We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:53:06 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification I’m sure you’ve all heard the military procurement horror stories -- the $500 hammer, the coffeemaker for the C-5 that was built to withstand G-forces that would turn the crew two-dimensional, the Air Defense system that showed a preference for engaging the broad side of a barn rather than an attacking aircraft, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Some of the tales are the result of the “investigative reporter” jiggering the figures, some are the result of imperfectly-written specifications, some are genuine cases of Waste, Fraud ‘n’ Abuse and still others are the result of what Dusty so aptly described... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html Wed, 17 May 2006 00:15:47 -0600 Mac sez: The cut into the valleys is too deep. This is evident by the machining grooves that can be seen in the buttress. ie the bevel at the bottom of the top gear. If the cut was made to the proper depth, machine marks would not be seen below the bottom of the top gear. The depth of this cut has negated any additional strength that the buttress might have provided. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45401 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45401 Thu, 18 May 2006 03:12:59 -0600 Have MacGyver turn in his duct tape for recalibration and then read Ben's comment and my reply. The bottoms of the top teeth are buttressed--re-inforced at a potential trouble spot. Keeps 'em from cracking and splitting. Here's a hint: Old Helicopter. Like, from 'way before you had reached double-digits on your birthday cake--1988. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45400 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45400 Thu, 18 May 2006 01:37:38 -0600 Ok - MacGyver finally made it home. He says it looks like a transmission gear and that, from the top view, it's not centered. The entire shaft is off center. The other observation he had was that, in the second picture, the teeth on the top part of the gear seem to hang down and are not flush at the bottom. Not sure if this is a problem since we don't know what its purpose is. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45397 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45397 Wed, 17 May 2006 23:00:18 -0600 JTG - but MAN...what a COMPLIMENT to have been confused with Miss Maggie ;) She and I do have the crabbiness in common... BillT - no more clues?? C'mon...help a girl out here! MacGyver isn't home yet! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45389 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45389 Wed, 17 May 2006 22:02:31 -0600 And here I thought the Sgt York had a preference for shooting the ventilation fans on a field latrine instead of a helicopter. Not sure who put the latrine downrange. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45388 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45388 Wed, 17 May 2006 22:00:58 -0600 B-b-but Sir, she *mentioned* Maggie in her last comment, and that confused me! OK, Mea maxima culpa, I dood it. (blushes) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45383 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45383 Wed, 17 May 2006 21:10:50 -0600 JTG - Maggie is Princess Crabby, *not* HFS (HomeFrontSix). Dude, you've simply *got* to do a better job of Denizenne Recognition. Report for retraining. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45381 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45381 Wed, 17 May 2006 21:00:57 -0600 One set of teeth are cut with the helix pointed wrong-handedly? Maggie: As I wrote, and the Chief verified in a previous thread, *sideways* ejection seats will get you out of the aircraft. You just might be all bent and twisted, afterwards. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45377 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45377 Wed, 17 May 2006 20:34:57 -0600 kept Maggie out of any trouble while we were in D.C. but she sure didn't get INTO any trouble while she was with me...not sure that counts but it's worth a shot! And, no, the half-moon did NOT get her into any trouble! - hfs]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45374 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45374 Wed, 17 May 2006 19:43:53 -0600 It's probably just like Spinal Tap's StoneHenge. Someone screwed up the scale in the spec and it's too small. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45372 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45372 Wed, 17 May 2006 19:25:42 -0600 I'm not going to be able to live the ejector seat thing down, am I? *da%n*. I'll cut some slack for anyone who can keep Maggie even *halfway* out of trouble after sundown. Not much, but some...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45371 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45371 Wed, 17 May 2006 18:52:32 -0600 Gear teeth and hub appear discolored... improper heat treating during manufacture??? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45370 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45370 Wed, 17 May 2006 18:48:30 -0600 Gear teeth and hub appear discolored... improper heat treating during manufacture??? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45369 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45369 Wed, 17 May 2006 18:48:13 -0600 I'm not going to be able to live the ejector seat thing down, am I? *da%n* Ah, well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, I suppose. In my defense, I had momentarily forgotten that we were talking about helicopter parts and was focusing on fixed wing aircraft at the time. As for the gear, WHY do I always get to these things AFTER MacGyver goes to work? Grr. Time to start digging. - hfs http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45366 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45366 Wed, 17 May 2006 18:31:07 -0600 I give up. Don't know where that Gear, Worm Wheel goes into. {snipped because it's too good to leave in a comment!} http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45365 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45365 Wed, 17 May 2006 18:08:35 -0600 if rides on a bearing _wouldn"t the eccentric cut of the possible bearing seat make its rotation both ingaged and disingaged 'If' the center is the bearing seat.'If' http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45361 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45361 Wed, 17 May 2006 16:57:00 -0600 ...it's a double-gear and probably just rides a bearing... Heh. If it just rode a bearing, what rendered it worthless wouldn't have mattered. Got some rounds real close, but still not within bursting radius. Lotta techie talent appearing, too, based on observations such as the grooves in the gear-looking-thingie tilt to the right on the bottom, and to the left on the top.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45357 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45357 Wed, 17 May 2006 16:41:28 -0600 and not centered-- http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45356 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45356 Wed, 17 May 2006 16:41:01 -0600 does it matter that in the top view theinnercut is not so much a circle but an oblong? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45355 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45355 Wed, 17 May 2006 16:39:21 -0600 Since it's a double-gear and probably just rides a bearing... no keyway if it's supposed to be driven by a prop shaft? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45350 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45350 Wed, 17 May 2006 16:07:32 -0600 Since he who flies a blender called me ou on this one, I am going to have to say that it looks like the reduction gear in a transfer case of some sort. However, since none of the vehicles I work on were like Bill's first car and designed by Henry Ford, I can not tell you specifically where it comes from. And WK, it IS possible for teeth to intrude too far. When blood is drawn, they have gone too far. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45349 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45349 Wed, 17 May 2006 16:03:17 -0600 Has the wrong part number engraved on it. Confused the beddezers outta everyone... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45340 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45340 Wed, 17 May 2006 15:02:35 -0600 MajMike... I'm not sure it's possible for teeth of any size to intrude too far south into the curvy zone. At least that's been my experience. *wink* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45337 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45337 Wed, 17 May 2006 14:28:06 -0600 It looks like a transmission gear of some sort. My theories: 1. Is the part made from the wrong metal? It appears to be some discoloration/rust on the left half of the piece. 2. Is the recess around the larger ring of teeth excessive? Given the depth of the cut there is little material left to support the outer ring. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45332 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45332 Wed, 17 May 2006 13:48:28 -0600 is it cuz the cuts betwixt the smaller teeth intrude too far south into the curvy such zone? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45329 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45329 Wed, 17 May 2006 13:16:29 -0600 Looks a lot like the flywheel for an engine. The thing I don't get is why the grooves in the gear-looking-thingie tilt to the right on the bottom, and to the left on the top. Seems like they're working against each other. Perhaps it's for the tail blades?? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45327 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45327 Wed, 17 May 2006 12:29:03 -0600 The upper, smaller set of gear teeth have some sort of extra teeth, with an odd slope to the "tooth height" from bottom to top of the piece? Or am I seeing things? It makes a nice background for my monitor this week, I look forward to the definitive answers to both what-it-is and why-its-worng. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45320 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45320 Wed, 17 May 2006 09:51:55 -0600 It is some kind of planet gear, possibly from the tail rotor gearbox / transmission. I'm a fixed wing guy, I stay away from that whirlybird stuff (a.k.a. a flying oil leak on its way to a crash). http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45319 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45319 Wed, 17 May 2006 09:50:48 -0600 Since you hint at outdated specs...I'm going to say that the teeth should be curved. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45310 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45310 Wed, 17 May 2006 07:38:36 -0600 AW1 Tim - The pic was shot under fluorescents, which is prolly where the burn-blue came from. Have a beer for *me* at lunch, too. SezaGeoff - The lozenge shapes are part of the finishing process rather than from wear. The part itself is brand-new; the lozenges would disappear during the first hour or so of run-time. Boq - The Prescient Puerto Rican! The Mind-Reading Moatmaster! Wait 'til you see the last pic in the dénouement--haaaaa! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45309 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45309 Wed, 17 May 2006 07:06:28 -0600 Discoloration on The Vanes??? Why, I think that those polychromatic shades of patina confers an august je-ne-sai-quois to that paper weight ;) Oh - 'Tis nice to hear from you SangerM http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45308 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45308 Wed, 17 May 2006 06:54:50 -0600 The initial runs of the gear did not get full tooth contact, so something is out of shape, I think. You can see that in the lozenge shape wear marks on the teeth, rather than full width contact. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45307 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45307 Wed, 17 May 2006 06:51:32 -0600 Bill, I'm guessing that the mettalurgy changes do to either heat or pressure and caused the part to go out of shape. You can see discoloration, which looks like heat bluing, on the vanes. Probably out to lunch, but that's my guess..... Respects, AW1 Tim http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45306 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45306 Wed, 17 May 2006 06:47:40 -0600 Hiya, Sanger! 1. The item was manufactured as ordered and the s/n engraving, while a tad unorthodox, is located in a noncritical area. 2. See #1. The gearing orientation is okay. As usual, hints are scattered in the rotorwash. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45305 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45305 Wed, 17 May 2006 05:55:01 -0600 Bill, I'm not sure what it is yet, but I'm betting the gov't would have returned the item if it hadn't been made as ordered, so either: 1) The s/n engraved on the part that's shiny ruined it, since that part of the gear is supposed act like a bearing and sit in a clamp or seat (and rotate in there). OR 2) The gear was cut properly (IAW the spec), but the teeth of one ring are cut backwards Just guessing... V/R http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45304 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/whatziss_with_a_twist.html#comment-45304 Wed, 17 May 2006 05:24:47 -0600