Down on the Farm, Boy

[Hugh Currin]

Stan:

Thanks. That was on my multiple choice list. I did a much smaller taper lock on my Webster and cut the taper into the steel flywheel. But if it all went south it would have been (was) fairly easy and inexpensive to re-do. I thought it may be due to the cast iron somehow, glad to hear that's not it.

I learn a great deal from your builds and write-ups. I think your skills have moved you beyond "apprentice". But then again we're all permanently at that stage.

Thanks.

Hugh

[Roger B]

Looking good    Not long now till the first pops and bangs   

[kvom]

Good lesson on avoiding cheap Chinese cutters/broaches.   

DOSBOX isn't that bad though. 

[sshire]

"DOSBOX isn't that bad though. "
Long, long ago, when everything was DOS and I was writing assembler...
Now, with a MacBook Pro, and no anti-virus or popup blockers to deal with, I'm a much happier guy.
I'm also OK booting the Mac into Windows to run Autodesk Inventor.
But DOSBOX? Truly 1970.
 

[RonGinger]

If you want to avoid the DOSBOX stuff you can simply lookup the mandrel size in MACHINERY HANDBOOK. There are tables by wire size and desired OD. No calculations, just lookup the numbers. When I have used them the results come out right on.

[sshire]

Thanks, Ron.
I'll use that. Marv has so many very, very useful utilities that I'll just bite the bullet.
Don't know why Machinery's Handbook didn't enter my thinking for the springs.

[sshire]

Down on the Farm, Boy
Episode 26

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

While waiting for some 2-56 flathead screws for the governor mount, I was thinking about a fuel tank. Jerry Howell had built a rectangular tank. If you've followed any of my Elmer's builds, you know my position on square cylinders, etc. If it can be any shape but square-cornered, it's fair game.
Every time I see an interesting feature for an engine online, I grab a screen shot for future reference. I had one of a beautiful, hexagonal tank in brass done by a guy named "Coalminer." Sorry,but I don't remember from which forum I stole the idea.
All of that aside, the engine and tank are going to be black so no need for brass. I'm planning on powder coating the tank.

In the film, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", the crew had diving helmets like this.



Not wanting to go totally steampunk, I did some modification to the hexagonal idea.

A 2” 6061 hex to be turned in the center, leaving the hexes at the ends.  Marked with a parting tool.





Then, drilled and bored



The bore was enlarged and made .125 deep to accept these. The Mineral Crystal at this thickness, is  used on diving watches. I found it at a watchmaker’s supply at a few dollars each.
Each end of the tank will be transparent. Both to see the fuel level and because a gas tank with clear ends is interesting.
I wasn't excited about turning the recess at the other end since there's not a lot of gripping surface with the center turned down. Since I was moving the part to the mill, I did the other end with the boring head on the Bridgeport.





A test fit, in place



The tank body was parted off and the end, still in the chuck, was bored to a small depth to act as a locator for the mineral crystal.



With the lathe work finished on tank body and ends, it was to the mill. The body is indicated.



The crystal is in place and the end placed over it for a 6 bolt hole circle.





Finished body and ends



Now, 12 of these to make



I wanted to combine the fuel filler and vent. A brass round is knurled.



The end is rounded



Then, reversed and threaded.



An o-ring groove is turned



A center hole is drilled from the bottom, ending at the o-ring groove.



The part, still in its collet, is cross drilled to intersect the center hole.



Another brass round for the filler/vent body is drilled and tapped. This will be threaded into the top of the tank body.



Finished parts.



When the plug is unscrewed a few turns, the tank is vented. When screwed in, the 0-ring makes a seal.



Next time, the finished tank.

[b.lindsey]

That's some nice outside the box thinking Stan. Looking forward to seeing the finished tank!

Bill

[Roger B]

That's a great take on a fuel tank     

[Stilldrillin]

Your cross hole, in the O ring groove, had me smockravelled, for a while........

Really clever thinking, Stan! 

David D

[sshire]

When I started on the forums, I thought that there must be some secret machinist language.
Fettling, linisher, bits and bobs, slot drill, fiddlily bits. Just when I thought I understood it all, you come up with "smockravelled."
The fun never ends.

[sshire]

I've been looking at the filler/vent thingee and now I'm sure that, relative to the tank size, it's too big.
I'm going to redo it a bit larger than ½ size. I'll keep this one for a larger tank.
I needed another activity to go with the Farm Boy, the redo of the Rider-Ericsson hot cap and getting the rest of the engines ready for three shows in a month. (CF, NAMES and Rough and Tumble)

[Stilldrillin]

When I started on the forums, I thought that there must be some secret machinist language.
Fettling, linisher, bits and bobs, slot drill, fiddlily bits. Just when I thought I understood it all, you come up with "smockravelled."
The fun never ends.

Smockravelled, Stan? I picked it up during my apprenticeship, in Brighouse, some 50+ years ago. It's only another word, for flummoxed! 

Here's a link you might like....... http://www.bankstone.co.uk/road-tests-return

David D

[sshire]

David
LOL (after translation) on the Audi road test. Thanks 

[sshire]

Just a quick post of the completed gas tank.