Author Topic: Robinson Revisited.......  (Read 39140 times)

Offline Stilldrillin

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Robinson Revisited.......
« on: March 29, 2013, 10:40:32 PM »
After almost a couple of years delay. I've made a tentative start, on completing my Robinson engine rebuild.  :ThumbsUp:

Shop time is still very limited. But, I'll post whenever there's some progress.

Here's the original saga. Just getting the engine to the condition I hoped it would be in, when it arrived...... http://madmodder.net/index.php/topic,3555.0.html

The flywheel casting halves are eccentric to each other, and the bosses have been machined true to the opposing sides!   :help:

Turned away as much of the balance weight as I could.......




The engine has been dropped, and one foot is broken.  :facepalm2:

Milled away the ragged edge......




And made a cast iron block to fit in the recess........




I've had little practice at silver soldering. But, never (yet) had a failed joint.  :)

What's the best sequence to use, for a sound joint in this situation? Should I flatten the wire, to lay between the parts?

Any tips would be much appreciated.

David D
« Last Edit: August 02, 2014, 11:31:43 AM by Stilldrillin »
David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Offline Ramon Wilson

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2013, 10:55:57 PM »
Hi David, As long as you have plenty of heat you should have no problem repairing this casting.

Just make sure the casting is scrupulously clean - no trace of oil in the pores - mix up a good paste of flux with clean water and coat all surfaces liberally and use plenty of heat - you could lay in strips of rod but personally (as long as the insert cant move) I would get the heat up first applying more flux as it goes then apply the solder just as the flux turns 'watery' feeding it in as it flows.

I quite envy your opportunity - I used to love reclaiming something of this nature. Good luck with it  :ThumbsUp:

Regards - Ramon
"I ain't here for the long time but I am here for a good time"
(a very apt phrase - thanks to a well meaning MEM friend)

fcheslop

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2013, 11:25:55 PM »
Hi David,guess both of us are on a play time shortage at the moment.My air cooled ones still sulking under the bench as the drawings from Mr Westbury do have there problems :facepalm:
Dave's Sterling coming on very slowly
I think Ramon has covered the silver solder question but any probs with heat send her up here its not a problem
Will catch up soon :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp:

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2013, 08:20:26 PM »
Hi Ramon.
Thanks for the confidence boost. I wondered if any different technique was required for c/i.
Seems just the usual common sense preparation, and sensible heat distribution. 

I quite envy your opportunity - I used to love reclaiming something of this nature. Good luck with it  :ThumbsUp:

Thanks! It's nice someone else understands my love of rectifying failed efforts. Rather than building from scratch......  :)

Several more orphans are waiting patiently in the toy cupboard.


Hi Frazer.
Thanks for the offer of extra heat assistance. But, I'm sure all will be ok. Probably!

Yes our present paths seem to be running parallel. But not managing to coincide as we hoped.
Phone availability times remain unchanged. As does the Harrogate meet.

Thanks Chaps! Pics will be displayed...... Win, or lose!

David D

« Last Edit: March 30, 2013, 10:47:02 PM by Stilldrillin »
David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2013, 10:42:39 PM »
Well.....

When I'd dropped the insert on the floor, for the third time, while trying to wire it into place. I realised, it was April 1st....   :wallbang:

Finally got it fixed, with flux more or less where I wanted it, and positioned on a fire brick.

After some time of heating, I realised my blowlamp was ok for copper plumbing. But, well underpowered for this job!   :facepalm:

The flux was bubbling, but no sign of any red heat!  :(

Only thing to do was dab and hope.........

The solder slowly melted, and puddled. So, I dabbed some more. Hoping it might flow through. 

Then I went for me lunch, leaving it to cool........




Turned it over, a couple of hours later. Not too bad........




Milled off excess. Expecting it to come unstuck.

Why do we always go that one thou too deep?   :embarassed:




Still attached. Looking ok.........




Rolled it over. Angle grindered and drilled 5mm........




A couple of dabs of filler and some paint, should look ok!  :D

Thanks for the support Chaps. Much appreciated!   :ThumbsUp:

David D






« Last Edit: August 02, 2014, 11:47:28 AM by Stilldrillin »
David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Offline Ramon Wilson

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2013, 10:57:11 PM »
Nicely done David - it's surprising how much heat somethings actually take but it looks like you made it okay :ThumbsUp:

Ramon
"I ain't here for the long time but I am here for a good time"
(a very apt phrase - thanks to a well meaning MEM friend)

Bogstandard

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2013, 11:19:20 PM »
Very nice repair indeed David. :praise2: :praise2:

You are showing with your restorations that nothing is really too far gone not to run again, it just takes time and confidence.

I have a casting set to build one of these engines, maybe one day it will get to the top of the pile.

BTW, did that displacer piston work OK? If it did, then when eventually I get mine made, I will take that route instead of making it out of the supplied parts, it seems to be a little more accurate.


John

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #7 on: April 02, 2013, 09:23:03 AM »
Thanks Ramon!
After getting that sinking feeling, when I realised I was well short of heat. I really didn't expect it to "stay stuck".  :disagree:

Don't know what make/ grade of solder I used, but it worked a miracle for me......  :whoohoo:


Thanks John!
Confidence...... Yes! Reading my original saga, I have progressed quite some way over the last two years.  ^-^

The displacer fitted/ worked perfectly, thanks.
It is a much better component than the presently supplied spinning, with it's large radius corners, giving much dead space......

David D
David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2013, 08:53:03 PM »
All stripped again......




Looks better than the first stripdown!  :)

Starting to clean parts, and adjust them to fit each other properly. Never seen a drawing, so I'm building blind.  :shrug:

I used Bluecol top up mixture for coolant.
There is rust in the nooks and crannies, despite piping air through the engine for 3 days, after running. Would machine coolant mix be kinder?

What do others use?

David D
« Last Edit: August 02, 2014, 11:49:27 AM by Stilldrillin »
David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Online steamer

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #9 on: April 06, 2013, 10:19:30 PM »
Hi Dave,

If your trying to dry out the coolant jackets and they're not that big...bring the engine outside and flush the coolant jacket with "drygas" which is nothing but alcohol.   Its hydrophilic...or in english...it bonds to water...and when it evaporates...takes the water with it...it will be bone dry once it evaporates...the down side would be if you have any parts that will react poorly  with alcohol...can't think of any...but...think before you do.

Also if your running compressed air...make sure your tank is drained and you have a moisture seperator...or your pumping moisture from the air in as well as the compressed air....

Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

fcheslop

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #10 on: April 06, 2013, 10:49:09 PM »
Hi Dave, just run her dry or use the anti freeze but don't thin it with water but she will still need well drying after use or hide it in the airing cupboard :lolb:.We used to have a coolant for the Rolls Royce engines that I used to borrow for my old Morgan and never had any scale/rust problems but dont know where to get my grubby hands on any :ROFL:
Oh we have a runner :ThumbsUp:just a tidy up then onward :LittleDevil:
cheers
frazer
« Last Edit: April 06, 2013, 10:53:57 PM by fcheslop »

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #11 on: April 06, 2013, 10:51:41 PM »
Hi Dave.
I've never heard of Drygas!  :shrug:

The engine is stored in a dry, household cupboard.
The air supply is from a fish tank aerator pump. Just a gentle air flow, for a few days. Many of the Steamtoy Lads do the same, to dry out their boilers.

Rather disappointed, the Bluecol allowed rust to form.......  :-\


Hi Frazer.
The Bluecol is the top up mixture. Ready to use.

She's been dry. Hiding in the airing cupboard, for 2 years! After the last run.......


Yay! Well done, getting a runner!  :whoohoo:

David D
« Last Edit: April 06, 2013, 10:56:03 PM by Stilldrillin »
David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

fcheslop

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2013, 10:57:19 PM »
Dave try shellac thinners its about 94 percent alcohol unlike meths and the engines run loads better on it but its clear so don't get it mixed up with the Vodka  :Jester:
Thanks I will do a little pic show of her.
Started planning out the start-able single steam plant for the min vap hull
best wishes
frazer
« Last Edit: April 06, 2013, 11:04:50 PM by fcheslop »

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #13 on: April 06, 2013, 11:03:18 PM »
Shellac thinners? Ah! that would fetch out the residual water, would it? Hmmm......  :thinking:

No chance of finding vodka here!  :ShakeHead:
That sort of stuff gives me headache, after I've fallen over.......   :help:

David D
« Last Edit: April 09, 2013, 10:30:06 PM by Stilldrillin »
David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

fcheslop

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Re: Robinson Revisited.......
« Reply #14 on: April 06, 2013, 11:08:10 PM »
I think Iv had to much cannot even spell it correctly :Lol:
The shellac thinners should work the same way as the one Dave mentioned.Its always a problem my own hit and miss engines have suffered the same way in the past and its so annoying

 

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