Member postings for Chris Evans 6

Welcome along Tony, I am sure that someone on here will be able to identify your machine. Unless it is really obscure. Good luck uploading an image.

Nearly always, rear post 40mm EN1A diameter 800RPM feed 0.05/rev works well if the lube is plentiful. Nervy pussying around is a disaster.

I used Diaform in my mould making time but they where getting little use by the end of the 70s. We switched over to "Optidress" from a company called Precision Grinding. With skill/care and practice we coul form the wheels without making the templates required for "Diaform" a boon where most jobs where one off's.

This thread stirred my memory and made me rummage through my toolbox. As stated before I use a Mitutoyo DTI but I do have a cheap Chinese ? DTI and remember now buying it as a back up in case I ever need it. I seem to recall it was sub £20 and good to know I always have something to work with. On inspection it looks like a Mercer and appears to work well. My DTIs used in my working life all had carbide fingers to counteract magnetism rather than for wear resistance, not required for home use.

Welcome along Thomas. My motorcycle tinkering requires a slightly bigger lathe and mill than the average model maker needs. My advice is don't rush into buying anything until you gain a bit of an idea on the size of parts you may work on. Where are you based ? if someone is fairly local you may be able to arrange a visit to look at machinery.

In my working life as a toolmaker I had 4 or 5 lever type DTI giving an average life of 12 years. Most died from clumsy operator error. Most where "Mercer 301" models and finally a Mitutoyo that I still use in my retirement workshop. I did have a Kennedy at some point that appeared to be a rebadged Mercer.

Welcome along Phil from another motorcycle tinkerer. I have been helping a friend build a Triton for over 12 years, I must have made everything at least three times for him. Three sets of fork yolks so far ! He keeps changing his mind on what direction the build is going. Enjoyable work but it means my pre-war projects get pushed back. Where in the world are you ?

Welcome along John. I am a motorcycle tinkerer rather than a model maker but this forum is a goldmine of experience and knowledge.

Chris

I spent my working life as a toolmaker. Probably half in imperial and half in metric based units as things changed over. I have no prefference until it comes to reading a depth micrometer. Instant with an imperial instrument but stop and look twice with a metric instrument. Nothing wrong with the measuring tool just my comfort zone.

Edited By Chris Evans 6 on 03/03/2023 20:03:08

Somewhere I have a lot of data sheets for Loctite products picked up at a trade show many years ago. However my go to is an old Arc Eurotrade catalogue giving cross reference lists. So much easier on the pocket for cost and seem to last well over the given shelf life.

I tend to make my tappet adjusters from silver steel and simply harden with a blow torch. Works for me but the old Sloper only does around 300 miles a year.

I have worked a few Alexander and Deckle machines over the years but don't recall any with a riser block. Most of the machines I used where copy milling machines so maybe not a relevant answer.

I posted a long time ago re windows 11 making my pc very slow and hit and miss when in use. Yesterday my computer became unuseable and started to update. It took over 8 hours ! I must try and get someone to rid the machine of windows etc and get some stability. Just another example of old people getting left behind ?

On my Slopers I use spray grease before every ride. The modern bike (1932) has a crankcase pressure fed oil mist feed to the inlet valve only, the older bike does not have the feed. My theory as to why the inlet valve is to maybe counter fuel wash ?

When I was purchasing tool steels for plastic moulds I had a chart cross referencing various companies brand names to a DIN standard. I will look t see if I still have the chart, though it is doubtful.

I run my BSA Sloper's with exposed valve gear and 0.004"/0.005" stem to guide clearance, guides are cast iron made by me.

I once had a BSA M20 sidevalve that needed 0.010" clearance on the exhaust valve to stop sticking.

I have found that providing a DXF file to the laser cutter really brings the price down as does a personal visit.

I read the book a while ago, really good read.

I have been a very regular visitor to Northern Ireland for the last 50+ years and enjoyed the pure roads racing. A few years ago at the Ulster GP racing was stopped when a spectator tried to take a "Selfie" and a rider went down. No one can allow for stupid.