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Goodson Gazette

Flex-Hones 101

We get a lot of questions about Flex-Hones® and Ultra-Finish Plateau Hones so in this week’s Tech Tip I’ll give a quick explanation on the differences between them.

The most common Flex-Hone® is made of silicon-carbide. This is a silicon-carbide ball, affixed to a flexible nylon filament, connected to a drive shaft, driven by a portable drill. They are used to hone cast iron cylinders. Silicon-carbide is a strong, blocky abrasive that wears well and removes material quickly.

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In a Bind with Coil Bind?

When you look at the specs for our valve spring kits, you’ll see coil bind height specified for every one of them. It is essential when installing valve springs that you know what this number is and take measures to avoid having your valve springs reach this. So, what is coil bind? Read on…

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Cleaning Media 101 – Part 3 of 3

Over the past two weeks, we’ve covered Glass Bead and Airless Blaster Parts Cleaning. Today, we’re wrapping up our series on cleaning media with Parts Tumbler Media.

Parts Tumblers

The parts tumbler does a good job of cleaning smaller components. Some advantages of parts tumbling are:

  • Low maintenance
  • Time to clean is short
  • Can be used on a wide variety of shapes and material with the correct media.

As with glass beading and the airless blaster, care must be used to avoid damaging machined surfaces.

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Cleaning Media 101 - Part 2 of 3

We started a series on Cleaning Media in last week’s Tech Tip of the Week on Glass Beading We continue today with a look at Airless Blasters, their uses and which media to use for which process. Next week we’ll wrap up this 3-part series with a look at Parts Tumblers.

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Cleaning Media 101 - Part 1 of 3

Today we’re starting a short series on the various cleaning media available to the engine builder. We’ll be giving you tips and tricks for using each media type, including glass beads, tumbler media and airless blaster media. Check out the Goodson Tech Tip of the Week for the rest of the series.

One of the most widely used cleaning media is the glass bead. Glass beads are primarily used to blast engine components free of carbon base soils and oxidation. Blasting is done in a cabinet to contain and recycle the media being used.

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Taking Care of the Most Important Thing in Your Shop – YOU

We’re taking a little side trip with this week’s Tech Tip of the Week. Here in Minnesota where Goodson is headquartered, it’s hot. Yes, Minnesota, land of the Ten Thousand Lakes and just as many snowbanks is HOT. How hot?  Today, June 10, 2021 we're sitting at 95 degrees with a "feels like" temperature of 104. And like we say around here, it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity. I think we have about 96% humidity too.

This heat wave we’re having got me to thinking about all of the guys working in the heat. I know that a lot of shops don’t have air conditioning and I have yet to see an air conditioned race track so we decided its time to do a tech tip about dealing with the heat. There is a lot of summer left and with heat like we’ve been having already, it’s important for you to take care of the most important thing in your shop – YOU.

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In the Machine Shop, Diamonds are a Guy’s Best Friend

Industrial diamonds are an entirely different breed than the glittery ones that are made into jewelry. Industrial diamonds are chosen primarily for their hardness. Unlike gemstone diamonds, they aren’t chosen because of clarity. They vary in color because while the carbon is being pressured to become a diamond, other minerals get mixed in and contaminate the pure carbon.

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The Whys and Hows of Demagnetizing Engine Components

In my mind, not demagnetizing components you’ve worked on is kind of like taking a bath, then putting your dirty clothes back on. Doesn’t make a lot of sense and undoes all of the good work you’ve just done. So here goes. This is my view on whether or not to demag components:

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Tips for Choosing the Right Flywheel Grinding Stone

We hear a lot of shops complaining that they don’t have time to stop and change the grinding stone every time they start on a new flywheel. First, let me congratulate you that your shop is busy. Second, let me tell you that you’re wasting more time by not changing the stone than you are by changing it. If you try to grind a flywheel with a stone that’s too hard or too soft for the material the flywheel is made of, you’re going to spend more time dressing the stone and grinding the flywheel that you would if you used the correct stone to begin with.

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Protect Your Eyes in The Shop – Take My Word For It, It’s Important

You’ve probably heard the warnings to wear eye protection hundreds of time; maybe even to the point that you just don’t hear it anymore. Well, I’m here to re-emphasize that eye protection is absolutely essential!

This is a case of do as I say, not as I do because I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t follow my own advice and now I’m paying for it.

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