grumpy, i agree in a home workshop even with a decent mill or lathe it isn't easy but i do all my machining at tafe in their workshop with endless types of lathes, mills and tooling so anything's possible there with enough time.
the problem seems to be people in industrial workshops feel if it isnt done with a CNC machine and there isnt multiple copies being made of the same thing it isnt worth setting up for it which is a dead loss to the rest of us.
whats scarier is that there isnt many young blokes like my self learning the trade (machining and engineering) so in the future there will be no one to make any parts for our projects.
the number one thing i hate about these units is the clutch that connects to the engine to the main drive shaft. when replacing the cork you have to pull the whole thing apart then practice witch craft to get the strait thin strip of cork in there with out splitting or breaking it. done about 6 of them (4 for the local bowls club that run 8 of them) and cursed every time.
Hi mowernut, talk about the luck of the Irish, my clutch cork went in without a hitch!
I must admit the cork I bought was cut in a very shallow semi-circle so, as you brought the ends together, it formed the cone shape. I got the cork from a supplier in Victoria.
mine were a total strait piece that was about 10 inches long so i had to cut them to length when in so they matted exactly. made for real fun lol
regards jay
