Shed Matters 3

[Stanley]

Another careful step forward. I adjusted the thickness of the Con rod foot and remarked the PCD for the two bolts. Then I drilled the foot for the bolts and filed a flat bed next to the shaft of the rod to allow the nuts room to be tightened. Then I took the brass off the crank pin and assembled it so it is ready for finish milling tomorrow and drilling for the pivot pin in the crosshead. Now I want my breakfast!

[Stanley]

Today was putting the final touches to the fit of the con rod on the crank pin bearing. First I checked that we still had a 3/8" bore and adjusted that until it was correct. Then I started milling off the excess metal at the joint between the con rod foot and the bearing. High risk and delicate work. I did three sides and was tempted to crash on and do the fourth and final cut but I decided to leave that until tomorrow. I am not rushing and fancy a bit of breakfast.

[Stanley]

So many places where I could go wrong but not this morning. I finished milling the con rod, reduced the small end and bored it in the correct place for the crosshead pivot pin. I am now ready to fit it on the crank pin but that will do tomorrow, I have spent a productive hour in the shed and that's enough. Now I want my breakfast...

[Stanley]

A nice half hour fitting the con rod to the crank pin brass and then fitting it on the engine. It runs beautifully and I am now ready to move forward. But for now, breakfast!

[Stanley]

Only one piece of machining this morning, setting up and cutting the slot in the piston assembly for the screwdriver necessary to screw the piston rod firmly into the crosshead. Once I had done that I changed the saw for the 1/32" needed next time the saw is used. Then I prepared the cylinder casting for installing on the target face of the bed and lastly identified the next piece of machining, making and installing the piston rod gland on the front cylinder lid. Now I must find my breakfast!

[Stanley]

This morning's report from the shed is different and very simple. I started to make the piston rod gland using the casting Stuart's supplied. All was going well until I realised my reduction of the size of the flange to match the lid was almost reaching the PCD I had marked for the retaining studs. I had made a catastrophic mistake. So I went to my treasure chests, found a replacement casting and scrapped the one I had started on.
So I have ditched this morning in the shed. I think I need to have a reset before I bugger another casting up!

[Stanley]

This morning I managed to make the piston rod gland without the egregious error yesterday that scrapped the casting. Tomorrow I shall fit the studs. Today I shall breathe a sigh of relief and have my breakfast!

[Stanley]

This morning was simple and ended up accurate. I marked and drilled the 5BA clearance holes in the piston rod gland and then marked the front lid boss for the studs. Into the pillar drill , drill and tap and then fit the studs. The gland slipped over the studs and into the boss with no adjustment needed. I have marked the gland to orient it correctly if it is taken out. Then I fitted the front lid to the cylinder using the two 5BA CS screws in the blind holes.... That is a good hour's work and another small step forwards. Now for breakfast.

[Stanley]

This morning was a general rebuild of the engine so far before we move into the next phases. This is where you do your final checks to make sure you have the basics right. Now I want my breakfast....

[Stanley]

The job this morning was to connect the piston rod to the crosshead and verify that there was the correct clearance at each end of the stroke. I fitted the piston complete with rings in the bore and used the rod to mark the crosshead. Then I drilled and tapped the crosshead 2BA and refitted it in the crosshead guides. Then I fitted the back lid on the cylinder and checked for clearance at each end of the stroke. It was fine so we can say we have had a good morning, taken a step closer to having and engine and earned our breakfast.