OneGuyFromBarlick

I had one clear objective this morning, to finish fitting the steam chest and lid on to the Cylinder. So drilling completed, all six holes tapped and the studs installed. The steam chest and lid fitted perfectly with no adjustments needed. Surprisingly I had to re-tap the hole for the exhaust pipe in order to get it to fit. That done I put my tackle away. Mission accomplished and a nice easy 45 minutes.... Now for breakfast.

My first move was to fit the front lid to the target end using 2BA nuts and bolts the theory being that if the holes were lined up for 2BA bolts there would be no problem with the 4BA studs. Once I had done that and was satisfied with the fit I marked the front lid with a saw cut that lined up with a matching cut on the target end. Then I took the front lid off the target end, put it on the cylinder and made sure that the valve face would be perpendicular to the base when fitted. Once I was sure of that I marked the cylinder with a matching saw cut so I can line everything up. Next I offered the lid up to the cylinder, made sure my witness marks aligned and drilled for the 5BA CS screws that occupy the bottom two holes which are blind on the bed. Then I tapped and fitted the screws, they lined up perfectly with no adjustment. That is enough for this morning, 45 minutes of good work. Tomorrow I'll fit the 4BA studs on the cylinder. Now I want my breakfast!

This morning the task was to drill and tap for the 4BA studs in the front end of the cylinder, fit the studs and the lid and fit the whole assembly to the target end ensuring that the valve face is vertical. All that went without incident or any further fitting, I wasn't wasting my time yesterday with my adjustments of the holes in the target end. Now I am chasing my breakfast!

I decided this morning to leave the cylinder for a while and concentrate on the bed. I am starting by making and fitting the crosshead guides. The first job was finding the material, I had stored it somewhere very safe when I was unpacking the castings! When I found it I translated the unnecessarily complicated measurements on the drawing to sizes that actually make sense. (Things like 7/32" becoming a 1/4") I marked the guides up ready for the first cut and set them up in the mill but then I decided I didn't want to get into actual cutting. I deserved an early finish and breakfast so I only did just over 30 minutes....
I know it's ridiculous but I actually feel slightly guilty! (I shall get over it.)

This morning was all about one small task, reduce the two crosshead guides to the correct overall size and cut the 1/8" square profile which forms the actual guide surface for the crosshead. Very careful slow milling with my worn-out cutter! 45 minutes later I have them ready for drilling and fitting. That's for tomorrow. Small accurate steps will do me and now it's breakfast time.

An hour of careful work this morning fitting the crosshead slides to the engine bed. First I measured and marked the positions of the clearance holes for the bolts that will attach them to the bed. all six holes bored 5BA clearance. Then I marked the bed with witness marks for both guides and marked the guides to match. Then I set up the bed in the pillar drill and marked the bed for the first holes on each side. Then I drilled and tapped for the first bolt, fitted the crosshead guide and bored and tapped the other two holes using the guide as a template. Both those bots are fitted and no, you aren't seeing things, the one nearest the cylinder has a smaller head than the others. I shall have to live with that..... So one guide fitted and now I can leave the other for tomorrow. I want my breakfast!

One simple task this morning. Using the guide as a template, drill and tap for the three 5BA bolts that hold the guide to the bed. Careful and accurate work. We make progress.... Now for breakfast!

One clear task this morning. Drill and tap the back end of the cylinder for the six 4BA studs that hold the lid on. I've done that, fitted them and the lid and marked the assembly with witness marks. A quiet accurate hour and now I am ready for my breakfast.

One clear task. Strip the cylinder down and make a piston for it. The rod will follow tomorrow.... Now for breakfast!

Today I harvested the non-ferocious chips.... (I am still saving them for John) and then I made and fitted the piston rod..... Now I need a gland but that's for tomorrow. I want my breakfast.

A fiddly little job this morning making the glands for the piston and valve rods. The only way to hold them to turn the spigots and the face on that side is by pressure and friction. But they are done now after an hour of honest endeavour. Now for breakfast.

Just one job completed this morning. The adjustment and fitting of the piston rod gland to the front lid. This included putting a witness mark on the gland to ensure it's always fitted the correct way up. I was held up for a peculiar reason, all my own fault. I selected 4BA studs from my collection rather than the correct 5BA ones. Totally my fault and I can't explain it beyond saying it's a consequence of old age! Whatever the reason it's all sorted now and tomorrow I can move on to the valve rod gland.... Now I want my breakfast.

This morning I drilled the steam chest to accept the gland and then drilled the gland clearance size for the 5BA studs. Then I drilled and tapped the chest and fitted the studs. Last job was to mark the gland with a witness mark to make sure it is always oriented and fit it to the chest. Another small step forwards. Now for breakfast.

This morning I partially rebuilt the cylinder so I could check that the bore of the gland and the steam chest were in line. There was a slight discrepancy but that was solved by passing a No. 22 drill through, the next size above the 5/32" drill used to make the gland. Then I started on the steam valve casting and by knocking off time I had most of the major cuts done. I shall finish this tomorrow and make the valve rod. Now I am ready for, and deserve, breakfast.

This morning I carried on with the steam valve. At the end of almost an hour of honest endeavour I had finished all the major dimensions, cut the slot for the driver bar and fitted it. I have only the exhaust pocket to cut in the base and then I can fit the valve to the cylinder but I have done enough this morning and now I am going to have my breakfast.

Continuing work on the fitting of the steam valve. First I took another cut across the base of the slot for the driver as I wasn't quite satisfied with the depth I had reached. Then I drilled the valve for the valve rod using the surface plate as a base for the steam chest and valve assembly to make sure I had it aligned properly. Next I fitted the driver and marked it and the valve with witness marks. Then I marked it with the 5/32" drill to establish the position of the valve rod. Under the pillar drill with the driver and I drilled and tapped it 4BA for the eventual thread on the valve rod. Then I mounted the valve in the VM again and using the 1/4" end mill I cut out the bottom of the valve to allow the exhaust to get out. Last job of the morning I touched the big cutter up in the T&C grinder, refitted it in the mill and put the 1/4" cutter away. That was a good productive 45 minutes.... Now for breakfast!

One simple job, cut a piece of 5/32" stainless rod to length and thread it at each end 4BA. Then fit it to the valve and driver. Now I'm ready to make the clevis out of the 1/4" square material but that's for tomorrow. On good job done each morning suits my book! Now for breakfast.

Sorry about yesterday, nothing wrong I just decided to have a day off.... This morning I made the valve rod clevis. I have threaded it 4BA and drilled it for the 7BA nut and bolt that will attach it to the eccentric rod. I am ready now to cut the 3/32" slot in it to accept the eccentric rod. That's for tomorrow. My job now is have breakfast!

I finished the valve rod clevis this morning. I know it looks like overkill using a slitting saw to cut the slot in the clevis but it's the only way I know whereby I can get an accurate cut. My eyes aren't up to doing it by hand. This way I get a perfect 1/8" wide slot cut to the right depth and in the right place. Thaqt's the object of the exercise! Now for breakfast.

I started the morning by sorting out the non-ferocious parts that I* have to make. Some ar rough castings so I fettled some of them while I decided where to go next. I decided to make the bearing brasses for the flywheel so I rough ground the top brasses and started to mill the bottom brasses to size. I took my time, and a good job too because I got one of the measurements wrong. I find I do that these days and have to keep checking myself. Luckily no errors yet! Now for breakfast.

This morning I finished the rough cutting out of the bottom crankshaft brasses. Tomorrow morning I shall finish them and fit them to the bed. Right now I am more interested in breakfast.

This morning I refined the finish on the two bottom brasses and fitted them to the bed. I put witness marks on the brasses so that their orientation can be preserved. Then I refined the finish on the flanks of the webs of the crankshaft to make sure they were both the same thickness and that the overall width fitted inside the flanks of the installed brasses. Then I put the normal cutter back in the VM and vacuumed up the chips. Now I want my breakfast.

First thing this morning I made some final adjustments to the bottom crankshaft brasses and then turned my attention to the top caps. Half an our later I had got the major dimensions milled and was ready to finish them but that's for tomorrow. Right now I want to find my breakfast.

More progress on the top bearing caps for the crankshaft. Tiny cuts to finish the lugs and ensure that there will be room for the 4BA studs and nuts, drilling the oil holes in the tops and ensuring that there is enough meat in the lugs for the studs to capture. More careful and accurate progress. Now for breakfast.

Today's task was to drill the two top bearing caps 3/16" clearance for the 4BA studs that I shall be fitting, then mark the horns of the bed and drill the holes for the studs No. 32 which is the tapping size. Then tap all four holes, install the studs and mount the caps to check the studs are a fit and long enough to hold the caps down for boring. All is well and now I am ready to bore the bearing 1/2" and fit the shaft but that's for tomorrow. Right now it's breakfast time after another careful and accurate step forward.