Model Tractor

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

Progress on the tractor is ticking over at a steady pace and this week saw the crankshaft finished and fitted with the main bronze bearings. Photo in the album. Today I have just finished the oil pump that works off a cam on the inlet camshaft. The connecting rods are being laser cut to profile from an alloy steel and will be machined and fitted with bronze bearings at both ends. Also completed some underside details. Also took some time out of the workshop today and went for a ride on the bike (Kawasaki W650) .

Edited By JasonB on 25/05/2014 12:37:34

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Georges very fine model, for those who haven't visited his albums:

Neil

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

Today I made and fitted the cams to the tractor engine. These cams are individual items that are pinned to the shaft. The photo shows a cam on the test jig. The jig is used to check the lift and the rise and fall cam angle. This afternoon I hope to make the cam followers and collect the con rods from the laser cutter. The engine is beginning to gather momentum and although the end is still some way off at least it is in view!

George.

 

Edited By JasonB on 25/05/2014 12:33:10

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

Thanks Neil for the comments on my 3" scale model tractor. Still making steady progress and now have to detail the engine. It has taken a while to work out how the induction and exhaust systems actually work as some of the exhaust gasses pass through a pipe and are used to preheat in inlet side of the manifold. On the full size tractor this helped to vaporise the kero fuel after it had been started on petrol. Many small parts yet to be made but all good fun.

George.

[StovepipeParticipant @stovepipe]

I wonder how many of us would have George's patience – take photos, measure up in unbelievable detail, do castings, AND then the machining ?

A great compliment to his abilities. Well done, sir !

Dennis

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

Having had a good couple of days in the workshop "we" decided it would be a good idea to take some time off and have a picnic up in the mountains – part of the Great Divide. Drove 120 Klms inland to the old mining town of Mount Perry. Great weather, great views and a great day. Back in the shed tomorrow finishing the tappets for the tractor.

As regards to the bees , a friend of mine lost 106 of 130 hives in last years floods in Queensland. The water came up so quick that the bees drowned.

George.

 

Edited By JasonB on 25/05/2014 12:31:28

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

As there were a lot of single-posting threads and a couple of very short exchanges on George's  build, I have gathered them together into this thread.

I hope George will continue to add to this thread to update us on this fine model.

Neil

 

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2014 11:31:51

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I was thinking of doing the same. Only thing now is to add the photos that went with each new thread which is how George has been posting them, can you remember what went where.

J

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Moving the threads was stretching my capabilities, I see you've managed to find some of them.

If anyone wants to see the full set they are all in George's album HERE

Neil

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

1. This week I have made and fitted the cone clutch. The flywheel,clutch plate and the pulley are all made from cast iron and the contact faces of the clutch have yet to be faced with friction material. I intend to try cork but have the option of the type of material used in car clutches as an option. The clutch is attached to the pulley and as pressure is applied to the clutch pedal and a series of levers, pressure pads push the pulley out causing the clutch to disengage. The clutch will be very much "on" or "off" as there is very little movement between engage or disengage. There is still some machining to be carried out on the pulley. The bracket on the side of the frame is fabricated and made from eight pieces of steel silver soldered together!
2. George.
4. 

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hello Fred,

Looks smashing,

You've clearly mastered both metalworking AND the forums now!

Neil

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

I have now reached the stage of making all the small details relating to the governor,carburettor and ignition system. The magneto is a "dummy" as it houses the Hall effect transistor and trigger mechanism. The aluminium part on the vertical shaft has now been replaced with a distributor that has been made from an insulating material. It is difficult to scale the sparks as they are prone to jump to the nearest metallic part! The link from the governor to the throttle still has to be made. The longer of the two levers controls the advance / retard and the other is attached to the governor/ throttle.

George. P

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

That is looking wonderful

MichaelG.

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

The model has now been painted with the exception of the engine as this will be dealt with as a separate unit. It's a bit demoralising when one has to take a model apart to clean and paint each of the many parts! I used an etch primer and then had the green and red paints mixed to match the colour in the photographs. The paint proved to be the most costly part of the model but having spent that amount of time on construction it was worth it. The engine still requires piston rings to be made and then it will be stripped, washed and reassembled with all the timing set. I do expect there will be some teething problems and I am a little concerned that the compression will be low ( due to the shape of the combustion chamber). After about three years I am looking forward to finishing the model.

George.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> I am looking forward to finishing the model.

And so am I, it's something really special.

I was speaking to my Dad this morning, and he praised one of my models. I told him he should have seen how good it looked before I painted it!

I am eternally searching for a prototype that isn't painted, perhaps that's why motorcycle engines are so popular.

Neil

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

It's surprising what a coat of paint does to a model! Only a few small bits to make and then have to "time" the cam shafts and ignition on the engine. With a bit of luck the engine should be going in the not too distant future and when it does the video camera will be at the ready to record the moment. It's taken about three years of work, drawn over 260 sheets of drawings and had a great time doing it. Next model will probably be the 67 cc "V" 8 which I started some time ago – did the main castings but then managed to get side tracked on the tractor.

George.

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

I am now in the process of going through all the drawings of the tractor, not an easy process as I have to find all the files in the CAD system. Must remember next time to be more organised! It's quite surprising just how many parts and drawings there are but I do need to do this as I feel it completes the project and becomes part of the history and provenance of the model . I am also preparing a write up to go with the plans. Well that's it folks .

Regards,

George.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Absolutely stunning work

Thanks for showing us.

MichaelG.

[Four stroke FredParticipant @fourstrokefred]

Thanks Michael, all I need to do now is win Lotto and the I can bring it over to the ME exhibition, but until then I will just plod away in the workshop and that can't be bad !

George.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Diane!

I want to see this one in ME!

Neil

[Diane CarneyModerator @dianecarney30678]

Your wish is my command

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Took your time

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Good things come to those who wait

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

George, your tractor (in full scale) came up on the local Canterbury TV tonight, on the local motoring, and machinery show "Low Gear".

Ian S C

[Author]

Posts