It’s that time of year again. The slow in-between-time I find myself dreading every year. The holidays have wrapped up, yet it’s too cold to kick off growing season. I’ve never been one to kill time, and I’m not all that great at kicking back and relaxing. When I find myself having extra time in the day, I catch up on all the indoor things that are neglected when the weather is fair and the outdoors are inviting.
Stacks of tiny plastic drawer units line my tool bench and contain everything from spark plugs to drywall anchors. There are easily more than 100 compartments, some sorted logically, some with a mixture of this-and-that. Several drawer units have been inherited from my well-meaning bonus father. He passed on these drawers stocked with fuses, nuts, screws, hooks, magnets, drill bits, punches, batteries, and more. Things he had collected over the years.
I was thrilled. I knew this trove of treasured bits would surely save me many trips to the hardware store and certainly contained the basics any fix-it person would need. What they are missing, however, are labels.
Whether it be a home repair project, maintaining a vehicle, or tuning up the Cub Cadet before it hits the yard for grass-cutting season, the process is predictable. I will spend an excessive amount of time searching for supplies in these bins. I can never seem to find the something I just know I bought in the somewhere I just know I put it. So I buy it again and almost certainly will happen upon it in the future when I no longer need it and when I’m attempting to find a completely different item.
Someday I may find my bearings (they’re in there somewhere, I’m certain). Until then, let me share with you what you’ll find in this issue of Gas Engine Magazine.
Dr. Paul Harvey found the perfect third engine to complete Coolspring Power Museum’s world-class display. Read all about his Germany adventure and the 12hp Graz engine that will be installed in the Air Blast Injection Building.
In Young Iron, you’ll read about millennial enthusiast Joseph Covais. Explore his collection that includes his newly acquired 3hp R. Hornsby. It’s a find you won’t want to miss.
Find out what your magneto voltage is telling you in Dr. David Cave’s latest piece.
And lastly, make sure you check out Flywheel Forum where you’ll find a follow-up from author Mark Bailey about starting an engine with the back-kick method.
As always, thank you for reading Gas Engine Magazine. I hope this issue finds you well!
Until next time,
Christine Stoner
editor@gasenginemagazine.com
