Shed Matters 3

[Stanley]

No need for an image this morning because it would be exactly the same as yesterday's.... The difference is that I have stripped the piston and rod out of the cylinder, removed the soft packing and adjusted the fit until I had free movement. Then I replaced the packing and screwed the rod back into the crosshead. I also rethreaded the hole in the crosshead so that I could get full depth engagement. I am ready to make the connecting tod now.... The immediate task is breakfast!

[Stanley]

This morning I started by touching up my milling cutter and reinstalling it in the VM. Then I set to to make a connecting rod. I set the piece of rectangular stock provided by Stuarts in the lathe and started cutting. It was tempting to press on when I reached an hour in the shed but I managed to resist. I know exactly where I am starting from tomorrow. Breakfast is more important and there is no rush.

[Stanley]

Slow but accurate! The con rod is well on the way to completion. I was tempted to crash on and part it off but restrained myself. There is no rush and breakfast is more important.

[Stanley]

This morning I finished turning the connecting rod and marked it for drilling to accept the bolts that hold the crank bearing together. That's done now and I am ready to mill the sides off level with the brass and then fit it back on the crankshaft and measure where I need to drill for the crosshead pivot. That's tomorrow's work, right now the aim is breakfast!

[Stanley]

A combination of hand work and some very precise milling resulted in my con rod being refined to the point where it is ready for fitting to the engine. That will happen tomorrow. My goal at the moment is breakfast!

[Stanley]

This morning I made my measurements and cut the tail of the connecting rod to length and then rounded it off. Next U punched witness marks into the foot of the rod and the crank brass to ensure correct orientation and decided on the location of the hole in the con rod for the crosshead pivot pin. This was a balance between each end of the stroke. I marked the position I decided on and then drilled it. A bit more refining of the finish and I re-assembled the rod on the crank brass. Then the most important part of the process. I fitted the crosshead pivot pin and tried a rotation of the flywheel. I am happy to say it's perfect. I tightened my nuts up and went to find breakfast.

[Stanley]

The task this morning was to prepare the engine for building the valve train but I got a surprise as I surveyed the piste.... I thought I'd finished with the con rod and piston but realised I had forgotten to install the piston rod gland! So I started the morning by stripping the piston and rod out of the engine and installing the studs and fitting the piston rod gland. That done I cleaned up the face that the valve sits on, fitted the studs for the valve chest and then fitted the chest and its gaskets and the steam chest lid. I am ready now to go forwards and the first job will be to make the steam and exhaust pipes.... But first, I want my breakfast.

[Stanley]

This morning I moved on to the valve train. The first thing I did was start to make the eccentric which drives the valve. I have got the stock to size, cut the groove for the eccentric strap and now I'm ready to mark the centre of the hole which has to be offset. The work this morning was complicated by the fact I had to fit a new tip in my parting tool, last time out I broke the old one. Now for breakfast.

[Stanley]

Small but accurate steps..... This morning I finished the eccentric. First I marked the PCD of the offset of the bore that fits on the shaft to give the eccentric its throw. Then a transfer to the pillar drill and I bored the eccentric out to 3/8". Next I set the eccentric up to drill for tapping for the 1/4" grub screw that will fasten the eccentric on the shaft. I hit a problem here in that I had to use a succession of taps before I got a good fit for the screw. My taps suffer from the same problem that I have, they are all getting worn and cutting undersize.... I persevered and in the end I got a fit. Now I am after my breakfast!

[Stanley]

Another small but accurate step.... I made and fitted the steam and exhaust pipes to the engine. Now for breakfast which is more complicated this morning as I have no microwave. I am back to an old fashioned CI pan on the hob.....

[Stanley]

This morning I made the flat link which connects the eccentric to the valve rod. The first move was to reduce the thickness of the stock provided by Stuarts until it fitted the gap in the valve rod clevis. Then drill the valve end 7BA clearance for the pin in the clevis. Then measure the position of the 5BA clear countersunk hole in the eccentric end. Both ends of the link had to be rounded off. All very tricky work holding especially for the milling to thickness. Now I am after my breakfast.

[Stanley]

Today's task was taking the raw eccentric casting and refining it until it is ready for boring. I have reached that stage but that's for tomorrow..... Right now I have one thing in mind and you all know what that is.....

[Stanley]

More work on my eccentric. I refined the dimensions of the lugs and made sure they were square. Then I drilled the oil hole. Next I went into my fastenings and realised that Stuarts had let me down, they hadn't included the bolts for holding the two halves of the eccentric together after it has been split so I had to go digging. I found some 6BA nuts and bolts that will do nicely and drilled the lugs to take them. I'm ready now for splitting the strap and boring it but that's for another day.... Right now I am after breakfast.

[Stanley]

An hour of careful accurate work on the eccentric strap. First I marled the line of the split that has to happen in order to fit it. Then witness marks to ensure it is always mounted correctly. Next I split the strap and then refitted the 6BA bolts that hold it together. Next I changed my cutter for the 3/8" slot drill I shall use to mill the pocket in the strap for the eccentric rod. Then set the strap up in the vise and mill the slot. Next I marked the strap for the CS screw that will hold the rod in the slot and drilled and tapped it. Last I assembled the rod and the strap, no fitting needed I got it right first time. I am ready to bore it now but that's for tomorrow. The next job is breakfast!

[Stanley]

This morning's hour in the shed was spent setting up the eccentric strap for boring to one inch diameter, boring it and fitting it on the engine. Perfect fit so I lubricated it, took the boring head off the VM and replaced the normal end mill. Totally unexciting but another step towards completion of the valve train.... Now I want my breakfast.

[Stanley]

This morning I started by addressing the misalignment of the eccentric rod and the slot in the clevis on the valve rod. I cured this by taking the eccentric strap off the eccentric and reversing the latter on the shaft so I could exactly line up the rod. Then I addressed adjusting the length of the valve train so that I had equal cover of the valve ports at each end of the stroke. To do this I took the valve chest lid off. Then I set the eccentric so that the valve was in the correct running position and replaced the lid. Finally I packed the valve rod gland and lubricated it. I finished up with only one job left to do to make this a finished engine. I need to fit the valve rod support, a complicated little bronze casting. That's for tomorrow and can't be rushed. Now I need my breakfast.....