4 Great Places to Find Washing Machine Reviews

If you are in the market for a new washing machine, you will want to check out the washing machine reviews. When you read the reviews of the washing machines, you are able to see what others are saying about the washing machine that you are considering. Perhaps it is someone that has owned the washing machine and used it for years. Maybe you will even find reviews from people that just bought themselves a new washing machine, and you can find out what it entails to hook it up, and if they had any problems. This is also a great way to find out about those special features that you might be looking for in a washing machine, and reading what others have to say about the same washing machine that you want will let you know if it truly is a great machine. There are many places that you will find reviews that you can read.

1. Online Doing a search online will lead you to many places that you will find washing machine reviews. You should be able to look up the reviews by the make and model that you are considering to purchase. The reviews that you should find will be very helpful as well informing. You can read any problems that someone might have had with the washing machine that you want, and you can also read about the special features and find out just how well those work, and see what other people are saying about it before you go out and buy one yourself. Maybe even going to the manufacturers website will help you know more about the machine as well.

2. Appliance Store When you visit an appliance store, you are going to find that the salesperson that is helping you with the washing machine you are considering should be able to provide you with washing machine reviews as well. They should be able to demonstrate the machine and show you any features that you are concerned about on the machine as well. You will find that the sale person may even own a machine like they are showing you, and should be able to give you an honest opinion of the machine and what it is capable of doing.

3. Used Appliance Store Visiting a used appliance store, will be a great place to find the washing machine reviews that you are wanting. You can go into the store, and get the history of the washing machine that you are looking for. You should be able to see which machines are still in use, after being used by anyone and which ones are still going strong. This will give you great insight about any washing machine that you might be considering for purchase. You will be bale to tell which machines are the best, and see if the one that you are wanting, by looking for the brand will be a good one or not.

4. Washing Machine Repair Shop Going into a washing machine repair shop will be more helpful than you might think. You can go in to any machine shop and get washing machine reviews from the person that works on the machines themselves. This is a great way to find out which machines are in need of service the most and which ones are not. You will find that the information that you are able to get from someone that works on washing machines themselves is very valuable, and they can advise you of which models or brands to steer clear of as well. By asking someone that works on these machines themselves, you are sure to find out which machines are great and which ones are not so great.

Finding The Right Online Weight Loss Tool

A weight loss tool is the perfect companion for those who wish to lose weight. Apart from showing you how far you have achieved in your weight loss journey, a weight loss tool also helps you set clear goals and achieve them. A weight loss tool can be found online. And, if you are lucky, you can find thousands of websites offering a free online weight loss tool that you can download.

Tools

An online weight loss tool can come in a variety of forms. The most popular online weight loss tool is the diet calculator or a tool that can calculate your body mass index (BMI) to see if you are overweight or not. Other tools include:

1. Diet calendar - this tool acts like an organizer that plans your diet program over a period of time. This includes noting how much calorie you should take in a day. You can also mark important dates such as your weight loss progress in your diet calendar.

2. Diet journal - a diet journal is a tool where you can chronicle your weight loss journey. Some websites offer a diet journal that has a built-in diet calendar so you can plan and record in just one simple tool.

3. Food analyzer - this is a simple tool that calculates how much calories your everyday food should contain.

4. Exercise monitor - some websites also provide online tools that can keep track of your daily exercise.

For free

A weight loss tool can be downloaded for free online. Thousands of websites are offering free downloads of their weight loss tools so you can better keep track of your weight loss without worrying about the costs.

The Benefits of Electric Wheelchair Lifts

Electric wheelchair lifts help to move the wheelchair to various places at multiple levels. Electric wheelchair lifts are less expensive than hydraulic wheelchair lifts and are easy to maintain. They contain an emergency, battery-lowering device which makes them ideal for use during power outages. Electric lifts can be fitted with automatic door openers or telephone jacks as per requirements.

Electric wheelchair lifts come in many different types, including home stair lifts and automobile lifts, as well as van ramps.

Home Stair lifts can be installed anywhere inside or outside the house. They are designed to take up less space and to be quiet and comfortable. Home stair lifts can rise up to 23 feet and can lift up to 350 pounds. Some custom designed lifts can even handle more weight. The price of home lifts ranges between $2,500 and $4,000.

Automobile lifts can be fitted into automobiles to accommodate electric wheelchairs. They are very easy to operate and can be operated by one person. They can also be assembled and disassembled easily. Automotive lifts can be fitted onto most vans and cars. The price of automobile wheelchair lifts can range from $700 to $3,000.

Wheelchair van ramps help to lift the wheelchair into a van. Van ramps are much more affordable and easy to use as they are spring-loaded for easy lifting. They are also easy to maintain, as they are not mechanical. Van ramps can be folded in half and stored vertically, thus minimizing storage space. The price of wheelchair van ramps usually ranges between $500 and $1,100.

Electric wheelchair lifts are made of strong materials for durability. They are permanently lubricated and contain steel-hardened gears for resisting corrosion. Electric wheelchair lifts are available with a number of options like rocker switches in the hand-held control, manual back-up systems (in case of power failure), an emergency crank through handle, and limited wiring.

Rock Climbing Gear

Rock climbing is a sport that involves climbing steep rocky terrain. It is a very exciting sport that involves a lot of physical exertion and challenge. However, rock climbing can be very dangerous, if not done properly. There are basically two kinds of rock climbing: aid climbing (use of gears like rope, ladders and bolts) and free climbing (no gear is used except for safety). Other kinds of rock climbing are: sport climbing, top-rope climbing, solo climbing, bouldering, traditional climbing, mountaineering and indoor climbing. There are certain techniques generally used for rock climbing: tying in, leading, abseiling, lowering and others.

Using the right kind of gear not only makes rock climbing easier, but also safe. Some basic rock climbing equipment includes: ropes, cords, webbing, carabiners, harnesses, belay devices (sticht plate, ATC, Gri-Gri, Figure Eight), Descenders (figure eight, rescue eight, ATC), Ascenders, protection devices (nuts, hexcenters, spring loaded camming devices), sewn runners, helmets, climbing harnesses (fully adjustable or partly adjustable), climbing screws, pulleys, trekking pole, pitons, haul bag, bouldering mat, and holds. Special training equipment for climbing includes: grip savers, fingerboards, campus boards and more. Check out the equipment before buying it. It should be safe, comfortable and the right size.

Some of the most popular rock climbing gear brands are: Black Diamond, Volcom, Nixon, Oakley, Smith, Spy, The North Face, Nikita, Eagle Creek, Dakine, Mountain Hardwear and others. Climbing equipment has to be certified by the International Federation of Mountaineering Associations (UIAA) and the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Rock climbing equipment can also be purchased online. Some rock climbing clubs lend most of the required gear for their members. There are also stores that rent out climbing gear.

The Environmental Damage Of Vending Machines Is Considerable

The environmental damage of vending machines is considerable. Vending machines, serve two main purposes. Their primary function is to provide a convenient way for people to purchase products or services throughout the day and night. The secondary function is to use the surfaces of the vending machine to advertise a particular product or brand.

Vending machines need to stand out and one way to achieve this, is to make sure they are brightly lit but the effect of having a number of fluorescent lights running 24 hours a day is considerable and if we take the average of 1 fluorescent to be 50 watts then the total power consumption of the estimated 1 million vending machines within the EC is 50 Mega Watts.

It is there for necessary to look at ways so products can be displayed without the large amounts of power. Pure Foods Systems have developed an energy management system which cut the power consumption of a vending machine considerably. The light system only requires typically 15 watts of power, which is only 30% of the power of a normal vending machine. In addition the lighting system can be programmed so it switches itself off during quite periods but is prepared to switch itself back on if it detects the presents of activity around the machine. Once the activity has ceased, the machine will then revert to standby modes.

By far the most important energy use of vending machines is when they are used for either cooling of heating. Pure Foods Systems have developed an energy management system which reduces the amount of power in use of cooling and a unique detecting system to decide whether a machine is being used or is purely on stand by use. The machine will then slightly increase the temperature of the drinks when the machine is not being used. It can readily switch itself into normal operations either at sets times or whether there is activity around the machine. If this system is widely adopted then the energy saving would be Hugh. What is more by fitting the Pure Foods Systems energy management system the life of the machine will be extended considerably and this will improve the environmental impact of the machine. There are large environmental and financial advantages of adopting this system.

All About Knitting Machines

A knitting machine is used to produce knitted fabrics and clothes on a fixed bed of hooked needles. A knitting machine is made of a needle bed, a carriage and yarn guides but it may have other attachments as well. Latchet hooks hold the stitches.

Domestic & Industrial - They can be hand powered or motor assisted. There are also domestic and industrial models of knitting machines. The domestic knitting machines produce a fabric that looks handmade because they use the weft knitting method. It is obviously easier to knit using a knitting machine and a lot faster because knitting machines make an entire row of loops in a single movement. Another reason for using knitting machines is that the fabric made with a machine looks better in many instances than the hand-knitted fabric, the latter having large areas of plain stocking stitch. Finally ,you do not have to be a professional knitter to make wonderful clothes because many machines are fairly simple to operate and it can be a great way to begin to knit .

However, you must not confuse knitting machines with sewing machines. A knitting machine is more complicated- it has springs, buttons, wires and hooks and most Importantly you need to realize you have to use machine-knitting books to get the pattern you want because hand knitting books can’t be used with a machine as they are not compatible.

Different Machines - A Bulky size machine is used for making heavy sweaters because the distance between the needles is 9 mm and the hook is large enough and there is no risk of splitting the yarn.For machine knitting with lace the machine needs to be used as manual or semi-manual.

The smallest yarns you can use when knitting with this machine are Sport and DK weight yarns . Some of the techniques you can undertake on this machine are: tuck, slip, intarsia, weaving, and many others.

On the standard bed machine you can make knitted suits and lace curtains. The distance between the needles is 4.5 mm and the hook/latches are much smaller. The lace is automatic. You can do fair isle, tuck, slip, manual cables and others. Baby weight is the most popular weight used for this machine. DK weight is the largest yarn that can be knit with this knitting machine. The Standard 200 can knit very fine yarns , up to a sport weight.

The Silver Reed Gauge SK830(3.6 mm) is a machine used for fine yarns. It is perfect when knitted in an open and loose fabric and light and airy fabric. Knit at tension 5 or 7 and use 2 or 3 strands together.

For the Hand Knitted Look - If you want to have garments that look and feel more like the hand-knitted garments you should buy a mid-gauge knitting machine.

Knitting with a machine is straightforward but you need to consider when using a machine the patterns, many are not easily inter-changeable between machines, some are but It is hard but not impossible, but is probably best left until you’ve had a little experience of using a knitting machine as you have to spend a lot of time calculating, multiplying and dividing to modify the pattern.

Owning a Used Fork Lift - Common Necessities

Availability:

Availability is amongst the major necessities of the used fork lifts. The main sources of the lifts are the dealers and the end users. Generally speaking, the fork lifts available on rental basis are often considered as the best buys. This is due to the fact that the owners of such lifts usually use them for a period of seven years before selling them. Other necessities of lifts include that, it has to be used for not more than 1,500 hours in a year in the operations involving single shifts. The rental lifts is normally used for 1,000 hours in a year and is hence costly in nature. These types of used fork lifts sell more in comparison to the other types, but their availability is a concern.

Maintenance:

Maintenance is most important among the necessities of used fork lifts. The evaluation of the condition of the lift has to be done thoroughly every time. The maintenance records to the lift have to be maintained properly. Prior to the buying of the lift, the vehicle has to be properly inspected. Proper maintenance of the lift prevents the formation of leakages in the vehicles. Hence, maintenance is considered as a major necessity of the lifts.

Road Testing:

Road testing is also among the necessities of used fork lifts. The lift has to be driven through a tight pattern of the figure eight in both the reverse as well as forward gears. Care has to taken to see that the lift’s response to the steering wheel is quick. The other necessities include the checking of the tires on a timely basis and the uneven wear present in them.

Popular Brands of Electronic Music Gear

The eternal tussle between the price and the quality is always there in the mind of the buyer. Electronic musical gear have become one of the chief instruments of making music nowadays, for this reason the importance of various brands of electronic music gear have increased more than twice. Knowledge on trustworthy brands of electronic music gear has become essential for all the music lovers.

Hence, the importance of various musical gears like stage speakers, sound equipment, DJ equipment, recording equipment, amplifiers, microphones, speakers, digital effects have also increased. The price range can be anything within 75 to 11,000 dollar.

Some of the brands of electronic music gear and audio products are, Behringer, Blackheart, Casio, DBX, Dunlop, Elctro voice, Gator, CakeWalk, Audix, Jemini, Hughes & Kettner, JBL, On Stage, Peavey, Phonic, Digidesign, Rolls, THD, Ultimate Support, and Yamaha. The more popular brands of speakers are Behringer, Yamaha, JBL, and On Stage take the center stage when the popular brands of electronic music gears are mentioned.

When it comes to normal and on stage speakers Behringer, JBL and On stage take the crust. The Truth Series from the Behringer are quite inexpensive comparing to the quality of sound they produce in the offered price among other brands of electronic music gear. Fluctuation in the flow of the electrical current can prove disastrous to any sound system, so playing a large gig with caution is the way to go.

Line 6, Roland, Audix, Alesis, Cakewalk, Lexicon, M Audio are some of the familiar names in the field of recording equipments. They produce recording instruments for all kinds of music recordings.

Alesis MultiMix 8 USB 2.0 Analog Recording Mixer, Audix DP2 Microphone Drum Package, Cakewalk Sonar 7 Studio Edition Recording Software, Lexicon Alpha Desktop Recording Studio, Line 6 TonePort UX1 USB Audio Interface, M Audio Firewire 410 Recording Interface, M Audio GuitarBox Pro Recording Guitarist Bundle are some models available in the recording gear category.

Among the popular brands of electronic music gear, Alesis and Line 6 are two of the main pillars in amplifiers field. There is a wide range of powers available for the amplifier section. Most of the amplifiers come with woofers and tweeters along with 2 or more input channels.

Digital effects to music can be put in for various instruments, and not limited to a single type. Alesis Playmate Guitarist Effects Processor, Audix D4 Dynamic Drum Microphone, Boss GT6B Bass Effects Processor, DigiTech GNX3 Guitar Processor, Lexicon 960L Digital Multi Channel Effects System are some of the varieties available in the market.

A good music store both online and in your local area can help you much in finding the right brands of electronic music gear. Branded products not only come with proper warranty but they also have customer satisfaction to think about.

How To Get Good Fuel Economy

Improving fuel economy

If you own a powerful car and you drive enthusiastically, you're probably not going to be blessed with marvellous fuel economy. However, there are various steps you can make to lower the amount of gas you use on any journey without driving like a miser. This article only majors on the most effective methods of reducing fuel consumption, if you need more tips please do a search on Google – there is a plethora of information out there…

Keep your car well maintained

Following the correct service intervals will keep your car running efficiently. New air filters will allow the free flow of air necessary for efficient fuel combustion, clean fuel filters provide a steady stream of petrol to the cylinders, and shiny new spark plugs will provide the spark needed to set the whole thing off. A thing of beauty! They key here is the efficient burn of the fuel air mix, which will allow more power to be extracted from a set volume of fuel. A new air filter alone could increase fuel consumption up to 10%.

Tyres

Underinflated tyres need more energy to roll. Keeping the pressures at the correct level can increase economy by up to 3.5%. Specialist fuel saving tyres are also available, although these may not perform so well on the track! Properly inflated tyres are also key to providing optimum levels of grip, so it's worth checking periodically.

Gears

Using higher gears won't give you lightning acceleration but will save fuel. Keeping your revs low (but not so low that your engine starts to struggle) is a good habit to get into when cruising. If you have a "Sport Mode" on your auto transmission, turn this off, as this will hang onto low gears for longer and may even prevent changing to the highest cog.

Accelerate hard to save fuel?!

A British automotive engineering consultancy claims to have unearthed proof that putting your foot down hard on the accelerator can actually be more fuel efficient than driving more conservatively. “It sounds totally counter-intuitive — and it is,” admits Cousins. The key to saving fuel, he says, is to accelerate hard until the engine reaches 2000 rpm, move up a gear, then put your foot down until you reach 2000rpm again. It’s all to do with internal friction. “Put simply, with your right foot down on the accelerator, the engine is working at its most efficient,” says Cousins. Above 2000rpm the benefits diminish and you start using more fuel, not less.

Soccer Gear Guide - Tips to Buy Soccer Gear

Soccer is one of the trendy sports in the world and is liked by all age groups. Soccer gear include all that is required to start playing such as soccer balls, soccer cleats, soccer shoes, shin guards, socks and soccer jerseys. Soccer gear identifies appearance and experience of a player.

Soccer gear should be bought at right time to get some discounts. Players must shop for soccer gears two months before the season starts. You should verify team rules that are related to colors and leg coverings. You should buy in proper category of soccer gear because there are two main categories such as adult and youth.

Generally there is no gender dissimilarity in boys and girls soccer clothing but you should buy soccer gear separately for both men and women. Soccer gear for older players varies in size and cut. You should read labels carefully at the time buying soccer gear. Check out the material that is used in soccer gear. Several items are quite expensive so it is best to get from siblings or other players.

Players should purchase soccer gear from a sports specialty store. You should try on a size and style in a store before purchasing. You can also get some help from your coach to choose the best soccer gear.

Marmot Camping Gear - Is it Reliable?

If you are looking for Superior Camping gears than you owe it to yourself to look at the Marmot Camping gear brand. Known and respected throughout the camping community you can be sure to have access to the right gear for any condition or season.

Marmot camping Gear offers a wide range of products:

- Camping
- Hiking
- Mountain Climbing
- And more

Whatever outdoor activities you like you can be sure to find the right equipment with them. Their whole line of clothing is designed to keep you warm, dry and comfortable. From outerwear to accessories, they have it all.

Marmot Tents

Experience campers know they can rely on Marmot camping gears for their tent needs. From severe weather, heavy rain, snow or any other critical weather condition, Marmot tents are built for superior protection. One point worth mentioning about their tent is the poles; they are known to be effective, durable and can be repaired.

On top of that you get to have deluxe ventilation system, which is important to keep the moisture out. This alone can be responsible for your comfort during your camping trip. The boot is also sold separately, but if you find yourself needing one, be aware that they are reasonably priced and are well worth the investment to keep your tent as water tight as possible.

In short you can trust Marmot Camping gears to provide you with tents that are light weight, easy to store, comfortable, reliable and even attractive to look at. The material use in the creation of the poles makes them light weight allowing most of their tents to weigh less than 10 pounds, which is a good point for hikers.

Marmot Sleeping Bags

Almost every experience campers, hikers or any other outdoor junkie knows and trust Marmot Camping gear for their sleeping bags needs. Marmot sleeping bags offers campers and the like a wide variety of choices: From regular size to long one they are rated for the most extreme temperature. They usually go from around 40 degrees to well below the freezing point.

The special thing about Marmot is that the almost exclusively offers the mummy style sleeping bags. They are:

- lighter weight
- super compact
- offered in custom size
- offers a superior padding
- warm.

Just make sure to double check the temperature rating of the bag you intend to buy to make sure it fits best the temperature you will be using it in.

When you purchase a Marmot sleeping bag it will usually come with a special bag that will shrink it to the size of a football in some cases. This make’s it pretty easy to pack and to carry. On top of that you have the choice of natural fiber filling, synthetic fiber filling or even a mix of both depending on your needs.

In the end you should know that Marmot camping gear is synonym of quality in the world campers, hikers and the like. For those who enjoy being outdoor or sleeping under the stars there are no other choice when you want comfort and reliability.

Cheap Scooters

Cheap scooters are available in all scooter types including electric, motor and gas. These scooters are most often vehicles of inferior quality or defective ones. They may come with machine parts of poor quality. Scooters at much cheaper rates may have plastic rear drive gears instead of metal gears. They may not have any support from manufacturers or dealers to replace machine parts. The manufacturers do not even provide scooter related services to customers.

Cheap scooters may sometimes frustrate users with frequent breakdowns. These scooters are expensive to repair every now and then. At the same time, cheap scooters are dangerous, too. So, it is necessary to follow certain instructions for purchasing such scooters. First, the buyer must check whether the scooters were bought from reputable dealers. Secondly, they should be brand name scooters, and not off brand, no brand or clone models.

In addition, it is necessary to take scooters to a nearby scooter store for a complete service, if possible. This allows the buyer to know about the working condition and the machine parts. In most cases, customers need to buy only certain machine parts from cheap scooters for their used scooters. This helps used scooters to remain in better working condition for some more time.

There are certain points to consider regarding the price. The primary thing is to know the original price for cheap scooters and the amount the dealer charges. This purely depends on the ability of customers. One way to obtain this information is to enquire about price details as a seller for the scooter. Secondly, you should know the amount paid by individuals for that particular model. This gives a clear picture about the amount to be paid for cheap scooters. Otherwise, it is likely that you will be cheated.

Cheap scooters are obtained at about half or even less price, compared to good and quality scooters. Quality 50cc scooters cost $1600 or more. The cost is below $1000 for cheap ones of the same kind. In addition, warranty options for cheap scooters are one or two months. But better quality scooters have at least one year warranty.

E3 2007 - The Console Wars Heating Up

The most notorious gaming convention of the year took place recently. Of course I am talking about E3. All the heavy hitters are had press conferences to accentuate their products. Some of these companies entail Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony.

Clearly, Microsoft and Nintendo have won the initial console wars with sales exceeding Sony. This is partially due to the fact that people have to take out a loan in order to purchase a PlayStation 3. Another plausible reason is the quality of games on the PS3; the games are lackluster (with the exception of Ninja Gaiden Sigma). On the other end of the spectrum, the Xbox 360 has brilliant games such as Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 1and 2, Gears of War, and Lost Planet; conversely, the PS3 has some metrosexual androgynous butt-pirate protagonist named Genji. Gears of War would pulverize Genji with a chainsaw.

The Nintendo Wii is more like an exercise program than a legitimate console. The reasons the Wii is selling is because it is the least expensive and it appeals to children. You will feel like watching a Taebo work out video when playing a Wii rather than a video game. Video games are suppose to be an escape from reality; however, they should not be cumbersome and tiring. If your name is Rosie O'Donnell, then the Wii is for you because you will lose a significant amount of weight using a Wii.

Wondering what the future hold for the PlayStation 3? Those of you who are wondering if the PS3's demise is inevitable, the answer is no. A myriad of consoles have bizarrely dreadful launch titles, but rebound at a later date. Do not fret if you own a PS3 because help is on the way. Konami, Square-Enix, and Capcom are companies who are spending the big bucks promoting games like Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy 13, and Resident Evil 5. The answer to the billion dollar question is YES, YES, YES. There will be hope for the PlayStation 3 because the price will decrease, and the quality will drastically improve. Until then all we can do is just sit and wait.

Where to Shop for Discount Camping Gear

As you probably know camping get be very expensive, this is why it’s very important when planning your camping excursion to create a budget. Most people turn to camping because they can’t afford other type of vacations like cruises, driving across country, hotels, restaurant etc… But the fact is camping can be expensive too. If you are new to camping just go to your camping gear store, you will see what I mean.

If you don’t want your camping expedition to be as expensive as any other vacation type, you should try to shop for discount camping gear. Nowadays more and more people are doing this. In the end camping is about roughing and it should not cost as much as traditional vacation. A lot of family goes camping to have a good time but also to save money. So if this is your case then shopping for discount camping gear is probably the way to go.

Army Surplus Store: A Great Place for Discount Camping Gear.

You probably already know this but if you are looking for discount camping gear, your local Army surplus store is one of the best places to shop. The carry a wide range of camping items:

- Tents
- Sleeping Bags
- Camping stoves
- And more

Anything camping item you can think of can usually be found in an army surplus store and on top of that there is a very good chance you will get it at a cheaper price than at your local camping store.

Buying Your Discount Camping Gears Online

There are many places where you can buy discount camping gears online, places like:

- Ebay
- Community listings
- Online Camping Store
- And more..

You only need to do some research on your favourite search engine and within a couple of minutes you can get your hands on high quality camping gears at discount prices.

Camping is all about leaving your stressful life behind and getting away with the family to have fun without spending too much money. If you are new to camping do yourself a favour and this year leave on a camping expedition. Go shop for discount camping gear and live a great outdoor experience with your family.

Lubrication For Your Table Saw's Blade Wheel Gears

One of woodworking's biggest bummers has to be a table saw with blade wheel and tilt gears that are so caked with sawdust that they become difficult to turn. Especially if you're a hobbyist who has been waiting all week to get into the wood shop to work on a project.

The problem that most woodworkers have stems from the use of "wet" or sticky grease that most table saw manufacturers use in the factory. They slather this grease on thick and it works beautifully for a time - until your blade wheel only turns with a hammer.

Some woodworkers claim that grease of this manner is never a problem, that they get years of great turning out of their blade and tilt gears lubricated just as they come from the factory. For these folks the chances are good that they are both light woodworkers - that is, they don't log many hours in the wood shop - and that they use dust collection. Which every woodworker should be doing by the way for safety purposes.

For the hobbyist with dust collection though it's still advisable to keep a close watch on those blade and tilt gears to make sure they're not gumming up too bad.

If you're having a problem with turning your gears - or want to preemptively maintain your gears with a non-sticky lubricant - you'll need to first clean off the grease and sawdust.

Read your manual first before attempting any sort of maintenance - that should always be your first guide to keeping your gears cleaned and rotating smoothly.

In addition to, or possibly following what your manual recommends you could clean off the gunk first with a rag, and then use an old toothbrush to clean off the remaining gunk and grease.

Finally - if you have it - use compressed air to really clean the gears of any remaining sawdust.

Then you've got to spend some time deciding which lubricant you're going to use.

There are a number of non-greasy, non-sticky lubricant options that tend not to attract saw dust.

Perhaps one of the most popular is simple bees wax - the kind often used for sealing toilets. Use that tooth brush and brush on a good healthy coat of wax. Paraffin wax - the kind often available at grocery stores for use in canning - is another alternative to bees wax.

Lithium grease is another popular option for lubricating your table saw gears. Lithium grease comes in two varieties - spray on and lubricant in a tube.

The spray on variety dries to a light coat and typically penetrates well and even cleans the gears a little. One issue you may find with the spray on lithium lubricant is that it doesn't leave a thick coat. This may be fine for certain applications but may not give you the ultimate in smooth turning.

The lithium grease that comes in a tube is dense like grease. Apply it liberally in a good thick coat to achieve the levels of smoothness and motion that you're used to in brand new machines.

Another popular lubricant found at most bike stores is spray-on graphite lube. It dries to a nice powder that doesn't collect dust, though doesn't give you the density of application that lithium grease does.

One expensive and highly-lubricating alternative is AntiSeize cpd, found in auto supply stores and used on spark plugs. This metal-added lubricant sticks in a manner similar to paint and works extremely well at high temperatures. It's more expensive but like the other lubricants mentioned does not attract dust.

Other Lubrication Points for Your Table Saw The bed of your table saw needs regular maintenance too. Scrub it off regularly and spray it with a teflon based dry lubricant to keep the wood from binding.

Consider lubricating your saw blades as well with a Blade Lubricant Stick. The oils and waxes in the stick make your blade cut more cleanly through your projects and helps extend the life of your blade.

Bearing lubricant is another important lube to investigate for your table saw - a good, penetrating lubricant that will protect and seal the bearing's inner workings and extend the overall life of your saw.

Shifting Gears to Relieve Stress

Sara feels like she is the busiest woman on Earth. She is married and has two kids (three if you count the husband), a dog, two cats, and a rabbit. She volunteers at her kid’s elementary school at least once a week in between trips to her ailing mother’s house. Her business takes up the most time, at least 50 of her precious hours every week. Sara is under an intense amount of pressure right now and feels like she’s ready to pop.

Why doesn’t Sara find some relief instead of continually pushing herself? Because women don’t take the time to take care of themselves. This is the typical situation for women today. They are overworked, overbooked, and stressed-out. This causes health problems, both mental and physical, for many women.

If Sara would stop and shift gears for a moment, meaning go to a neutral space, she might find the time to think about how she can reduce the stress in her life. Shifting gears for Sara might mean anything from having a good cry to exercising in the gym for a half an hour. Or it could mean getting an hour-and-a-half massage or even taking a week long vacation. It doesn’t matter what she chooses to do as long as she does something to shift her energy.

When she takes the time to shift gears, she puts herself in a neutral space where she can think without distraction. She can see her situation from a different point of view. For instance, if she chooses to have a massage, she will be in a more relaxed mode afterwards. When she is ready to think about it, she can start with fresh energy.

For those of us who are overworked, overbooked, and stressed-out, we can look at Sara’s situation and see ourselves. It doesn’t matter whether we’re ready to pop or not, taking care of ourselves should be a top priority for each of us.

Reviews of Fly Fishing Gear

Appropriate gear is important in fly fishing. Most experts believe that for you to be able to fly fish properly, you must have a complete set of gear. Thus, every fly fisher, novice or expert, has different fly fishing gear that are meant for different fishing locations. And if you’re a beginning fly fisherman and need to buy gear for your sport, there are a variety of choices available. But, it will do you better to find reviews of fly fishing gear first before heading out to buy them. Fly fishing gear reviews will give insights about the different gear that is available in most angling supply stores and dealers. You will learn the pros and cons about the different kinds of fly fishing gear you can purchase.

As fly fishing experts write most reviews, you can rely on the information. Angling magazines and other printed material about fly fishing offer reviews and articles on where to go, what gear to use and what to catch. You’ll even find great deals on fly fishing gear. columns; you might as well try reading some of their advices on how to find great deals on gears and equipment.By reading as many reviews as you can, you’d be able to compare the products they mention and decide what gear is best suited to you.

Most reviews about fly fishing gears will help you The Internet offers lots of sites containing reviews of different angling and fly fishing gear as well. They mostly offer information on the technologies and characteristics of a certain brand of gears.

Mountain Bike Gears Explained

Mountain bike gears are continually becoming more and more complicated and intricate. Today’s bikes can come with up to 27 gear ratios. It is common for a mountain bike today to use nine gears in the back and three sprockets of different sizes in the front for gear ration production.

Why so many gears? The most common reason is that a large number of gears allow a rider to pedal at the same pace no matter what terrain that he/she is on. This can be understood better if you think about a bike that just has one gear. Every time you turn the pedals one full turn, then the rear wheel also turns one full turn, too (1:1 gear ratio).

For example, your back wheel is measured at 26 inches. If you pedal one full turn, then this would mean that your wheel moved 81.6 inches. If you are riding at 50 RPM, then you will be able to go 340 feet per minute. This means that you were going 3.8MPH, which is equivalent to walking speed. This speed is great for going up a hill that is steep, but it is not a good speed for flat ground or racing downhill.

If you want your bike to go quicker, then you will need a different ratio. If you want to reach a speed of 25 MPH downhill using a 50-RPM cadence, then you will need to have a 5.6:1 gear ration. If you have lots of gears on your bike, then you will be able to get that ratio so that you can continue your pedaling at a consistent pace, no matter what terrain you are on or what your speed is.

A typical mountain bike that has 27 gears will have six gears so incrementally close to the other that you will not be able to determine that there is any difference between the gears when you change them.

Most mountain bike riders decide to choose a gear system with a front socket that is suitable for the slope or terrain that they usually ride on and they stay with this choice, even though it may be more difficult under a heavy load to shift the gears. This is purely a personal decision, but it is simpler to shift between gears when the rear socket, rather than the front one.

When you are pedaling uphill, then you will find that it is much better to choose a sprocket that is smaller on the front and then shift gears with the nine gears that are available on the rear. If you are more speeds on the rear sprocket, then you will find that it is much more efficient to ride.

Mountain biking needs gears so that you can keep an overall speed going. If you didn’t have gears, then you would find it difficult to build up any speed and you would find it nearly impossible to pound your pedals for extra control. Gears help to move the pedals and enable you to gain that speed.

What Causes Acne? Information About Sports and Acne Mechanica

Playing any kind of sports cannot only be a great way to get in shape, it can also improve your overall health and provide a healthy outlet for your emotions. Whether you're an active member of any sports team or you just like to jog around the block every morning, believe it or not, you're also increasing your chances of acquiring certain skin conditions.

A fairly common acne condition you might get when playing any kind of sports is Acne mechanica. This condition is triggered by the humid environment usually present in gyms and locker rooms, excess sweat, friction, and heat caused by tight athletic gears or outfits.

If you're not sure what causes the acne on your back or shoulders, it might be the sports gear you use. Take note of these following situations that usually lead to acne mechanica:

- You regularly wear protective gears such as caps or helmets and you notice zits growing on the area covered by your helmet.

- The area covered by your knee pads starts to develop zits and acne-like rashes.

- The strap of your backpack seems to irritate your shoulders because zits start to sprout even though you never had acne on that area before.

- The breakouts on your legs seem to worsen every time you wear your favorite skinny jeans.

- Areas covered by your tight brassiere start to develop rashes and pimples.

In some cases, this condition can be triggered if you have “sandpaper acne” prior to using tight sports outfits or gears. Despite the possibility of getting acne mechanica, however, you shouldn't be discouraged to try out for your college soccer team since there are many ways to prevent and treat this condition:

- Always wash your sports outfits and use only clean shirts made of breathable fabrics.

- Try to avoid wearing man-made fabrics such as polyester since these kinds of cloths do not absorb excess sweat.

- If your sports gear is too tight, try to loosen it up a bit or wear a breathable fabric underneath to protect your skin.

- If you really don't need to wear a headband or a hat, then don't wear it at all. Prolonged use of tight headbands and caps can trap in the excess oils and might provide a excessively humid environment for the pimple-causing bacteria to grow.

- Clean your sports gears on a regular basis to prevent build-up of bacteria and excess sweat.

- Do not rigorously scrub any area that might be affected by this skin condition since friction might cause more breakouts.

- After cooling down, try to take a shower immediately to remove excess oils and relieve your skin of the friction and heat that might be caused by your uniform.

- Try applying medications on the affected area. OTC treatments such as benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, and salicylic acid can help remove those acne-like rashes.

If your acne mechanica doesn't improve after trying out these tips, you can try to consult a dermatologist for a more effective treatment.

The Oldest Computer Of The World!

Thanks to the sophisticated techniques of radiography and imagery, an international team of researchers comes to elucidate the operation of one of the most mysterious objects of ancient Greece. Discovered in 1901 in a Roman wreck, it would be about a very sophisticated mechanical computer dedicated to the study of the astronomical phenomena. Of frightening complexity, it counted at least 37 bronze gears gone up in a box out of wooden of 31x19x10 cm. On the back face, two large dials in spiral indicated the phases of the Moon and made it possible to predict the eclipses.

On the front face, a dial posted the position of Sun and the Moon compared to the stars. The mention of the Venus planet leaves think that other indicators, now disappeared, reproduced on this same dial the trajectory of five planets known at the time.

Fortunately for the researchers, the originators of the mechanism described the operation of certain components on its case! Indeed, its refinement is such as a pair of offset gears simulated the modification the apparent speed of the Moon caused by the eccentricity of its orbit! Moreover, one device quite as clever introduced a correction for the leap years.

The Greek astronomer Hipparque or one of his disciples probably took part in his manufacture between 150 and 100 before our era. It would be necessary to wait more than a thousand years before finding comparable machines. Who knows which other technological wonders of Antiquity disappeared without a trace?

The technology was originally developed not for archeology, but as a method for improving photo realism and rendering efficiency in 3D graphics. It also could be used in criminal forensics, detecting distinctive characteristics in footprints or tire marks, for example. The technology also still has potential commercial uses for HP, but many of the techniques have been made available to the scientific world for academic purposes.

Toyota Lexus GS300: Venerable Luxury with Durable Toyota Parts

High equipment levels and meticulous quality and refinement have been the formula for building and maintaining the Lexus. It embodies a fresh design approach, re-engineered from the ground up.

Dominated by a long cabin with steeply angled front and rear glass, the windows allow plenty of light into the well-organized interior. The Rear passengers get plenty of legroom – the wheelbase has been lengthened by 50mm – and large quarter-windows.

The GS300 Sports at $95,000 includes climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, auto headlights and wipers, reversing camera and steering wheel audio controls. The Sports Luxury model tested here adds satellite navigation, a sunroof, intelligent cruise control, parking sensors and an excellent Mark Levinson stereo system.

Operating full time, the GS300's all-wheel-drive system features a planetary gearset and a wet, multidisc clutch to couple the primary drive wheels, at the rear, to the front. The standard torque split is 30/70 front to rear, but the system's electronic brain can vary that to 50/50, making its judgments based on various driver inputs such as throttle angle and steering angle, and vehicle data such as wheel speed and yaw rate

Every GS has three variations of a new close-ratio six-speed automatic transmission, each designed for optimum performance with their respective GS applications. One of the smallest and lightest gearboxes of its type, it includes a sequential manual shift mode, with gear changes made via a lever in the center console. An outstanding feature of the car is the all-wheel-drive system. The more slippery the road, the more pronounced is its advantage over conventional two-wheel-drive systems.

The car has an all-new 3.0-liter DOHC 24-valve aluminum V-6, which replaces an iron-block straight six of identical displacement. With Toyota's VVT-i variable-valve-timing system operating on cams, plus direct injection, plus a formidable 11.5:1 compression ratio, the new six generates 245 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, compared with 220 of each for its predecessor. The new V-6 is bolted to an equally new six-speed automatic transmission, featuring manumatic shifting and an electronic brain that does a good job of avoiding excessive hunting, particularly in uphill runs.

Other features include leather-trimmed, heated front seats with 10-way power adjustment; SmartAccess keyless entry and a pushbutton starter; a premium sound system with both CD and DVD capability; Bluetooth wireless telephone technology; and a 7-inch multi-information touch screen for easy access to a wide range of information and commands.

Options include: a steering-sensitive Park Assist system; DVD navigation system and rear backup camera; one-touch open/close moon roof; ventilated front seats; power rear sunshade. It also has an eardrum-pounding, wallet-smashing Mark Levinson audio system, its 11 channels of sonic wash flowing through 14 speakers, Rain-Sensing Wiper package that includes adaptive front lighting and headlamp washers (standard on the GS 430); a rear spoiler; and all-season run-flat tires. Luxurious amenities, exquisite quality, and remarkable technology—these are all the things that make up a Lexus. Partstrain likewise strives to preserve these qualities in delivering only the best Toyota Replacement Parts, Performance Parts, OEM and Aftermarket Parts.

As many customers are satisfied with Toyota cars, Parts Train has been the top choice of millions of Toyota owners for many years. Its diverse line of excellent Toyota replacement car parts, auto body parts, Toyota interior parts and Toyota exterior parts, Toyota motor parts and more can be found at its online store.

Used Cars - Second Hand Cars - Tips For Buying

Don't buy a car in the rain, the bodywork always looks better when it's wet, plus, the chances are you will forget to check something by rushing to get out of the rain.

Stand at the front, or the back of the car, and look along the body line. You will be able to see if it has had any body damage as the light reflecting off the side of the car will show the dents or replaced panels.

Check around the window rubbers for over spray, a sure fire way to see if a car as been touched up.

Check the gaps between the panels to make sure they are even on both sides of the car. Bonnet to wing etc. This is a good indication as to whether the car has been in an accident and had panels replaced.

Take a fridge magnet with you and check the bodywork for filler. The magnet will stick to the metal, but will fall off if it meets body filler.

Have a look at the interior of the car, does the wear inside the car look in keeping with the mileage. If the car looks like its done 100,000 and the clock says 25,000. Then you know its been round the clock, or even worse clocked. Check the steering wheel, and accelerator pedal rubber for excessive wear, the clutch and brake pedal rubbers can be replaced, but the accelerator pedal is a lot harder to change, and will give a truer indication of mileage.

Check underneath the car for any oil or water leaks, also check the floor where the car has been standing for the same.

Check the tires for uneven wear, if the tires are worn more on one side than the other its an indication that the car may have been in an accident and the chassis is twisted. It could also be the tracking or wheel balancing. Either way its not a good sign.

Drive the car, (with the radio off) and check for any knocks or strange noises. Check the steering for vibration, or pulling to one side, its an indication again that the car may have been in an accident and the chassis is twisted. Make sure you drive the car in all gears to check the gearbox.

Try a 3 point turn in the car, that will check the reverse gear, and if you put the steering on full lock you will be able to check the wheel bearings and steering rack (your looking for clunking sounds or creaking).

When the engine is now hot check the oil, if it is milky there is water getting in somewhere, which could indicate a head gasket. (very Costly). The oil should be filled to between the 2 marks on the dipstick. If the oil is brand new beware, not many people will change the oil on a car the day before they sell it unless they are trying to hide something. Also check the water reservoir for signs of oil, not a good sign.

Last of all, check the paperwork. Make sure the registration document is in the sellers name. They may be a trader trying to pose as a private seller. Check the MOT to make sure its current. Check the service history to make sure it matches the vehicle being sold. Also you may want to check the engine and chassis number to see if it matches what is on the registration document. You will find that information on a small metal plate located under the bonnet. If the plate is missing be suspicious.

It's also a good idea to get the car HPI checked. This will tell you if the car has been stolen, been in an and accident, or is on finance. It costs around £40 but well worth it.

If you follow these rules when buying a used car you wont go far wrong. If you can't be bothered to go through the hassle, then buy your car from a trader, he or she will have already done all these checks to cover himself before he or she purchases the car. I would not buy a car without doing these checks first.

Big RC Cars Are Big on Fun and Excitement

There are some really big RC cars on the market these days and they add to the excitement of racing as their sheer size helps then race over rougher conditions than the smaller cars. With huge knobbly tires and long travel suspension these big RC cars can be raced through mud, over sand and through long grass. With the long suspension travel and big diameter soft tires they can also jump over big humps without doing any damage and can land from great heights and continue racing. Many of these big RC cars are over one and a half feet long and are wider enough to corner at high speeds without tipping over. To get these Big RC cars to perform they need powerful engines and that is exactly what they are powered with as the new generation of engines produce more power than ever. Some of these big cars are even powered by two engines for enormous power and most of the cars are four-wheel drive for added traction.

There are also a number of really aggressive RC trucks that look enormous compared to the vehicles that were offered just a few years ago. The big RC cars have a very wide track and the mechanicals are set low in the chassis for a lower center of gravity. This lower center of gravity helps with the stability of the vehicle particularly when cornering. The big soft tires give so much traction that the gears in the differentials and gearboxes have had to be upgraded to handle the power from the twin engines. Lighter gears can be prone to damage when there is too much traction and too much power applied on surfaces such as grass where the wheels won’t spin. Fortunately there are many parts that can be replaced relatively easily and at little expense.

Reverse Gears: Functions and the Evolution of New Technology

Gears are an integral component of most mechanical devices that are in use today. Gears have wide ranging functions, but they are used for transmitting motion between two shafts. Moreover, they provide torque to a device that a fast spinning small motor cannot provide. Another important feature of gears is that they give direction to the process of rotation. This article provides information about just these types of gears, specifically reverse gears.

A pair of gears, one present on the counter shaft and the other on the output shaft are used to implement the process of ‘reverse’. As opposed to forward gears that are meshed together, there is some amount of space between the reverse gears. Another point of differentiation from forward gears is that reverse gears are joined to their shafts. There is no free rotation around the shaft. There might develop a scenario when a small gear that is known as the reverse idler is slid between the two gears. The function of this gear also called the idler gear is to mesh the two gears together. This enables it to change the direction of the rotation, but it does not hamper the gear ration in any way.

The method of working of reverse gears is not as complex as it seems. When the reverse gear is selected, the gear teeth of these gears are meshed. There is absolutely no aid from the mechanism that seeks to synchronize these gears. This is one of the primary reasons why the output shaft must now move, once a reverse is selected. That mean a car must be stopped when you want to select the reverse gear. Many automobiles have a mechanism wherein the input shaft also stops spinning when reverse gears are selected. This decreases the grinding that accompanies the selection of reverse when there is an inertial spinning of the input shaft.

Car companies do not necessarily uses the same reverse technologies across all makes. Advanced technologies make possible the use of sophisticated reverse gears in modern cars. Of course, these cars come with a hefty price tag. But, more often than not a mechanism is used which stop the transmission of the input shaft. If this is not done the vehicle produces a whining sound. This is why all car manufacturers use the idler that, as aforementioned, can be inserted between the two gears. This procedure reduces the accompanying noise to a great extent and in the service manual of many companies; you can find a mention of this system as a “noise reduction system”.

A new kind of reverse technology has entered the market in the recent times, called ‘spur reverse technology’. This technology has made a few improvements to the one that have been listed above. But, it has compromised on a few aspects like, robustness, engagements, and noise. But it has found acceptability because there is limited driving that takes place in reverse.

Gears Gear-Up Your Machines

Gears are one of the most basic transmission devices. If you are not a mechanical engineer, you will be amazed by the extent to which gears affect our daily life.

There are two basic functions that gears perform.

First, they make power travel from one part of a machine to another. For instance, when you are pedaling a bicycle, it is the arrangement of gears that causes the transmission of power from your leg movement to the rotation of the wheels. Likewise with most other forms of gear based machines.

Second, gears act as reducers. Thereby, they reduce the output speed but increase the torque. To understand this, once again consider the example of a bicycle. If you are climbing up a slope, you move to a smaller gear. This reduces the speed at which the cycle moves, but it increases the power generated by the rotation of the wheels. Hence, on the whole cycling-up the slope becomes easier. A similar example could be considered for a stick-shift car, whereby, you climb up steep slopes in a lower gear.

And to think that in their simplest form, gears are nothing but an interlinked pair of toothed wheels. But, gears can get more complicated. For instance, we could have a chain of gears when gear-one rotates gear-two, which rotates gear-three and so on. Likewise, we could have a situation where one of the toothed element is a cylinder, while the other is a disc. Also, again going back to the example of the cycle, we could have the two gears separated by some distance, but interlinked by a chain, or other transmitting device.

High Performance Car Transmissions

A transmission or gearbox is the system of gears that transmits mechanical power from the engine which ends at the wheels to produce higher torque/speeds.

The difference between Automatic Transmissions and Manual Gear boxes is that Automatic Transmissions change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves therefore not giving the driver control over when to shift gears, Where as the Manual Gearbox allows the driver to shift gears according to their needs whether it be high for high torque or high speeds.

Transmissions provide a major speed-power conversion known as gear reduction (in speed) to a higher torque by using gear sets. The cars transmission provides different speed-power ratios. Performance car transmissions must match the power output of the engine for the vehicle to perform at its peak and to reduce the risk of engine damage from over revving the engine.

All transmissions have different gear ratios and several gears to provide for high and low speed torque.

Low gears are used to give the car higher torque at low speeds and high gears increase the speed but have a lower torque therefore the more gears that the Transmission/Gearbox has the higher the speeds that can be gained. So by changing the gear ratios in the transmission/gearboxes you can maximize the power output and acceleration at any given speed. So you can now you can see the importance of the Transmission /Gearbox optimization has on high performance cars.

Green Living

I recently took delivery of my new car, a Honda Civic Hybrid, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it drove like a 2ltr car but in reality only had a 1300 cc engine.

For the uninitiated a hybrid car has a small engine and an electric motor in series. The gearbox is a CVT (continuously variable transmission) so no automatic gear changes are perceptible. In normal motoring the car uses the small engine; when you need more power, the electric motor assists the engine and conversely when less power is needed the car charges the batteries, equally when braking the energy is directed to the batteries as well.

The one feature which was initially unsettling was that the engine stops when at a standstill with the foot brake applied. Releasing the foot brake starts the engine again.

The dashboard has an additional dial which indicates the state of charge of the batteries and an indication of assist (using the stored power from the batteries) or charge (putting power back into the batteries.

Questions

Do the batteries need recharging?

No, they are automatically charged when the car is used.

Do the batteries make the boot very small?

No, the 150 volt batteries sit behind the rear seat so the boot is a normal size.

What MPG is available?

The car is new so 50 MPG is what I am getting now, but I am assured that this will increase as the car loosens up, although the published top MPG of 65+ I think is unrealistic.

What are the other advantages?

Exempt from the London Congestion charge, £18 road tax and low CO2 emissions.

Is the car reliable?

Honda comes top in the car reliability stakes.

An Introduction to Hybrid Cars

As more and more people catch on to the wave of the automotive future - the hybrid car, more and more questions arise regarding these efficient, but somewhat mysterious vehicles. But just how do they work, are they reliable enough, and are they capable of being the car of the future?

So what is a Hybrid Car?

A hybrid car is any car that combines two or more sources of power, such as gasoline and a rechargeable battery. A hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) combines the power of a gas engine with an electric motor. These dual engine systems can be configured for different purposes such as increasing the car’s power and improving fuel economy.

Components of a Hybrid Car

Components of an Hybrid car may include:

- Battery
- Electric motor
- Internal combustion engine (ICE)
- Generator
- Power split device

The Technological Advances

Some of the technological advances in the hybrid car industry include:

- Regenerative braking: This feature actually recycles energy when the cars brakes are applied. The electric motor is designed to exert resistance to the car’s drive train, which then causes its wheels to slow down. Energy from the wheels is then used to fuel the electric motor, which acts as a generator, converting the energy that would otherwise be wasted while braking into electricity that is stored in the battery until needed.

- Automatic start and shut-off: This feature automatically shuts off the engine when the car has come to a stop, then restarts it when the accelerator is touched. This eliminates the need to waste energy by idling the engine.

- Electric motor drive: The hybrid’s electric motor gives the car the added power it needs when accelerating, passing, or climbing hills. With this extra assistance, a smaller, more fuel efficient engine can be used.

Quick Information on How Hybrid Car Work

An internal combustion engine is “fueled” by a hybrid’s electric generator, which acts as the starter, and is used when first switching the car on. Once the ICE is heated up, it automatically shuts itself off with the electric motor taking over. Some hybrids will stay in an all electric mode until the car reaches a certain speed, usually about 15 mph. If there are no sudden accelerations, and the driver slowly makes a gradual increase in speed, these hybrids can still use all electricity for its power, saving gas, energy and a reducing harmful emissions.

A computer within the hybrid is responsible for determining how much power is needed from the ICE and how much should be used from the electric engine, depending on how fast the car is going. The computer continues to decide whether or not the electric motor should be used, or the internal combustion engine the entire time the car is running. Signals are sent to a gearbox known as the power split device, which uses a series of intricate gears that connect both the gas and electric engines/motors together.

The electric portion of the hybrid draws its power from a set of nickel hydride batteries. The computer also constantly monitors the amount of charge in the battery, keeping it at no less than 40 percent of its full capacity, and never more than 60 percent. The purpose of this is to keep the battery lasting as long as possible, which is usually a couple hundred thousand miles.

Upgrade Your Airsoft Gun with Airsoft Parts

Planning a Make-over?

You can outfit your airsoft gun inside and out. Whether you want better performance or parts replacement, you can get the right airsoft parts. The convenience of shopping for airsoft parts online makes it also easier for you to compare prices, and avail of discounted offers.

Majority of airsoft parts are manufactured in China, Taiwan, and Japan. The airsoft parts cater to all makes and designs of airsoft firearms; so getting one for your airsoft model will be fast and trouble-free. You will only have to be sure of what you want for your airsoft gun.

Before giving your airsoft rifle or handgun a make-over, have a ready plan: when to upgrade, what to upgrade, and how much you are going to spend. When doing the upgrading yourself have all airsoft parts ready. If you are not sure about your competence, get a pro to help you, or show you how it is done.

What Are These Airsoft Parts?

There are airsoft parts for internal and external upgrades. For internal upgrades, there are gearboxes and parts, cylinder pistons, and piston heads, bushings, gears and gear sets, springs and guides, nozzles, hop up rubber sets, motor barrels, inner barrels and other internal parts. For externals you can choose metal parts, optics, silencers, flash hiders, and much more.

Viewing those airsoft parts online can give you a better idea about overhauling your airsoft gun. If you are keen on replacing parts of your Tokyo Marui AK47, start with the gearbox. Perhaps you are aware that the limitations of the velocity of Japanese made airsoft guns are legal in nature not a flaw in design.

The gearbox is large enough to accommodate a bigger 8.4 volt battery. With a speed of 285 fps, your gun’s magazine will be tough enough to hold 68 bbs. Since this gun can switch from semi to full automatic, you will now have a powerful gun after you upgrade the gearbox. In most cases, before you do any upgrading you must have the complete airosoft parts.

Do-It-Yourself

You will need a Systema/Areal1000 metal bushings, hop up bucking, Guarder 50% ball bearings, Guarder Shim and Shim Set. You will be working on springs so get a PDI 150% Spring if you want more speed and velocity. You will be using several screwdrivers, which you can buy from the local hardware.

Go over instructional manuals carefully, and be sure you remove the battery before any disassembling. It will be practical to have ready containers for the tiny screws and bolts.

Upgrade Your Look

If you have done your airsoft rifle a service with airsoft parts, how about getting the latest protective gear for yourself? The vest, SWAT helmet, goggles and sunglasses, arm and leg holsters, and combat boots will give you the protection and appropriate look in your next battle.

You should also update yourself on the local regulations on airsoft firearms, and ensure that you store your guns out of the reach of children.

Gray Market Tractors, What You Should Know and Check Before You Purchase

Before you begin to actually look at tractors you should know exactly what you are looking for.

Consider the following questions when shopping for a tractor.

What size of tractor do you need?

What are you going to be using you tractor for?

How often will the tractor be used?

Is the tractor going to be used to produce income? Of course, money is often a consideration when shopping for a tractor. Consider talking to people that own tractors and get their opinions. Be an informed shopper and don't let anyone rush you. Below are some other things to consider before you begin shopping for a tractor.

Tractor Size

This is obviously the most commonly asked questions regarding a tractor purchase. The average compact tractor consumer owns a 1-5 acre piece of property and uses the small compact diesel mostly for mowing The other tractor consumers usually have between 10-30 acres and needs about a 30 horsepower to complete the necessary tasks.
What are you going to use the tractor for?, is of course, the most important question to answer. Is it just for mowing or will you be using a loader or backhoe on it? Will you be working on rocky or uneven ground?

Dollars & Sense

You should definitely shop around, however, don't forget that if you are comparing the prices of different makes and models of tractor it can sometimes be much like comparing apples to oranges. As with anything else, some makes and models are made better than others. A few more dollars upfront in price for a better quality of tractor makes more 'sense' than having to pay the cost of constant repairs and maintenance.

Different Makes and Models of Tractors

If at all possible, one of the best things you can do to make your life easier, is to purchase a tractor that is easy to get parts for. There are many foreign makes and models that are exact matches to domestic tractors. With that in mind, you can get a parts book for U.S. made tractor and purchase the corresponding part numbers that way. Some parts dealers don't like to sell parts for a gray market tractor. In fact, dealers of some brands of tractors are being told by a higher authority that they cannot willingly sell parts for gray market tractors.

Diesel Engines

Make sure you get a tractor with a diesel engine. Diesel engines have better performance and usually last longer than gas engines. Implements also work better on diesel engine tractors.

Horsepower

Approximately how many horsepower will you need? One horsepower (hp) is the amount of energy required to lift 550 pounds, one foot, in one second. In a tractor the energy is produced from torque and engine speed. A 100 hp tractor is one with a maximum of 100 horsepower available at the power-takeoff (PTO) outlet. PTO

Nearly all Japanese tractor manufacturers include the power take off (PTO) horsepower (hp) in their model numbers; however, they do not include the engine (fly) hp. The first two numbers of the model number is where you find the PTO hp. The PTO hp is important because it is telling you the equipment working power of the tractor. It tells you what horsepower that equipment requiring a PTO will get from the tractor. Click here for a more in depth explanation of PTO.

Cylinders

Consider getting a three or four cylinder tractor. Three and four cylinder tractors are generally newer tractors and run quieter and smoother than the two cylinder models. Transmissions

There are several different types of transmissions for tractors. If you are not knowledgeable about tractor transmissions, it would be a good idea if you familiarize yourself with the different types listed below, so that when you go out to shop for a tractor you will well informed. Manual transmissions on tractors were made to be shifted while the tractor is not in motion. This will cause a grinding noise due to the fact the two gears that are trying to mesh are rotating at different speeds. Manual shift transmissions are known for their durability, however, they are not considered to be very user friendly. The sliding gear and the collar shift are two of the more common transmissions.

Synchro Shift transmissions are basically collar shift transmissions (a type of manual transmission, see above). The difference is the added synchronizers, which makes it so that the gears don't grind if you are trying to shift while the tractor is in motion. Some synchro shift transmissions only have one pair of synchronized gears, while others have all speeds synchronized, including forward and reverse. The synchronization of forward and reverse is called the shuttle shift. This synchro shift is a dependable transmission, however, just like with automobiles, the more 'tricky' the tranny is, and the more chance there is of something going wrong or breaking.

A Power Shift transmission is an option well worth considering. Not those standard shift transmissions won't work just fine; however, often power shift is a nice little luxury, depending on what you are going to be using the tractor for. With a power shift transmission you can choose different speeds while the tractor is in motion, without needing to use the clutch pedal.

Hydrostatic transmissions operate in a closed loop, the flow of the pump is reversed, which in turn causes the tractor to reverse directions. The hydrostatic transmission is considered to be very dependable and is able to defend itself against 'operator difficulty'. Because this is transmission is controlled by a foot pedal, when you take your foot off of the pedal the tractor will stop, this is a nice safety feature. Hydrostatic is considered the best selection for such things as large mowing jobs because it allows for easy direction change and continual, unchanging speed.

Implement Adaptability

You will want a tractor with a Category 1, 3-point hitch and standard rotation PTO shafts. Most imported compact tractors are equipped with these items; however, there are a few that are not.

Implement Availability
Before you purchase a a tractor, make sure that good quality implements are available for it. It is a good idea to try to find a tractor with as many model-specific attachments as possible. These include things such as loaders and backhoes, which have custom-fitted mounts that are not interchangeable with other makes and models of tractor. You can often save money if you purchase the implements at the same time you purchase the tractor and some implements can be very expensive to add on at a later time.

Parts Manuals

Sometime parts manuals can be very hard to acquire. Make sure there is one available for the tractor you choose. Ask how much the manual is, sometimes the cost can be over $100.00 dollars.

Warranty
Find out what kind of a warranty comes with the tractor. Find out what it covers and for how long. Below is a checklist that you can print and take with you when you are out shopping for a tractor. Just check things off and take notes as you check over the prospective tractor.
Yes, it's a very long checklist, but well worth your time if you want to get a good quality tractor at a fair price.

Some things on the checklist may not pertain to the type of tractor you are looking for; however, we believe that most folks will find the majority of information here to be very helpful.
Your goal is to ensure that the tractor you purchase is all that the seller says it is and doesn't have any hidden problems. Make sure you know what you are looking for. Know what options you must have on the tractor and which ones you might be willing to compromise on or be able to add later.

Tractor Buyer's Checklist
Make_____________________________ Model _____________________ Year _________ Hours
On Meter________ Asking Price $____________
Seller's Name _____________________________ Phone ______________
Tractor Location _______________________________________________
Yes/No Notes Visual Exterior Inspection

Does the overall appearance of the tractor look as if it has been cared for?

Why is the tractor for sale?

Is the paint faded?

Is the sheet metal straight?

Are there a lot of 'dings' in the tractor?

Are there any decaying rubber or plastic components?

Are there any structural cracks? Look closely for hairline cracks.

Is there anything that looks like a 'makeshift' repair job?

Are the tires in good condition with good tread left on them?

Is there a calcium mixture added to the tires for better stability?

Is there still good tread left on the tires?

Is the seat in good condition?

Does it have a standard 3-point hitch?

Are there any puddles of fluid under the tractor?

Are there any oil spots on the ground around the wheels?

Engine Inspection

Is the engine warm?

Are there oil and/or fuel on the engine?

Can you see any seals leaking?

Is there oil around the rear axles, near the rear wheel?

Is there oil around the PTO seals?

Are there oil leaks around the output shaft seals gearboxes? (4WD

Is the engine oil at or near the full mark?

Is the front axle dipstick at or near the full mark? (4WD)

Does the oil look clean? Black is ok for diesel engines.

Are there creamy white droplets near the top of the dipstick?

Are all the filters U.S. made?

Is the air filter intact?

Does the air filter have any tears or holes in it?

Is the fuel filter clean?

Is the fan belt tight and in good shape?

Does the air inlet tube have any cracks or holes in it?

Is the water in the radiator dark green? This is a good thing.

Does the radiator water have a milky looking scum to it?

Is there flaking or discolored paint around the radiator cap?

Is there moisture along the bottom of the radiator?

Is there any slop in the steering linkages?

Did you closely look over the tractor a second time to make sure you didn't miss anything?
Running Engine Inspection

Does the oil pressure register when you just turn the key?

Start the tractor. Does it start easily?

Does the oil pressure light go off or the oil gauge go up to about 30-80 psi?

Do all of the other lights go off?

Is the voltage meter (if it has one) charging a full 13.5-14.5 volts

Did you rock the steering wheel from left to right? Do this with the engine running if the

tractor has power steering.

Does the PTO spin in all gears?

Does the 3-point hitch work properly?

Does the tractor continue to smoke after it warms up?

Driving The Tractor (This is the fun part)

Does the tractor work through all of the gears?

Does the power shift feel 'weak' when shifting?

Is there any slippage when you quickly accelerate into high gear?

Does the 4WD engage properly?

Does the clutch slip?

Do the brakes work well?

Did you check the brakes by pushing one pedal at a time in low gear?

Does the tractor make any clunking noises from inside the engine?

Does the charging system work properly?

Do the wheels wobble at all?

Hydraulics

Are the control levers in good shape and not flopping around?

Are the pivot pins badly worn?

Does any oil seep out of the extended spools (control valves)?

Are the hydraulic couplers capped?

Does the hydraulics work correctly?

Post Driving Inspection

Did the temp gauge ever get above the recommended temperature?

Did the temp light ever come on while you were driving it?

Did the tractor overheat?

Did the tractor run well even after it got hot?

Do you see any new leaks from the radiator?

Do you see any new oil and or fluid leaks?

Did you see excess smoke when you removed the oil cap?

Did you closely look over the tractor a third time to make sure you didn't miss anything?

I Hope this has been a lot of information that you where looking for and you will use this information to your advantage and be safe with it.

Used Cars - Second Hand Cars - Tips For Buying

Don't buy a car in the rain, the bodywork always looks better when it's wet, plus, the chances are you will forget to check something by rushing to get out of the rain.

Stand at the front, or the back of the car, and look along the body line. You will be able to see if it has had any body damage as the light reflecting off the side of the car will show the dents or replaced panels.

Check around the window rubbers for over spray, a sure fire way to see if a car as been touched up.

Check the gaps between the panels to make sure they are even on both sides of the car. Bonnet to wing etc. This is a good indication as to whether the car has been in an accident and had panels replaced.

Take a fridge magnet with you and check the bodywork for filler. The magnet will stick to the metal, but will fall off if it meets body filler.

Have a look at the interior of the car, does the wear inside the car look in keeping with the mileage. If the car looks like its done 100,000 and the clock says 25,000. Then you know its been round the clock, or even worse clocked. Check the steering wheel, and accelerator pedal rubber for excessive wear, the clutch and brake pedal rubbers can be replaced, but the accelerator pedal is a lot harder to change, and will give a truer indication of mileage.

Check underneath the car for any oil or water leaks, also check the floor where the car has been standing for the same.

Check the tires for uneven wear, if the tires are worn more on one side than the other its an indication that the car may have been in an accident and the chassis is twisted. It could also be the tracking or wheel balancing. Either way its not a good sign.

Drive the car, (with the radio off) and check for any knocks or strange noises. Check the steering for vibration, or pulling to one side, its an indication again that the car may have been in an accident and the chassis is twisted. Make sure you drive the car in all gears to check the gearbox.

Try a 3 point turn in the car, that will check the reverse gear, and if you put the steering on full lock you will be able to check the wheel bearings and steering rack (your looking for clunking sounds or creaking).

When the engine is now hot check the oil, if it is milky there is water getting in somewhere, which could indicate a head gasket. (very Costly). The oil should be filled to between the 2 marks on the dipstick. If the oil is brand new beware, not many people will change the oil on a car the day before they sell it unless they are trying to hide something. Also check the water reservoir for signs of oil, not a good sign.

Last of all, check the paperwork. Make sure the registration document is in the sellers name. They may be a trader trying to pose as a private seller. Check the MOT to make sure its current. Check the service history to make sure it matches the vehicle being sold. Also you may want to check the engine and chassis number to see if it matches what is on the registration document. You will find that information on a small metal plate located under the bonnet. If the plate is missing be suspicious.

It's also a good idea to get the car HPI checked. This will tell you if the car has been stolen, been in an and accident, or is on finance. It costs around £40 but well worth it.

BOC To Supply Gases and Technical Support To Hawk Corporation

BOC (NYSE:BOX) and Hawk Corporation (NYSE:HWK) have signed a multi-year contract for the supply of gases, equipment, technical support and consulting services at eight of Hawk's 16 world wide facilities.

Hawk manufactures specialized components used in a variety of end markets including industrial, commercial, and aerospace applications.

Under the agreement, which has an estimated total lifetime value of more than US $3 million, BOC will supply Hawk with liquid hydrogen, liquid nitrogen, three nitrogen on-site production units, cylinder gases and technical solutions and consultative services to Hawk's Precision Components and Wellman Products divisions.

Bob Conrad, vice president, purchasing, Hawk, said, "BOC has the technical capability and global reach that we are looking for in a supply partner. This agreement will enable us to consolidate our supplier base, reduce our gases spend and raise our technical expertise."

Scott Kallman, vice president and general manager for BOC's Eastern region, said, "We are looking forward to working with Hawk in the future. Plans are already under way to implement our patented sinter hardening technology, and we have begun discussions on the possibility of conducting joint research in this and other powdered metal areas."

Hawk Corporation is a leading worldwide supplier of highly engineered products. Its friction products group is a leading supplier of friction materials for brakes, clutches and transmissions used in airplanes, trucks, construction equipment, farm equipment and recreational vehicles. Through its precision components group, the company is a leading supplier of powder metal and metal injection molded components for industrial applications, including pump, motor and transmission elements, gears, pistons and anti-lock sensor rings. The Company's performance automotive group manufactures clutches and gearboxes for motorsport applications and performance automotive markets. The Company's motor group designs and manufactures die-cast aluminum rotors for fractional and subfractional electric motors used in appliances, business equipment and HVAC systems. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Hawk has approximately 1,680 employees and 16 manufacturing sites in five countries.

ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants Introduces New Turbine Oil For Gas, Steam and Combined Cycle Turbines

ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants, a leading provider of industrial lubricants and reliability solutions, today introduced a new turbine oil formulated to properly lubricate and protect against the harsh conditions found in turbines and gearboxes. The new product, which will be marketed as both Chevron GST 2300 and Texaco Regal Premium EP, is a premium performance turbine lubricant designed for gas, steam and combined cycle turbines, with or without loaded gearboxes. The product's performance characteristics allow it to maintain consistent viscosity, effective sludge control and eliminate the need for separate turbine and gearbox oils.

"In field trials, turbines running our new oil ran twice as long as those using a conventional lubricant," said Katherine Johnson, Industrial Specialist, ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants. "The product exceeds all critical OEM specifications for gas, steam, and highly-loaded gear turbines. It also has an RBOT value of 2300 minutes. No other non-synthetic turbine oil available today can make that claim. When you combine our new turbine oil with ChevronTexaco Global Lubricant's line of industrial heat transfer fluids, coolants and solutions, you create a complete offering for the power generation market that few, if any, can match."

Chevron GST 2300 and Texaco Regal Premium EP Benefits of Chevron GST 2300 and Texaco Regal Premium ED include the excellent water separability characteristics, which allow the oil to maintain a high film strength coating on critical wear points of bearings and gear reducers and assure rapid removal of water contamination. The corrosion inhibition feature protects turbine shafts, gears and lubrication system parts from corrosion and rusting and the foam inhibition element prevents sump overflow.

Additional product benefits include:

-- Superior oxidation stability for long service at elevated

temperatures

-- Protection from sludge and varnish formation

-- Simplified inventory: One lubricant for gearboxes and turbines

-- High viscosity index assuring minimum viscosity change with

temperature variations

-- Quick air release minimizing the possibility of pump

cavitation in systems with high circulation rates and small

reservoirs

-- Formulated with ISOSYN base stocks

The new turbine oil, available in ISO 32 and 46, can be obtained through ChevronTexaco marketers in North America by May 2004.

Chevron GST 2300 and Texaco Regal Premium EP ISO 32 .

Chevron GST 2300 and Texaco Regal Premium EP are not recommended for aeroderivative gas turbines, for this application ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants recommends Chevron Synthetic Turbine Oil SGT and Texaco Regal SGT 22.

About ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants

ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants (CTGL) is a leader in providing lubrication products and solutions to retail consumers, and commercial and industrial customers. Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., CTGL is ranked among the top three global marketers of lubricants, and together with its many affiliates worldwide, is active in 186 countries through 4,000 employees. Its worldwide presence enables the company to be a local provider of superior service with global resources. CTGL is a division of a wholly owned subsidiary of ChevronTexaco Corporation (NYSE:CVX).

CTGL markets a full line of lubrication and coolant products under the Chevron, Texaco and Caltex brand names. Select brands include Superla(R), Havoline(R), Delo(R), Ursa(R), Revtex(R) and Texaco Xpress Lube(R). The company has patented technology in advanced lubricants products and new generation base oil technology, as well as in more diverse areas such as coolants and crop protection.

New utility vehicle from Kubota - utility equipment

Kubota Tractor Corp., Torrance, Calif., has announced the development of its first utility vehicle, the RTV900. Designed for general purpose, worksite, turf and recreational applications, the new unity vehicle is available in four configurations and incorporates the same technology used on the company's tractors, which have been sold in the U.S. for more than 30 years.

Kubota entered the utility vehicle market based on the growing trends of utility vehicles and the resources it already had to produce the vehicles, said James Burnside, product manager at Kubota. "We are going to grow this business. This is going to be big growth for Kubota this year."
After three years in development, Kubota began production on the vehicles in Gainesville, Ga. Full production was slated to begin in January.

While the company may have aimed for commonality between its new utility vehicle and its tractors in many areas, Burnside said the Kubota D902 diesel engine was designed specifically for the RTV900 utility vehicle. The three-cylinder, OHV, liquid-cooled engine has an 898 cc displacement on a bore and stroke of 2.83 in. x 2.90 in. and is rated 21.6 hp. The engine features a half float valve cover with a rubber ring gasket to seal and isolate vibration and reduce noise throughout the crankcase, the company said. Engine cooling is provided by a Denso radiator.

American Gear Manufacturers Association

The American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) will sponsor an exhibit pavilion for its members at the 2008 IFPE--International Exposition for Power Transmission. AGMA will also promote the show as an IFPE 2008 supporting organization. IFPE 2008 will be held March 11-15, 2008, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., and will be North America's largest exposition and technical conference for hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical and mechanical power transmission components, systems and controls.

Steep incline pump drive highlights expanded Funk programs - Mechanical Powertrain Component Supplement - Funk Manufacturing

The launch of a new hydraulic pump drive for steep incline applications highlights an expanded marketing program for Funk Mfg. Funk, Coffeyville, Kan., manufactures a variety of powertrain components, including transmissions, gearboxes and hydraulic pump drives, and is responsible for the marketing of axles manufactured by the Power Systems Group of Deere & Co., Funk's parent company. Funk also signed a North American sales agreement with England's International Transmissions Ltd. (see August 1998, Diesel Progress).

The new pump drive for steep incline use is part of Funk's 56000 series, and is similar in design to the existing five pump drives in that range. The new drive carries a rating to 950 hp (2000 lb.ft. at 2500 rpm) and can drive up to five hydraulic pumps. Target markets include trenchers, drill rigs and trash compactors.

The new steep incline configuration includes pressure lubrication, as well as a lowered sump case that is designed to eliminate gear contact with the oil in a horizontal position and reduces contact with the oil in side tilt applications up to 30 [degrees].
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Continuous operation in extreme side tilt applications in normal gearbox configurations can immerse one or more gears totally in oil, causing heating and gear damage because of the churning of the oil, Funk said. The new pump drive design includes a lube pump that supplies oil to all gear meshes, splines and bearings at all times, through internal lines drilled into the pump drive casting. Thus there are no external lines to leak or break, Funk said.

A pressure switch is also part of the new configuration, and can be wired to a panel light to warn the operator of low lube oil pressure in the drive. Further, the new hydraulic pump drive also includes high-contact ratio spur gears for quieter operation and ease of service and cylindrical roller bearings are also used, eliminating the need to shim the beatings.

The new pump drive configuration is also the first of what is expected to be an expanded emphasis on pump drives for Funk. According to Jim Huffman, sales manager, part of that program is increased emphasis on distributor pump drive sales and packaging. This is being done, said Huffman, as Funk distributors are doing more and more work with smaller equipment manufacturers.

The Funk distributors, totaling 22 worldwide, keep unsealed pump drives in stock, as well as gear ratio sets, power take-offs, a range of inputs, clutches, pump adapters and plates that allow them to essentially "build" a pump drive for a specific customer application. There are also 27 service dealers worldwide that support Funk's OEM direct programs.

Some distributors are packaging the Funk pump drives with Deere engines as a complete hydraulic power unit, while others are packaging hydraulic pumps with the pump drives, giving the equipment manufacturer a full hydraulic drive package.

As detailed in August, Funk is now the exclusive sales agent of International Transmissions Ltd., for the Americas. This adds a complementary range of transmissions and axles to Funk's axle and transmission range.

Sorry, I'd rather have a Honda

Two years ago I celebrated the centenary of Rolls-Royce by driving a Silver Ghost, the first of the marque to go into series- production. The example exhibited at the Motor Show in November 1906 was dubbed the 40/50' by then 12 cars had been tested to destruction and the 13th, painted and plated in silver, seemed so magnificent that mere numbers would no longer do and it became the Silver Ghost.

Motoring correspondents of its day wrote of riding in the Ghost as being wafted through the air, as though the wheels were not in contact with the ground, in total silence, at speeds quite unimaginable. Autocar magazine in 1907 was responsible for the myth that "one's auditory nerves" heard nothing louder than the dashboard clock.

Were they blind, deaf and comprehensively insensate? To drive an early Ghost now - cosseted, adored and venerated for a century - is to be deafened by the racket, and to have one's teeth so loosened by the juddering, that the sane man must prefer to travel in a horse- drawn cart.
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During the many years of its manufacture, the suspension of the Ghost was revised, refined and improved, yet it obstinately remained a creature familiar to any charioteer of Julius Caesar's day' and even when the Ghost was replaced by the Phantom I in 1925, the old chassis soldiered on for four more years, carrying the new engine.

The engine may well have been the smoothest, quietest and most flexible of its day, and there can be no doubting its reliability, but in truth it looks and sounds like a barrel-organ built for the Black Dyke Mills Band. It is a big six of 7,036cc, producing 50bhp at 1,500rpm - hardly enough for sparkling performance when bodies by the great coachbuilders of the day brought the on-the-road weight to the best part of three tonnes. That weight was an essential part of keeping the wheels in contact with the road and smoothing out the bounce.

In 1909 the capacity was increased to 7,428cc and by 1911 power had risen to 58bhp. Right at the end of its lifespan, in 1925, it had been persuaded to give 85bhp. By then it had been mated to a variety of three-and four-speed gearboxes with ratios that always made it possible to drive in top gear and no other - a signal advantage to drivers who could not master the business of double- declutching for a silent change.

The British public, restrained by an early speed-limit of 20mph, were less interested in speed than in a car's ability to do everything required of it in top gear. Double declutching to match the rotating speeds of the gears was virtually impossible for most private owners who, if confronted by a hill, were inclined to stop, select the gear in which the car might climb it and stay in it rather than risk the crash of gear-grinding on the move.

Rolls-Royce offered reassurance with a very early Ghost driven from Bexhill to Glasgow in top, and in 1911 this feat was capped by a car driven from London to Edinburgh and back, followed by a speed trial at Brook lands in which the car, nicknamed The Sluggard, roared round the circuit at 78.26mph.

A 15,000-mile road trial to and forth between London and Glasgow without a forced stop further substantiated the car's claim to be reliable. Then a single-seater Ghost circled Brook-lands at 101mph. When in India a Ghost, deprived of tools and with its bonnet locked so that its oil and water could not be topped up, climbed six mountain passes in a row, the car became the favoured marque of nawabs and maharajahs.

The first advertisement for the Ghost then asked the question: "Is this the best car in the world?'" The second unhesitatingly stated that it was. We have believed it ever since.

Was it ever true? Response in Britain to the Ghost was so ecstatic that R-R dropped all other models to concentrate on it and production rose to seven cars a week. I am content to believe that it was, in its first incarnation, the best-made car in the world, the most scrupulously considered in every tiny detail, that the tolerances were such that nothing could ever bend, distort or sheer.

But if the legend meant that the Ghost's engine, gearbox, brakes and suspension were so far in advance of the engineering of the day that they required nothing but a little tinkering to keep R-R ahead of all its rivals, then it was a downright lie.

Royce was a perfectionist rather than an innovator, content to make better what had already been made before. It was Rolls, killed in a flying accident in 1910, who determined that their cars should be big and powerful, that their bodies should all be built by the great coach-builders - exclusive, inventive and expensive independent craftsmen - and it was Rolls who drove the marque into the headlines and high society.

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