Mr Whippy
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 posted on 10/12/07 at 04:12 PM |
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oh I didn't know that
shamelessly pinched of the net...
In Ford's simple ignition system, there was one ignition coil for each spark plug. If there were four spark plugs, there were four ignition
coils, which needed to be adjusted to provide the same spark intensity for better idle and acceleration. As these ignition coils worked, they made a
buzzing sound, and when they were adjusted properly, they all buzzed in "tune." The term "tuneup" stuck and became associated
with replacing spark plugs and correcting rough idle problems effecting engine performance.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 10/12/07 at 04:15 PM |
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If it's on the net, it must be true...
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takumi
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| posted on 10/12/07 at 04:20 PM |
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I'm sure it was the 'coined' after the popularisation of optimising the length of exhaust primaries and secondaries..
hence >Getting the correct 'Tuned' length..for a manifold system.
-or were you being sarcastic ? 
-tk
RobinHood 2B 2.0i pinto, Keihin 38mm Carbs, lightened flywheel, O'Mori remote filter kit, 10 row oil cooler. Modified head, 10.2cr, special
valves FR22 cam, 4- 1 header.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 10/12/07 at 04:38 PM |
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HA! just looked up a site on the model T ford and loooook ----
Note 1 – Adjusting the Model T Ford Ignition Coil
The upper contact cushion spring should have approximately .005 clearance at A to the upper bridge D. This clearance should extend the full length of
the cushion spring. Push the vibrator spring down to core and adjust nut C until the upper point just makes contact with a .029-.031 feeler gage. Lock
C position with upper nut. Adjust tension on the vibrator spring by lightly tapping the back of the vibrator spring bridge (or by prying it up) until
the coil draws 1.3 amperes at 6 volts input.
When all 4 coils are properly adjusted, they should all have a uniform pitch like the sound of an angry bee, about 275 cps.
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vinny1275
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| posted on 10/12/07 at 04:54 PM |
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Was watching the coast programme last night - apparently the phrase "copper bottomed" came from Nelson using copper sheets to line the
outside of the ships in his fleet - weed & barnacles couldn't attach to it so easily and the water flowed past more smoothly, making the
ships faster.
Every day's a school day!
Vince
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 10/12/07 at 07:06 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by vinny1275
Was watching the coast programme last night - apparently the phrase "copper bottomed" came from Nelson using copper sheets to line the
outside of the ships in his fleet - weed & barnacles couldn't attach to it so easily and the water flowed past more smoothly, making the
ships faster.
Every day's a school day!
Vince
I thought that copper bottoms on ships were to stop some sort of worm boring into and through the hull?
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onzarob
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| posted on 10/12/07 at 07:49 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
I thought that copper bottoms on ships were to stop some sort of worm boring into and through the hull?
Correct, a problem in warmer waters. 
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 10/12/07 at 09:20 PM |
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Yep - it means that it's a good investment. The hull isn't going to get eaten when it's bringing your cargo home.
I love these expressions that get used in modern speech, when people don't know what they really meant... for example...
"by and large" (generally means... well... 'generally'!)
"three sheets to the wind" (drunk)
"swinging the lead" (being lazy)
And from different worlds...
"going off half-cock" (doing something too soon, before you're ready)
"keeping tabs on someone" (keeping a close eye on someone)
"Highly strung" (very excitable)
Now who can remember what these originally meant?
(and no Googling!)
[Edited on 10/12/07 by David Jenkins]
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Bob C
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| posted on 10/12/07 at 10:00 PM |
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"going off half-cock" (doing something too soon, before you're ready)
also "flash in the pan"
and "lock stock & barrel"
from same source
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jabs
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| posted on 10/12/07 at 10:01 PM |
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going off half cock is easy, back to the days of flintlock pistols, the hammer had two positions, half and full cock. so going off half cock was
firing the pistol before you had fully cocked the gun, ie half cock / to early
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 10/12/07 at 10:10 PM |
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To be precise... the 'half-cock' position was reached when the hammer was pulled back halfway - it was the nearest thing to a safety
catch, as the trigger shouldn't release the hammer in that position, unless the mechanism was faulty.
That's one down - next!
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Macbeast
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 03:34 AM |
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Swinging the lead - is it from measuring water depth by using a lead-weighted cord? This would be an easy job well suited to skivers like me.
Ok where does skiver come from ?
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TheGecko
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 06:54 AM |
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"Three sheets to the wind" is from the sea too. The full version is "Three sheets to the wind and the fourth one flapping"
describing a ship so disheveled as to have lost three of her sails to the wind and the last one left flapping about with the rigging loose. Not a bad
analogy for someone staggering drunk
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Macbeast
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 08:50 AM |
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"Going off half cock" - premature ejaculation ?
Sorry Fozzie
3 sheets etc. Sheets are ropes, not sails, but I suppose the idea's the same.
[Edited on 11/12/07 by Macbeast]
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 12:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by TheGecko
"Three sheets to the wind" is from the sea too. The full version is "Three sheets to the wind and the fourth one flapping"
describing a ship so disheveled as to have lost three of her sails to the wind and the last one left flapping about with the rigging loose. Not a bad
analogy for someone staggering drunk
Nearly right, although MacBeast's comment is correct - the 'sheets' refer to the ropes.
The idea was that each square-rigged sail has 4 'sheets' to keep it under control, 2 at the top and 2 at the bottom. If you lose control
of 1 or 2 sheets you can get it back with some effort, but if you lose control of 3 you are in BIG trouble!
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 12:11 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Macbeast
Swinging the lead - is it from measuring water depth by using a lead-weighted cord? This would be an easy job well suited to skivers like me.
Correct - using the lead to measure depth was always considered to be an easy job at sea, so 'lead swingers' used to spin it out as long
as possible by swinging the lead back and forth a few times instead of just dropping it straight down into the water and getting the job done quicker.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 12:12 PM |
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Now how about these 2?
"keeping tabs on someone" (keeping a close eye on someone)
"Highly strung" (very excitable)
Clue: they both relate to the same activity.
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DarrenW
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 12:30 PM |
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Or how about wetting your whistle?
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Peteff
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 06:32 PM |
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That's very generous of you Darren.
I'll have a pint if you're offering.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Macbeast
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 06:37 PM |
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By and large
I wondered if this was nautical too.
A ship can lie by, or go large ?
Go large is used in riding schools to mean take up the whole of the available space.
Keep tabs on etc - something is nagging at my mind that musicians use tabs to alter the pitch but why this would mean keep an eye on, I don't
know. Highly strung would raise the pitch of a string instrument.
Probably a prison governer would put a special tab on a condemned man's file to indicate that he was going to be highly strung
- maybe
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 07:43 PM |
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A ship goes 'large' when the wind's right behind it, so all the sails can be used. It goes 'by' when it's sailing
as close to the wind as it can manage. In other words, it's going from one tack to another.
To 'keep tabs on someone' means that you have an arrow in your bow, the tab of leather that covers your fingers is on the string, so
you're ready to fire at a moment's notice - you're armed, ready and watching your enemy closely.
To be 'highly strung' means that your bowstring is too short and the bow is bent too far - if you try and fire an arrow it may well hit
the bow and go off in almost any direction or, if you're very unlucky, the bow will break as you draw the arrow back.
[Edited on 11/12/07 by David Jenkins]
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 07:51 PM |
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Skiver is something to do with leather workers, Theres a shop a couple of miles away from me in Sawston called Skivers who sell leather products
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 08:17 PM |
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I cheated, and looked 'skiver' up on my favourite website!
LINKY
Doesn't really give a sensible answer though... 
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 09:13 PM |
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Close but no cigar?
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martyn_16v
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| posted on 11/12/07 at 09:27 PM |
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brass monkeys is another nautical one...
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