Another Engine Build

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

With the columns finished I assembled some of the parts to see how things were looking, seems to be going together well enough, pleased with it so far.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Turned the steel pulley this morning, I dont know what spec the steel is but remember getting it out of the offcuts bin at a machine shop I visited. Probably the nicest steel to machine that I have had to date, excellent to part off also.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

You must be more than half way now Ron and all looking good.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Hi Jason,

Yes its certainly coming along, I have the valve parts to finish then make the piston, eccentric parts, bearing pedestals and conrod and I will be about there. Really enjoying the build and I have the Jowett to finish of course but thats only a prep and paint and thought I would save that and finish both together.

At this rate I could soon be looking at engine number 4..

Ron

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Have you tried the Jowitt on the new compressor yet?

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Ah you mean my F1 Jowitt Jason.. yes I have and it gets quite a lick on at full pressure, I will see if I can get a bit of video tomorrow. The only problem is it will have to be without sound until I get an extension airline to get the compressor out of the shop, noisy is not the word so with the compressor close by the engine would be drowned out.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Not rain stopped play but pain stopped play, somehow managed to pick up an infection in my right foot. Can only hobble around and cant stand on it for more than a couple of minutes so the shop is a no go.

Antibiotics on their way from the Doctor so hopefully full service will be resumed in a few days.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Hope you feel better soon and that will teach you to keep kicking the cat!

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Thanks Jason, just so frustrating I have lots to be getting on with but little I can do sitting down which is all I can manage at the moment.

Hopefully the medication will kick in quickly.

Ron

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Well the antibiotics cleared the infection but I,m still somewhat restricted my foot still has some swelling and I can only stand for about half an hour. There is only so much you can do sitting down so work on the lathe and mill has to be done in stages which is frustrating.

Anyway enough of my woes I took a pic of the parts made so far to give myself some encouragement (hopefully)

[BOB BLACKSHAW 1Participant @bobblackshaw1]

It's all looking good Ron, noted the Stubbs silver steel in the back ground, that jogged my memory and just ordered some Stubbs silver steel but I think it's made under another name.

Your flywheel wheel sets it off, I made one last week on my new rotary table, it took me at least twenty hours, so slow double checking I wasn't making a mistake, everything but came off a 9mm x 500mm x100mm blank, it would have been quicker marking it out than using the table.

Have you found your caliper gauge on the lathe helpful.

Bob

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Well done Bob your flywheel looks good, its something I have thought about making on the R/T but havnt tried as yet.

Yes the caliper gauge works a treat, since fitting it I have seen quite a few ways people have fitted and used one on the lathe. Most of the ones I have seen have been mounted tailstock side of the carriage but I went for the head side, mainly because I thought it easier to watch both the cut and the readout, it did mean making a swarf guard but that is pretty simple.

Looking at your flywheel your table is obviously working well so I guess you are happy with it.

Ron

[BOB BLACKSHAW 1Participant @bobblackshaw1]

I found it's easy to make a mistake especially if you get distracted I don't have the confidence to slot drill from the start, I centre drilled a small mark on a complete 360 deg to check that all lines up. My r/t has a tight spot for a1/3rd of a turn so I going to have a look to see if this can be adjusted.

Bob

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Nicely coming along Bob. Wouldn't worry about mistakes either; if any one tells you they have never made mistakes then they're either a magician or are good with terminological inexactitudes.

George.

[BOB BLACKSHAW 1Participant @bobblackshaw1]

I'm not taking over Ron`s thread here but noticed mechman`s Gerry`s beam engine on the photos, looks great hope mine comes out as well. That's me finished on this.

Bob

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Well back on the ranch, I honed the cylinder this morning and made the piston and rod. I fitted the O ring, a drop of oil and it seems to be a nice fit, should run OK.

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Looks good Ron,

I like the way you have fitted the piston, never seen that before.

Assume you threaded the end of the rod and through the piston and the nut is a lock nut.

I just threaded mine tightened it but it still came loose!!!!!

Your method noted for future engine

Geoff

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

……..and them o rings are great, good compression.

Tricky to fit but worth the effort

Geoff

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Hi Geoff, not my idea re fitting the piston to the rod it's as per Jason's drawings and build notes, seems a good idea to me though.

Ron

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

So good to have the lathe back up and running so made a start on the conrod, going with brass.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Jason could I get away with cast iron for the eccentric strap, I don't have any brass large enough. I understand C/I is a good bearing material so wondered if it would work OK in this application..? if not I can get some brass in.

Ron

Edited By Ron Laden on 11/07/2020 08:50:26

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

That will work OK, I've done several larger engines with them in CI

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Conrod finished, well apart from a clean and polish. It maybe small but surprising how much work there is, all went ok apart from turning the waste on the bearing. My mistake so had to increase the width to salvage it but I think it looks ok.

Eccentric and eccentric band next.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Posted by JasonB on 11/07/2020 10:01:21:

That will work OK, I've done several larger engines with them in CI

Morning Jason, going with C/I for the strap do you think 2.0 mm wall thickness will be ok or should I increase it to 3.00 mm. It was just a thought but if there is no need then that's fine.

Ron

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

2mm will be OK in operation, it's not something you want to hold too tightly in a vice or lathe chuck though so you may want to go up a but in thickness..

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