Hi Jim
On (18 Sep 97) Jim Dunmyer wrote to Alec Cameron...
 JD>  >JD> the traditional objections and shortcomings of Diesel engines 
 JD>  >JD> are being overcome with newer technology,
 > 
 JD>  >RJ> What are those?
 > 
 >         Not able to be repaired by your average D.I.Y. home 
 > mechanic.
 JD> Alec,
 JD>  Many otherwise-experienced mechanics seem to think that a Diesel engine
 JD> presents a big mystery; this is just plain not true.
Note I said "average D.I.Y. home mechanic". And! I was focussed on
"traditional" not current, conditions.
When I left school [1946] and started work as a 5 year apprentice craftsman,
it was commonplace for untrained young men to do their own engine rebuilding,
learning from buddies and books and using dad's rough, limited workshop 
ols.
Those same lads, in those times would not be inclined to tackle a bus diesel
engine, even though there were quite a few old buses running as mobile homes.
The practice in those days, was fix your own petrol engine but don't work on 

diesel ESPECIALLY! [as you noted] the injector/ fuel pump.
So without training I managed my own petrol engine rebuild, diff repairs,
universals, rear axle shafts, king pins, dynamo repair, starter motor 
rushes,
voltage regulator repair/ adjust, clutch rebuild. Not because I was a clever
teenager but because it was the fashion in those days to D.I.Y.
And, cars were made with accessible serviceable elements.
 JD> the cylinder head. The only exception is the 2-stroke Diesel, like
 JD> GM/Detroits and the exotic stuff as in submarines.
I worked once on the engines of HMAS "Ovens", an Oberon class submarine. The
engines had nice big nameplates- KLINK and SHULTZ! [Hogan's Heros].
Cheers.....ALEC
... Wunce i coodn even spll ingineer. Now i are wun!!
--- PPoint 1.92
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