Member postings for Pete Berry

Problem solved. I balanced the crankshaft as per E Westbury,s instructions in his book "Model petrol engines" I had to increase the size of the balance weight which now have a radius of 3 inches. The engine now runs much smoother without jumping around.

Hi Michael your engine certainly runs smoother than mine , I have some ballist in the base but I still have to hold in down. I think I will try an ally piston.

Thanks Kevin I will give it a try.

I have recently completed building a CENTAUR ENGINE. It starts and runs well but it does jump about quite a bit.Not sure if the balance would be improved if I used an aluminium piston instead of the cast iron one. I would be interested to hear how other people's engine perform?

Hi Chris good to see another model engineer from Somerset. I live in west Somerset but don't know any others in the area. I build mainly stationary engines of all types.

Regards

Pete

Hi John I might be late in replying to this post but I have just replaced the belt on my Little John lathe.

After a lot of searching I contacted George Lodge and Sons Ltd 01482 329553 and spoke to Dave Fuller, he was very helpful full. The original belt was apparently made for Raglan and looked like a wide Vee belt the dimmention are outside circumference 31.5 inches x 7/8 x3/8 thick the replacement is VSB 22 x 8 x 725. £33_00 However if the motor and mount is non standard be carefull that the motor spindel center is as per handbook. Although l have my had my lathe for 40 years I noticed that the belt was rubbing on the operating forks at certain speeds. The motor was to low and I made a modified mounting plate and spacer so I used a longer belt VSB 22 x 8 x 725.this solved the problem and the lathe runs very well. I also had to modif the motor operating fork. The speed range 1500 rpm to 300 rpm but this is proberly be cause the motor pulley was missing when I first obtain the lathe and I made my own but did not have access to any dimensions. If you require any more info let me know.

Regards Pete

Needed to replace the variable speed drive belt on my raglan little john lathe. Found a replacement on the web at a cost of £70-00. I don't like to be ripped off so started contacting various suppliers to no avail, either they did not come back with answers or were unhelpful. I finally contacted George Lodge & sons ltd and talked to Dave Fuller who was most helpfully and obviously new his stuff! And was able to supply the correct belt (VSB 22 x 8 x 725) @ £33-00

Belt now fitted and running well. It's nice when someone takes the trouble to help.

Success! Thanks all, don't know what I was doing wrong but this time I think I have done it.

I am trying to create an album but do not seem to be able to upload a photo.

Hence 2 albums 0 photos! Any one know what I'm doing wrong? Dont have much hair cant afford to pull any more out.

Hi Ian, I will resort out the info next week.

Hi Bob, I built lady Stephen some years ago and thought some part are like watch making. I did not think much of thr beam casting and fabricated one from mild steel.

Go luck with your build.

Regards Pete

I have used a washing machine motor to provide a variable speed drive for my milling machine. I designed a back gear gear box which can be interchanged with the original induction motor. I built a new control board from an article in M E or NEW some years ago. Most of these motor have a tacho which will increase motor torque to maintain motor speed under load. If you interrested I can find the artical when I return home next week.

Regards Pete

Hi Alan

Yes mine runs well and starts easy, I'm using coil ignition. Just a tip fit a non return valve in the fuel line (just a simple ball returning by gravity). I'm having a problem up loading photos but hope to in future.

Regards

Pete

Looks good so far. I have just finish mine and have had it running on propane and petrol. I found that the carb spring needed to be a little stronger than the write up suggested!

Regards

Pete Berry

As John says I would just try replacing the caps as it would be difficult to test them without test se

t

Hi Dennis, have you checked the capacitor. Or capacitors if it is capacitor start capacitor run ?

Really annoying to find that mex will be bi annual. I wonder what the real reason is for this. I have have wounderd about the cost of some of the venues chosen for the event and the cost for suppliers stands etc in resent years. I wound not mind if it is held in a tent as it is the event that is important, a chance the meet friends and purchase items and materials and view the excellent work of other model engineers.

Pete

Hi Brian,

I think I will use the pi divided by 2 method you suggest as this would be the best setup for me with the limited change wheels I have. I did think of using a worm of 4 mm pitch but the I think the error over 60 revolutions would be to great.

I am using a 60:1 ratio as I built a small dividing head years ago using a gear box from an old ICL line printer and I should be able to use the division plates I made for that.

As I am away from my workshop this week I cant try thinks out until next week!

Regard s

Pete.

Hi John,

Thanks also for the info.

Regards

Pete.

Hi Brian,

Thanks very much for the info I will put it to use as soon as poss. Its for the construction of a 60:1 dividing head.

Regards

Pete.