry K. Lee]

Not to get into it.., but the can of worms has been opened...,the Department of Education at federal level got into the program. Those kids in my day that we're jocks that we're not good students got into education pushing sports, more "football"! Now they have all this extra time to talk trash about a recreational sport saying it builds "teamwork"! Bullsh1t! the military builds teamwork, football builds sheep and sore, injured children that cannot serve in the military to protect a great nation and bulk up/obese kids. Sports got promoted over industrial arts as that is what the parents wanted and special interested pushed. I have been involved more than I should say about this failure in our world wide problem with investigating the roots so to say. Coaches getting paid more in college/university levels than a astro physics Phd professor is a joke. Higher education is higher education for the MIND, not the business of SPORTS. All promoted by special interest and marketing!!!!!!!!

I quit trying to mentor and educate as it will not be achieved in my lifetime or within the next 50 plus years. Yes, I am a quitter of a no win scenario, it's a battle, not a war. Life is short.., and mine becomes less by each day.

When CNC, computer programs, and the likes of dictate the new "Craftsman", we are domed. A "craftsman" learns from the bottom up by using his hands as tools (protect them), personal safety and others, hand tool purpose and uses, machine care, good math skills, physics, etc. Grassroots of the industry must be paramount! Call me a "Quitter" and you know...., I really do not care because when I did, most worked against me stating they are just kids. Don't ask why you can not find a competent repairman when you do not promote the education required to get one. Go team go!

Let us not forget our history since we still show symbols!!!!!

My rant therapy!

[Bill Anziani]

That's cool

[AndyClary]

Talked to Kevin about his float plans. I have confidence they’ll turn out well despite his apparent dependence on cnc machines.

Andy

[Kevin Pharis]

The old saying... “garbage in, garbage out” applies to all facets of life. I’ve seen the carnage caused by CNC machines when wielded by a novice, no different than when a hammer that can’t seem to strike a nail. But when skilled and talented hands are involved, all looks easy! Despite the size or complexity of the tool...

[Kevin Pharis]

Talked to Kevin about his float plans. I have confidence they’ll turn out well despite his apparent dependence on cnc machines.

Andy

For the record, only the tooling will be produced on CNC machines... the forming will be done by old fashioned brute force and sweat! But if I did my homework correctly... the mold will stay together, and the formed parts will come out good

[Kevin Pharis]

Been working towards completing all the little trinket details before the Tulare swap meet.

A couple years ago I started making really intricate machined choke levers that looked like they had been folded up out of sheet metal just like the originals. Not sure if I ran out of patience, or maybe the project just wasn’t meant to be... but I scrapped the project the other day and started drawing up the earlier cast brass version. I’m glad I did, cuz the throttle stop, throttle arm, and choke arm all share similar design characteristics and so design and manufacturing went very smoothly for all.

I’m determined to make the pivoting choke cable clamp, and spring tab for the idle needle today. Then, all that’ll be left to make is the float ball...

[Kevin Pharis]

Choke cable clamp DUN! Now for the idle screw spring...

[Kevin Pharis]

Guess it’s been a while since the Tulare swap...

The float project WORKED!!! Hydraulic forming was not near as simple as it sounds, but was able to develop a sound process involving several annealing steps that would ultimately yield good parts. A couple floats were soldered together and checked for proper weight and size.

Here is the hydraulic forming fixture concept;

And after several hours of machine work;

After several more hours of forming;

And finally, after several minutes of soldering;

Both float styles came out on size (that was the easy part), and on weight (a bit trickier). The full sphere Model S float weighs in at a whopping 30 grams, and the flat bottom Model SR a mere 22 grams.

[Ed Fuller]

Thank you for sharing your work Kevin. Very impressive.

I always enjoy seeing someone else’s skills in action.

[Kevin Pharis]

As seen in another thread, I installed a Model S-AA updraft on my touring car several weeks ago. This carb was mostly original, but had as many of my own components installed. Choke horn, choke linkage, V band clamp, carb adapter, throttle shaft, bushings, butterfly, float bowl cover, fuel inlet, and one of the new floats!

Since then we have driven bout 600 miles, made up from a number of local drives of various lengths, and a 450 mile adventure around the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. Probably should note the 1600 miles on the trailer too. Thought I would pull the float cover off today to inspect the float and float lever for wear, tear, and corrosion.

It all looks beautiful! The float lever has a tiny polish point right where it should be, and the float ball has simply a bit of tarnish