Author Topic: Retlas  (Read 89884 times)

Offline Jo

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #180 on: June 13, 2016, 05:31:42 PM »
We're moving house at the end of this month so I have stopped work on the Retlas and started packing up my workshop.
.....Andy

:paranoia: Been there, done that, once with professional workshop movers. 18 years ago it should have cost a fortune 2 lorries 6 trips over 2 days over 20 miles move somehow they charged me £250 for the lot :noidea:

A fella asked me a few years ago if I would consider moving house again: its not the packing up  :ShakeHead: or seeing your tools hauled on and off the top of the lorry  :hellno: Its the months and months of trying to get the new workshop up and running :'( And after still not being able to find things  :wallbang:

Like those airbrushes I found the other day  :headscratch: Don't remember them, I'm sure I don't remember them  :old:

Jo
« Last Edit: June 13, 2016, 10:12:37 PM by Jo »
Enjoyment is more important than achievement.

Offline Chipmaster

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #181 on: June 13, 2016, 06:02:12 PM »
You had a very good deal Jo, this move is going to cost me four times as much, one lorry with a Hiab arm will take just the four machine tools away for two weeks storage then deliver them to my new house. I have made eighteen trips to the self storage unit in three days, I had to carry my six inch Record fitters vice this afternoon    :old::ShakeHead: However, I feel more confident I can complete the challenge.
Andy
« Last Edit: June 13, 2016, 07:32:55 PM by Chipmaster »

Offline Jo

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #182 on: June 13, 2016, 07:52:37 PM »
I could provide safe storage for any castings for you  :naughty:

Jo
Enjoyment is more important than achievement.

Offline Chipmaster

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #183 on: June 13, 2016, 08:27:46 PM »
I could provide safe storage for any castings for you  :naughty:

Jo

Of course, if only you weren't too far away   :shrug:

Andy

Offline Chipmaster

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #184 on: June 21, 2016, 03:59:12 PM »
My machine tools were collected this morning.

Here they are greased up, ready for their holiday somewhere in Birmingham.
P1050560 by Andy, on Flickr

P1050565 by Andy, on Flickr

P1050575 by Andy, on Flickr

P1050582 by Andy, on Flickr

Archdale Vertical Miller being loaded.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWxbjgw_5lM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWxbjgw_5lM</a>

Strapped down and away they go, will see them again in two weeks time.
P1050596 by Andy, on Flickr

Andy

Offline Jo

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #185 on: June 21, 2016, 04:02:41 PM »
Strapped down and away they go, will see them again in two weeks time.

 :'(

I hope the new workshop is worth it.

Jo

Enjoyment is more important than achievement.

Offline Chipmaster

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #186 on: June 21, 2016, 04:27:50 PM »
So do I Jo :agree:. I'm quite pleased with the progress, the whole lot has now gone and it took 12 days.  This is my second workshop move, the first was exactly 12 years ago. Both of my 'workshops have been in tandem garages. The next one will be a bigger double garage with some more floor area and a window :whoohoo: My current garage has no window so its rather dreary.
Andy

Offline Chipmaster

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #187 on: October 16, 2016, 07:24:05 PM »
We moved house three months ago and I now have my new workshop up and running so I will be able to resume building Retlas.

My machine tools were delivered out of storage four days after we moved in whilst the rest of my workshop was crammed into a self storage unit.

WP_20160616_15_41_37_Pro by Andy, on Flickr
WP_20160616_15_41_48_Pro by Andy, on Flickr
WP_20160621_14_34_39_Pro by Andy, on Flickr

My wife and I spent a week getting the house sorted out then a friend helped me to transfer everything from the self storage unit into the workshop which is a double garage set apart from the house. The existing power supply was inadequate so I had an electrician install a 100 amp power supply and install new circuits for sockets phase, converter, lathe, shaper and lighting.

It has taken a couple of months to sort the workshop out and I'm having to accommodate garden tools until we get a shed.

Here are some picture of the workshop taken with my phone a few days ago. I'm also having to put up with a chaise longue that was given to my wife a couple of weeks ago, she's de-upholstering it which is a bit messy. It will move into her studio in the house when its stripped down to the bare frame.

WP_20161013_16_49_28_Pro by Andy, on Flickr

WP_20161013_16_49_34_Pro by Andy, on Flickr

WP_20161013_16_49_39_Pro by Andy, on Flickr

WP_20161013_16_49_50_Pro by Andy, on Flickr

WP_20161013_16_49_54_Pro by Andy, on Flickr

WP_20161013_16_50_51_Pro by Andy, on Flickr

WP_20161013_16_51_03_Pro by Andy, on Flickr

WP_20161013_16_51_14_Pro by Andy, on Flickr

Back to Retlas shortly.

Andy



Offline Roger B

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #188 on: October 16, 2016, 07:33:36 PM »
That's a lot of work you have done there  :DrinkPint:  :DrinkPint: Hope you are back using the machines soon  :ThumbsUp:
Best regards

Roger

Offline Chipmaster

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #189 on: October 16, 2016, 08:14:57 PM »
Hi Roger, I reckon I lost a half a stone in the process but it soon went on again  :(

Resumed work on the Retlas this afternoon.

I now have to finish the valve gear. This is the exhaust valve lever which I made a few months ago.

Retlas Valve Operating Lever by Andy, on Flickr

Building Retlas 685 by Andy, on Flickr

Building Retlas 689 by Andy, on Flickr

Graham Corry thought I might be able to build this Retlas keeping the pushrods straight as shown in this photograph of a Vertical Gardner,
Gardner Vertical001 by Andy, on Flickr
Because valve chest castings are deeper on my engine.
Here are some pictures of completed Retlas engines with angled pushrods,
Retlas [2] by Andy, on Flickr

Retlas at Station Rd Steam (5) by Andy, on Flickr

Retlas[1] by Andy, on Flickr

Vincent Salter 3 by Andy, on Flickr

Retlas crofty 2[1] by Andy, on Flickr

P1000194[1] by Andy, on Flickr

Here are some pictures of how my engine is shaping up, I think I will have to bend one or both pushrods, sorry Graham....

I've used a couple of lengths of 1/4 Whit allthread to show how far out the eccentrics and valve rods are. Reckon I could use the inboard eccentric to operate the exhaust valve via a straight pushrod.

Building Retlas 723 by Andy, on Flickr
Building Retlas 724 by Andy, on Flickr
Building Retlas 725 by Andy, on Flickr
Building Retlas 726 by Andy, on Flickr
Building Retlas 727 by Andy, on Flickr
Building Retlas 728 by Andy, on Flickr
Building Retlas 729 by Andy, on Flickr
Building Retlas 730 by Andy, on Flickr
Building Retlas 731 by Andy, on Flickr

I made the 5/8" diameter bronze roller to operate against the exhaust valve stem this afternoon.

Andy

Offline Dave Otto

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #190 on: October 16, 2016, 08:22:46 PM »
Hi Andy

I like the new digs; looks like a nice cozy place to build engines. Good to see you back working on the Retlas.


Dave

Offline Chipmaster

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #191 on: October 16, 2016, 08:34:10 PM »
Thanks Dave I am looking forward to epending a lot more time making engines but there are quite a few jobs around the house that I'll,have to deal with.
My friend is going to send me pictures and measurements of his Kyko engines for you. The delay is due to his computer being outbof action at the moment, he has blamed a Windows 10 update.
Will,pm you with the Kyko information as soon as possible.

Andy
« Last Edit: October 16, 2016, 09:59:09 PM by Chipmaster »

Offline Dave Otto

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #192 on: October 16, 2016, 11:24:54 PM »
Thanks Andy I appreciate it.

Dave

Offline Alyn Foundry

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #193 on: October 17, 2016, 06:40:53 PM »
Hello Andy.

She's getting close now !! Very nice craftsmanship.

I too have been " out of it ", in my earlier days I was a keen caver/climber, for nearly 20 years I spent an evening a week exploring the mass of old Lead mines dotted around Minera. The area is steeped in industrial archaeology, first mined by the Romans and then off and on until the 1920's. There's even a Cornish style engine house, sadly the engine was scrapped many years ago.

The odd accident now and then has led to lower spinal damage that has now come back to bite me! I have been laid up for the last nine months, only in the last few weeks has the pain subsided enough to be rid of the " La La land " tablets.

I shall be at the Anson at the end of the month for the winter closing event, you have two weeks to get her running!!   ;)

Kind regards, Graham.


Offline Chipmaster

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Re: Retlas
« Reply #194 on: October 18, 2016, 07:33:30 PM »
Hi Graham, good to hear from you. Reckon there's a slim chance of having my Retlas going within two weeks and an even slimmer chance of my wife letting me go to the Anson without extracting something in return. She reckons I've had a good run of engine related outings recently. I'll see whether Mike C has plans to go which might help my case  :LittleAngel:

Andy

 

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