My First Stationary Engine

Crank arm made and fitted, its not perfect but the best I can do by hand with a couple of files. Its reasonably tidy and the hole centres are good so I think it will do.

Looks like a great job to me Ron!

Hi Jeff

Yes I also like what Ron has done

I need to make a similar crank for my latest engine and that looks a neat way to construct it

Nice work Ron

Geoff

Thanks Jeff/Geoff,

It just seemed a bit easier for the same end result and I do tend to enjoy a bit of filing to shape, quite satisfying.

Ron

The small parts are ready and the brass bar has arrived for the main column, I have also got a 100mm x 10mm steel round on the way to have a go at making a flywheel.

The cylinder is honed and the piston lapped in, my first time doing that and I really enjoyed it, very satisfying. The piston fit I think is good, its smooth, free and as close a fit as I could get, so here,s hoping it will prove ok when running.

Turned the column this morning, it looks a tad different to the drawing mainly because I used a 4mm radius form tool I had ground up for another job and I used that for the shaping.

To the mill next, hope to get it finished in the morning.

Excuse the poor quality picture.

It's coming along well Ron.

Finished the column this morning, well apart from going around it with the needle files. A couple of changes I have taken the inlet and exhaust straight through to the back of the column, I just thought it neater than on the sides. Also the brass bar I used wasnt big enough to include the column base fixing lugs/brackets as a one piece part but I will machine those in the base plate for the same effect.

A couple of pics, one showing that the parts actually fit together..

Top notch work Ron, it looks great!

Looking good Ron; no need for any self deprecation you're doing fine

George.

Thanks Jeff/George, I must admit I am enjoying making it and learning a few things along the way.

Ron

The surface finish of the mating faces of the cylinder and column have turned out really good, excellent in fact but is it normal practice to lap them in to each other, I am guessing it is ..?

Hi Ron

Looking great in brass Ron

It can't do any harm to lap the faces but of course they should be a really close fit before, lapping is only a fine finish process

Geoff

I've lapped the two oscillators that I have made, you can use the same stuff you got for the piston/cylinder.

Thanks Geoff/Jason, up early this morning and I lapped in the faces.

Something that has surprised me is the recommended compression spring, its quite a strong little spring 4.3mm i/d 0.7mm wire with 10 coils in 12.7mm length. Anyway I dont have one to that spec but I have one which matches the diameter and the wire but is more open with 7 coils per 12.7mm, I will give that a go it is adjustable of course.

Ron

A lot will depend on what you do with the engine, if just running for display on a few psi than a light spring will be OK. Once you start to put the engine under load which required a higher pressure there is a greater risk of the air taking the easy option and lifting the cylinder off the portface rather than pushing on the end of the piston so a stronger spring will keep it held in place.

Thanks Jason, it will only be running for display so I think the spring I am using should be ok.

I turned up a temporary plinth/work stand to save it lying around or having to prop it up on the bench.

Impatient as I am and having not yet received the steel for the flywheel as well as being mad keen to see if the engine would run, I searched the shop for something to fashion a temporary test wheel. The only thing I had was a short piece of 3 inch diameter 6082 so I used that, its not very true but as it turned out it served its purpose.

The good news is the engine ran straight away with no problems and I have made no adjustments to it, as it is in the video is how it ran from the start. I havnt shown it at its top end speed as it would take a walk across the bench with out it been held down. This is all new to me but I was surprised at the bottom end speed which I thought quite slow for a aluminium flywheel, it will be interesting to see if that changes with a steel wheel.

Anyway it goes without saying I am really pleased with it.

p.s Apologies for the poor quality video, the original is much better dont know what happened there. 

Edited By Ron Laden on 10/02/2020 13:33:17

HI Ron,

Looks great to me and running well.

Mine dances around at high speed, needs a heavier base.

Next engine I made had a large 1/2" steel plate base, no chance of that going for a walk!!!!

Post again Ron with new flywheel

Atb Geoff

Runs well Ron though next time put the sound on so we can hear the chuff, chuff noise.Another option to stop the engine jumping about would be to add some counter balance to the crank of flywheel, maybe something to consider for your second engine now you have got the bug