XPost: comp.os.linux.misc   
   From: robin_listas@es.invalid   
      
   On 2025-12-15 07:33, c186282 wrote:   
   > On 12/14/25 07:59, Carlos E.R. wrote:   
   >> On 2025-12-14 06:03, c186282 wrote:   
   >>> On 12/13/25 15:03, Carlos E.R. wrote:   
   >>>> On 2025-12-13 10:06, c186282 wrote:   
   >>>>> On 12/12/25 21:52, Lars Poulsen wrote:   
   >>>>>> On 2025-12-12 16:39, The Natural Philosopher wrote:   
   >>>>>>>> None of these worth importing to the USA because of Big   
   >>>>>>>> Beautiful Tariffs,.   
   >>>>>>   
   >>>>>> Also, there is no dealer network and spareparts distribution. That is   
   >>>>>> the real showstopper; that is why Fiat could never be viable in   
   >>>>>> the US:   
   >>>>>> N o matter what the problem was, the car would sit at the shop until   
   >>>>>> parts could come in from Europe. (A colleague back in Denmark has the   
   >>>>>> same issue when he bought a Jauar E-type.)   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>>    "Parts" are a BIG deal ... and one that most   
   >>>>>    overlook. Japan/Korea made sure you could get   
   >>>>>    parts rather easily ... but most EU makers   
   >>>>>    never did.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> My father had an Austin 1300. Initially things were well, but then   
   >>>> Austin abandoned Spain, I don't know why. This would be in the late   
   >>>> 70's. Spares became difficult or impossible to find, and we are   
   >>>> talking about UK and Spain, not Japan. Not that far away. We used   
   >>>> parts from other brands, but better from junk yards.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> The motor broke one teeth of the inertia wheel, that has teeth for   
   >>>> the starter motor. One broke, so sometimes the starter would spin   
   >>>> "empty". We had to push the car with gear engaged for just a bit,   
   >>>> then try the starter again.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> I think the garage replaced the thing with a part from a Fiat. The   
   >>>> problem then became that the motor would get stuck. Different shape   
   >>>> of teeth. Finally the garage man found a wheel at a junk yard. That   
   >>>> worked fine.   
   >>>   
   >>>    It IS possible to weld new teeth on a cast-iron gear,   
   >>>    I watched someone do it. Takes an EXPERT though and   
   >>>    special weld material and some pre-heating. The smith   
   >>>    made a profile template using epoxy paste. Then it's   
   >>>    hand-filing. Apply template, see what needs adjusting,   
   >>>    repeat. After four or five passes yer new tooth is   
   >>>    "good enough". Took the guy about 90 minutes - and   
   >>>    he CHARGED accordingly. HOWEVER if you just CAN'T   
   >>>    find a replacement part, well .....   
   >>   
   >> My father would not know about that, nor me. I don't know if the   
   >> mechanic knew but did not suggest it. No internet at the time to find   
   >> out, and Spain was getting out of the dark ages (Franco times).   
   >>   
   >> The same care broke a palier later (not sure if that word is used in   
   >> English). The short iron rod transmitting rotation from motor to front   
   >> wheel. The mechanic bought a longer one from another car, cut a bit   
   >> out of the centre, and soldered it back.   
   >>   
   >> https://share.google/TgOnbjTffax1tGRe8   
   >   
   >    "Palier" ??? Took me awhile to even look that up.   
   >    I get two main images ... one looks like a bolt-on   
   >    "pillow bearing" and the other refers to the tube   
   >    each transverse differential shaft runs inside.   
      
   The photo on the link should clarify ;-)   
      
   Wikipedia suggests "Shaft", but that is too generic.   
      
   >   
   >    Was afraid, by your def, it referred to some kind   
   >    of crank-shaft method of driving the wheels rather   
   >    than using gear-to-gear. MAYbe on some antique   
   >    farm equipment. Lubrication would be a pain and   
   >    it'd make the ride very clunky.   
   >   
   >    Anyway, it IS possible to weld/repair cast iron   
   >    parts - but you DO need an expert and will PAY   
   >    accordingly. It's not something you do in your   
   >    garage with a torch or 'buzz-box' welder. BUT,   
   >    for those with beloved antique vehicles, ya gotta   
   >    do what ya gotta do.   
   >   
   >> Fortunately, my parents bought a new car soon after that and sold the   
   >> Austin. The person buying it was happy, bought it for spares. Said   
   >> ours was in better state than his.   
   >   
   >    Worse "spare" situation I ever heard of, the older   
   >    Russian "Ural" motorcycles - pre-90s. They were very   
   >    cheap, but the rule of thumb was to buy TWO so you   
   >    could have enough good parts to make ONE that ran.   
   >    Apparently there's no term for 'quality control'   
   >    in Russian  :-)   
      
   :-D   
      
   >    I've ridden the 90s+ ones ... they're fun - but   
   >    they're NOT a trike, special techniques are needed.   
   >    HELPS to put a 100lb bag of sand in the sidecar.   
   >    Also do NOT try to hold a really tight line down   
   >    the road, you'll go mad. They DRIFT about a foot   
   >    or so but AVERAGE straight ahead. So, you just   
   >    LET them drift.   
      
   Chuckle :-D   
      
   --   
   Cheers, Carlos.   
   ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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