Interesting! My quick photoshop edit indicates the rotation is exactly one bolt hole off. I ended up just a touch too far counterclockwise, but if you lined the bolt up directly under the headlight, it would look pretty much dead on. In the original photo, there's also a bolt directly under the headlight. Looks like we'll have to call this one "myth confirmed".

[That is correct, but are they uniform enough that you can rotate it and still have all of the bolts fit? That's a pretty tight tolerance if the work is done by hand. Both the distance from the center point and the distance between each bolt must be exact and the same to within the clearance of the bolts in the hole. (Maybe 1/16th? 1/32?). If they are, then it's just like putting a rim on your car, any orientation would work. However, if the work is done by hand and there are small errors due to that, then rotating it would mean some of the holes don't line up.[/quote]

Yes, the bolt holes are that precise. The holes in the ring are spaced uniformly and then the bolts are placed and tack-welded into position. When the front is applied, at times a bolt needs to be "adjusted" to allow the plate to fit into position. When the new plate was drilled, the center was used as a radius point and the bolt circle was layed out. Then, the holes are located utilizing math (!) and then checked before drilling. The math proved out, the holes were drilled and the plate fitted to the smokebox. The work was "tight" but the holes were not just 1/64" oversized either. The top was marked on the plate as the work from then on required corredt orientation. Then, door clamp bolt holes were drilled and then the hinges were fitted.

I have photos of some of the work and if I can find them, I will try to post them. One thing we did in recognition of the accuracy required was to use a magnetic base drill when drilling all the holes. We suspected the use of hand drills might lead to mistakes.

Rob

photoshop fix the hinge is still off and it gives a shadow on the air pump, if you were trying to say yay nay it was photoshopped or just working to see bolt configurations.

I doubt the original photographer would have known about photoshopping techniques, really good work can be undetectable, but it takes time and patience and knowledge nobody's going to do that for an engine like this...8-D