motorcycle care tips article
 

How to Choose Electric Motors for Boating

February 18, 2012

Electric motors can be perfectly suited to use on the high seas. It is essential, however, that you choose the right model for your boat and application, to ensure that it stands up to heavy usage in rough conditions and provides you with many hours of fun on the water. You should choose an electric motor that provides enough power but is still light enough to not weigh your boat down when in use.

When choosing a powering solution you should consider the potential speed and agility of your boat. If your boat is designed to speed through the water, then you should look for a high performance motor that can provide the as much power as is required. You also need to consider where you will use your boat. If you plan to go boating beyond the bay then it is necessary to choose a model suited to long running times and choppy conditions. For more sedate river boating, a model with less power and durability can be used.

Motor Tip

These motors are used in boats usually need to have highly protective outer layers that prevent the separate parts of the mechanisms from rusting or wearing down in water and salt. To complement the machine’s protective covering, you should take care to maintain the boat well during each season.

During summer your boat will probably be left in the water for easy access, but when it starts getting colder you will probably have to haul the boat out and bring it into storage. To prevent the electric motor being damaged by frost and built up salt or sea slime, you should ‘winterise’ the machine before safely storing the boat.

You should choose motor that suits the construction and configuration of your boat. Powering solutions designed for boating are available as either bow mount or transom mount and it is important to make the distinction so that it is easier to configure your boat. When looking for motors you should also look for models using the latest technology to make your experience vastly more convenient. Choose an electric motor that uses lithium based battery that is able to store a huge amount of energy in comparison to its size.

Electric motors are also available in different models optimised for salt water and freshwater applications. The salt water options are more robust than others and can be used in the toughest conditions. With knowledge of the conditions your boat will be in, it should be easy to find a model that suits your application perfectly and comes in under budget.

How to Choose Electric Motors for Boating


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List of Top Ten Highest Motor Manufacturers in the World

February 17, 2012

The data written here has has been fetched from the records maintained till 2008. And thus the figures mentioned here might not be relevant or up to date as of now. The same data can also be found on wiki.

10. Fiat (A Company based in Italy)

It was in 1899 when Giovanni Agnelli and a team of investors came forward and founded the car manufacturing company. Ever since then, Fiat has been the one of the best car makers of Italy. The group has received the coveted ‘European Car of The Year’ award more than 12 times. This company manufactured a staggering 2,524,000 and above number of cars in the year 2008 which brings it to the 10th position.

Motor Tip

9. Suzuki (Japan)

On the 9th position we have a company based out in Japan; Suzuki. In 2008 alone, Suzuki managed to manufacture more than 2.6 million units of cars which was distributed across 192 countries. In fact Suzuki has more than 35 main production facilities and has more than 133 distributors. It was in 1909 that Michio Suzuki founded the Suzuki Loom, and a fact that would make you wonder is, that Suzuki developed weaving machines for 30 years before it entered into the car manufacturing industry.

8. Hyundai-Kia (South Korea)

The Hyundai Kia company from South Korea is another huge motor vehicle manufacture which managed to bring the manufacturing number close to 2,777,137 units by the end of 2008. This South Korean company has made a name for itself across the entire globe. Founded in 1967, it took very short span of time to achieve this.

7. PSA Peugeot Citroen (France)

The well known Peugeot and Citreon models are the cars manufactured by the well known car company from france; PSA Peugeot. And this company is the 7th largest car maker in the world. In year 2008 the company manufactured a whopping 3,325,407 units of cars.

6. Nissan (Japan)

The top 6th car manufacture is again a Japan based company; Nissan. This happens to be one among the top 3 Asian companies that have been able to manufacture highest number of cars. Founded in 1932, Nissan has been through critical financial issues during the year 1999 and was saved by RSA of France. As of now, Nissan seems to be doing quite well.

5. Honda (Japan)

To name another company from Japan at the top fifth position is the Honda company. Honda brought to market a total of 3,912,700 units of cars in 2008. Among these the most manufactured cars were the Honda Civic and the Honda Accord. Even to date, these cars happen to be one of the favorites. In fact Honda overtook Nissan in 2001 with regards to total car production count. The self taught engineer Soichiro Honda founded this huge company in the year 24th September 1948.

4. Ford (USA)

Who hasn’t heard of this giant? The father of car industry has been the Ford Company. Founded on 16th of June 1903, by Henry Ford, presently occupies the fourth position among the list of top 10 motor vehicle manufacturers in the world. In 2008 it made more than several millions of cars exceeding the Honda company. In fact the total revenue of Ford in year 2008 was a hopping 6.3 billion. But Ford has seen a downfall of production compared to the year 2007.

3. Volkswagen group (Germany)

Talk about the car for people, and we’d be discussing about this German Company Volkswagen, whose name itself means – Car for people. In 2008 Volkswagen rolled out a total of 6,517,288 cars which makes it the third largest car manufacturer of the year. Volkswagen Group manufactures great cars like Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Jetta and Beetle which have been the most favored car of Europe and Americas. Just for information, it was in 1937 that Volkswagen was founded under the leadership of Adolf Hitler.

2. General Motors (USA)

The company that almost went bankrupt in the year 2009, was the 2nd highest car manufacturer in the year 2008. GM manufactured a staggering number of cars beating the Volkswagen group. The popular models from GM are the Chevrolet and the Cardillac. GM has been a long lived car company since 1931 which makes it 80 years old to date.

1. Toyota (Japan)

Best selling car manufacturer happens to be another Japan based company. Toyota was founded by Kiichiro Toyota in the year 1937. And ever since Toyota has been one of the most favorite cars of Japan and America. In the year 2008, Toyota manufactured 9,237,780 units of cars which officially makes it the number one car manufacturer of that year. Toyota operates its sister brands Lexus and Scion also. The best and most popular car model from Toyota happens to be ‘Corolla’.

That makes our top ten motor vehicle manufacturers in the world. Hope you enjoyed the list.

List of Top Ten Highest Motor Manufacturers in the World


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Used Diesel Pusher Motor Coaches-Tips on Choosing the One for You

February 17, 2012

Used diesel pusher motor coaches are a great choice if you want the ultimate in luxury RV travel without paying the premium price. The diesel pusher is the top of the line for virtually any motorized recreational vehicle line. It has the most powerful efficient engine of any RV and manufacturers usually make the interiors and features to match the quality of the engine. The advantage of buying used diesel pusher motor coaches is that you can get all of the quality and features without paying full retail price of a new diesel pusher.

As with any kind of vehicle, when it is brand new, as it leaves the lot with the buyer it depreciates at a faster rate for the first few months than at any other time. Therefore, used diesel pusher motor coaches can be purchased for discounts that are substantial. But, be aware that to get financing for any motorized RV that is older than 3-5 years old may be more difficult. It is best to buy a used RV within the first 18 months or so, because you still get a “new” vehicle, but at a much better price.

Motor Tip

There are basically two ways that people purchase used diesel pusher motor coaches, from a dealer or from a private seller. With any sale of a used RV you should have it checked out by a mechanic who is experienced in looking at RVs before you sign a contract or write a check. With a dealer you will have the advantage of being able to work with lenders who specialize in loans for all kinds of used RVs including used diesel pusher motor coaches. With a private seller you will need to work with a bank or other lender to secure your own financing which may be more difficult.

Buying from a lender also allows you the benefit of purchasing with the option of an extended warranty. Private sellers will not often offer this on used diesel pusher motor coaches unless they are able to transfer a current warranty that is still in effect.

When looking at used diesel pusher motor coaches that you are thinking about purchasing, you should make careful notes beforehand of what features are priorities for you. If your list of priorities in used diesel pusher motor coaches includes low mileage, a full size bath, or an extensive entertainment center, look at coaches that have those features. If they don’t, and you are still interested, find out if you can add those features yourself. After all this is your dream RV and your lifestyle.

Used Diesel Pusher Motor Coaches-Tips on Choosing the One for You


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Outboard Engine Hours

February 17, 2012

How many outboard hours are too many? Are you looking at buying a 2nd hand outboard and it has high hours, how many engine hours are too many?

This is a very hard question to answer as there are a lot of factors to consider when buying a 2nd hand outboard. Sometimes having a lot of hours is not necessarily a bad thing. If an outboard engine is only used once in a blue moon for short periods of time, it means it spends of time sitting around.

Motor Tip

The more an outboard engine sits around the more it will corrode. It is a toss up between having an outboard engine that has high hours and is at risk of being worn, or an outboard motor that has low hours but is at risk of having bad corrosion.

When buying a 2nd hand outboard motor, or second hand boat and motor combination you should try your best to establish the type of life the outboard has had. Usually if the motor is an ex commercial outboard, they will have high hours, but normally they are very good at maintaining and servicing the outboards as per the manufacturer’s schedule.

4 stroke outboards seem to be able to last for more hours than 2 stroke outboards. I put this down to the two stroke motors firing every revolution as apposed to every 2nd. If you look at this way, a two stroke motor with 1000 hours is the equivalent of a four stroke with 2000 hours.

If looking at purchasing an outboard engine with high hours some questions to ask or area’s to consider are -

Has the servicing been carried out by an authorised dealer
Has the servicing been carried out at the correct intervals
Is there a service receipt or invoice available for every 100 hours of engine operation, if not is hasn’t been serviced regularly enough
How old is the outboard? A newer outboard with higher hours in my opinion is better than an older one with slightly lower hours
What has the outboard or boat been used for?
Has the same person been driving the boat or have lots of people been using it. If lots of people have been using it, if it is premix fuel, which has been in charge of mixing the petrol and oil at the correct ratio?
If it is an ex commercial outboard motor, was it an owner operator or hired contractors or employees driving the boat. Usually contractors and employees are a lot rougher on gear and would possibly treat the outboard very poorly.
Has the outboard motor been flushed regularly after each use in salt water, and/or how often does the motor get used.
If an ex commercial outboard, you should find out what type of commercial use the outboard was used for. If the commercial use is fishing, for example eel fishing – you need to make sure that the operator had the outboard propped correctly. If the outboard reaches the correct RPM with an empty load, and then the operator fills the boat with a few tonnes of fish, the motor might be hugely stressed and strained when the load is full. If this is the case the motor could quite possibly be severely worn.

When purchasing any 2nd hand boat or 2nd hand outboard motor I can’t stress enough the importance of having an experienced and qualified outboard technician carrying out a pre purchase inspection. They will thoroughly inspect every area of the outboard motor. If done properly the technician should inspect the outboard motors cylinder bores with a bore scope as well as carrying out a compression test. If the outboard motor is fuel injected or EFI the diagnostic equipment should be connected to the motor to look for any fault codes that have been logged. The technician should also look for any signs of overheats or miss use etc. Outboard motors computers will log the engine operating hours, this is very useful to determine how the outboard has been used or driven.

For more advice about outboard engines and outboard boat motors visit http://www.outboard-boat.com/

Outboard Engine Hours


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Rotary Valve Engine

February 17, 2012

A rotary valve engine describes the induction of a two stroke engine. Most rotary valve engines are rotax engines. Although other rotary engines have been made such as suzuki and kawasaki engines. Rotax engines are used in snowmobiles, jet-skis, motorcycles and aircraft engines. A rotary valve refers to the intake of a two stroke engine. There are three types of intake designs for two stroke engines.

Simplistic two strokes are piston port, meaning that the piston movement past the port controls the incoming air timing. The piston port engine doesn’t do a very good job of keeping the airflow to stay in the engine. The air can simply travel back out of the engine. The most popular intake air induction is the reed port engine. It uses reed petals to allow the intake air into the engine and traps it there. The tension of the reed petals can change with the use of different petals and can provide some power improvement at certain rpm ranges.

Motor Tip

A rotary valve engine has the best intake air control. The rotary valve rotates mechanically in a circular motion. This motion allows the intake port to be opened and closed at the best possible time. The rotary valve also allows the port to have no restriction such as the reeds cause. The timing of the rotary plate can be changed by the shape of the valve and is done in some racing engines.

Most rotary valve engines are two cylinder engines that are driven off of a gear in the crankcase between the cylinders. Some three cylinder engines have been made with rotary valves but are too complex for a standard production engines. Rotary valve engines are a very good design with complete control of airflow into an engine. They also keep the air in without any airflow restrictions.

Rotary Valve Engine


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The Difference Between AC and DC Electric Motors

February 17, 2012

There are two main types of electric motors. There are direct current or DC and alternating current or AC motors. The reference of DC or AC refers to how the electrical current is transferred through and from the motor. Both types of motors have different functions and uses. Dc motors come in two general types. They can have brushes or be brushless. AC motors, as well, come in two different types. They can be two phase or three phase. The differences in DC and AC motors are sometimes subtle, but these differences are what make one types better for a certain use.

Direct current or DC electric motors work for situations where speed needs to be controlled. DC motors have a stable and continuous current. DC motors were the first and earliest motors used. They were found, however, to not be as good at producing power over long lengths. Electric companies found using DC motors to generate electric did not work because the power was lost as the electric was transmitted. Brush DC motors use rings that conduct the current and form the magnetic drive that powers the rotor. Brushless DC motors use a switch to produce the magnetic drive that powers the rotor. Direct current motors are often found in appliances around the home.

Motor Tip

Alternating current or AC electric motors are used differently based on what type of AC motor it is. Single phase AC motors are known as general purpose motors. They work well in many different situations. These AC motors work great for systems that are hard to start because they need a lot of power up front. Three phase, also called polyphase, AC motors are usually found in industrial settings. These motors also have high starting power build transmit lower levels of overall power. AC power gets its name from the fact that it alternates in power. The amount of power given off by an AC motor is determined by the amount of power needed to operate the system.

DC and AC electric motors are found everywhere from the home to the car to industrial plants. Motors are important to everyday life. Dc motors were introduced and caused a great revolution in the way many things are done. When AC motors came on the market the way motors were looked at changed because of their amazing starting power potential. DC motors and AC motors are different in many ways, but they still both are usede to power the world.

The Difference Between AC and DC Electric Motors


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Basic Maintenance Tips For Diesel Engines

February 17, 2012

If you own a big rig, you know that unless you care for its diesel engine you will spend more time in the shop and less on the road. If you are a new truck owner and have limited experience with diesel engines, here are some basic maintenance tips to help keep you rolling longer and with fewer troubles.

– Don’t forget to warm up

Motor Tip

Unlike conventional engines, diesels require a little TLC before they are up and ready to go. You should idle your engine for a full five minutes before hitting the accelerator. If you don’t, you run the risk of having the engine seize up. At the very least, not warming up will cause your parts to wear out much faster. It is especially important to follow this principle in extremely cold weather since the oils in the engine tends to thicken under these conditions. This viscosity in the transmission fluid especially will be harmful to the engine if it is run before the oils are sufficiently heated and free to flow properly.

– Do not allow overheating

Trying to go up steep hills too fast is one of the main causes of diesel engine overheating. Of course, such practices should be avoided as much as possible; but if your engine does overheat, save it from further damage by taking care of it in the following ways: Do not turn off the engine right away; rather, pull over to the side of the road and allow your truck to idle for a full 5 minutes before turning it off. Do not do anything with the engine until the steam has cleared and the radiator cap is cool to the touch. Refill with antifreeze and check the temperature periodically to avoid further problems.

Diesel engines are great, but they can be temperamental creatures: be sure to care for them properly to ensure a long and happy relationship between you and your rig.

Basic Maintenance Tips For Diesel Engines


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Car Engine Cranks Over But Doesn’t Start – Automotive Repair Tips

February 17, 2012

Many times in the past as an automotive technician, I would be given a car to diagnose that either had a problem that prevented the car’s engine from turning over or that prevented the car’s engine from starting. These are two completely different scenarios and these problems are approached differently. Sometimes when the service writer would create a work order, he wouldn’t convey the REAL problem that the customer was experiencing. If the customer or the service writer would make sure the correct explanation of the problem is written, some unnecessary trips out to the car with the wrong tools would be avoided. For instance if the car doesn’t crank over at all, I would need to take my jump box with me. And if the car cranked over but didn’t start, I would want my scan tool and some starting fluid.

A car that cranks over but doesn’t start, in many cases will be due to a bad fuel pump, a broken timing belt, an inoperative cam sensor or crank sensor. The first step in diagnosing a no start is to scan for codes with a code reader or scan tool. Approximately 40% of the cars towed in that I worked on in the last 25 years, either had a bad fuel pump or the fuel gage read incorrectly and the car was just out of fuel. Yes, some people actually have their cars towed in when all they need is some gas! If the fuel gage indicates that there is fuel in the tank, most people will assume naturally that the car does have fuel. But if the fuel sending unit or gage is off slightly, the car’s gas tank could actually be empty. One of the easiest ways to check for a fuel pump related problem is to spray a little starting fluid into the air intake while trying to start the car. If the car starts momentarily, then there’s a good chance the fuel pump is not working or the car is out of gas. You can also listen for the fuel pump’s humming sound when the key is first turned on. Also if a inoperative fuel pump is suspected, a good technician will always check to verify there is power and ground being supplied to the pump, to eliminate the possibility of a bad relay or electrical issue. Fuel pressure can be checked with a pressure gage and if there is pressure, pulse can be checked at the fuel injectors in several ways including the most common, with the use of noid lights. If the injectors don’t have pulse the engine won’t start.

Motor Tip

Broken timing belts also caused about 40% of the tow ins in my experience. A broken timing belt can fail causing the car to seem as if it ran out of fuel while driving. When trying to start the car though, the engine typically spins over faster than normal due to the engine having low compression from the timing being off and the valves being open at the wrong time. If the timing belt breaks, there sometimes could be a code set in the vehicles ECU (Electronic Control Unit) for no signal from the cam sensor. If this code is present, you can sometimes check to see if the cam is moving by removing the oil cap while someone engages the starter. Also the upper timing cover can be removed to allow access to the timing belt for inspection. Most of the time when a timing belt breaks the teeth (or cogs) are stripped down at the crank pulley the bottom sprocket preventing the belt from turning the camshaft.

Lack of pulse from the fuel injectors as stated before can prevent a car from running. This brings me to the third most common cause of a car that cranks over but doesn’t start, approximately 20% of the tow ins that I worked on had the following problem. Many times the cause of lack of pulse is because of a bad cam or crank sensor. If the computer doesn’t see either the crank or the cam turning, the fuel injectors won’t be commanded to pulse. One quick indication that a cam or crank sensor may be bad is to check for RPM movement on the tachometer (if equipped) when trying to start the engine. If you have a scan tool not just a code reader, the cam and crank sensor data can be checked on many vehicles by accessing the appropriate screen. If no revolutions are shown when attempting to start the car, the respective sensor could be bad.

Obviously there are many vehicle makes, with different ignition and fuel delivery systems that may require a service manual to properly diagnose or to delve deeper. But with the above tips and tricks that I’ve used over the years you’ll be checking the most likely causes, that hopefully will send you in the right direction.

Car Engine Cranks Over But Doesn’t Start – Automotive Repair Tips


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Building a Magnet Motor to Generate Electricity

February 17, 2012

Lowering or even eliminating their power bill has been on the minds of millions. With the arrival of the magnet motor, the time has come when anyone can be energy efficient.

Magnet motors are not only affordable, they are effective and can be used by anyone. Many individuals are already learning how to build this amazing system.

Motor

Here are some of the benefits:

1. The energy provided is clean and renewable.

2. Your property value increases with the installation of a magnet motor.

3. For only a couple hundred dollars, the cost of building materials, your house can be run with free energy.

4. It may interest your power company to buy energy from you.

5. The upkeep of this system is minimal.

People interested in building a magnet motor first try to find a place they will put it. Due to the small size of these motors, they can be installed in a garage or even inside the home.

Many find that the garage is the best place to both protect it from weather and other factors that can cause damage. There is no waiting for the sun or wind.

It is possible to buy a pre-made magnet motor, however, the cost may be prohibitive. In this case, doing it yourself is the smarter way to go. Learning how to do-it-yourself will save you money in the long run.

To accomplish this properly, you will need a step by step plan. The following is a step by step plan that builds you a motor and saves you thousands.

Building a Magnet Motor to Generate Electricity


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RV Microwave Options for Motor Homes and Recreational Vehicles

February 17, 2012

For those who wish to take it on the open road on a part-time or full time basis and see this great nation by RV, it behooves them to pick the right Microwave Oven. Why you ask? Well if you are traveling a lot you may not have time to cook on the stove or in the oven in your recreational vehicle and a microwave oven sure comes in handy.

Of course with the condition of some of the roads in this country, such as the NY Toll-ways, I-10 going through Louisiana, I-20, I-30 in AR or the scalloped Earthquake freeways in California; you are going to need sturdy appliances. A microwave can be a temperamental appliance as it bangs around and is jarred into oblivion.

Motor

May I be so good to recommend that when and if your microwave goes out in your RV due to the manufacturer trying to trim costs that you replace it with a more powerful higher end unit? First consider that to properly cook your food you are better off to buy a carousel unit, which turns the food as it cooks.

Additionally, it is recommended you go for high power too. I chose the Samsung MR-7494W. Installation is easy and you can do it yourself and it is a common size for motor homes and recreational vehicles. Be sure to make sure that your generator has at least 15 Amps capacity with such a microwave if you are replacing an old one. This Samsung unit I have has lasted nearly 5 years and has traveled to every city in the nation over 10,000 people and over some of the worst roads in our country. Consider all this in 2006.

RV Microwave Options for Motor Homes and Recreational Vehicles


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