Doubletop | 25/01/2014 21:04:52 |
![]() 439 forum posts 4 photos | Jason Thanks for clearing up the offset.
Posted by Traction man on 25/01/2014 10:30:52:
Thanks Pete I must say your job is very impressive, I liked the video. Did you find that it used much oil and was that collected in the silencer. I have noted that very few small engines have oil control rings I am not sure why this is, perhaps it is to keep the piston short.
David David Thank you. To answer your question, Yes and no; If the crankcase is over filled the oil comes out everywhere. It then settles down. That worried me at first thinking I'd run out of oil completely so I opened up the engine to see if there was any oil left. There was plenty enough for the crank web to dip into and splash around the inside of the crankcase and bore. I therefore assumed all was well, but before each run I do top up again, and then the excess is then gets discharged until it settles down. The oil breather feed to the cam box doesn't seem to do much so I put a sguirt on there to. This engine is never going to be run for long periods or go into anything that needs a reliable power source so I'm not too fused about the oil situation. Hope that helps Pete |
Traction man | 26/01/2014 12:59:31 |
37 forum posts | Hi Pete
Thanks for the lubrication information, it confirms what I suspected. As you say it is fine for short runs but not for serious long term running.
Cheers David |
Michael Gilligan | 26/01/2014 13:11:48 |
![]() 23121 forum posts 1360 photos | Not quite relevant; but you might like this Seen on the back of a small motor-caravan, yesterday:
It's not Losing Oil It's Sweating Power !
MichaelG. |
Doubletop | 06/02/2014 03:09:04 |
![]() 439 forum posts 4 photos | Here's a brief video of my Lynx running under the control of the software that originated on the RCGroups forum and I've had a hand in getting to work.
Its a development system to enable engines to be tuned and the advance curve set for the engine.The main features
The forum where the work has been progressing is here. This version of the software is still work in progress but there are previous working versions available. Another part of the build is a CDI ignition module to compliment the Digital part. However I'm using a Subaru ignition coil which I have found triggers very well with just a 5V signal from a TTL driver chip. (The Subaru unit does require a 12V power supply) Pete
|
duncan webster | 17/04/2014 15:35:49 |
5307 forum posts 83 photos | Hi all,
I'm building my first petrol engine, having had enough steam engines for a while. I've battled against the drawings in 'Best of ME vol 6' which are truly awful. The original magazine drawings were much easier to understand. I suspect the problem with the later ones is that the linescale on hidden detail is wrong, hence what should be dotted lines comes out solid, but ME deny all knowledge. Now to my question (perhaps the first of many!). There is no mention of recommended spark plug. Hemigway sell Rimfire 1/4 * 32, but internet search brings up both the Rimfire in short and long reach versions (from US, still much cheaper than Hemingway), and also a chinese plug at only ~£8. Anyone got any advice? I'm also thinking of using what is described as 'universal ATV' coil, which is ~£9, again anyone got experience of this? |
JasonB | 17/04/2014 17:08:39 |
![]() 25215 forum posts 3105 photos 1 articles | On the actual drawings from Malcom Stride the hidden detail is dotted and the centre lines are black not red and the traditional long dash- short dash. If it bothers you a lot you can always buy the drawings from MHS which will also be larger at A3 rather than the A4 in the mag. The head drawing says counterbore the plug hole to suit the plug so you can go either way, the short is more common. Minimag are a bit cheaper than Hemmingway on the plugs. Don't forget you may get stung for VAT, Import Duty and Post office charges on items from the US. Julian at Minimag also does coils but not as cheap as the motorcycle/ATV ones though they are neater and smaller. I've used the ATV ones to make Buzz coils and they work OK though tend to prefer the Minimag ones as they can be hidden more easily. They also have a neat silicon plug wire which looks better than a 6/7mm standard plug wire on a 1/4" plug J
Edited By JasonB on 17/04/2014 17:13:59 |
Neil Wyatt | 18/04/2014 10:31:34 |
![]() 19226 forum posts 749 photos 86 articles | Back in days of yore, people used to wind their own coils for magnetos, ignition and radio etc. With modern neodyminium magnets I'm sure a magneto could be made very tiny. Would there be any interest in an article on making a coil winding machine in MEW? Neil |
Doubletop | 18/04/2014 11:02:26 |
![]() 439 forum posts 4 photos | Neil Coil winding? there is no need do that at all these days, for a quick easy and cheap way just get hold of an ignition coil for most modern cars. The Subaru coil I used has drive circuity inbuilt that can be driven by a TTL chip. Albeit it needs 12V supply. The bit that needs a little thought is the interface between the hall sensor and the coil unit. Duncan Depending on what you plan to do with your Lynx the Chinese 1/4x32 plugs on Ebay will be fine. If like me this is a new area for you I can't imagine you plan to stick your engine in an aircraft and trust it to fate so it will spend most of its life on a shelf looking good. While you are on Ebay be aware the Chinese ignition systems, although very good and cheap they are designed to have the sensor on the crank and not the camshaft as the timing will be wrong for a four stroke, So something like a minimag (which costs more than twice as much as a complete Chinese CDI) and a Gerry Howell TIM6 will probably be the easiest way to get yourself up and running. There are many ways of skinning this Lynx Pete |
Neil Greenaway | 18/04/2014 11:06:51 |
75 forum posts 3 photos | Hi Neil, I remembered there was an article some time ago as a work colleague was interested in this area of coil winding - turns out a lego machine was designed and article published in Autumn 2011 issue, but with a view to using this as a prototype for a more commercial version - perhaps this might be useful for an update on what happened - did it go commercial? Neil |
JasonB | 18/04/2014 11:43:04 |
![]() 25215 forum posts 3105 photos 1 articles | Neil, Alan Thatcher who usually shows a couple of Hit & Miss engines at the MEX makes hios own mags, the latest is down to 1.75" x 1.5" x 0.75". This is a slightly larger one. I've also got a coil sitting here that is about the size of five pound coils in a stack. J |
duncan webster | 18/04/2014 12:53:54 |
5307 forum posts 83 photos | Thanks to all who have replied. As a result I've bought a Chinese plug and an ATV coil, both from UK suppliers, As an amusing aside, I once bought a tangential toolholder from US. The postman eventually arrived demanding VAT, which I was expecting, and a £20 handling charge which I thought outrageous. I told him I wasn't prepared to accept it and he should return it to supplier from whom I would request a refund. This caused complete brain overload, he thrust it into my hand and went away muttering. I wouldn't rely on it working again. When I eventually get it running I'll post some pictures. Thanks again to all who replied. Neil, there was an article on coil winding recently in ME, not for HT coils tho'
Duncan |
Roderick Jenkins | 18/04/2014 13:08:59 |
![]() 2376 forum posts 800 photos | There seems to be a flat charge of £8 to collect the fees. I've just bought a milling cutter from the US that attracted £4 for VAT but adding the handling charge totaled £12. I believe anything over £15 now incurs a charge. There could be import duty as well, it depends what it is and where it comes from. Worth bearing in mind even though the pound is stronger against the dollar. Rod |
Neil Wyatt | 18/04/2014 13:31:03 |
![]() 19226 forum posts 749 photos 86 articles | Hi Pete, Home made coils might appeal to those making scale models, especially magnetos which need no battery at all. Jason, It wouldn't be the box with 'magneto' written on it, would it? Neil |
Doubletop | 18/04/2014 22:49:51 |
![]() 439 forum posts 4 photos | Neil Reflecting on my post last night it occurred to me that some might wish to make their own coils. A was aware John had done a thread on making a magneto a few years back. The peril of late night posting after a few Pinot's I also realised I had forgotten to add that there are also pitfalls with using these 'pencil' coils from modern ignition systems. Although they can be triggered by a TTL signal they need a 2-3ms pulse and fire on the falling edge. That means the triggering circuit needs to preempt when to fire the trigger pulse and it will be at a different point depending on the revs. So it needs a 'smart' trigger circuit which these days means a micro controller. For those interested in going that route there's a whole saga over here that also includes home made micro controlled CDI HV circuit that uses the igniter coils from gas stoves. Although appearing to be a solution those coils can’t be used independently as the primary requires 240v pulse. The CDI design includes a 400v inverter. There is probably a series of ME articles that could be produced on this subject but my experience is limited to the Chinese CDI and the DIY micro controlled systems. I have no experience a TIM6, Minimag coils, Magnetos, distributors or the Megasquirt that some have used on multi cylinder engines. As I said many ways of skinning this cat. Pete |
Doubletop | 19/04/2014 23:25:19 |
![]() 439 forum posts 4 photos | With new posts to this thread I've started thinking about the subject again. I had used one of these and thought I had problems with it that's why I went down the DIY route. However, that diversion has helped my understanding of how these thing work These ignition systems are designed to have the sensor on the crankshaft so they can measure the time/rev and work out the proper timing for the to fire the spark. As the Lynx is a four stroke with the sensor on the cam the rev interval is twice what it should be and the timing will be wrong. However, putting two magnets at 180deg on the timing disc will ensure the correct time/rev is input and the firing point correctly calculated. OK you'll be firing at on all the revs with a wasted spark but any car ignition systems run wasted spark these days.
You'll see them on Ebay for $75 but the best source is HobbyKing, this one is only $35 The plug cap is the wrong one for 1/4x32 plugs but the proper caps can be obtained from Ebay for $8 HobbyKing do many different versions other than RCeXl, I also Have two Phoenix units from them. I've purchased from both sources without any problems. (well there is one problem with HobbyKing, once you've found them you keep going back for more toys! Take a look around at the amazing stuff they do at unbelievable prices) Its all in the box 2.5"x1.5"x1.25" and by far the cheapest and most compact solution to get you running. A further thought, I saw quoted somewhere "Most ignition problems can be traced to the carburetor" Pete |
duncan webster | 28/04/2014 22:42:19 |
5307 forum posts 83 photos | My coil off a mini motorbike has not worked out, gets really hot and no sparks, so yes I'm interested in an article on how to wind ignition coils! |
duncan webster | 04/07/2014 16:02:21 |
5307 forum posts 83 photos | I'm slowly moving forward, delayed by making things for other people. Bad idea. Anyone know where I can buy valve springs without suffering the minimum order charge problem. Lee Spring do a LCM 080 CG 02 M but it is smaller wire diameter and hence lower rate. Flexo have a £18 +vat minimum which is a lot for 2 springs! |
Keith Long | 04/07/2014 16:09:39 |
883 forum posts 11 photos | Duncan HPC (of gears fame) show a good range in both stainless and music wire. Don't know how their overall prices compare but could be worth a look. Keith |
Roderick Jenkins | 04/07/2014 17:26:59 |
![]() 2376 forum posts 800 photos | Winding your own springs is very straightforward. Choose the gauge of spring (music/piano) wire and the i.d. of the spring. Find a bit of MS steel to act as the mandrel and drill a cross hole to anchor the wire. Mount a bit of bar in the lathe toolpost so that the top of the bar is at centre height and file a V groove into the bar top surface. Set the lathe up for screw turning to the desired pitch. Without engaging the lead screw turn a couple of close turns.
Then engage the lead screw and turn the spring to the required length Now disengage the lead screw and add a couple more turns Snip off the wire at both ends and you have a spring with closed ends Now touch each end of the spring on a grindstone and you have a completed spring I turn the mandrel by hand for this process and you might need to do a little experimentation with the spring mandrel diameter. I've used this method on 3 engines now and the springs have fulfilled their purpose admirably. Spring/Music/Piano wire is available from the usual ME suppliers. Hope this helps, Rod Edited By Roderick Jenkins on 04/07/2014 17:28:14 |
Steve Withnell | 06/07/2014 09:32:58 |
![]() 858 forum posts 215 photos | This is me winding the valve springs for the Nemett -
Steve Edited By JasonB on 06/07/2014 10:27:31 |
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