Member postings for Four stroke Fred

As it's supposed to be cooler during the winter I try to do most of my castings for projects the next few months. Today's winter temperature was 26C , even saw a snake sun bathing in the fence ,so with the furnace going the workshop it was quite warm. I did manage to make a "hand" of pistons for my V8 using a double sided pattern and small sand cores made in the aluminium core box. I melted down some old pistons in the hope that my piston would inherit their characteristics. My piston will end up being 22mm dia.

George ( Bundaberg)

This is a photograph of the partly machined crankcase for the V8. Today I made two more castings of the cam gear cases using a slightly different technique and both came out well. I will have to tidy up the workshop tomorrow as I have a motorcycle group coming later in the week to look around the workshop and see a few IC engines running.

It sounds as though a drop of Bundy rum may be needed to help with the sore throats! The sugar cane cutting has just started for this season but there is less cane grown now than in 1974 when we first arrived and more small crops ( vegetables) and macadamia nuts. Bundaberg is also known for its ginger beer and exports it to many countries.

George

Winter is here ,the west winds are blowing and it's time to make some castings and keep warm at the same time. The above picture shows today's efforts. These are the cam gear drive cases for my 67 cc V 8. The back of the castings are recessed for the train of gears. I will make 2 more tomorrow as spares and will add photographs of the crankcase later.

George.

Bundaberg.

Today I finished assembling an aluminium box ready for the transportation of the model tractor to the 2016 Model Engineer Exhibition at the Brooklands Museum. I have also included the model Lister Diesel engine for the display. I now have to complete all the paper work and insurance. Being able to attend the MEX with a model or models is an ambition achieved. I look forward to meeting any of you who wish to have a chat.

George ( Fourstroke Fred)

Having just acquired a 3D printer thie last 7 days has been a big learning curve but also great fun. I am looking forward to developing the prints as patterns and core boxes for sand casting. The photo shows my efforts with parts for an IC engine ( a flat six) . The engine was a "theory" design and was never made but it's good to see it in 3D.

George.

Ian the crankcase casting is 105 mm long and was designed to be sand cast as a singe cored block. The three holes on the top of the casting were for the fuel oil mix to lubricate the bottom end ( it is a four stroke engine). The cylinders receive the mix via pipes connected to the manifold and cylinder heads. The crankshaft iwas to be fed in from the rear with the con rods being assembled from each side. This was a "theory " engine and was never made but it's good to see it in 3D - only wish it was in metal!

George.

I had intended to make an early start (5.30am) but hit a problem after about half an hour when the filiment jumped off the reel and caused the feed to stop and as a result I had to start again. I took the opportunit to modify the 3D drawing so I didn't start to print until about 10.0 am. It didn't finish until about 6.30 pm.. I could have speeded up the process by choosing a "scale or setting" that didn't give such fine detail. I am sure that in a few years time the process will be speedier and machines less expensive ( not that they are overly expensive now consider what they actually do).

George.

Rained all day today so the workshop was a good place to be. The new "toy" (3D printer) was put to good use as I wanted to print a crankcase for a flat six engine - not that it will be used - it was a case of seeing what both the printer and myself were capable of!. The photographs show the results. The more I use this technology the more I begin to see its use in my workshop. Patterns and core boxes for sand casting spring to mind particularly for smaller parts - more experimental work required.

George.

As we had 123mm of rain last night and the temperature and humidity were high today I decided that not too much physical work would be carried out in the workshop. I have been experimenting with 3D printing. It's a new technology to me but it follows on from the CAD drawing process and lends itself to pattern making and other aspects of model engineering ( spark plug caps, distributor parts etc). It's also interesting to see how the machine (Up plus 2) builds up the object. The engine parts are from a design of flat 6 I did some time ago but actually never made. The con rod is 38 mm between centres and the piston 22 mm dia. The other bits are the inlet manifold in two different scales. More drawing and experiments tomorrow !

George.

Yesterday and today a few of the local model engineers had a display of work at the local woodworkers show. It was very successful and we met many interesting people and prospective model engineers. We packed up at 2.0 pm and then the rain began. We had 22 mm in ten minutes and that didn't help when trying to load trailers and cars. All models are now back in their respective sheds but will have to given a check out tomorrow just to make sure they didn't get wet. The locos at the front of the display are both 5" gauge - Green Arrow and a Bundaberg Fowler 0-6-2. Other models included a scale model speed boat with a 20cc four cylinder engine ,a range of model IC engines, the tractor , traction and stationery steam engines. Other than the rain ( which we need) it was a very good weekend.

George.

Good Day Peter,

The flywheel is the one casting I didn't make. I think it may have been a shell mould casting. It was given to me many years ago in return for a job I did for some one. It's a great casting in bronze and I have been waiting for the "right" job to use it on. I am hoping that this engine will run at steam engine speeds (quite low) as that will enable the action to be seen. Thanks for the comments.

George.

Good Day Murray,

The engine has variable displacement with different capacities for induction and expansion. I have made a single cylinder edition of this type of engine and it's great for displays as there is plenty to look at when it's working and most people haven't seen this type of engine before. What really gets them is when you tell them that the system was design in the 1880s and the designer didn't have a computer!

George.

Having finished the Saunderson and Mills I decided to have a go at a three cylinder Atkinson engine just for fun - it's not a scale model as it was designed by yours truly. It has a bore of 28 mm and induction stroke of just under 18mm and an expansion stroke of just under 40mm. This gives the three cylinder unit capacities of 34 and74 cc. I have fitted automatic inlet valves and side exhaust valves and it has a water pump and governor. The carby is from an old wiper snipper (strimmer in your language). As this type of engine is now used in some small modern cars I am not sure which capacity they use when describing the engine. I hope to have the engine running in the next couple of weeks and can't wait to hear what sort of sound it makes !

George.

Today I spent part of the morning casting the three aluminium pistons for the Triple Atkinson engine. "She who must be obeyed" was watering the bushhouse but retreated very rapidly when a 900 mm snake made an appearance ! We treat all snakes as being potentially a source of danger as most of them have enough venom to make you very sick or kill you.

George.

Today I checked the capacity of the Atkinson 3 cylinder engine and for those who are interested - the bore is 28 mm and the short stroke is 27 mm giving an induction capacity of just under 50 cc and on the long 42 mm power stroke the capacity is just over 77 cc. I think Honda use this system on some of there small cars. It would be interesting to find out what they consider is the registration capacity! ( in countries where it is applicable ). George.

I had meant to include a few notes on the 3 cylinder Atkinson engine but hit the button too soon! The engine has side exhaust valves and automatic over head inlet vales. All valves and the cam shaft have been fitted. The inlet valve guides/ seats are made from bronze and the exhaust from cast iron. The cam will be driven by chain with a second sprocket driving the governor and water pump.Today I started to machine the " 4 legs" but tomorrow I have to get some IC engines and tractor ready for a display at the local model flying club display on Saturday and Sunday. Even though being retired there are still not enough hours in the day !

George.

Jason that's not a can of home brew or even Fosters it's actually a spare piston that I take to displays to show those who are interested. I think he would be able to "blow into the bag Sir "without any problems !

George.

This is the driver or is he the gentleman owner having his first drive on the new tractor

and no there isn't a wallaby to be seen! George.

I will send a photo over tomorrow .The lady made an excellent of job of him and he has a shirt and tie, cuff links, buttons, long johns (for the cold weather) "character lines on both his hands ans face and more hair than I have! The jacket suit was made from wool and cashmere with a scale type pattern. I think "he" is more a lord of the manor than your average tractor driver! She cast in the head and hands in resin after making silicon moulds with the original from a clay type material..

George.

, Thanks Ian. I would loved to have seen the tractor working - perhaps one day I will make another trip across to see it in action. My tractor now has a scale driver that was made by a lady who visits the workshop for model engineering lessons. She researched the type of clothes worn in that era and then made every thing - leather boots with gators , moulded the head and hands in resin, full suit of clothes including a cap.

George.