Member postings for bricky

Thank all of you for your replies and after seeing Michael's solution I am going with his idea.I did think of doing it like this but didn't think the fuel would reach the cylinder but it oviously does thanks michael for showing such a superb example of this engine.

Frank

Some years ago I built the Centaur engine but have have not got it to run.I have good compresion and I think that the valves are good.I think the carbureter is at fault with my mistakes in construction.I have started to make a new one from bar stock and as I can't form a 90 Degree bend as the original casting I wondered if ther are any problems with drilling two holes at 90Degrees to form an exaust in the carbureter,my concern is the sharp change of direction for the exhaust gasses.

Frank

I started my reifler regulator 42 years ago and when finished I set it aside and built other things. This past week I started to make small parts better.I started it after an hour of trying and it ran for 5 hours before stopping.I knew it wasn't quite in beat and have just made an adjustment and restarted it.The pendulum weighs 30lbs and the weight driving the train is 1.5lbs, this flexes the suspension spring which is 5 th of shim steel which gives the pendulum 2 degrees of arc.Fingers crossed it is running in the morning.

Steve, could you not make your own cutters from broken centre drills or silver steel hardened after shaping,and fly cut the wheels and pinions.I have made two regulators and have fly cut all the gears this way.Best of luck with your clock.

Frank

when working on an extention I damaged a gas pipe under the kitchen floor .After repairing the pipe and relaying the floor the extention was completed.The gas board checked the meter before this and it was according to them sound.We ran an external gas pipe to a new gas fire arounnd the bungalow.The annual check from the gas board plugged off the meter as there was a gas leak, I chopped up the floor and the joint that was repaired was found to be sound.The gas fitter I had used then set about blanking off all our new pipework at the meter and shut everything off,but the meter was running this proved there was a leak under the floor and no one had smelt gas.The gas board clearly had not been doing their original test properly.We then blanked off the pipe under the floor and ran new external pipework to the rest of the bungalow.The meter was no longer running, So a leak is possible under the floor without you knowing.

Frank

I did not want or need a shaper but I could not throw it in the scrap bin.I have made tentitive cuts but confidence is growing and I am up to 1/16" depth of cut I am experimenting to see what cut it will stand.I agree with Chris it is addictive.

Frank

having completed the shaper based on the potanuck shaper I thought I would show the image.I aquired the shaper from my deceased friend.He was an agricultural engineer and his fabrication of the base was spot on.He had completed the ram but not accurately as I had to bore the head of the ram and make and fit a bush. The ram ran on a base with two 1" inserts of brass which acted as gib strips ,gib screws from underneath.This I found wrong and changed it to a dovetail base and cut dovetails on the ram which was just possible on my mill.He had made the scotch crank but without the gear and pinion and was relying on pulleys for the drive.As I could not get the shaper box on the mill to cut out for the pinion I could not alter this and I built a housing with ball bearings to carry the pinion and pullys.The small gear and large gear came off a Drummond.The cross rail had a 12mm threaded rod wich I scrapped ,I bought a acme tap for a 5/8" threaded rod and then fitted the nut which I screwed to the base of the table.This runs on two strips with dovetails which again only just fitted on the mill.I then cut two dovetailed lengths to screw to the the base of the table,drilled and tapped for gib strip.He had built the knee but it didn't fit so I adjusted it accordingly.I fitted vertical dovetail to face and made two dovetails that fixed to the knee.I made a jacking screw for the knee with capstan handles.I found that the strips the table runs on were slightly bowed upwards,I think from clamping when cutting the dovetails.Many hours of scraping was required to right this problem .Making the spring ratchet box was a nice change from scraping with gear cutting for the ratchet.The counter shaft I fabricated .I used the shaper to true the table and it gives a 6" length of cut.I then built a low level vice attached with T nuts with a loose jaw which can be clamped tight down to prevent lifting.I think he would have been pleased to see it running as was I.I have used it to true a 4" block and was pleased with the result.On with the next project.

As I have always got up early, I go into the workshop at 6 and use the machines on economy 7 until 8 it's surprising how much work can be achieved with 2 hrs uninterupted.The reason why I don't have a smart meter is that you have to pay by direct debit and the cost sometimes is more than I have in my current account by the end of the month.When I get the bill now I can transfer money to my current account as I do have other direct debits that need meeting too and a smart meter would catch me out.I think a lot of smart meter holders will be in for a shock.

Frank

In addition to the previous post there are a lot of toolpost chasers 13 tenths " stamped ESC13 TPI USS CS The 50 on the previous post has SAE stamped on.

Frank

I have aquired three buckets of hand chaser from WW2 with stamps of USS SAE Their are heaps of 1mm external/5mm internal and the following sizes 20/26/38/50 external and 48 internal.has anyone any idea what thiese were used for.

Frank

In Grantham Lincolnshire it is 37 at the moment,yesterday it reached 100F today it's on track to pass that.

Frank

I bought all the materials for building the 2" gold medal tractor from the original owners of MJ Engineering and the total cost in 1983 was about 500 quid .I built my own boiler this required a large torch which added to the cost and lots of silver solder.The cost kept rising over the years and with work and family commitments it took 29 years.I wished then that I had built a 3" but at my age a 2" is enough weight to lift into a car.I think Jason's estimate is about right.

Frank

I completed the pootatuck shaper I took over finishing after my friends demise.I have a 1" pulley to 5"on the primery drive a 3/4/5" pulley on the other end of the counter shaft driving the same on the pinion drive which is a 20 tooth gear driving a 100 toothe final drive. This is giving a stroke of 56 per minute is this acceptable,I am using the 3" to 5" pulley on the intermediate drive.This has been a lot of work and the machine is heavy my friend was going to help me move it into it's final position but last night on moving it on the bench it tipped over the edge of the bench.I caught itbut it ripped the skin of my arm otherwise I would have had broken legs .A little trip to the after hours service to get repaired.This made me change my mind about using a friend for lifting as we are both old men,so I stripped it into three lumps the heaviest about 3/4 of a cwt ,I have it back together but I would like advice on the speeds and pulley arrangements I have.I am taking a rest after the lifting.

Frank

O my traction engine a 2" Burrell tractor I used a piece of leather fom a handbag strap.The straps are folded over and sown up. unfolded they are thin and are near scale for this application.

Frank

Clive I have made two engines designed by Brian Rupnow,they work but the first engine I built is the centaur which I can't get to work.I have good compresion and useing a large perspex timing disc I finally noticed the exhaust valve was not staying open long enough and I am going to try a cam with a longer opening time.

Frank

This is a welcome post for me as I have the same problem and have built two working i/c engines while trying to work out what is wrong.I had come to the conclusion that the cam radious is to short and after the next project finishes I am going to make new cams.The explanations given in the posts gives me hope to get it going.

Frank

Try oxalic acid

Frank

Thanks to all for the input,I will check everything as suggested and possibly use locktite.

Frank

My magazine has always been delivered which I prefer to reading digital copy.I have no complaints .

Frank