Mechanics': 27-Apr-90 #102
From: Atari SIG (xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 04/11/94-12:20:35 PM Z
From: xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Atari SIG)
Subject: Mechanics': 27-Apr-90 #102
Date: Mon Apr 11 12:20:35 1994
Article 27 of freenet.sci.comp.atari.mags:
From: aa399@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Len Stys)
Date: Mon, 11 Jun 90 01:29:50 GMT
MECHANICS ONLINE MAGAZINE
=========================
Issue #102 April 27, 1990
A Co-Production and Copyright 1990 of:
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Rovac Industries Gateway Associates
Post Office Box 59 310 Spring Valley Drive
Middlesex, NJ 08846-0059 East Greenwich, RI 02818-1912
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Z*Net Online Bulletin Board (201) 968-8148
Publisher/Editors - Ron Kovacs, Bruce Kennedy
A product of the Mechanics Information Network
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Technical Service Bulletins available from:
Autotext
Leary Rd, RD #2, Honey Brook PA 19344
215-273-2926
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<*> EDITORS DESK
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by Ron Kovacs
Well, here it is... Issue #2 of the Mechanics Online Magazine. This
issue expands the coverage and direction with hope of input from YOU the
reader. The success of the project depends on our readers and any
comments you have on content and news coverage is greatly appreciated.
We can be reached in a number of ways, use the guide below:
- Z*Net BBS (201) 968-8148 Email to SysOp
- CompuServe 71777,2140 and 72327,1500
- GEnie Z-Net and R.Kovacs and BEKENNEDY
- CompuServe Go Racing, Section 16: Motoring Topics
- GEnie ST Catagory 31 (Page 475;1)
- Z*Net BBS Sig 15 Mechanics Online
Thanks for downloading and reading... Please pass the file around to
your associates and friends! Feel free to upload to your favorite BBS
system and check the NEXT edition for systems carrying this publication.
<*> THIS EDITION
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- ZNET NEWSWIRE
Ford, Nissan, Chevrolet, Smart Dipstick and more..................
- ATARI ST
On the cover of Motor Service.....................................
- GARAGEKEEPER
Management Software Program Profile...............................
- SHOP MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Offers Direct Connection BBS for Users............................
- SERVICE CUSTOMERS
View Shops with AllData Systems as Up-To-Date.....................
- SIGN IN SHOP SEZ
"Our Direct Line to All Factory Information"......................
- EGR
Consistent premature EGR replacement...look for high idle.........
- JAPANESE TRANSPLANT
Suppliers (U.S) don't understand electronics......................
- NEW FAX DIRECTORY
Performance Parts Suppliers is now available......................
- MITSUBISHI MIGHTY MAX
Four Wheeler of the Year..........................................
- BBS OFFERS
Old Cars and Restoration Parts....................................
- NEW SURVEY
Race Fan Habits and Preferences (Nordhaus)........................
- CHRYSLER UPDATE
Button makers out of business?....................................
<*> Z*NET AUTO NEWSWIRE
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SUNOCO AND CARBONCLEAN
Sunoco has integrated Parker Automotive's CarbonClean products into
their Tires, Batteries, Accessories and Equipment Program. Sunoco will
market CarbonClean to 400 Ultra Service Centers, 500 dealers and 2,500
Sunoco jobbers and distributors located throughout the Eastern seaboard.
CarbonClean, a system that flushes harmful pollutants from the fuel
systems of internal combustion engines. CarbonClean is currently
distributed in 53 countries. CarbonClean products are approved by, and
marketed by Exxon, ARCO, Chevron, Gulf, Snap-on Tools, Nissan, Hyundai,
Toyota and other firms.
FORDS 1991 CAPRI UNDER $12,600
Ford announced this week, lower prices of the all-new Mercury Capri 2+2
convertible, which goes on sale at dealerships this summer. The front
wheel drive Capri will have a suggested retail price of $12,588.
Included in the price is an air bag restraint system, a 100-horsepower
1.6-liter double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve, four-cylinder engine,
five-speed manual transmission, power steering, power four-wheel disc
brakes, steel-belted radial tries, tinted glass, power windows,
reclining cloth bucket seats, a folding rear seatback for easy trunk
access, interval windshield wipers, dual remote control rear view
mirrors, and AM/FM stereo radio. Among the options offered are air
conditioning, aluminum wheels, automatic transaxle, power door locks,
removable hard top with storage rack and cover, built-in rear window
defroster, map lights, and dome light.
MAZDA PLANS INCREASED BUSINESS WITH US
Mazda announced significant increases this week in both the number and
type of automotive parts to be purchased from US based automotive
suppliers. As a result of recent meetings between US parts suppliers
and Japanese automakers, Mazda has now decided to purchase 15 automotive
components from eight U.S. parts suppliers. These purchases include 13
new parts, representing new business for the companies involved.
FORD REPORTS 23% DECLINE IN AUTO SALES
Ford reported the following sales figures for the second 10 day period
for April 1990:
1990 1989 Pct. Change Selling
Days
Total Cars 1990 1989
April 11-20 59,866 77,682 -22.9 9 9
Jan. 1-April 20 614,677 689,279 -11.8 94 93
Imported Cars
April 11-20 1,759 2,551 -31.1
Jan. 1-April 20 21,558 26,821 -20.5
Total Trucks
April 11-20 41,801 48,356 -13.5
Jan. 1-April 20 429,954 448,914 - 5.2
Light Trucks
April 11-20 40,522 46,656 -13.2
Jan. 1-April 20 416,749 431,769 - 4.5
Total Vehicles
April 11-20 101,667 126,038 -19.3
Jan. 1-April 20 1,044,631 1,138,193 - 9.2
HONDA REPORTS SALES
Second 10-day sales figures for Honda domestic built automobiles for
April 1990:
1989 1990
Domestic (2nd 10-day) 12,084 11,323
Civic 5,225 4,980
Accord 6,859 6,343
Domestic (20-day) 21,539 19,405
Civic 9,074 8,364
Accord 12,465 11,041
Domestic (year-to-date) 126,407 103,239
Civic 52,139 46,351
Accord 74,268 56,888
JAPAN'S AUTO OUTPUT RISES 1%
Japan's production of of motor vehicles hit a new high in 1989, setting
a new record for the second straight year, the Japan Automobile
Manufacturers' Association reported this week. Production totaled
12,953,790 units, up 1.0 percent over the previous record set in 1988.
Exports decreased about 6.0 percent and domestic sales surged 10.4
percent.
NISSAN SALES FIGURES
Nissan USA announced the following car and pickup truck sales figures
for the April 11-20 reporting period:
Domestic Cars
(Sentra Models Only)
April 11-20 Year-to-Date
1990 2,323 26,070
1989 1,939 30,652
Domestic Trucks
April 11-20 Year-to-Date
1990 4,194 39,791
1989 3,016 43,240
FORDS $780 MIL ENGINE PLANT
Ford unveiled its new Romeo Engine Plant this week, following a two year
$780 million transformation from a former tractor assembly facility.
Before the first engine rolled off the line last week, the entire engine
plant workforce -- UAW represented employees and management employees
will have gone through 750,000 hours of training. In addition to
training, the plant encourages maximum levels of employee involvement.
The Romeo Engine Plant -- opened in 1973 as a tractor assembly plant --
will have an estimated annual capacity of 535,000 engines, or
approximately 2,230 engines per day. The plant covers 1.4 million
square feet. Flexible manufacturing will allow the plant to produce a
new family of V-8 engines -- the first application being a 4.6-liter
V-8.
CHEVROLET BREAKS THREE WORLD ENDURANCE RECORDS
Chevrolet received official confirmation last week from the Federation
Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for breaking three world endurance
records and establishing a total of 12 international class standards
with two Corvette sports cars. At the 1990 Greater New York Auto Show,
Burdette Martin of the Automobile Competition Committee for the United
States (ACCUS) -- the national sporting authority for the FIA --
presented Chevrolet Corvette Director of Engineering Dave McLellan with
an official certificate commemorating the Fort Stockton, Texas, time
trials held March 1 and 2. The record books will show that a Corvette
ZR-1 holds the new world mark for 5,000 kilometers, 5,000 miles and 24
hours -- the latter shattering a 50-year-old, 161.180 mile-per-hour
bogie set by the legendary automobile high-performance pioneer Ab
Jenkins in his Mormon Meteor III on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1940.
The new 24-hour record is 175.885 mph (283.061 kph) -- almost 15 mph
faster.
POWERFUL GAS TURBINE SURPASSES 150 MEGAWATTS
During engineering tests at Virginia Power's Chesterfield Station, the
first of General Electric's MS7001F (7F) gas turbines achieved outputs
surpassing the machine's design rating of 150 megawatts of electric
power to become the world's most powerful combustion turbine for 60-
hertz power generation. At Virginia Power, the 7F will operate on
natural gas or distillate fuel with the flexiblity to convert to coal-
derived gas should that alternative become economically attractive in
the future.
SHELL OIL INTRODUCES UNLEADED GASOLINE
Shell announced on April 11th the introduction of an environmentally
enhanced, unleaded premium gasoline. The new product, SU 2000E, will
reduce hydrocarbon vapor and carbon monoxide emissions. The gasoline
will be sold in all nine metropolitan areas identified by President Bush
as having the nation's most severe ground-level air quality problems,
as well as Washington, D.C. The areas where SU 2000E will be marketed
are New York City, Hartford (Greater Connecticut), Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Philadelphia (southern New Jersey and Delaware), Baltimore,
Milwaukee, San Diego and Washington, D.C. Shell is the nation's number
one marketer of gasoline.
CHEMIST DEVELOPS "SMART DIPSTICK"
A chemist who has developed the technology for a "smart dipstick" says
it would prevent engine wear and tear by telling when to change a car's
oil with a flashing message on the dashboard. The technique measures
the quality of oil in the car by calculating how much remains of the
antioxidant in it. Antioxidant is an additive that keeps oil from
degrading too fast. Without it, oils will oxidize, turning thick and
black and building up acid. Once the antioxidant is depleted, oil loses
its ability to lubricate parts. Prolonged use of bad oil can cause
engine damage or failure and corrosion from the accumulation of acid.
If smart dipsticks were available, the outcome would be smoother running
vehicles, but more oil changes.
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ATARI ST AND MOTOR SERVICE MAGAZINE
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That was the question asked by one of our readers last week. So we set
about finding out why a story about every description of computer except
the Atari ST features the Atari ST, and a chick emerging from an egg on
the cover of the issue.
The story covers 20 systems for managing a modern service shop. Here's
a quick rundown of the programs covered starting page 24 of the March
issue:
Garage Management Smart Service Manager F.A.S.T Shop Manager
Centrum GarageKeeper r/o SCHED 3
Autolink Smart Service Manager RPM
C.A.R.S. and L.O.F. Turob-Mac II TRACS (Napa)
Premier Automotive Management (PAM)
Auto Repair Management System Repair Shop Systems
Software modules R*Kom Repair Writer
Repair Management System TelePart (Triad)
The story covers Cost, Options, and Training for each of the systems.
There is no review or user viewpoint comparison of the programs. If you
use any of the programs above, let's hear what you have to say about
them. We will cover three, briefly in this issue, based on comments we
have received in the field.
Post your views to 72327,1500 MechInfoNet
Now, where did that Atari ST come from? A little probing at the Des
Plaines offices of Hunter Publishing reconfirmed the existence of an
associate publication for midrange computers, Systems 3x. The picture
was a probably a lift from the resources of the sister publication. No
reflection on the content. The overriding consideration was the CHICK.
The title of the story, if you recall, was "Shop computer systems: The
next generation".
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SHOP MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
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In pursuit of the AllData user perspective in this issue, we ran into a
brochure for GarageKeeper, and some comments from the prospect, John
Bradley. John had been looking around and was impressed by what he had
heard from satisfied users. (Don't buy ANY program until you talk to
someone who has used it a LOT). What makes life interesting, was the
AllData rep, Tom Nicholson, was not completely in agreement with John on
his choice, although Tom had not heard any negatives about the program.
Tom is an aggressive aftermarket pro, having sold Chilton manuals in New
England for 20 years (his son continues the family tradition). Tom
suggested CSS....not even listed in the Motor Service overview, so we
have some more work to do for a future issue, and some views to present
from Tom on why he feels the CSS system is worth considering....more on
that later. The GarageKeeper offers:
Inventory Management Job Estimates Work Orders
Customer History Mailing Follow-up Telephone Follow-up
Service Management Menu Inactive Customers
Putaway List Inventory Worksheets Customer Cross Ref
Customer List Shrinkage Analysis
Service Jobs with Parts and Labor Intervals
Sales Analysis Year End Reports Quarterly Reports
Purchase Orders Year End Report
Customer Service History
A unique service is voice or modem support for 90 days at no charge.
Hourly charge after 90 days. The service is a bulletin board which
offers technical information, swapping services for shop equipment, for
only the cost of a phone call for the first 90 days. (We'll be telling
you more about THAT service, you can be sure.)
For more information, post a request with your address and phone (if
desired) to MechInfoNet 72327,1500 here, or write:
Computer Assistance Inc.
82277 Weiss Rd.
Cresswell OR 97426
Let us know what you think about GarageKeeper. You may help John make
his buying decision.
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SERVICE CUSTOMER VIEW SHOPS
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John Bradley runs a two bay in Lawrence Massachusetts. He is planning
on a significant expansion soon. The drive-up is unimpressive (until
you step out of the car and meet, at a safe distance, his two chained
guard dogs). About that time you get a sense you are going to see
something different. First look through the garage doors, you see an
immaculate floor, and a wall full of Snap-On Tool drawers (I mean WALL
TO WALL). Enough reason for attack dogs. More reasons in the next
room. First thing through the door you bump straight into a crisp black
and white high resolution monitor display, with Technical Service
listings, no keyboard, a mouse with mouse pad, and two slots on the
"side" of the machine (the computer housing is turned sideways in John's
layout). The slots are for a CD-ROM, one of five in the AllData set,
and an output slot for a fast thermal printer. John jumps forward to
begin his demonstration of the information stored inside. By the time
John is through, you KNOW this guy is wired on what is the latest in
service information. And you know he can get to it RIGHT NOW before he
begins work on your car. I began my question and answer session with
John, and got a few surprises, as you will see.....
MechInfoNet> John, what impresses you about this machine the most?
John> Contact and support from the factory....I mean when my monitor
went South they called me back three times that day, and I had a
replacement IMMEDIATELY. Their tech guys are absolutely terrific.
I can't stump them.
InfoNet> How do you pay for the machine? How much do you figure it
costs you per day? Do you charge for the service bulletins and
tech manual access as a service item on the work order, or as a
part number on the parts list?
John> Well, I figure it costs me $10-$15/ day, depending how much work I
get in a week. I would never add the overhead of the machine as a
per job charge...that's like charging for oil disposal or tire
removal....it turns customers off, FAST. I can't believe shops
openly charge for that. I build my reputation with the machine, I
impress the customer that I know as much about his machine as
anyone does, with the LATEST information. He knows that I am
constantly updated. The machine tells him that, and I deal with
HIS vehicle, not just a list of tech info. I've had recall
information on a customer's car, and performed work the local
dealer hadn't done on a legitimate recall...as a matter of fact,
I just did TWO recall repairs on a customer car that hadn't been
done by his dealer on his NEW car.
If I don't find a bulletin, I go to the manual section, and show
him the specifics on his car model and year. I feel so strong
about the machine, I want to put a big sign around the display to
call the customer's attention to the database and talk to him as
he stands in the waiting area, when I can't be there to do it...I
want the message to be bold and bright.
You can't sit down and charge the customer for every little thing
you do...I guess I build the extra value of my services into an
increased labor rate...certainly when I get the shop management
software in here, I will have a more specific way to get get a
handle on these services, but my customer is NOT going to see them
as a line item.
We don't go by the book in some cases. When a job goes beyond the
write-up time, I tell the customer I have to improvise...he wants
the job done, and sometimes you can't go by the book.
InfoNet> Do you ever get new cars before they are off warrantee?
John> Sure, that car I just told you about, and there were 24 fleet
Oldsmobiles that I dealt with recently. I found 6 and a half feet
of information covering a recall on those vehicles, a chassis
problem. 8 out of the 24 vehicles had not been fixed properly. I
expect to get a letter of appreciation from that fleet operator.
John has Bosch, GM, Napa, AC DELCO, Chrysler, Fuel Injection training
certificates framed on the wall. You are overwhelmed with the fact that
he is CONNECTED with technology because you are surrounded by these
inputs as you stand in the waiting area.
John dialed up his local Napa store while we were there, and cut an
order by modem from a Data General terminal in his waiting room. He
searched the inventory for the part he needed, looked up his cost and
projected selling price options, and remotely cut an order and packing
list of the parts he needed for delivery. This is just one component of
the comprehensive TRAC system offered by Napa for their customer service
shops. The store/shop connection through the terminal was straight
forward with command keys for dialing, hangup on the face of the Racal-
Vadic modem. (A total of ten command keys.)
I took the time to dial up Compuserve from the shop, and showed John
about the Mech.NWS in RACING/Libe 16. Now he has something new on the
leading edge to look forward to...John will be joining us here as soon
as the management computer is installed in a few months.
Next shop we visited was just up the street. Leo Lamontagne's shop was
spic and span all around. There was a full computer in the office
inside the waiting area, and an AllData unit as you walk into the
waiting area. A full complement of Bear diagnostic equipment and a
front end alignment machine gleamed from the service bays. From a
Curtis clip next to the screen hangs a sign with some help from a
desktop publishing program (Print Shop):
"*ALLDATA* IS OUR DIRECT LINE TO ALL FACTORY INFORMATION AND
BULLETINS".
Leo's time was short, so we'll tell you more about his immaculate
operation after a follow-up call. I think you can see, the pitch is
similar to John's.
Next stop was Frank's Enterprises, Bob Darling and his crew, in
Wilmington. Bob feels the AllData system, raises his general level of
professionalism..."I used to crawl under a car or pop the hood ready to
explore a lot of options to deal with a lot of question marks in my
head...now I go into the vehicle with a purpose...I'm not guessing
anymore."
The shop is big on diagnostics, and the owner prides himself on putting
his Sun equipment to good use. TECH TIPS is sort of a hobby with Bob,
and he fires them off to the parts suppliers regularly, without much
thanks. Well, we thank him for calling our attention to one little
chronic problem...the EGR:
Look for problems elsewhere, particularly at an idle adjustment set
higher than spec to compensate for another undiagnosed problem. This
will cause the system to run at a higher RPM than design, and the EGR
valve will be more active than it was designed for, causing premature
failure. If you are replacing them, check for a more serious problem
elsewhere.
Bob was the first customer for an AllData system in the greater Boston
area, and I suspect we will be hearing more Tech Tips from him in future
issues of the Mechanics Online Magazine.
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MECHANICS ONLINE UPDATE
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AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
The lead letter from the editor in chief of Automotive Engineering p.8
April 1990 issue discusses a survey of U. S. suppliers to Japanese firms
who are setting up shop in the U.S. The recent study conducted by
Markey and Associates with AE found "many survey participants felt that
U. S. suppliers lack a critical understanding of emerging electronic
technologies". The balance of the survey summary covers list of
priorities of the firms in selecting U. S. partners/suppliers.
PWA OFFERS FAX DIRECTORY OF SUPPLIER COMPANIES
The Performance Warehouse Association has released its 1990 Industry Fax
Directory. The 32 page book has more than 1000 listings. Copies of the
directory are available for a nominal fee from PWA 2041 San Elijo Ave.,
Cardiff, CA 92007
MITSUBISHI MIGHT MAX TAKES HONORS
Through a 30 day test administered by the magazine's staff, pickups were
rated on highway driving, interior comfort and ergonomics, ease of
entry and exit, fit and finish, visibility and dashboard instrumentation
layout. Also rated are performance in dirt, sand, stream beds, and
gravel, and rock climbing. Performance, which accounts for 80% of the
rating is divided into five categories: mechanical, on-road riding and
driving impressions, off-road performance, interior and exterior finish.
Also considered are power to weight ratio, dynamometer testing, gvw,
pricing. Four Wheeler Magazine named the 1990 Mitsubishi Mighty Max
Pickup Truck of the Year.
BBS FOR RESTORATION PARTS
Sequoia Data in San Francisco has introduced a bulletin board and
special software called CompuMarket(tm) to connect buyers and sellers of
collector cars and parts. Unlimited access is provided for a low
monthly fee...less than most online services charge per hour. The
service process 500 calls per hour and covers a database of one million
cars and parts. Voice callers can have searches done for them. The
target customers are repair shops, restoration specialists, part stores,
body shops, racers, appraisers, and hobbyists. The company was founded
by Dana R. Allan in 1987.
NORDHAUS RESEARCH COMPLETES SURVEY
An in-depth survey on motor sports fans offers some new revelations
about their lifestyle. The study, called TRACS (Total Racing Audience
Composition Study), was done by Nordhaus Research of Southfield,
Michigan. It includes statistics on income, buying habits, and types of
racing preferred. Here are some of the highlights of the study:
About 26 percent of the nation's adults have an interest in racing and
other motor sports. This includes persons who attend races and who
follow it on television.
Mario Andretti is the most popular race car driver in the U.S. followed
by A.J.Foyt, Richard Petty, Bill Elliott and Danny Sullivan. But among
racing enthusiasts, the favorites are Elliott, Petty, Andretti, Dale
Earnhardt and Foyt.
The buying power of race fans (about 47 million adults) is more than
$700 billion. Motor sports fans have higher than average household
incomes and tend to own more vehicles than the average person.
About 38 percent of race fans say they 'make an effort' to buy products
from sponsors of racing events, compared to only six percent of non-
enthusiasts.
The study shows that there are more than 14 million female race fans.
Although this represents only 15 percent of the female adult population
in the U.S., other research shows that women represent a substantial
proportion of race event attendees.
Nordhaus conducted 5000 telephone interviews with adults throughout the
U.S., selected by a random probability sample. The study has a
statistical reliability of plus or minus 2.7 percent at 95 percent
confidence." For further information contact Bob Van Dam at Nordhaus
Research, 20300 West Twelve Mile Road, Southfield Michigan 48076. Phone
313-827-2400. Fax 313-827-1380. Tell him you saw a pickup on the Speed
and Custom Dealer publicity in Mechanic's Online News on Compuserve.
CHRYSLER PUTS BUTTON MAKERS OUT OF BUSINESS
The new Chrysler New Yorker will sport simulated buttons instead of the
traditional type that can snag and be lost. The technique in used in
the European furniture industry, and is created by special Swedish
sewing machines. The machines sew in a circle, forming a fake "button:
in about ten seconds. The lock stitching can not break or ravel.
(Ed) Now why didn't they do this before? Maybe the new upholstery is
covered under 7/70?
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The Mechanics Online Magazine is a biweekly publication released
for mechanics with coverage of the mechanical and automotive community.
Opinions and commentary presented are those of the individual authors
and do not reflect those of Rovac Industries or Gateway Associates.
Z*NET and Z*NET ONLINE are copyright 1990 by Rovac Industries. Reprint
permission is granted as long as the MECHANICS ONLINE MAGAZINE, Issue
Number and author is included at the top of the article. Reprinted
articles are not to be edited without written permission.
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MECHANICS ONLINE MAGAZINE APRIL 27, 1990
Copyright (c)1990 Rovac Industries, Inc../ Gateway Associates
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