Shed Matters 3

[Stanley]

The first move in fitting the crosshead guides was to mark the slides and drill the clearance holes for the 5BA bolts that will fasten the guides to the bed. Both guides have witness marks on them which correspond with marks on the bed so they can always be correctly mounted. Next I marked the bed for one bot on each of the guides, I drilled and tapped them both 5BA, fitted the guides and bolted them down ensuring that they were parallel by measuring the gap. Nest I marked the bed for drilling and tapping these holes. That's the first job for tomorrow. A good hour of accurate work with no mistakes. I have earned my breakfast.

[Stanley]

The first order of the day was to drill and tap the remaining four holes in the crosshead slide and fit the guides. This took twenty minutes longer than it should have done because I had to go searching for a 5BA bolt to replace one supplied with the castings that was not the correct length. Then I started work on the crosshead itself, the first thing was to ensure that the stock is square, essential to future measuring and marking then milling.

[Stanley]

The piece of stock supplied by Stuart is far too big so this morning has been spent reducing it to the finished dimensions of the crosshead. It is now ready for the further modifications needed to make it into a crosshead. That took an hour but I am satisfied it is correct. Now for breakfast!

[Stanley]

This morning I machined the crosshead to profile, checked it in the guides and marked it for cutting out for the connecting rod. That's enough for this morning it was 85F in the shed, a legacy from yesterday. I have got the chicken in to roast and I have earned my breakfast!

[Stanley]

I started by milling out the pocket in the crosshead where the end of the connecting rod sits and measured and marked for the pin it pivots on, then I drilled the crosshead and fitted the pin. Next I got the stock and castings for the crankshaft bearings sorted. next job was to take the 5/16" cutter out of the mill and get ready for installing the 9/16" cutter which of course I will sharpen before installing it. I am ready to move forwards, that was a productive hour and now I shall have my breakfast.

[Stanley]

I started the morning by sharpening the 9/16" cutter but then reverted to my general purpose cutter and cut the stock for the crankshaft bearings down to size and perfectly square. I have them to the point where I only have one more dimension to cut before I start with the 9/16" cutter. I have fettled the top brasses on the grindstone, they have to go in the mill tomorrow for further refinement. A good hour with accurate progress. Now for breakfast!

[Stanley]

Just one pic. After re-sharpening the cutter I spent the morning measuring and marking and finishing getting the bottom brass stock to size. Rather than changing cutters and going on with finishing these brasses I started on the top brasses which need the bigger cutter that is already installed and cutting well. Steady progress and now for breakfast!

[Stanley]

I have spent an hour bringing the top brasses down to a condition where they are the correct size and shape to fit on the bed. It's amazing how many set-ups and cuts this needed. But I have them ready for further refinement now. I have earned my breakfast.

[Stanley]

This morning's job was to cut the bottom brasses to shape and fit them on the bed. That involved careful measuring and marking, patient small cuts and finally some tidying up, fitting and checking that the crankshaft fits and we can move forwards. The last job was to put witness marks on the brasses so we can be sure they will always be fitted correctly. That took an hour, now for breakfast!

[Stanley]

This morning I measured and marked the top brasses for the clearance holes for the 4BA studs that will fasten them down onto the bed and drilled them. Then I made sure there was enough room for the nuts to turn on the studs. Next I marked the bed for drilling tapping size for the studs. set it up in the pillar drill and drilled the holes. I shall tap them 4BA tomorrow. Now it's breakfast time.

[Stanley]

First job was to tap the holes in the bed for the studs that will hold the top brasses down and fit them. Then adjust the fit and tighten the brasses down before setting up under the pillar drill, drilling a pilot hole and then boring the brasses to accept the crankshaft. Then open up the oil holes and I finished up ready for the final massaging of the brasses and fitting the crankshaft. So far it all looks good. Now for breakfast.

[Stanley]

Only one pic. I have spent the morning fitting the crankshaft to its bearings and it is still a work in progress, I shall complete it tomorrow.

[Stanley]

This morning I spent 45 minutes refining the fit of the crankshaft in the bearings. I made sure the shaft itself was OK and then reamed the bearings. I fitted the shaft and it was still tight so I lapped it in to the bearings and finished up with a perfectly fitting shaft that has no play but turns freely with the caps almost dead tight. This is just as it should be, it will free up more if and when it is run in. Nice. Now for breakfast.

[Stanley]

I started the morning by cleaning the VM and Mrs Harrison. Then I started rebuilding the engine and here's where I had got up to at closing time. Good progress and I have earned my breakfast.

[Stanley]

Another day of refining work already done and going forward with building the engine. I adjusted the fit of the piston rod in the crosshead and it is much better now. Then I fitted the steam chest, complete with valve and rod and fitted the lid with the nuts just finger tight because the lid will have to come off for valve timing. Next job was to cut the slot in the piston assembly so that it can be tightened fully into the crosshead. Lastly I installed the studs that will hold the back lid on and checked the fit of the lid. A good hour with solid progress to a better standard than usual. I have earned my breakfast!

[Stanley]

A nice quiet morning. I refined the finish of the flywheel and fitted it to the crankshaft. That'll do for this morning another quiet step forward. Now for breakfast!

[Stanley]

I spent this morning making the eccentric and fitting it on the crankshaft. I still have to install the set screw that will lock it to the shaft, that's the first job for tomorrow.

[Stanley]

One task accomplished this morning, to install the Unbrako set screw in the eccentric that will lock it to the shaft after valve setting. You might wonder why it took almost an hour. Simple, I am getting old and I started off by installing the screw in the thin wall of the eccentric! So I started all over again and installed it in the correct, thick wall of the eccentric. No harm done, just an extra grub screw hole. I shall have my breakfast......

[Stanley]

First thing this morning I sorted out all the stock I need for the remaining parts of the engine. These are the connecting rod, the link between the eccentric and the valve rod, the governor stand, the main bearing and the eccentric strap. I started by doing the rough fettle of the most demanding part, the very rough governor stand casting which is all curved surfaces and rack of the eye rather than measuring. When I had that somewhere near I turned my attention to the eccentric strap and spent the rest of the morning with this in my El Cheapo mill/drill. I have a good start on that, two parallel sides and the right thickness to fit the eccentric. I shall go forward with that tomorrow. At the moment I am focussed on breakfast!

[Stanley]

I continued working on the eccentric strap. I have milled all the external faces flat and parallel and deep enough to accept the 5BA nuts and bolt heads. Then I drilled the oil feed hole and the two 5BA clearance holes for the bolts which will hold the two halves of the strap together when it is split. That's the next stage with the strap, split is with a slitting saw and bore it to fit the eccentric.

[Stanley]

First job was to put the witness marks on the eccentric strap, I forgot to do them yesterday. Then I spent and hour converting the rough bronze castings in the kit to the two halves of a brass bearing that will fit the crank pin in the crankshaft. Every face had to be made square, the correct size and properly finished. I got there just before closing time. Now for breakfast!

[Stanley]

This morning's job was to make the head of the crank pin bearing round and then drill and tap it to accept a 3/16" X 40tpi plug. Next, make the plug and fit it. Dead easy you might say. All I can say is go out and do it and you might change your mind! But it's done and now I shall have my breakfast.....

[Stanley]

One image this morning of the bearing brass for the crank pin. It is ready for fitting to the engine once the connecting rod is made. I had to make this first and then make the foot of the con rod to fit the bearing and not the other way round. Note the witness marks to ensure it is always fitted correctly.... Now for breakfast!

[Stanley]

This morning I spent 30 minutes refining the fit of my crankshaft assembly in the engine bed. Than I measured up, did a fag packet drawing and started looking for my con rod in the rectangular blank Stuart's supply. The image shows where I got to, I shall continue tomorrow. Now for breakfast!

[Stanley]

Back in the shed this morning..... I spent the morning measuring and cutting and setting up the stock Stuart have given me for making the connecting rod. In case you wonder why it takes me so long, I find I easily make mistakes these days and I have to check everything time and time again. Slow but it seems to work! I am ready now for cutting the rod and that will be the task tomorrow. The next job this morning is breakfast!
PS. My chicken is in the oven roasting.....