h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Please remember to wash your hands thoroughly after handling bottom bearing grease!

To be on the safe side I usually wash my hands both before and after - plus I wear industrial strength rubber gloves

Unless of course it is grease made from a bear's bottom, in which case it should be good in the town. Though of course it would be crap in the woods.

>>...it would be crap in the woods. <<

In days of old when Knights were bold,
most axles were made of wood and it was
grease from the goose that worked best
to stop the squeaky wheel. Today we have
bearings. The better to bear the grind.

~jwf~

My steam valve keeps blocking up, and it ends up in rather surprising outbursts of hot air and noxious fumes. Should I adjust the stress lever, or try to increase the opening?

I'd suggest a thorough blast through the gaskets. There may be all sorts of detritus, let vent and hopefully the pressure valves will hold.

Better watch for sparks , though. In particular in flammable environments

Sounds like you need to give it a good descaling/ degunking

You know, that sounds like a good idea. I took it apart, brushed all the pieces, and let them lie in the sun for a good while. I am convinced that the uv-radiation will break down some of the organic deposits, and then a good soak in warm water will do the trick. Perhaps a little alcohol to remove the water residue, after the soak. Do you think a lint free cloth, or a blow drier will be best to get it dry?

Don't use a blow-drier. When I did that, all the Napier tape fell off the Q-brushes and they wouldn't let me do it in the foyer any more.

Well, the foyer bit is probably not related to the valve drying Remember one day to remind me to tell the story about the young couple wanting to be members of a congregation and ending up not being welcome at Home Depor

As to degunking, I've heard that rubbing with an apple slice and wiping off with a page of old newspaper works magic. Any experiences out there?

Works fine on the kids' faces. Can be used for apple pie afterwards. Adds a unique taste...

I feel hard done by - spit on a hanky was all I got

I heard that story too, Santra.

Wasn't that the same young couple who didn't know the difference between vaseline and putty?

As you guessed, their windows fell out.

Are you saying that's why our wallpaper keeps falling off

Do not use putty as a lubricant under any circumstances.

Sunlight drying in the UK is usually a seasonal occupation, so as part of the mid-summer festival I usually strip mine down and hang the pieces from my Morris costume, Just watch out for beer spillage.

beer spillage?

We should be inventing a valve that only lets beer leave its bottle when it is meant to be

It looks like I didn't tie my parts on tight enough, when I came to re-assemble today I found I'd lost my ream splitter.

Anyone know where I can get a right handed one without spleen turners ?

...that thing about vaseline and putty, easy mistake to make if the weather's cold enough... ...its happened to me with 10/50 weight motor oil...

I'm sure that didn't do much for the pumping of your piston!