Shed Matters 3

[Stanley]

I started by checking I had room for the nuts on the strap and then split it. I did this by hand. I usually do it with a slitting saw because I don't trust my eyes but this morning wanted a finer cut and so did it with a Junior Hacksaw. Then I installed the nots and bolts and tightened them. Next I cleaned both sides using emery paper on the surface plate. Next I measured the eccentric and set strap up under the boring head. I shall bore it tomorrow.
I have done my early doors shopping at the Co-op and put everything away. now for breakfast......

[BobH]

Whilst Stanley has his breakfast I'll update you on my 2" scale Clayton steam wagon. It was started some 30 years ago by Geoff Peel who worked at Rolls in Barlick. Keith Sharp completed it and now it resides in my workshop. The steam certificate has just about expired so I must get it retested soon. Meanwhile I am building the trailer to ride on. Currently I am machining the wheels and sorting out how to mount the brakes, a useful accessory!

[Stanley]

That's an impressive beast Bob. Good luck with the retest!

[PanBiker]

It was started some 30 years ago by Geoff Peel who worked at Rolls in Barlick.

Geoff is a friend of mine Bob, he is also a Radio Amateur G6MZX.

[BobH]

Hi Ian, I didn't realise he was a radio amateur.Keith dealt with him and took the wagon to show him when it was finished. Is he still active on the air? I don't do anything these days, I am G4OAC. The equipment languishes in a cupboard. Does anyone want any components for home brewing?

[PanBiker]

Geoff still comes on the air on occasion but not very often Bob.

Regarding your last comment, what kind of components are you referring to? I am still active on the bands and still amuse myself with home brew projects.

[Stanley]

I have declared today a day off. I was busy this morning getting my chicken in the oven and realised it was twenty past six. I shall be cooking again later this morning after second sleep and so decided to be kind to myself and have an easy morning. I'll be back in there tomorrow.

[Stanley]

A busy little session lasting just over an hour. First I bored the strap and checked the fit on the eccentric. It's perfect. Then I measured and marked the strap for the small 5BA screw that will attach the eccentric rod. Once I had that I drilled and tapped for the rod and fitted it to the strap once I had countersunk the hole. Then I marked the strap for milling out the groove which will accept the rod. I also marked the strap to give an idea of what can be cut back to when I finally refine the shape. A nice session, it's coming together well!

[Tripps]

I cautioned recently aganst relying on Youtube to keep videos for ever.
With that in mind I shall make a copy of this vauable historical record today.

[Stanley]

I sat and watched that quite happily David. That was the second edit and I don't think I have seen that version before.
Isn't it amazing what old blokes get up to in sheds.....

[Stanley]

This morning was difficult because everything I was doing depended on good eyesight! But I crashed on anyway. I sharpened my 3/8" slot drill and cut the channel for the valve rod. I rounded both ends of the rod and when I had it in place, drilled the oil hole in the strap. I might leave the strap how it is. Too dangerous to put any shape in it and it would only be cosmetic..... Best left alone I think!

[Stanley]

Today I started on the rest of the components in the valve train. First thing was to gather all the stock together. I was missing two items, the stock for the clevis on the valve rod and the valve rod itself. Luckily I have a mixed lot of silver steel that I bought years ago from K Steels when it was on offer. I had the necessary rod and needed to reduce each end and thread 4BA. All that took an hour and a quarter. But I now have the valve rod.

[Stanley]

A lot of concentrated work put into one end of the clevis that connects the valve rod to the eccentric rod. It involved drilling and tapping for the 5BA clevis pin. (On the drawings it is stated to be 7BA which is wrong and I had forgotten so that held me up a bit....!) I cut the 3/32" slot for the eccentric road with a small slitting saw and actually got it in the centre! (A bit of a miracle with my eyesight!) Tomorrow I shall complete the other end of the clevis, mostly lathe work.

[Stanley]

Only one image this morning. I have put the finishing touches to the clevis and installed it on the end of the valve rod. Tomorrow I shall turn this rough casting into a valve that fits in the steam chest.

[Stanley]

This morning was working on the valve itself. I started by taking the scabby edges off on the grindstone and then marked up with the dimensions and cut in the vertical Mill. I finished up; ready to cut the recess in the bottom of the valve but by that time it was time to go shopping. All the shopping is done and put away.

[Stanley]

The bad news is that I felt a bit dodgy this morning so declined the shed. The good news is that three hours later I have had a sleep and feel a lot better. Just one of those things.....

[Stanley]

More work on the valve. The recess cut in the bottom for the exhaust steam, the slot cut in the top for the driver, the driver fitted, the valve squared up and the body drilled for the valve rod. I have marked the driver and am ready now to drill that and tap it 4BA for the valve rod. A good hour and a quarter....

[Stanley]

I started by drilling and tapping the 4BA hole in the valve driver for the valve rod. Than I refined the fit, it's important that the valve should float as it travels to allow the steam pressure to force it on to its seat. That included taking a bit more out of the housing under the mill. Next I made the first moves on the grinding wheel to take the worst of the scabs off the valve rod support. Then I started putting some tackle away and started with the 1/4" slot drill. I touched the big cutter up before I put it back on the mill, then I did a chip chase with the vacuum and put tackle away so as to be ready to start tomorrow. Not quite finished with the valve yet, I will be happier if there is a shave taken off one side.....

[Stanley]

I started by taking that shave off the side of the valve. I refitted it and it is now floating perfectly freely. So I moved on to what occupied the rest of my time in the shed. Getting square faces related to each other on the valve rod and governor support which isn't even symmetrical, never mind capable of being easily squared. So quiet milling episodes and repeated checking. I don't think we have made any mistakes!

[Stanley]

This morning was more on the governor stand. The first move was to get the Dremel out and do my best, within the restrictions imposed by my eyes, to make it look pretty! Then I had to take a leap of faith and decide whether I could drill the hole for the valve rod. I made a guess, drilled it and when I checked I am somewhere near right. That's a relief, it could have been so wrong!

[Stanley]

This morning's job was to refine the finish of the flywheel and install it on the engine using Loctite Shaft Lock. I finished by cleaning up after myself and putting the lathe, chuck and cutter back to where they were when I started.

[Stanley]

Quiet careful work building the valve train up. Fitting is not quick or easy. I have to make sure everything is working well. So far so good.....

[Stanley]

More work on the valve train. First bolting the governor stand to the bed and then starting the process of adjusting and setting the valve. The usual excuses for being slow! There's nothing easy about fitting. I even had to run the die down the two 5BA bolts as they were slightly at odds with the holes I have tapped. The main thing is they are fitted! Now I have to make sure the valve train acts easily and accurately. More tomorrow of course.

[Stanley]

Another hour and a half on the valve train. Almost everything has been adjusted! I finished with the valve properly adjusted to be equidistant at each end of the stroke, tomorrow morning I shall match that to the position of the piston. Once again, many small adjustments.....

[Stanley]

Red letter day.... The engine is finished. I spent the morning making the final adjustments and fitting. This is good. However the bad news is that it isn't a runner. I think it's because I haven't built enough throw into the eccentric but I am not going to make life difficult by trying to cure it. Somebody else can have that pleasure. It's a handsome engine and will be a good conversation piece. I shall have to do better with the next one!.
(The miracle is that I have built it at all at my age!)