Piston Count

[Panope]

A count of one's pistons can be a handy measure of ones accruements. I used to think a large number was a good thing. Now that I see it differently, I have been on a mission to purge myself of these reciprocating bits of metallurgy, the machines that are powered by them, and all the associated maintenance and responsibility that goes with it all.

At the peak in 2006 (just before I met my wife) I had accumulated a total of 60 functioning pistons in 5 aeroplanes, 5 vehicles, 2 boats, 1 motorcycle, and 3 garden tools.

As of today, the count is down to 23.

Next on the chopping block is this Subaru. It has been my Seattle "airport car" (at Boeing Field) for the past 12 years. The recent sale of my wife's Cessna means that we are done flying to Seattle.

Turns out it is the perfect height for a clandestine towing job: Bringing the last airplane home for complete disassembly and storage. Might even sell this plane's engine for a further reduction in Piston Count. Woohoo!

Steve

[Ajax]

You're outta control. Even with my recent purchase, I'm only at 15. Ill be down to 13 after the bike sells.

[kdh]

I get 49.

4 cars(22), a truck(8), two tractors(7), snowmobile(2), snowblower(1), two leaf blowers(2), weed whacker(1), generator(1), chain saw(1), sailboat auxiliary(4).

Probably missed something.

[Panope]

It was a serious problem Ajax, but I'm well on my way to recovery. Anything in the teens is perfectly sane, in my book.

As for the future of the plane, I might one day convert to ELECTRIC POWER. It is doable with today's technology as this plane is just a toy with no need for long range/endurance. However, right now I have no interest in flying and no time for another project. Maybe in 10 or 15 years, my interest will rekindle and batteries might be better and (hopefully) a lot cheaper.

Steve

[LarryHoward]

4 cars (20), 4 boat motors (16), 2 mowers (3), 3 chain saws(3), generator (2), blower (1), weed eater (1), ATV (2), power washer (1). 49 and looking at another car (6 more).

[Ajax]

Ok, for you guys counting lawn implements, ill add a piston for my lawn tractor. Everything else is electric.

[Orestes Munn]

Boat (3), two cars (8), four bicycles (?).

[Jamie]

Two cars for 10, the boat for 4, 3 outboard motors for a total of 18. Everything else is electric or human powered.

[BeauV]

What a GREAT thread!

I have, 4 cars for 10 (6 in the Ford SUV and 4 in the Morgan), MAYAN for 6 plus 2 in the generator, 1 in the chainsaw, 1 in the outboard for SCARLETT, for a total of 20. (The Teslas help)

[Olaf Hart]

There are six cars at our place, technically we own four of them, so that is 17.
The boats add another 7, then there is the spare Volvo diesel, so that’s 10.
Four outboards with a total of 7 cylinders.
Yard tools, two whippersnippers, two brush cutters, one chainsaw, three mowers, one a twin ride on adds 9

Total is 43 cylinders, and they all work....
And 19 of them are diesel.

[Olaf Hart]

Next thread we could count how many sails we have lying around and after that one old unused computers...

[Tucky]

I guess I'm a pretty normal for this bunch- truck (8) RV (8) Caterham (4) Insight (3) Snowblower (1) outboard (2) generator (1) TOTAL 27

And I'm real light on sails I have laying around, but then Sailbags is right down the street so I have a lot of bags:-)

[Charlie]

I’m at an even 30. The big driver is a number of outboards at the cottage.

2 cars (6)
4 boats (17)
Yard tools (5)
Motorcycle (1)
Generator (1)

[Slick470]

lets see:
- (4) Car
- (6) Explorer
- (6) Truck
- (2) Boat
- (5) Stuff in the shed (trimmer, tiller, mower, blower, generator)
=23

Olaf, I love the term "whippersnipper"

sails is (12) and I only have (2) old computers sitting around, both are in working condition. I do have a box of old hard drives from the piles of old desktops I sent to the e-recycler over the past few years.

[kimbottles]

I have ten bicycles..............

[Anomaly]

Let's see:

Cars- 10
Boat- 3
Outboards- 6
Chainsaw- 1
Weedeater- 1
Generator- 1
Spare Chevy 235 motor- 6

28-- seems right about the norm for this group...

Oh, I have 6 spare pistons (w connecting rods) laying around from the original 235 in my 53 Chevy wagon. Do those count?

[kimbottles]

Let's see:

Cars- 10
Boat- 3
Outboards- 6
Chainsaw- 1
Weedeater- 1
Generator- 1
Spare Chevy 235 motor- 6

28-- seems right about the norm for this group...

Oh, I have 6 spare pistons (w connecting rods) laying around from the original 235 in my 53 Chevy wagon. Do those count?

If it is a “piston” count I would think any piston counts....

[floating dutchman]

Steve, You sold your wife's aeroplane?

I make 11, was 12 but I biffed out the ashtray when I gave up smoking.
I need another toy I think.

Jeroen.

[Panope]

Let's see:

Cars- 10
Boat- 3
Outboards- 6
Chainsaw- 1
Weedeater- 1
Generator- 1
Spare Chevy 235 motor- 6

28-- seems right about the norm for this group...

Oh, I have 6 spare pistons (w connecting rods) laying around from the original 235 in my 53 Chevy wagon. Do those count?

If it is a “piston” count I would think any piston counts....

Only pistons in a functional engine count. Also, no air compressors, hydraulic cylinders, hypodermic needles, etc......

[Panope]

Steve, You sold your wife's aeroplane?

I make 11, was 12 but I biffed out the ashtray when I gave up smoking.
I need another toy I think.

Jeroen.

Yep, we are out of the flying game.

As I write this, I am cleaning out the last of my aircraft junk from my hangar. I've taken a deposit, and we close the hangar sale in a week or two.

The timing is good as I am just about out of money. Need more to finish the house.

Note: My wife and I keep our finances separate. Although I am currently low on cash, she is not. She decided to sell her plane due to her taking a stay-at-home job, and no longer needing to fly to Seattle.

Steve

[Panope]

I just did a quick tally of my insane friend's piston count. I get 120 but there is certainly a plane or car or two that I missed.

Steve

[kimbottles]

Let's see:

Cars- 10
Boat- 3
Outboards- 6
Chainsaw- 1
Weedeater- 1
Generator- 1
Spare Chevy 235 motor- 6

28-- seems right about the norm for this group...

Oh, I have 6 spare pistons (w connecting rods) laying around from the original 235 in my 53 Chevy wagon. Do those count?

If it is a “piston” count I would think any piston counts....

Only pistons in a functional engine count. Also, no air compressors, hydraulic cylinders, hypodermic needles, etc......

Spoil Sport

[Olaf Hart]

I forgot the generator and the fire pump!
And five electric water pumps, we have two houses on rain water and a dam...

[Ajax]

Steve, You sold your wife's aeroplane?

I make 11, was 12 but I biffed out the ashtray when I gave up smoking.
I need another toy I think.

Jeroen.

Yep, we are out of the flying game.

As I write this, I am cleaning out the last of my aircraft junk from my hangar. I've taken a deposit, and we close the hangar sale in a week or two.

The timing is good as I am just about out of money. Need more to finish the house.

Note: My wife and I keep our finances separate. Although I am currently low on cash, she is not. She decided to sell her plane due to her taking a stay-at-home job, and no longer needing to fly to Seattle.

Steve

What happens when you run out of money?

[Anomaly]

Only pistons in a functional engine count.

Sheesh! There's always someone who comes along imposing RULES....

(of couurse, you DID start the thread, so you have that going for you)

[Olaf Hart]

Steve, You sold your wife's aeroplane?

I make 11, was 12 but I biffed out the ashtray when I gave up smoking.
I need another toy I think.

Jeroen.

Yep, we are out of the flying game.

As I write this, I am cleaning out the last of my aircraft junk from my hangar. I've taken a deposit, and we close the hangar sale in a week or two.

The timing is good as I am just about out of money. Need more to finish the house.

Note: My wife and I keep our finances separate. Although I am currently low on cash, she is not. She decided to sell her plane due to her taking a stay-at-home job, and no longer needing to fly to Seattle.

Steve

What happens when you run out of money?

Steve lives in alternate universe where ingenuity is the currency...

[Panope]

I guess ingenuity is a significant force. I have also been fortunate/lucky with my real estate transactions.

As to future income, I really don't give it much thought. Money won't run out for at least a year and a half. I have found that as long as my net worth is increasing (it is) I am very happy NOT having a bunch of cash (shrinking with inflation) laying around.

That said, I always seem have standing offers to go work for boat yards, construction outfits, individuals that need houses or stuff built, etc. The latest (and quite appealing) offer is to do mechanical installations at Cape George Marine Works (Cape George Cutter, Bristol Channel Cutter).

In the end, I'll do what I have always done: Get up in the morning, and do whatever I want/need to do.

Steve

[JoeP]

Vehicles 16
Lawn equipment 2
2 HP outboard 1

Total 19

[Audrey]

At one point I had 19 in 3 cars. Now I'm down to 12 in 2. I like 12. I could've easily seen myself with way more cars than I could drive, it's been a struggle my whole life.

[kimbottles]

At one point I had 19 in 3 cars. Now I'm down to 12 in 2. I like 12. I could've easily seen myself with way more cars than I could drive, it's been a struggle my whole life.

I read bringatrailer.com every morning. I could easily fall down the "cool car" rabbit hole if Susan wasn't here to protect me from myself.