    





    THE mETHR0E CRmE ~T'S R CRS'
    
                                           As part of its continuing coverage of the energy   velve to do so. They use a wrench to turn the velve
                                           crisis, TAP presents part 2- Free Gas. In most places,  so that the hole on the ~ipe and the moving hc~le on the
                                           t~e local power comp~Zny also supplies the gas, thus    velve handle line up. Then they put a lock~usually a
                                           they strangle people with two hands. As usual, we do not     rollersmith lock-see Issue 23) or a seal ttrcugh the
                                           advocate following the simple money-saving techniques   two holes. When the valve handle is pointing in the
                                           outlined here, as they are reprocluced for informational     direction of the pipe the gas is on. Turn the handle
                                           purposes an~Z to follow them would be illegal, though   with a wrench so the holes line up. Take a bigger pipe
                                           extremely difficult to be caught doing. Manylof the tips     wrench ancl loosen the big nuts tbat connect the input
                                           are valid for electric meters, too, so keep that in mind.    and output pipes to the top of the meter. Then turn
                                           Most co=Zon gas meters tociay work on the bellows  them by hand, ho}ding the meter so it doesn't fall when
                                           principle,i.e.- a gas bag' usually made of leather, is  it comes off. Now turn the meter around so the c!Zials
                                           focced to"breather like a lung wYZen gas flows through  face the opposite direction that they did before, and
                                           it. A metal rod connected to the bag pushes the whaels  the gas is going backwards thraugh the meter. Tighten
                                           which turn the clials of the meter, which displays the  the riats by hand while pushing up on the meter. Make
                                           amount of cubic feet of gas which has passed thraugh    sure they are turning smoottly and properly, strsight
                                           the ~eter. This meter is comnZon for houses and apart-  onto the meter. Then tighten them snugly,(but not as
                                           ments because it is aceurate with small flows, such as  tight as possible, or you may strip the threadi7-with
                                           in pilot lights in stoves and heaters. Since pilot the big wrench. As you use gas the meter will run~in
                                           lights use up 1/3 of the average gas bill, the power    raverse, un~ess it has a ratchet mechanism to prevent
                                           ccipany wants to be sure to get it registered properly. it. At the very least the meter wanlt move, thus-Free
                                           To be a Gas Raider one must follow these important Gas! Check for leaks as shown in the safety section.
                                           rules:First,before doing anyching, write down the cond-
                                           itions .hat youtre starting with and the situation tbst
                                           you w~l] end up with. Second,do not allow the power co.
                                           to beco~e suspiciaus. Finally, and most importa~ , use
                                           a'r safety precautions, bar none' A careless Ra ~r is
                                           a dead Raicier'
                                           The first dtsp is to make notes on the before and
                                           after situations. This is important because even scas-
                                           oned professional Raiders con easily forget where a par-
                                           ticular screw came from, or whether the washers were
                                           under the frame or over the frame, etc. And by knowing
                                           in advance what changes you're going to make, it will
                                           be easier to see what notes youtll have to make on the
                                           "before" situation. Some thin~s you'll have to '~atch
                                           are in the next step,below.
                                           Second~you must keep a grip on your security by nct
                                           leaving tell-tale signs. Here's how:
                                           1- Don't cut down your gas bill to nothing overnight.
                                           The power company knows how much you use and if the
                                           computer notices a sharp dip in your bills they'll ask
                                           you why. Saying that you7ve been on vacation helps, but
                                           i.'s best to cut down gradually. Remember, greed is the
                                           power company's downfall. Don't let it be yours.
                                           2- Check old bills and use them as a guide. Figure out
                                           your usage in cubic feet and youtll know how much to
                                           cut down your reading by. The bills also tell the date
                                           tbet the meter reader comes by, another goob thing to
                                           know.
                                           3- Some meters are clean, but most are illchy. The face
                                           of tt~e dials are usually unsmudged. ~rite down the ap-
                                           pearance of vour meter before you touch it, and make
                                           sure it looRs exactly the same when you're done. This
                                           is ab,olutely imperative. If youtre lazy, plan on get-
                                           ~ing caug}Zt. Gas Ralding is a precision art, requlring
                                           patience and finesse.
                                           4- Use proper tools. Without a big enough pipe wrench
                                           you may scratch the pipe and/or the bolts enough to be
                                           r.oticeable.
                                           5- Seals are orten used on meters. You may be able to
                                           use a technique that doesntt require breaking the seal.
                                           You may be able to break the seal and put it back look-
                                           ing uncut, but it's not too easy. You cen often get a
                                           scal and a sealing tool from a friend in the company,
                                           from a friendly employce who needs a few bucks, or ~y
                                           getting a job yourself for a ~onth and ripping off a
                                           few hundred tho;Jsand. Sometimes ~,eters are bolted on,
                                           and the threads on the bolts or ruts have a sealer-type
                                           glue. 5et a bit of the stuff and be sure it looks the
                                           same wLen applied (and dried). If you have to break a
                                           scal tbat ycu can~t replace, wait at least 8 months
                                           before touching the meter agein, because they may be
                                           suspicious and waiting. Waiting is also important to
                                           see if they put a new seal on. If they don 't, then they
                                           }ust don ~t care and you're in business again.
    
                       REVERSJNG METER
    
     This is the easiest mernoa of rewinding your meter.
    Fir,st, turn off the valve tbat supplies gas to the
    meter. When the power co. cuts you off, it uses this
    
    VA L
    CLCS
    (points
    ~ ~ 1
    
    VALVE
    OPEN
    
                                       (points
                                         up)
    
    ,,~
    P1PE
    VA LV
    ~ ~,
    
    ~ LOC~E N
    
    BE FORE
    
                                         ~J
    
                                          /
    
    BACK
    OF
    METER
    
                     AETrER
    BLOWING BACK METER
    
    This ingenious method requires a vacuum clear.er. Tn
    
    ~a~
    
                                       VACWM T
                                     C LEA NER |
    
   1 ~
    W<:
    
    METER
    
    lz49

    





    {~Ä
    
    