Potty Grasshopper Engine

[Bearcar1]

That is brilliant Stew. It is amazing what shapes and forms can be made by fabrication…… 


BC1
Jim

[sbwhart]

Thanks for your support Chaps.

Next bit the eccentric arm decided to keep the circle theme going.

So turned up and parted off some rings with their diameters receding in size drill 1/16 and threaded on a bit of wire as before.

The final was turned up and threaded M3 and shaped to blend in with the circle.



It was also drilled 1/16 and threaded on the wire.



And the whole lot silver soldered together, whist it was in the pickle made the valve rod handle fron 3/8 square bar.

Faced off centre drilled and drilled at tapped M3



Then drill a 3mm hole off centre slightly to help keep it on the valve rod/



Formed the other end up into a nice handle shape.



Thinned the width down to 1/4



Cut a slot to take the Valve rod.



And this is it finished.



And where it will roughly sit on the engine.



Cheers

Stew

[Bearcar1]

Dogonnit Stew, may I move in next door or down the lane from you? Your work reminds me so very much of my Grandpa and his approach to design and machining it is scary. BRAVO!! indeed!       


BC1
Jim

[sbwhart]

Doesn't time fly when your having fun:- time I did a update.

Next bit the eccentric this is exactly the same as for my mill and vertical engine except that it needs to rotate or slip (slip eccentric) around the crank shaft to change the direction of the engine. To do this you need to have a pin to act as a stop on the crank shaft and to section part of the eccentric. As I'm designing this engine for those with limited kit, the easiest way for them to machine these features is to first make a bush with a 3mm hole in it from the same material that the crank shaft is made from, then all you have to do it use this bush to drill the crank shaft for the stop that way it will be perfectly on centre.



And to section the crankshaft use this bush to make a little gauge so that you can section the eccentric accurately.





Next bit the bracket that will support the valve levers, this is made form 1" box section mild steel.





Square the bit up and mill the base nice and flat



Then drill the hole for to take the pivot bearing.



Drill the fixing holes.



And silver solder the pivot bush in place.



Mill away the unwanted bit of the bracket leave the bush intact until the end as this will give added support for the machining.



Thin down the back



Thin down the front



When done cut away the part of the bush not wanted,



 and this is where it fits on the valve chest.



Levers:- made from some 5/16" square bar, first drill the holes for the two levers.



Cut them from the bar and make up a mandrel and with them on the mandrel nibble them down to thickness.



Clean them up to shape with a file and this is where they fit.



Next bit the entablature, the base made from 1/4 mild steel plate cut to size nice and square and mark the centre point out



Using a wobble bar centre up on a four jaw and drill the and bore the centre hole a nice fit on the cylinder cover.





Use the cylinder covers to spot through to drill 3mm



Drill and tap the side M2



Keeping with the circular theme for the side plates, square the plates up and mark one out.



Drill a couple of holes in both plates and use these to clamp them together.



Drill the rest of the holes.



Hacksaw roughly to shape.



And file to shape.



And this is how it looks on the cylinder.



Cheers

Stew

[ths]

Stew, that's coming on very nicely indeed. I really admire the filing work on the side plates, as with Steamguy Willy's work, you make the hand stuff look easier than it is. Cheers, Hugh.

[Don1966]

I am enjoying all this detail work your doing Stew, this will really add to it elegance details.

Don

[b.lindsey]

First rate Stew. A joy to watch!!

Bill

[Alan Haisley]

I'm finally caught up with this build. Waiting the next installment. Thanks, Stew.

[Pete49]

again a exemplary build. You have more skill in your little finger than in my whole 6ft body
Pete

[gbritnell]

Stew,
Your fabrication and documentation is first rate as usual. I really enjoy watching someone create unique pieces from bar stock. This is going to be another fine engine for your collection.
gbritnell

[sbwhart]

Thanks for your interest and kind comments Lads

Bin a bit distracted from this over the last couple of weeks:- short holiday domestic duties etc.

But I cobbled it together:- lot of the nuts and bolts left off so things are not sealed and I didn't fit the flywheel, but I still tested it on air and it ran

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ9UDE5yDXU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ9UDE5yDXU</a>


Next job strip it down fit give it a paint job and a base and a few other button and bells.

Cheers
Stew

[wagnmkr]

Well Done Stew ... it's always nice when you get a runner first time.

Tom

[ths]

Good one Stew, and with a dog for a flywheel. Cheers, Hugh.

[b.lindsey]

Very interesting engine Stew and nicely done too. Gotta love that flywheel too

Bill

[Bearcar1]

Nicely done Stew. Runs a treat I think. I can't wait to see the buttons and bells you have in mind. 


BC1
JIM