Member postings for GarryC

Thanks very much for all the encouragement everyone - and the advice provided already. I know I'm going to need all the help I can get - must say it feels great to be up and running again.

Some of the drawings look a bit frightening right now - I can remember feeling the same when I started Victoria but this looks like a very big step up. Having said that though its exactly what I need to keep the learning process going forward, Victoria was a great introduction I think - the No.1 parts look huge in comparison, and real size nuts and bolts, all of which is great!

Cheers all.

Allan.

ps. I'll try not to be so tidy in future - leading me astray you lot are!

Edited By Allan. on 09/04/2014 19:36:20

Back again I'm afraid, this time to have a go at my second project - a Stuart No.1 Steam Engine - following completion of the Stuart 'Victoria', which I enjoyed immensely.

I believe the 'No.1' was the first model built and sold by Mr Stuart Turner over 110 years ago, sometime during the 1890's - which appeals to my sense of history and add's something for me to the project. It's a fair sized and heavy model and when on a small base should stand about 15 inches high. 'Victoria took about 9 months to complete, the No.1 has much more to it and I can see lots that I'm no doubt going to struggle with - its going to take much longer....

I don't know how much interest there will be for this on here and I wasn't sure to try and put the whole build up again or just to ask questions when in difficulty, I certainly picked up lots of tips and advice by putting all of 'Victoria' on and so I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope to do the same again with this one - another 'learner project' for me - I would imagine it will only be beginners like myself who may like to follow it and with this in mind I'll try to include as much as possible...

Thought I should mention that I had a very nice telephone call from 'Tracey Tools' yesterday, I had placed an order for some bits and pieces that I will need for the No.1 and this to say that I had ordered 1/4 inch BSF taps and also 1/4 26tpi BSB (British Standard Brass) taps and that they were the same - did I know and would I like a £12 refund - great service and their goods always turn up next day. Needless to say I didn't know the threads were the same.

I'm still with my old iPhone for photo's at the moment I'm afraid - its refusing to die.....

I've made a small start with the Box Bed......

The Stuart No.1 box arrives.

The Box Bed Drawing.

The Box Bed as supplied - little filling needed in order to get going.

Milling the Box Bed bottom flat.

Milling the top of the Box Bed.

The Box Bed after milling.

Drilling the fixing holes in the Box Bed. There were indentations for these on Victoria's base but had to be marked out on the No.1.

The Box Bed so far.

The holes for tapping will need to be 'spotted through from the Sole Plate...

Regards.

Allan.

Edited By Allan. on 09/04/2014 13:21:54

Edited By JasonB on 22/08/2017 11:10:05

Edited By JasonB on 22/08/2017 11:11:16

Thanks Jason.

Hi

I'm ordering some bits and pieces that I'll need for the Stuart No. 1 and includes 2 taps I don't have - 1/4 x 26tpi and 3/8 x 26tpi can anyone please confirm if these are BSB (British Standard Brass) threads? The only other 26tpi taps I have found are 'Cycle Threads'?

and just one other question to confirm that a 1/4 BSF tap is 26tpi - that is to say there are not any other options for this. Drawing says 'tap 1/4 BSF'..

Thanks very much if anyone can advise.

Cheers.

Allan.

Stuart No. 1 has finally arrived, some delay at the foundry apparently so it took a while longer than expected. Hope to have a good look through the drawings etc over the weekend and make a start (and a new thread on here) next week. There is some serious weight in the parcel, two handed job to lift it so I hope my lightweight / budget kit will be up to it..

Hoping some of you may like to follow and contribute with help / advice again...

Cheers.

Allan.

Damn missed that, sounds like it was all about a bit before my time though - my main biking days were in the 70's and 80's, great times, but also again the past few years... Things have changed a lot, most of the current biking generation I have met don't seem to want to ride further than the first burger van and only if there are no clouds in the sky, great shame, bikes seem to be little more than a fashion accessory to some these days, my wife is very impressed with all the colour coordination, it was all frilly leathers and jeans in my day..... I'd better stop there..

Big wave though to any old lads from the 70's and 80's...

Cheers

Allan.

Hi David

My Lathe was about 125kg I think and I used a 1 Ton Engine Crane but I would say its much easier, especially if like me you are going to do it on your own, to use a load leveller. I used this one **LINK** It's would have been better if it had been longer I think but much better than trying it without..

Its a shame that they don't seem to fit small lathes with lifting rings I think..

You need a decent height clearance above for the crane and a bench / table that doesn't foul the legs on the crane..

Cheers

Allan

Hi Jim

There are some great country roads around here for when you get it on the road - and plenty of tea and model engineering chat here anytime! Used to be into sports cars myself and have had some great (and very fast, although I guess its frowned upon these days to say that) models over the years, used to go watch most of the big rallies hereabouts in South Wales, always the old RAC at some point and even tried a few 12 cars etc years ago. Spent a lot of time and covered many miles on two wheels as well.

Its a pity the forum doesn’t have a ‘location map’ to see where everyone is, maybe also a kind of mugshot gallery to put faces to names would be good as well.. Always a big welcome for anyone here.

Hope you may like to follow my next build as well, waiting patiently for the drawings etc to arrive..

Cheers and thanks..

Allan.

Hi Tony

Don't let the moronic politicians[of all parties] grind you down!

Completely agree with the sentiment, but very much easier said than done when you have seen the results the politicians have caused up close. The country would have been better keeping the factories and manufacturing industry, developing it sensibly with some intelligence and getting rid of the politicians - skillless useless parasites in my view the lot of them and I won't mention the bankers less I'll likely get banned from here with the language needed... There are many scars here in the South Wales Valleys that still run very deep and will for a long time yet to come I think..

Allan.

I won't disagree with whats being posted so far other than to make two points.

1. In comparison to the levels of manufacturing that we used to do in this country we are barely on the same scale now. That has enormous ramifications still for many families today, my own included.

2. Yes things have moved on, nobody can stop progress of course - but we could have moved on and treated the workforce that helped to build this country with much more respect and dignity. We treat 'newcomers' to this country now far better than we have treated our own... and thats an understatement - but a fact that cannot be disputed.

I dont see many newcomers asking for the right to work being charged down by police swinging batons and fists..

I used to be proud to be british - not any more and not for a long time.

Cheers.

Allan.

Edited By Allan. on 18/03/2014 14:25:45

Hi Geoff

I'm afraid the answer is yes to that, very very sad indeed. I dread to think what many of the skilled generation who used such equipment and are still at work are doing for employment today, they were completely betrayed by this country - to put it politely.

Many many many of todays jobs require no skill or knowledge about anything at all - my opinion anyway. Having a skill when I grew up was respected and valued and contributed to self respect - on many different levels.

Just my two pennies worth..

Cheers.

Allan.

Really nice to hear all the kind words thanks, I'll get the No. 1 ordered on Monday so will be back before too long - seem to remember the Victoria took about a week or so to arrive.

Meantime still be reading on the forum daily I'm sure...

Cheers for now.

Allan.

Edited By Allan. on 14/03/2014 19:57:44

Woops sorry Andrew - I'll sort that now.. and thanks!

Cheers.

Allan.

What a great day, I have the engine running at last and we’ve been able to sit outside in the sun for the first time this year!

With hindsight I should have mentioned the following yesterday, I had intended to but as part of what I hoped would have been a successful trial of the engine then, had I done so regardless I suspect someone would have pointed out a possible problem, especially as I was going to upload a photo of what I had done...

Bear in mind that I have never owned or used a compressor before - when it arrived the screw in air filter was smashed in the box, I had emailed the supplier and had an immediate response saying they would ship another filter straight away, great, can’t ask for more than that of course, so I forgot about it and as a make do to try the engine for a short period I placed the foam filter material loose in front of the air intake with a rubber band. The compressor backfired / misfired twice when I was using it and blew the top off the engine oil cover... I was so concerned in trying to get the engine to run I paid no attention - sorry, I can hear the groans. Anyways I got to thinking about this for some reason early hours this morning and I was remembering Neil saying about how it may not have enough air to get around DC - it slowly dawned on me, off I went to check and sure enough the foam had been sucked down the inlet pipe and was all compressed in there effectively blocking it. So to cut the story short with the foam removed the compressor ran for much longer before auto cutting off and filling the air tank and the pressure level at about 10 bar I think, it was barely on the scale yesterday - this together with the flywheel now spinning with the crankshaft the engine couldn’t wait to get going - and it seems to run very nicely now!

The broken Air Compressor filter, just a bit of plastic and foam.

The Air Compressor with makeshift foam filter - this had almost disappeared down the air intake tube. it is fine now, seems very good in fact and a lot smaller and quieter than I was expecting..

The first sounds of chuff chuff were just brilliant, like it was coming to life, a completely amazing feeling that I don’t think I will forget. I was right in saying that for me just to get it made, assembled and having learnt so much in doing it would have been enough for this 1st project - to have it running as well is just superb. I will be drinking a toast to the little engine tonight, maybe one or two of you will join me..

The link for the video is here **LINK** - apologies for the quality again, I need to look at upgrading my iphone before starting the Stuart no. 1, and please excuse the location, it was done in an old out house (no dust)..

Have a good weekend everyone and as I said before a big big thanks to everyone...

Cheers.

Allan.

ps. I'm going to miss posting on this little thread...been great fun.

Edited By Allan. on 14/03/2014 13:31:14

Success!!!!! Unbelievable, brilliant..!

Will explain and post a video later.....

Cheers.

Allan.

Just an interesting observation, not had chance to try with the compressor again yet - but the simple act of removing the Flywheel Grubscrew and wiping the end and replacing has enabled it to lock Flywheel on the Crankshaft, only temporally though I'm sure, its quite a heavy Flywheel and wow what a surprising difference it makes to the engine turning over, totally smooth now all the way round and it will almost spin completely on its own.... If I were remaking I would definitely do as Jason said and put a flat on the shaft.. The difference in having it locked on the shaft is massive - may be of interest to other first time builders not only of this engine..

Cheers.

Allan.

Thanks Neil, I'll have another fiddle with it..

Thanks Martin, best of luck with yours!

Hi Chris and Jason. Yes the Flywheel is not rotating with the crankshaft. The grub screw that came with it for the Flywheel and the only problem I had with the quality of all the supplied bits, was poor - I ordered some new but still cant tighten enough to get the Flywheel to lock on the shaft. Its not helped by the fact that there is an oil cup into the Crankshaft bearing right next to it - so there is oil being fed almost directly to the grub screw location on the shaft...

I am puzzled by the fact that the stroke that is working from TDC to BDC is very strong indeed, too strong to hold back by hand I think - yet the push needed to come round BDC back towards TDC by hand is very very slight, right up to TDC...

Cheers

Allan.

Thanks Jason, I think you should be able to see the video now - its only a few seconds long...

Cheers

Allan.

Unfortunately haven't been able to get the engine to run - must have got something fundamentally wrong along the way somewhere I think. At a guess I would say the ports, I had no idea at the time I was cleaning them up how they worked and may have enlarged them too much perhaps. Also I'm not quite sure if the valve rod grub screw on the wristpin is doing its job as it seems to slip often. It was suggested in the thread that this is better pinned, have to agree totally with that, essential i think, but also the Flywheel and Pulley Wheel as well would be a good idea or maybe an indentation for the grub screws to sit in making take apart easier etc.. The grub screws on their own seem totally inadequate, to me anyway.. Initially I was getting 'one stroke' from TDC to BDC then there was pressure coming from both ways locking the piston at BDC. After adjusting the timing again the engine seemed to want to go and almost took my fingers off once - seems a lot of power coming from something so small somewhere there! Now as it is it does a stroke from TDC to BDC every time and almost wants to go around and start coming back on the next stroke, needing only a tiny helping hand now but its not quite got enough push to do it going in that direction. So one stroke or is that a half stroke each time is all I can get..... It tuns over very easily by hand I should say when not connected up to the air. The compressor seems great.

I'm not too disappointed though - I knew absolutely nothing when I started and I have got so much out of completing it and have at the end of the day a great looking and sizeable display model which shows the movement nicely when turned over by hand as well. Have learnt an enormous amount from initially knowing nothing and am looking forward to starting the next project now and hope to stand a much better chance of getting that one to run. Maybe I'll come back to Victoria one day when I have more knowledge and experience - I was pleased just to get it made, assembled and increase my knowledge really, all very enjoyable..

A big big thanks to everyone who helped with lots of advice, I am very grateful and enjoyed it immensely - hope its ok if I come back with with questions in doing the Stuart no. 1. That one I will definitely have to stay with until I can get it to run, and looking good this time...

A very short little video, again with my old iPhone so not good quality - trying to get it to run

**LINK**

I guess thats the end of this thread now.

Best Regards to all.

Allan.

Edited By Allan. on 13/03/2014 12:41:09

Sorry to hear that George, I know how I would feel if it happened to me - I'm not allowed in this country anymore to voice my opinions of course... We have a 6 stone Alsation puppy who would have something to say if anyone tried to do it to us though. The Oscillating Engine will be irreplaceable - if it were me I would at least get a decent photo blown up, framed and hung on a wall somewhere... Lets hope whoever took it doesn't hurt themselves using it or you could be in big trouble.

Compared with others I have seen on here I made a pretty poor job of my little oscillating engine but I would hate to loose it, I can remember fondly lessons learned every time I look at it...Cheers and thanks for the advice.

Allan.