Lads and Dads Mill Engine

For one of my hot air engines I used a similar method of construction, mine is 6" dia, I collect old brake drums, and discs, and one disc brake was top hat shape, just over 6" dia x about 1.5" high, so cut the brim/disc off, and the top/flange, the cylindrical bit left about 3/8" thick. The section with the spokes was made of 3/8" plate, this is pressed into the rim, and also held with six counter sunk screws through from the outside of the cast iron rim, on this one the hub is brazed in , on later flywheels the hub is held in place with shaft lock adhesive. The motor that this flywheel is on can run up to just over 2000rpm running with out a load. Ian S C

Hi Ian:- I always sneek a look in the scrap box at garage I have our cars serviced to see if they have anything of use,(always ask before you take). Do you remember the days when you could service a car yourself without plugging it in to a computer.

Whilst waiting delivery of some material to make the fly wheel I had a look round our local hobby craft shop they had a sale on so i pic this lot Its some water based wood stain and some felt tip pens, the felt tip pens we're useless all dried up but the wood stain was ok, to mark the cement line i just mixed some of the wood stain with some white emulsion and put it on with a thin brush. Then to seal it I watered down some PVA and brushed it over. I don't think it looks too bad. Just taken delivery of the fly wheel steel so its just some M2 studding I'm short of now Stew:------------ this site is playing up

One place to get reasonably thick walled steel tube, car starter motor, or old type car generator. If you want to collect it, I'v got an old cylinder liner, about 4.5" dia, think its around 3/8" thick, think it came out of an old tractor. Ian S C

Thanks for the offer Ian and the tip as to where to look, but the posti had just dropped off a length of 100mm*4mm thick welded steel tube and some 1/4" plate fro the fly wheel, just waiting on some M2 studding but in the mean time its flywheel her I come.Thanks again Stew

Edited By Stewart Hart on 02/05/2013 14:47:18

Hi Stewart,

I note that the valve rod is cranked. I have also seen this on some locomotives, notably Sweet Peas. Is this not a weak point? Is there not a danger of the running forces exaggerating the bends, thus changing the valve events?

Regards

Geoff

Hi GeoffIt wasn't unusual to have cranked valve rods, they are not carrying much load and the speed is relativly slow so I don't hink them flexing would be a problem. Her's a pic of the Orgional I've roughly based the engine on, and as you can see it has a cranked rod.Thank for you interest Stew

Took your time with that one Stew

A good looking little engine

Neil

Well got the engine finished off her's a few glam shots Stew

Hi Stewart,

This is my first effort at posting - I hope I have got it right.

I am enjoying making this little engine but understand that there are one or two dimension errors in the drawings. Is there a list of these anywhere that I can access on line?

I have not had any engineering training and am struggling a bit with making part MP10, the connecting rod. Three failed attempts so far but I am hopeful that the fourth will see it done - I learn a little more each time.

I am happy with all the parts I have made so far.

Thanks for your help,

Ken Hadingham

Hi Ken

Really pleased that you are enjoying the build, if you send me a Personal Message through the forum with your email address I'll send you a revised copy of the drawings.

Just out of interest in what way are you struggling with the connecting rod, I may be able to point you in the right direction.

Stew

Hi Stew,

I have been a lurker on this forum for some years, subscribe to MEW which I very much enjoy and would like to construct your Lads and Dads Mill Engine.

Do you have drawings available or have they been published in ME.

Pat Wright

New Zealand

Hi Pat

Thanks for your interest in my little engine, the drawings have been published in ME but I've sent you a personal message through this forum so check your jn box

Stew

Edited By Stewart Hart on 20/04/2014 07:29:43

Hi Stew

Help please. I am missing ME 4470 containing Part 6 of the series. Could you please email these pages.

I have tried the online archive only to find it locked in Flash Player and unavailable.

Working in strict sequence i am on part MP10

Regards John

I can supply the pages if you still need them

JES

Hi John

I've sent you a PM so check your inbox.

Just out of interest I'm hoping to have a book published next year by Corwwod press:- Making Victorian Stationary Engines for Beginers that will cover the manufacture of all three engine in this series.

Stew

Hi JES, Many thanks foryour offer. As you see in the next posting the Great Man himself has responded.

John