Potty:- Helping Dad Grasshopper Engine

I've more or less finished the drawing for the grasshopper engine for my series of Helping Dad Engines for beginners'. I used the free down load of the draft site cad package and I must say I was very impressed with it.

This is the assembly drawing of the engine. Its roughly based on a haulage engine of the 1850 that on show at the Manchester museum of science and industry. Being a haulage engine it has a simple slip eccentric so being able to run in both direction will add interest, the eccentric as I've designed it should be very simple to make, ideal for a beginner. One part that has held me up with the design was sourcing a suitable fly wheel all of the readily available cast fly wheel were far to heavy a clumpy for this engine, so I decided on a laser cut blank, that was about the same price as a casting, with about the same amount of machining.

I Have made a start of cutting metal the fly wheel and most of the cylinder is made, I've just got to crack on and get the rest done.

Cheers

Stew

Edited By Stewart Hart on 06/09/2015 09:31:28

Looking forward to seeing it Stew

Definatly second that Stew

SB

Nice flywheel Stew,

Might be worth you getting someone set up to supply the unmachined flywheels at a reasonable cost.

Neil

Hi Stewart

I have long been an admirer of this engine and had planned to make the model myself, having already agreed access with MOSI. But, if you were willing to share (or even sell) your drawings it would save me a lot of time and effort. Nearly finished the invictor so new project imminent.

Regards

I think Stew is one step ahead of you there Neil. Likely to be the same laser cutter as the parts for my Tidman engine.

Hi Neil

Jason's correct, I had the wheel cut by Laser Master in Cornwall and they are willing to supply wheels to any one who wants them to my drawing. I don't have any commercial arrangement with them just a satisfied customer, they delivered the wheel one week after I placed the order and the quality was spot on.

Stew

Edited By JasonB on 07/09/2015 07:23:20

Hi Fizzy

Hopefully the drawings will be published in the magazine, but the engine is more inspired by the one in Mosi its far from being a scale model of it, as my main objective is for a simple design that someone with limited equipment can make, so I've taken huge compromises with its design.

Cheers

Stew

Hi Stew I have just started the first engine, I intend to biuld the three hoping this increases my skill level, just thought I would post this as a thank you for the series, much appreciated. These engines really help beginner like myself, where we have no knowledge or contact with other, get involved in this hobby. Again thanks for you work and effort.

Thanks for your kind comments Jim very much appreciated.

Stew

Made a little bit of progress

Finished the beam, and the con rod and the cylinder off

Stew

Made the swing beam, a series of interlocking rings.

Stew

Bin a bit delayed with this engine short holiday and domestic duties, but this morning I cobbled it together not all the nuts and studs are their so noting sealed, and didn't fit the fly wheel but I gave it a go anyway and it ran.

I'll strip it down now and finish it off properly with a paint job and a base plus a few other whistles and bows.

Thanks for looking

Edited By Stewart Hart on 26/10/2015 11:08:17

Edited By Stewart Hart on 26/10/2015 11:08:58

Without a doubt this engine will be featured in the pages of Model Engineer! We will let you know, on this thread, when it is due to start.

All Stew's models are a great asset to the magazine and are appreciated by many readers.
Why stop at three...?

Diane

Bllomin' eck Stew,

Nice engine but what happened to that spankin' flywheel?

Neil

Slave driver

Neil:- Don't worry the fly wheel will be on the finished job, along with a stop valve and a signal whistle. I'm planning on fixing it to the crank shaft with a straight knurl and loctite so it will be permanently on, but I didn't want to commit myself to that just yet.

Cheers

Stew

I'm going to make one! The straight line linkage is fascinating to watch, but not at the speed shown on UTube!

I had to wind the pressure up Duncan to compensate for the lack of a proper fly wheel and all the leaks, I hope it will run slower when it is finished:- fingers crossed.

Stew

Hi:- OK here's another video with the fly wheel fitted along with two main bearing with all the nuts and bolts connected and most of the leaks fixed.

Stew

Was this engine ever featured in ME. I cann't find it or plans and would like to have a go at building it. John