MJ Engineering Burrell 2″ – tips requested

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

I'm about to start work on an MJ Engineering 2" Burrell Gold Medal Traction engine (Compound). The drawings look excellent so far, but is anyone aware of any gotchas, errors or issues I might encounter please?

I would describe my skillset as amateur with a bit of experience but still very much a novice. I've finished a locomotive in the past (3.5" gauge which someone else had done around half the work on), but it was very much a novice effort (which I am constantly refining as my skills improve). I've an ML7 and SX2.7L to build it upon.

Many thanks

Jon

Jon

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Male sure you order any parts and castings well in advance of when you may want them as Alan sometimes has a bit of a long lead in time.

[brickyParticipant @bricky]

Hi John,

A lovely engine to build with lots of small parts to make.I built mine over 29 years as family and work intervened over this time.When I was younger I wished that I had gone for a 3" engine but now I am pleased I didn't as this engine at around 90lb is enough to hump into the boot of a car.I have a wooden former for the tender if it is of use to you it's yours.The only thing that the ML7 can't handle is the rims of the back wheels ,but with the mill and a rotary table you can true them on it.I bought an old ward 2A just to do my wheels and sold it to a factory afterwards a nice machine but with a 5 horse single phase motor to quick on the clutch and the whole house was out ,I was pleased to get rid of it.Constructing the boiler can be an interesting task.On completion of the boiler I did a hydraulic test and it held fine and then the creaking began and My son who was 5 at the time said I can't pump it any more,it was at 300psi.

Frank

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

Brilliant advice, thank you very much. Frank that's a fantastic offer, many thanks. Where are you located roughly?

[brickyParticipant @bricky]

Jon,

I will post it to you unless you live near Grantham Linc,s PM with your details .I built the single cylinder version as at the time I thought it would speed up the work.I bought all of the materials for the whole engine from the original suppliers and designers in Ringwood for around 400gbp.

Frank

[brickyParticipant @bricky]

Jon I forgot to mention that the engines were serialised in the Engineering in Minature magazine starting in June 81 to January 87 and the construction was described in detail ,a real help for the construction.Try and get hold of these magazines.

Frank

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The booklet that MJ Eng sell is basically a reprint of the mag article, certainly is for the Fowler.

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

I'm lucky enough to have been supplied with the booklet and its going to be a great help I think. One thing I notice about the drawings is that they show a decent number of amendments which leads me to suspect the author has kept on top of errors, which is fantastic compared to some of the old drawings I've worked to, and the complete opposite of what I used to see on aircraft!

Bricky/Frank, that is a superb offer, many thanks. Let me know via Private Message what you would like in return and what the postage costs are likely to be and I will make sure you are compensated.

Thanks to all who have assisted. I'm really looking forward to getting my teeth into it (while trying to make sure I maintain momentum with everything else!).

Jon.

[NR67Participant @nr67]

Jon, Ive pondered which 2” traction engine to start for some time. In another thread contributors have helped me look at the pros and cons of the Durham and North Yorkshire and the Fowler A7. The Burrell is now a contender too. The decision has to be based on so many criteria. My abilities, the machine tools I have (similar to yours) the help I can get for gear cutting and machining of any oversize parts. Add to that the availability of castings. How is your build progressing and how is MJ helping.

[Graham Williams 12Participant @grahamwilliams12]

Hi Jon

I have just started this engine – great to see someone else already building the 2” Burrell. How’s the progress?

and bricky/Frank who has completed an engine.
My drawings are old (not sure how old?) so I hope you don’t mind if from time to time I ask if something may have been changed on later drawings? give each other some help…

Graham

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