I figured out how to possibly build and use this inclinable comb manometer to measure the flatness of the of the Alfa heads.
1.(Build the manometer) Fill a 6 ft long 1/4 inch (inner diameter)plastic tube about 1/2 full with a fluid of your choice. (fluid choice is determined by how you want your meniscus to appear, viscosity, and adhesion to the tube you are using, typically use just water)
2. (Make it inclinable) bend the tube about 1/3 along it's length with the short end vertical and the long end at some incline of your choosing based on your fluid and tube surface characteristics.
3. Thoroughly clean the surface plate and the Alfa heads along the surface of contact. Lay the Alfa head on the surface plate.
4. Make a cylindrical device that will fit into the spark plug holes. This device shall have 2 holes in it with a rubber gasket that fits on it to seal it when it is screwed into the Alfa head. Attach the cylindrical device to the head. Plug all other holes in the Alfa head.
5. Connect one hole to the short end of the manometer. Connect the other hole to a device that can deliver a preset amount of air into the second hole.
6. Deliver the preset amount of air and then note the initial position of the fluid on the inline and the rate of change on the inclinable manometer.
7. The rate of change should be an indication of the air leakage from between the Alfa head and the surface plate.
8. This procedure could possibly be improved by putting a light fluid between the Alfa head and the surface plate.
Hope this helps ;-)
Bob
--- In GrizHFMinimill@yahoogroups.com, Barry Young <barryjyoung@...> wrote:
>
> OK Bill, I will bite. What is an inclinable comb manometer and how is it used to measure flatness of a surface especially those pesky Alfa heads? I mean we all know what a manometer is, it is a low pressure gage using the difference of levels of a liquid in a tube to measure pressure similar to an inclinometer. The comb obviously replaces the traditional scale we have come to know and love on manometers, but the inclinable part has thrown me which I am more than certain was the point of this rather ostentatious post. So spill! what are you talking about, how can we use it in our hobby and please be sure to tell us how to build one from random crap lying about the ordinary amateur machinist's workshop.
>
> Thank you
>
> Barry Young
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Bill Williams <BWMSBLDR@...>
> To: GrizHFMinimill@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, September 2, 2011 2:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [GrizHFMinimill] Re: Enco free shipping code
>
> dglazar wrote:
> > Awesome, I just ordered a 12x18 black granite surface plate for $45 -
> > the thing weighs 85 pounds and I got free shipping!
>
> Moving it is the worst problem! You will find it to be useful in the
> oddest ways. I used two to apply pressure to two sheets of plex that I
> glued together to make an inclinable comb manometer and it was flat
> enough to work at a 1:10 slope! Also I find mine very helpful when my
> Alfa Romeo owning friend shows up complaining that his block deck/main
> bearing bulkheads/ ??? are not flat enough!! Enjoy! Bill
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
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