Eccentric straps

Hi I am looking for recommendations for someone who can machine a set of eccentric straps for a 3" engine for me preferably near wisbech area. Tried all I can find on net but most won't take on small 1 off jobs. Thanks

I could, but am not that close to Wisbech, and I am too busy. Anyone contemplating this job would need more information, such as:

Are there proper engineering drawings?

Do you have material/castings or is this to be sourced?

Do the mating sheaves exist?

Is this a commercial job, and why are you unable to machine them yourself?

Andrew

This is a job for myself I don't have a mill to do the job or the experience. I have the 4 casting from plastow. My original strap snapped hence the need for new set to be made before the others go the same way and I have the drawings for them

I believe there is a me society at Saracens head and also 1 at Kings Lynn plus another at north Norfolk. not sure going the other way but Andrew might know.

Peterborough, Spalding, Market Deeping, Stamford?

An obvious question is why did the original strap snap, before making new ones from, presumably, the same castings.

A mill isn't essential. Many of the critical surfaces such as the sides, bore and grooves for the sheaves are done on the lathe. The rest can be done by hand or by making use of the lathe for light milling/drilling.

Andrew

Andrew, I am what you would probably call a grease monkey who doesn't know the difference between a smoke box and a fire box, goes out and buys and engine to show off with and claim all the glory for it? Well some of that may be true. I do not have all your years of experience working with machinery I don't have apprenticeship or college training, I like thousands of others just have a passion for steam but not the skills to build one or the finance to buy a kit one so I got one needing restoration. One of my "engineering " friends said he would do the work for me but after 5 years waiting I asked for it back and it arrived in 6 boxes. I worked out how it went together as all parts were already done only to find I had to buy new boiler so stripped it down myself got new boiler and rebuilt it myself. Unfortunately I don't have a workshop full of thousands of pounds worth of Mills and lathes or the knowledge on how to use them. Yes I could go and spend few grand buying them and spend a few years gaining experience just to do 4 straps and have no need for the equipment any more although to me it makes more sense to pay someone a few hundred pounds to do the job properly for me. I hope that clarifys things for you?

Malc: Thanks for the background information. All I can say is good luck, and I hope someone on here is able to help.

Andrew

Equally Mike you can spend the same few hundred on an older lathe. The Hughes book for the Minnie has lathe based setups for machining castings. The drawings are obviously different, but straps are straps.

Hi Malc, I'm 35 miles from Wisbech, Hunstanton. I have the gear and between us we might be able to do something. I will PM you. Noel.