> I don't think ingesting iron filings is the way to go, and I don't think
magnets
> will prevent ingestion.  I further don't think any of us can develop a
reliable
> ... SNIP

This whole train of
> thought is turning into a ten cent tail wagging a forty dollar dog.
>
> It was my brain fart and I'm sorry I let it slip out  ... time to take a
> different tack .... Jim S.


You may be right about that Jim.  I recognized that attempting to machine
and maintain the precision of tolerances and rigidity needed for telescoping
tubes was going to be just about hopeless - at least for me with my limited
tools. Not to mention what the environment under the cowl might do to it.
Then I recalled that Tracy Crook face a similar type of problem in the
design of his gear box and the very interesting (and counter intuitive
approach) he took to solve it.

I think I have worked out a solution for the telescoping tube alignment
problem following a similar approach as Tracy.  We will see within a few
weeks whether I am correct or not.

Ed Anderson