Bits of machinery for eccentric people (6)
I believe the answer is:
cranks
'people' is the definition.
(crank is a kind of person)
'bits of machinery for eccentric' is the wordplay.
'bits of machinery' becomes 's' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'for' says to put letters next to each other (I've seen this in other clues).
'eccentric' becomes 'crank' (crank is a kind of eccentric).
's' after 'crank' is 'CRANKS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cranks that I've seen before include "People with crazy ideas" , "people irascible in America" , "Drugs" .)