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Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 25 Nov 2023, 07:19
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 26 Nov 2023, 07:17
by Stanley
Only one image this morning. I spent the whole hour cutting and adjusting the profile of the crosshead. I just have two small cuts to make now before it fits the guides. I could have pressed on and done some overtime this morning but decided not to. I am doing this for pleasure, not because I have to!
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 27 Nov 2023, 07:17
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 28 Nov 2023, 07:24
by Stanley
I started the morning by making sure the cylinder was sitting on the target face of the bed with the valve face perpendicular to the bed. Then I fitted the piston after packing it with soft packing. When I had that in place I put the soft packing in the piston rod gland and then mounted the cylinder on the bed. Once that was done I used the piston rod to mark the end face of the crosshead, drilled and tapped that 2BA and then fitted it with the piston rod engaged. As expected it is a tight fit but that was to be expected and can be adjusted in subsequent fitting operations. Lastly I refitted the normal everyday cutter in the vertical mill.
Once again, steady progress and no mistakes..... I shall take a view tomorrow when I start.
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 29 Nov 2023, 07:11
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 30 Nov 2023, 07:59
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 01 Dec 2023, 07:19
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 02 Dec 2023, 07:02
by Stanley
More work on the pedestal bearings.... I have ensured there is room to install the crankshaft..... Refined the bottom bearings so that they have witness marks and Match the top brasses. Then Do the same with the top brasses and end up at the stage where I am ready to drill the top brasses for hold down bolts and Oil hole and then mark the bed for the studs and drill and tap for them tomorrow. Lots of small fitting jobs and cleaning up and changing milling cutters on the way. Nice straight edge and no mistakes!
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 03 Dec 2023, 07:10
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 04 Dec 2023, 07:31
by Stanley
The target this morning was to bore the brasses for the pedestal bearings but other matters had to be addressed before I got to that. The bed of the crosshead guide had to be refined, the size of the piston and the outside finish on the pedestal brasses. What this meant was that the bed had to be stripped down in order to do these things and I ended up after an hour and a quarter ready to do the final half inch bore of the brasses. All very edgy stuff and any mistakes at this stage would of course be disastrous. I think we are OK so far!
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 05 Dec 2023, 07:01
by Stanley
This morning I finished line boring the bearing brasses, then adjusted the thread length on all 4 studs and installed them in the bed using Loctite. Next I reamed the bearings and fitted the crankshaft. It is oiled and will run in to a nice fit. It's a bit tight at the moment but that's to be expected.
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 06 Dec 2023, 07:02
by Stanley
I started the morning by stripping the crankshaft out of the bearings because I need it for boring the flywheel to suit it. Then I set up in Mrs Harrison to rough turn the flywheel preparatory to painting it. I have decided that painting the castings is the next task and doing the first turning of the flywheel is essential to that job.
I finished up with one side done and ready for boring.
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 07 Dec 2023, 07:01
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 08 Dec 2023, 06:57
by Stanley
My first action in the shed this morning was to have a deep chip chase on the lathe, VM and drill and then a really good clean of Mrs Harrison. I considered oiling it as well but decided I had done enough housekeeping. Next I stripped the castings down and cleaned them ready for painting. I finished after three quarters of an hour, I could have started painting but there is no rush and I have left that for tomorrow....
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 09 Dec 2023, 07:00
by Stanley
I allowed myself one small diversion, I cleaned up the vintage carpenter's square and oiled it. We are responsible for the condition of our tools even if, like this square, it's doubtful if I will ever use it.
Then I turned to brush painting my castings.... If you're thinking what a lousy painter I am you're right! However, doing them at this stage means that much of my overpaint is cleaned up during final finishing and fitting and the end result is what I am aiming for which is not concourse condition but a workmanlike protecting of the castings. Just the way the old engine builders used to work.....
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 10 Dec 2023, 07:20
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 11 Dec 2023, 06:53
by Stanley
I gave the shed 45 minutes this morning because that was all I needed to do what was on my agenda, clean up the bench and the tools and do the same with the vertical mill and the lathe, both of which were thoroughly oiled and then wiped down again. Every now and then you have to stop and do some maintenance! I'm ready now to go forward and I'll decide what that is by the time I'm in there tomorrow morning. But now breakfast and second sleep is the project.
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 12 Dec 2023, 07:09
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 13 Dec 2023, 07:25
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 14 Dec 2023, 07:11
by Stanley
Today's task was to make the tiny pivot pin for the small end of the connecting rod and fit it into the crosshead. I started by resharpening my HSS cutter and checking it was on centre by facing a piece of scrap steel. Then a very careful bit of fine turning and fitting. I made no mistakes and ended up with the pin installed in the crosshead and ready to accept the con-rod.That made it a nice morning and now I deserve some breakfast!
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 15 Dec 2023, 07:13
by Stanley
Following on from my work on the crosshead, I now want to make and fit the connecting rod but before I do that I have to make the crank pin bearing because the design of the con-rod end depends on the exact measurements of the bearing so I got the castings out and started working on them, at the moment all I want is a good fit on the crank pin. Once I have that I can make my con-rod to fit. Because I make my crank shaft differently from the Stuart way, the brasses, as cast, are nothing like the shape I eventually want them to be. So and hour of careful measuring, thought and milling. That included re-sharpening the milling cutter.
(I'm at the stage where I should really ditch this cutter.... it is so short I am into an area where the steel is not tempered. I think I have had my moneys worth out of what was always a scrap cutter retrieved from a scrap yard!)
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 16 Dec 2023, 07:24
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 17 Dec 2023, 07:16
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 18 Dec 2023, 07:26
by Stanley
Re: Shed Matters 3
Posted: 19 Dec 2023, 07:14
by Stanley
This morning the task was to convert this piece of rusty scrap into a connecting rod.... I hit the usual problems with scrap, you never know what you are getting. With this sample it was that it is harder than I would have liked. So I had to resort to indexed carbide and that in itself was a problem because the tool I selected had a blunt tip. By the time I had found that out and corrected it it was knocking off time. I have got the shaft to it's major diameter. Tomorrow I have to reduce the shaft to the minor diameter....
Yes, I could have ditched this scrap but I decided to persevere. I like making something useful out of what others have thrown away! Now for breakfast and second sleep.