The "Little Pearl" Single Cylinder Marine Engine

[b.lindsey]

  Now that you mention it, it does....pretty rough TP though 

Bill

[b.lindsey]

Work continues on the cylinder casting but slowly as I haven't had much time this week. May get a bit of progress done on it today I hope. Meanwhile, since the bore of this engine is 1.125" and will need to be a close fit with the piston (and rings) I needed a better way to measure between 1 and 2 inches (yeah, I know, a lame excuse for getting a 1"-2" mic). Then there was the little mini-mic sitting there on the workshelf in its original Starrett cardboard box crying out for a decent off duty home (you can see where this is going). And the finally what good is a 0-1/2" mic and a 1-2" mic leaving a big hole between them. Actually I do have a decent Mitutoyo 1" mic but matched sets of things are far more appealing. Long story short, I ordered a Starrett 1" mic in the 2xx series and a 1-2" Starrett mic in the same series, both of which now match mini-mic, and each has a decent padded storage box to reside in when not in use!!  One cannot have too may quality tools right?   

Bill

[Dave Otto]

Nice addition to the shop Bill, you will enjoy them I'm sure.


Dave

[b.lindsey]

Thanks Dave. I have had the little one for a couple of years now and absolutely love it for the small stuff. Sometimes you just need something bigger though!!

Bill

[crueby]

Nice to keep the 'Mic' family together!

Now you need to gather the Starret 'Cal I. Per' family, the 'R. U. Ler' family....

[zeeprogrammer]

One cannot have too may quality tools right?   

Now's the time to collect! As you approach retirement..you have to have everything you need.

Once you hit retirement...it becomes much harder to let go of the money.

I can't say it's a fact...since I'm not quite retired myself...but I have my suspicion (yea verily, fear) it is true. 

[b.lindsey]

Yeah Zee....it's that pesky term "fixed" before income that does it. Though I am blessed with less worry than many.

Bill

[Kim]

A very distinguished family you have there Bill!  Gotta love good quality tools! Just a pleasure to use
Kim

[Jo]

One cannot have too may quality tools right?   

Now's the time to collect! As you approach retirement..you have to have everything you need.

Quality tools YES  , but don't forget all the castings you will need when retired

Once you hit retirement...it becomes much harder to let go of the money.

I thought that was a natural tendency for all model engineers pre and post retirement 

Jo

[b.lindsey]

Quality tools YES  , but don't forget all the castings you will need when retired


Very good point Jo and I have a modest start on that too, just not in your league yet

Bill

[Don1966]

Can never have to many tools Bill and nice addition buddy you just got to love it.


 
Don

[b.lindsey]

Thanks Don, good to see you too.

Bill

[90LX_Notch]

You have to love all those red boxes.  Money well spent Bill.

-Bob

[b.lindsey]

Not a lot done today as it was a bit cold out in the shop, but did manage to make some progress on one of the eccentric straps. I located the center of the parting line and plunged a 3/8" hole through (photo 1), then enlarging it with the boring head (photo 2). It became apparent that the extra length of the tongue was going to be a problem so I milled it off closer to the final size needed (photo 3). That allowed me to chuck it up in the 4 jaw and center on the hole to bore it out to the minor diameter (photo 4), until the mating diameter of the eccentric was a nice running fit (photo 5). Once both straps get to this point, a .125" groove will need to be machined, centered in the width of each straps ID which will accommodate the larger diameter ring you can also see on the eccentric in photo 5. Maybe more progress tomorrow, I at least hope to get the second strap to this same point.

Bill

[b.lindsey]

Before taking the first strap out of the 4 jaw where it was already centered, I set up the rotary table on the mill and cut the groove in the strap to mate with the rib on the eccentric as shown in photo 1. After a little deburring I assembled the eccentric into the strap and while the fit was close it was still on the tight side (quite tight in fact) but I wanted a closer fit than called for in the plans. I added a bit of Fine Clover compound and worked the assembly more until things started to lap together. After a good cleaning, I added some oil and did the same thing again and I could feel the tightness working out. Another good cleaning, fresh oil and it was just the feel I wanted. The cross section of the assembly is shown in photo 2, and the assembly in photo 3. Now it's on to the second strap and then both will need the cosmetic work on the outer diameter but the critical part is now done on the first one anyway.

Bill