Some wiki-type threads

[Pietenpol]

Was just thinking about an idea. What if we had area-specific topics within the amf section for specific parts of the machine. Not areas to post an issue or problem but an area to post facts and proven techniques specific to that particular area. Off the top of my head I'm thinking

Bin, Dizzy, Sweep, Shuttle, Chassis (all types), Table, Yoke, Pit.

Bin - Modification of the bat wings

Dizzy - Adding the washers for better corner delivery, belt runner removal, kidney reversal, etc.

Sweep - Alternate methods for adjustment

Shuttle - Removal of keyway to aid in squaring.

Chassis - Electrical mods, troubleshooting

Table - Alternate adjustment methods
Etc.

You get the idea....again, not for "this is wrong, please help" but more for posting an easier/better way to work on that area, a tip to help or a mod that is actually proven to work. I think it could become a great stepping stone for people who have issues in the first place without the need to search and sift through posts to find something relevant to a specific situation.

[Ted]

Interesting Pie - I, for one, am thinking more generically. Say - any make of pinsetter/pinspotter modification would be appropriate, even as a thread which is popular enough to have OEM or aftermarket parts designed for the machine to either address and issue, or offer an upgrade.

[Pietenpol]

I think it would also become an area for some good discussion, brainstorming and debate instead of just waiting for someone to post help.

[Mike Wilson]

I have a concept I have been kicking around for a couple of years now that is somewhat like what you are proposing. The new forums software has opened up avenues to make some new things happen.

Keeping the relevancy point in mind and providing a legitimate and useful product I have some questions for you guys…

What is to keep it from becoming just another discussion forum?

Who decides what a good quality contribution is?

[Pietenpol]

I think it would be a discussion forum, just eliminating the hijacking and side tracking. Similar to having political posts kept in the political section you could have sweep posts kept in the sweep section. Not to take away from the original forum but to add a few specific areas where certain sections of the machine can be discussed.

[Grit]

I mean this is the best way possible:

isn't that what moderators do? edit and move/remove posts that don't belong in threads?

[Pietenpol]

It wouldn't replace the forum but it would add a section that contains mods, alternate adjustment procedures, tips and tricks relating specifically to that area of the machine.

[Tablejam]

So a section for each of the 9 major assemblies?....Sounds interesting.

[mechanic8230]

Hmmmm. Mike has a very valid point in who decides what a quality contribution is. What if Box Car Berney says "I swing a 10 pound sledge at the sweep link to get it in line and away from the edge board". Well his idea will work, I suppose, but do we really want "our youngsters" picking up sledge hammers and breaking links? This website, as far as I am concerned, is a teaching site. There are not to many of us "old guys" left and only a hand full of "newbies" that get it. What the heck is going to happen to the industry and the job we all cherish if no one learns the trade? I suggest we be very careful here with what can get posted and there in lies the problem, who decides what gets posted. If I am off the mark here guys, just tell me to shut up and I will gladly remove myself from the discussion.

[Pietenpol]

Valid point mechanic...but using your example if someone posts "I swing a 10 pound hammer..." You would quickly get a few responses that say this is a bad idea. Taking the sweep for example. There are a few different ways that mechanics here adjust it. They could be posted and discussed in the sweep section. Mechanics would be constantly posting and discussing the merits of the different ways. Newer mechanics would be able to grasp the concept of the sweep and see what works and what doesn't when it comes to that assembly. It would be accumulating the gems of wisdom that get sprinkled here and there when people have problems. When I first started on here I would type sweep in the search and read every night through pages and pages of sweep problems. Finding a tip, trick or something to look for I would note it. It would be up to the reader to see what is posted and what everyone else thinks about it based on following posts. Exactly the same thing that occurs now in the forums but again these posts would be the tips and tricks that work on that particular assembly. The things you've learned when working on them. This forum as it is is mostly self-policing with members ready to say "what you are attempting is not a good idea".

[Tablejam]

Hmmmm. Mike has a very valid point in who decides what a quality contribution is. What if Box Car Berney says "I swing a 10 pound sledge at the sweep link to get it in line and away from the edge board". Well his idea will work, I suppose, but do we really want "our youngsters" picking up sledge hammers and breaking links? This website, as far as I am concerned, is a teaching site. There are not to many of us "old guys" left and only a hand full of "newbies" that get it. What the heck is going to happen to the industry and the job we all cherish if no one learns the trade? I suggest we be very careful here with what can get posted and there in lies the problem, who decides what gets posted. If I am off the mark here guys, just tell me to shut up and I will gladly remove myself from the discussion.

That completely makes sense and I'll do you one further....

Say someone is having a problem with pin orientation (this is only an example) and posts that the way he fixed his problem of pins coming out of the elevator fast and rolling off the pan or the tip he is posting was to bend the side of the O pan up. Now while that may have fixed the issue for that person it may not be viewed as the correct way to go about fixing something like that. Then you get someone else on that posts they had the exact same problem and his tip was adjusting the pinguide rail and Opan, adjusting not bending. So it turns out that both of these solved the problems for both but which one is right and which one should be posted? See the thing is sometimes adjusting is the correct way to do it and it works but also sometimes adjusting makes it worse and a little bend here and there may be what is needed to stop the problem. So which one is right....which one will we see posted? I don't like bending stuff like that to fix things when I know the proper way to do it but if someone who is just learning sees that bending the pan fixes the problem does that then mean this person will think it's okay to just start bending the hell out of everything hoping it will fix the issues or will they take the time to learn the proper 'what' and 'why' of what causes this stuff and do the proper 'how' to get it fixed..... see ya just don't really know how it will be viewed. IMO, if it fixes the immediate problem and does not cause other problems then who am I to say it's wrong. To avoid stuff like this from causing problems I think the only way this would work is any tip/procedures/posts should be reviewed by a group of 'BT certified members' that what is contained in the post is accurate and that procedures are followed so that someone learning on here that reads it will do it properly and learn about what they are doing.... even if that means the proper procedure is bending the pan, if the board deems it appropriate then it will be posted.

[Pietenpol]

If someone posted to bend the pan then there would be following posts by members debating the positives and negatives of taking such action.

[Tablejam]

But what if bending the pan was THE correct tip... so then this tip would be debated too? Isn't that kind of what happens now?

[Pietenpol]

It would be up to the reader to decide if that seems prudent. Yes, it does happen now but sometimes these things that work are buried within 5 pages of discussing a problem. There are many tips on here that get posted over and over again when someone has an issue. These are the things I think we would all benefit from by having them within categories.

[Tablejam]

It would be up to the reader to decide if that seems prudent. Yes, it does happen now but sometimes these things that work are buried within 5 pages of discussing a problem. There are many tips on here that get posted over and over again when someone has an issue. These are the things I think we would all benefit from by having them within categories.

THAT is a good idea. I hate searching for something concearning the chassis and have to sort through 300 pages of results to almost find what I was looking for. With this I could click on 'chassis' and sort through a much shorter list of results and probably find what I need sooner.

Maybe this 'tips' section could be up there with the technical reference section or maybe in its own.