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Posted by Paul Cook in Kempner, TX on Friday, May 29, 2009 at 15:25:25 :
In Reply to: So.....? posted by Dwight in Ft. Worth on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 12:38:20 :
Dwight, most of that knowledge is already on Joe's site. The questions have been answered many times. The only thing guarding it is that forum visitors do not use the "Search" function.
For a while, I posted an answer each time the same question was asked. I could just continue to post the same answer on Joe's site every time it is asked, but I realized that Joe is paying for band width to support the answers to questions that are asked repeatedly.
After several years publishing the Texas Power Wagon Journal newsletter to share information with my Power Wagon friends here in Texas, I moved "on-line" with the Kempner Power Wagon Museum web site. I felt comfortable calling my “flat fender” collection a "Museum" because I had some decent, unrestored trucks that were fairly original as well as having many references that covered these trucks. In addition to studying parts lists, service manuals, and other historical references, Museum visitors can examine the trucks and gain a lot of information.
I make a sincere effort to provide competent answers to questions asked on this and several other similar forums. To the greatest extent possible, I give the "book" answers. What’s the big deal about “book” answers? In most cases they are best. We still see posts where someone has broken off wheel studs because their past experience did not include the concept of “left hand” threads. Another example is “Rule 1” for working on brakes - shown above. How many times has the same question about the brakes building up pressure been asked?
I have scanned and posted pages from manuals and parts lists. I have gone up to the trucks in my “Field of Dreams” and disassembled things to photograph and prepare answers. I put a lot of time and effort in trying to help.
I, too, pay to have the Museum web site on line. To avoid duplication of answers, I have established a “Frequently Asked Questions” section on my main page. Many Forum visitors go to my Museum web site to find answers. Some were directed there by users of this or other forums. Others found my web site through the “Search” function. I am pleased by the many compliments my Museum site receives.
The bottom line is that there is a great deal of information available on line for those who “search” for it. I have trouble accepting that information is a “guarded secret” just because someone chooses not to open the book that contains it.