In computer programming the term “kluge” is frequently used. A kluge is a software or hardware configuration that, while inelegant, inefficient, clumsy, or patched together, succeeds in solving a specific problem or performing a particular task(dictionary.com). Quick, dirty and temporary, but it works. Besides the fact that it might mess up other areas, the main problem is the temporary part is oft forgot. Kluges can be amazingly persistent,but many a fortune have been built on them.
What’s your favorite kluge?
Edited 11/27/2008 12:33 am ET by habilis
Replies
I haven't a Kluge.
Mike
Small wheel turn by the fire and rod, big wheel turn by the grace of god.
Well, I've got my Star Charter written in Java. Does that count?
Maybe some of the schaffold I've put together over the years. But anything I've built I've always used the materials and practices and knowledge available at the time to the best of my ability.
-Paul
BTW, there are assertions that the word derives from a Dutch/German word meaning "deviously clever".
I like Heidi Kluge.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
My favorite Kluge is a Jaguar engine that I helped turbocharge.. it was simple to take 4 small turebos and connect them to the exhaust and luckily they were still high enough so the oil could drain back into the pan so that part was simple.. However providing the extra fuel needed for the boost we gained promised to be extremely complex. The Jaguar computer doesn't have a removable E-prom so it wasn't possible to regenerate a fuel signal based on boost.
What I did was use a bigger injector from the six cylinder and run slightly lower fuel pressure for idle then as we built up boost the fuel pressure climbed until we maxed out at which point I tripped the cold start injector circuit to provide additional fuel as pressure increased to 9 pounds above atmospheric.
The fuel curve is far from perfect and you can actaully feel the surge as it goes from rich to lean under smooth steady state acceration, however since this is made for track days at the local race track the throttle is normally flat down and under those conditions it seems smooth enough..
Next year we're thinking about a delay circuit on the fuel pump and want to use the second set of injectors to inject alcohol on top of the gasolene for some real power gains..
Okay Frenchy, you've whetted our appetite enough - post some pix!
Forrest
No problems with detonation as it leans?
MikeInsert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
No! I started out with the engine too rich in order not to get too lean. It's too rich to start with and as it leans out you can feel it really start to pull. I know there is an easy 100Hp left in it if it wasn't so kluged up and we could start out with the proper mixture and use the increase in boost to properly spool up the turbos rather than have them speed up and slow down as the engine surges..
That's not likely to happen because of the 1000 plus hours of work it will take to adapt racing computers to this one off situation. (not to mention the estimated $5000 cost of the computer required to handle this engine to it's full potential)..
As for those who asked for pictures, I'm afraid there isn't much you can see the turbos are pretty well hidden and we did it very much on the cheap so it's not a real pretty engine.
It doesn't even have intercoolers because with 4 small turbos we use and the low boost levels we go for aren't heating up the air charge enough to effect much change..
If we were getting up around 15 pounds of boost that would be wildly differant, but by our calculations we'd probably have at least $20,000 into the motor and system inorder to gain that last 100 horspower.
When we were living in an apartment I had a fairly large balcony that actually extended out onto the roof of the laundry area below, so we had a fairly substantial little garden there. To water it while gone on a week-long vacation I rigged a plastic garbage can filled with water and aquarium tubing to siphon the water out into a small (maybe 2-gallon) container. Then an aquarium pump was rigged to come on once a day and blow air into the smaller container, forcing the water out and into the irrigation system. (A one-way valve prevented the water from flowing backwards back into the garbage can.)
Worked like a charm!
some of the sheds
My life ;)
precisely! mine too.Happy t-day, Henley
Right back at ya! Say hello to the better half.
We've been living in the house for three years and still haven't got around to putting glass in the log truss. This pic is from four years ago.
View Image
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”
Edited 11/27/2008 3:33 pm by Scott
What's your favorite kluge?
Duct tape--it's least best for ducts, while having far too many other uses.
Also, classic "pookie," water-activated fire caulking putty. It's really not very useful anymore (rather like vermiculite insulation), but it is still used.
Some kluuges I'm not too keen on: Using a half-dozen sinkers since two clearly won't do. Splicing 30-35' long hip rafters with a couple hanks of 2x blocking (and a boatload of nails). "Semi grounded" electrical systems. Oh, and "partially replaced" galvanized plumbing.
Here is one for you.
When I built my house 8 years ago, installing the Pex plumbing and did not have a 1/2" x 3/8" adaptor.
I took the 3/8" pipe, jammed it about 6" up into the 1/2" pipe and then put a crimp ring on it.
Always intended upon fixing as it was just for test, but it took me 7 1/2 years to fix it.
Never blew apart though!!