Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 411 The Oars of the Times in My Hands
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up instantly!
Chen Luyang is studying at Peking University.

Peking University has no shortage of teachers and talented people!
In the departments of mechanics, materials science, and even mechanical engineering, there are students and teachers who can draw standard blueprints.

With such a large pool of readily available people, there's naturally no need to worry about finding someone to draw the blueprints.

"But right now we have limited resources and energy, so we can't do everything. We need to concentrate our efforts and start with a few core models."

Chen Luyang looked at Director Lu: "Uncle Lu, what suggestions do you have?"

Lu Quanyou said: "I suggest starting with the Huahai brand sedan, 212, and the most frequently repaired 'Overwhelming West Wind' and Jiefang official vehicles and mainstream trucks. These models are numerous and come in for repair frequently."

Zhang Guoqiang nodded: "Yes! Especially the 212. That car has a lot of problems and a variety of parts. The cars that come for repairs are all sent by the company. If we can get the parts sorted out, we'll be able to get a lot more work."

“Okay!” Chen Luyang listened attentively to the opinions of Director Lu and Zhang Guoqiang.

"Then let's do as you say and start with these core vehicles."

“I’ll be going back to school the night after tomorrow… So, you guys try to draw the first drafts of the three basic components first, and then I’ll go back to school and find someone to draw the blueprints… We’ll make the molds ourselves, even if we only make one set first, we’ll make a standard one.”

"Parts cannot be modified by people; they must be supplied by the factory."

"A repair shop that relies solely on the skills of a few people will eventually reach its end."

Upon hearing this, Director Lu and Zhang Guoqiang immediately showed expressions of support and appreciation in their eyes.

These days, while assembling parts and recording worn-out components, they often chat and discuss what to do next.

The car maintenance and repair center is short-staffed, and everyone has to repair cars, so they don't have time to produce basic parts every day.

However, the limitations of reality are what they are.
If they don't polish these parts, the car repair project can't proceed.

Now that Chen Luyang had given them a definite answer, the matter that had been weighing on their minds finally had an outlet, and their voices rose as they spoke.

With the core vehicle model selected, the next step is to determine the basic components.

"Director, I think we can start with these three: universal spark plugs, universal nozzle pipes, and universal rubber gaskets."

Zhang Guoqiang took out a pencil, pointed to the list of high-wear parts on the blackboard, and said:

“These three items are used in large quantities and have a high failure rate. If we unify these three items first, we can establish a reputation in the industry.”

“Okay!” Chen Luyang nodded decisively: “Then let’s start with these three. We’ll try to produce three basic components within three months and ten basic components within a year.”

These words ignited the passion of everyone in the workshop.

"I never imagined that one day our car repair and maintenance center with fewer than 10 people would be able to run 'projects'!"

With a cigarette between his fingers, Director Lu spoke with a hint of disbelief and a light, airy tone.

Standardizing basic components is such a difficult task that countless repair shops and parts manufacturers have struggled with it.

Even the provincial machinery factory couldn't do anything about this.

But today, right here in Pian'ercheng, in this small repair and maintenance center next to the West Railway Station, this matter has truly been put on the agenda!
Chen Luyang laughed and said, "The reason we can do this is ultimately because the repair center has a wide range of car models and parts, and we have more data than anyone else. Otherwise, we really couldn't do this anywhere else."

As he spoke, he looked at the numbers on the large blackboard. “From 212 to Huahai, from the old Jiefang to the overwhelming Xifeng, from small gaskets and nozzles to large brake drums and gearbox housings, we have physical samples, fault records, and repair feedback.”

"Others want to do it but can't, but for us, it's like a line was thrown down from the sky and just happened to be tied to our hook."

Chen Luyang had never truly understood what it meant to go with the flow of the times.

But today,
As he stood in this small workshop,

Looking at the rows of repair records and parts data on the wall, and at the group of workers around me with oily hands and sleeves but bright eyes,

He suddenly had a feeling he had never experienced before—

An undercurrent of "resources at hand and the timing just right" is pushing him forward.

The wind rose, the water surged.
And he happened to be holding an oar in his hand.

Just as Chen Luyang took a deep breath and was full of vigor, preparing to row with his small paddle,
A familiar tricycle bell rang out from outside, its crisp, bright sound ringing out.

“Ding-ling-ling—ding-ling-ling—!”

Chen Luyang hadn't reacted yet,
Zhang Guoqiang yelled and dashed out, while Liu Kangwen, Tan Rensong, and Zuo Zhuo also dropped what they were doing and rushed towards the door as if they had been electrocuted.

Ok? ? ?
What about people?

Chen Luyang, who was halfway through paddling, was suddenly abandoned by her companions and ran off with them.

At the entrance of the courtyard,
A large, human-powered tricycle, braving the cold air, swayed slowly toward the two basins of poinsettias on the ground.

"Old Sen! You've finally arrived!"

"Did you take the materials I told you about last time?"

What good stuff is coming this time?

……

"Hey... Old Sen, you've ended up with a boiler room this time!"

The three master craftsmen, Zhang Guoqiang, Liu Kangwen, and Tan Rensong, looked at each other as if they had seen a great treasure.
Some lifted the cloth, some held the cart, and they bent down and rummaged through the truck bed, looking just like they were robbing someone!
Sheng Haisen, wearing an old woolen overcoat and a coarse cloth scarf around his neck, his ears red from the cold, laughed:
"We can't find any more in the boiler room, so I'll find you some boiler tubes to use as substitutes. Secondary copper wire, armature, motor housing, and those 'disc-shaped bearing covers' you've been asking for so long—I've dug them out from under the table this time. Take what you need!"

was saying,

"Brother Sheng!!!"

Chen Luyang, her eyes shining, squeezed in happily.

"Xiao Chen?! When did you get back?!" Sheng Haisen's eyes lit up when he saw Chen Luyang.

"I just got back this morning, brother. Have you eaten yet? If not, come inside and have a bite. The steamed buns are still warm! There's also porridge and pickled vegetables."

Chen Luyang put her arm around Sheng Haisen, placed her hands on his shoulders, and pushed him into the house.

This is the very material father he's working for...

Director Lu had already told him that the repair center's business was only able to survive because of the industrial waste that Sheng Haisen brought in.

We must treat them well!

Sheng Haisen was busy from early morning and hadn't even eaten.

Moreover, in the past month, Director Lu and his colleagues have been inviting him to drink every few days and inviting him to dinner frequently.

They even prepared a set of bowls and chopsticks for Sheng Haisen in the kitchen, clearly treating him as half a family member.

Even if they're only half family!
When I saw dozens of large steamed buns on the kitchen stove!
I was still shocked.

"What the hell? The repair shop is closing down and they're going to open a steamed bun shop and sell steamed buns???"

Sheng Haisen held the bowl, facing a large pile of plump, white meat buns, at a loss for what to do.

Previously, Director Lu and his group had always been trying to fool him.

They said the car maintenance and repair center depends on him; without his industrial waste, the repair shop wouldn't be able to stay afloat.

In short: if you have industrial waste, be sure to send it to the repair shop first and let them choose.

Is the repair shop really going out of business today?
They've switched to selling steamed buns?!

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!!!" Chen Luyang spat out a string of ptooeys.

"This pile is from the Red Army, and this pile is from Peking University. You can eat whichever you like!"

Peking University steamed buns?! Sheng Haisen's eyes lit up!
These steamed buns aren't something you can just eat anytime.

At that moment, Sheng Haisen ate a big steamed bun and a bowl of porridge with relish.

Director Lu happily pulled up a small stool and sat down to eat with Sheng Haisen.

"Didn't you guys always say I didn't send good parts to the repair shop?!"

He swallowed and wiped his mouth. "This time, I actually found something."

Chen Luyang asked curiously, "What?"

Sheng Haisen said, "The old military factory in Nanyuan... the one that made anti-aircraft guns, is replacing equipment at the end of October, and three T616 floor lathes are scrapped."

"It was a Soviet product, all steel, as heavy as a gun mount. It was disposed of as scrap and thrown into the junkyard."

Chen Luyang was stunned: "It's scrapped?"

Sheng Haisen said, "Nominally it's scrapping, but actually they want to clear out the inventory."

Director Lu became interested: "I've seen the T616 model before. It's a horizontal heavy-duty lathe that can do turning, boring, and threading. You mean three of them?"

"Three units! One main unit, two auxiliary units, the complete set." Sheng Haisen picked up a piece of pickled vegetable with his chopsticks.

"I went to the scrap yard this morning and took a look. The bed frame alone is worth the price of several thousand kilograms of steel. If you want to buy it, just write a scrap list, get the yard to stamp it, and you can take it away."

Chen Luyang was tempted.

The repair center is currently busy standardizing parts. Many parts are still being ground by Zhang Guoqiang and Zuo Zhuo, one file at a time, which is labor-intensive and unreliable.

Although the T616 is an old model, as long as the guide rails are not worn out, the structure is stable, and the speed is adjusted, it can be used as a small workshop even without CNC machining.

If you add a manual indexing head and modify it with a ball screw, it would be an absolute godsend!

Chen Luyang was still uneasy: "Can they really issue the paperwork?"

"Yes, the scrap yard recognizes company seals and invoices. As long as there's a stamped 'scrap metal component' label, you can take it. I'll deliver cigarettes tonight."

As Sheng Haisen spoke, he picked up Sun Hongjun's steamed bun and took a big bite.

"The product sounds good, but I need to see it in person." Chen Luyang was getting restless.

"Brother Sheng, could you take me to the junkyard to take a look at the machine tools?"

"no problem!"

Sheng Haisen eats quickly; in the blink of an eye, he devoured two more steamed buns from the Peking University cafeteria, his mouth stuffed full.

He wiped his hands on his coat and called out:
"Jun'er, I'm taking your director to the recycling center. We're not washing dishes anymore."

Sun Hongjun was chopping pickled vegetables in the backyard, preparing lunch for everyone.
Upon hearing Sheng Haisen's words, Sun Hongjun let out a loud shout:

"No need! Just leave the bowl on the table, I'll wash it in a bit!"

……

When we arrived at the scrap yard,
Sheng Haisen knew the place well. He greeted the two men standing at the door, handed them a bag of "Red Flag Canal" liquor, and then led Chen Luyang and the others to the backyard.

After walking less than fifty meters through a pile of scrap iron and rusty steel bars, the group saw a giant outline covered with tarpaulin standing on the concrete ground.

"These are the few units."

Sheng Haisen stepped forward and lifted a corner of the tarpaulin, and a mixed smell of oil and rust wafted out.

Chen Luyang immediately noticed the nameplate on the main chassis:

"T616 heavy-duty horizontal lathe, manufacturer: Krasnodar Machine Plant, former USSR."

The stamped year of manufacture at the bottom: 1965.

"The spindle wasn't crooked, and the guide rail wasn't broken, but the motor burned out and the control board connector was rusted shut."

Zhang Guoqiang squatted down and ran his fingers along the edge of the base, his palm immediately getting a layer of sticky black oil on it.

"The cover is completely rusted, and the coil is charred, but the shaft is not burnt. Rewinding the coil and replacing the carbon brushes can barely save it."

As he spoke, Zhang Guoqiang stood up again and pulled the pulley, slightly turning the main shaft.

"Tight, but not biting; the teeth are okay."

On the other side, Tan Rensong squatted down to inspect the auxiliary vehicle and said:
"The motor needs to be reconnected; the coil is worn out. The main unit isn't a big problem. We'll replace the lubricant and modify the wiring. It should be able to start in three days."

"This lathe can be transported back and used to machine all the irregular large parts, such as trailer chassis, steering knuckles, coupling sleeves, and rear axle lugs. It can even plane out standard bearing clamps."

Zhang Guoqiang nodded in agreement: "The spindle travel is deep enough, the platform is rigid and stable, and with the addition of a slant tool holder, we can start production immediately."

Both experienced workers are key members of the workshop.

Before the rise of CNC technology, they built their parts empire using these old Soviet machine tools.

If this system is fixed, we can save enough in a year to buy a new machine.

Chen Luyang asked the two masters for their opinions: "Is it worth it to take this deal?"

"value!"

Zhang Guoqiang stated unequivocally: "This main shaft alone can be pulled out and used as a rolling die."

"Okay then." Chen Luyang's eyes lit up at Zhang Guoqiang's words.

A T616 originally cost at least ten thousand yuan.

And this was a price tag from the 1960s.

Nowadays, if you were to buy a brand new domestically produced sedan of the same class, it would cost at least eight or nine thousand yuan.

These three machines in front of us are all being processed as "scrap metal components".

A ton of scrap steel costs 300 yuan. These machines weigh nearly five tons in total. Even if we calculate based on five tons, it would only be 1,500 yuan.

But once it's transferred to the scrap yard's account, the yard has to lower the price before selling it again, and there's no guarantee that only half of it will be sold in the end.

And now,
With just a stamped transfer certificate, you can buy three large floor-standing lathes for 300 yuan.

Even if it can't be turned on, just disassembling the machine bed into standard parts, guide rails, bearings, gears, and electrical control modules and selling them can still yield a residual value of two to three thousand yuan.

Not buying this would be a huge mistake!

However... the factory currently only has a little over 180 yuan in its accounts.
Buying one is no problem, buying two requires some budgeting, and three... is a bit tight.

Chen Luyang's brows furrowed slightly!
Although the repair center can submit a report to the factory and apply for funding.

However, you have to submit a remittance application form from another location and go through a series of procedures before you can make the purchase.

The money will take 3-7 days to arrive.

However, it's not a big problem~~~
The repair center may not have money on its books, but it does have money...

He still has several hundred yuan in his secret stash.
In short, let's raise the money first, and then call the factory to ask for the rest!

Chen Luyang said, "Brother Sheng, could you please tell the people at the scrap yard that I want all three lathes? I'll go back and write a report tonight, and I'll bring the money and official seal to complete the formalities tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)