Author Topic: New Project Mill Engine  (Read 9611 times)

Offline scc

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New Project Mill Engine
« on: March 04, 2018, 07:30:26 PM »
Having finished my 4" Burrell and had some feedback from some of you (thanks) re my new project thread, I have decided to follow in Willy's footsteps and make a simple single cylinder slide valve engine. Freelance of course  :)
I intend to buy a 10" cast iron flywheel from RDG and a lump of cast iron for the cylinder. I think I have enough steel, brass etc. for most of the rest.  A copy of Mr Harris's book will provide porting details and the old mill engine at work should help with construction details.
For now I'm sorting out the shed, machines and bits of tooling before I get started, and will post when underway.

Terry

Offline crueby

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2018, 07:32:40 PM »
Thats a nice classic mill engine to base the model on, some nice details to it.


 :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2018, 07:53:27 PM »
That will make for a nice model Terry, and you are fortunate to have a full size one to measure from. One of these days I hope to do the same with the Lydell mill engine our old engine club has over at the park close by.

Bill

Offline mal webber

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2018, 09:42:23 PM »
Look forward  to following along on your next build Terry,

Mal

Offline Ramon Wilson

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2018, 08:43:17 AM »
Good luck with your new project Terry  :ThumbsUp:

Can't do better than to have a full size subject at hand  ;)

I'll look forwards to your progress in coming days

Tug
"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)

Offline scc

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2018, 09:01:14 AM »
Cheers Gents,  It will be a week or three before I get started.       Terry

Offline scc

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2018, 05:49:54 PM »
I had a spare moment at work so started taking a closer look at "my" prototype. It seems to have a strange coupling at the valve rod / eccentric rod joint. Never seen one like this :thinking:  methinks some dismantling will be needed.
            Terry

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2018, 06:48:26 PM »
Given the rusty condition, good luck with the dismantling :). I would guess that the wedge thingy is there to adjust for wear in the clevis pin over time to keep things from knocking, but I agree, it isn't the normal thing one sees on such joints.

Bill

Offline crueby

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2018, 08:15:32 PM »
Yeah, that is not the normal double-wedge arrangement. I bet SteamGuyWilly has a diagram for this in one of his books though!

Offline Jasonb

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2018, 08:17:39 PM »
It would also be interesting to know what it is made of as it seems to have escaped the rust bug?

Offline crueby

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #10 on: March 07, 2018, 08:18:51 PM »
Have you looked at it from the underside of the assembly, can you see any more of the innards from that angle?

Offline ShopShoe

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #11 on: March 08, 2018, 12:53:57 PM »
"I would guess that the wedge thingy is there to adjust for wear in the clevis pin over time to keep things from knocking, but I agree, it isn't the normal thing one sees on such joints."

I would also guess the same. Perhaps there was some knocking and the owner decided there was enough room to add the wedge arrangement as a fix.

I await the "autopsy" for more information.

ShopShoe

Offline scc

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #12 on: March 08, 2018, 07:00:06 PM »
Had a closer look today.  The "wedgy" thing is a brass block shaped to press against the outer part of the eye  end of the valve rod :o
Tightened with a wedge it looks a bigger job than replacing the clevis pin!  The valve rod itself has extra support on the form of a bushed cast bracket...an afterthought?     I don't think yon wedgy will appear on my model, what do you think?

Offline crueby

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #13 on: March 08, 2018, 07:06:05 PM »
Wow - thats an oddball piece! Could there be a problem with the end of the clevis that needed some extra support, a crack maybe? Quite a lot of work went into that part.

Offline steam guy willy

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Re: New Project Mill Engine
« Reply #14 on: March 08, 2018, 11:32:14 PM »
Hi Terry, wow ...good oportunity to copy an original... i guess the brass bit was made up as they needed the engine to be working constantly , and could not afford to have any 'down time' . Is there a name plate on it ? Also the lubricator looks like it has been tacked on at a later date. The dismantling should be fairly easy as all the bolts on the 200 years old Beeleigh are coming out really easily although that engine has been standing outside in the elements since 1875 and is really rusty.  Good luck with this project...
The end of the cylinder seems to have an end cap that seems to suggest a tandem engine.
Willy..
« Last Edit: March 08, 2018, 11:39:34 PM by steam guy willy »

 

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