Model Engine Maker

Engines => From Kits/Castings => Topic started by: Alyn Foundry on August 22, 2018, 07:17:19 PM

Title: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on August 22, 2018, 07:17:19 PM
Several months ago I was asked by Jason about the Isaac F Allman kit that I advertised at the turn of the last century. This engine was scaled from a pair of Patent drawings that accompanied Mr Allman's original application.

Alyn Foundry had already done a " loose " replica of the Allman and Thompson vertical gas engine, Vincent made the patterns from a full page illustration. Being a large model, like the Retlas, few kits were sold.

The history.

A former customer, Mr Kipling from Darlington had found pictures of the IF Allman and was telling me about them at one of the 1000 engine rallies held each June. He described an almost unique design for an IC engine that used " A " frames to support the crankshaft and flywheel, I was intrigued. John promised to send photocopies as soon as he could. He did, the following Tuesday morning saw a large brown envelope arrive with the whole patent specification inside. I showed the pictures to my wife who remarked how nice it looked and suggested that a model should be made.

Using the flywheel as a datum I then proceeded to measure every part of the drawing to make patterns to. Knowing the main capabilities of model engineers, back in the day, a maximum of 12 inch diameter was chosen. This also helped me as I had got a pair of Aluminium masters from our Gardner kit that I had managed to " screw up " having made the inner rim too narrow. These were gently massaged into a new pattern for the Allman engine.

The rest of the engine was pretty straightforward, chunks of wood were screwed together to make " split " patterns and very quickly the two dimensional paper plans became three dimensional objects. It has to be said that at this time in my life I was " off sick " from work. I had suffered a series of " chest pain " incidents and my doctor suggested some R&R! To each, his own, this was my kind of R&R!! It came back and bit me very hard much later, but that's another story.

After a couple of weeks most of the wooden patterns had been made and converted into Aluminium masters. The fun part starts. I took the patterns to Rhuddlan and with the help of the lads there moulded and cast all on the same day. I remember having a box full of very hot castings buried in sand to prevent chilling, coming home in the back of the minibus we used to have.

At this time I had acquired a new, to me, Knight of St Louis jig borer. This machine had been sort of converted into a milling machine. With this machine I drilled the 16 holes that were used to attach the " A " frames to the base casting. Using nothing more than the X and Y dials I managed to accurately achieve a situation that I'd never had before. I was able to fit either " A " frame onto either pad, in both directions!!

Within a couple more weeks the completed engine was ready for running. In that time I had made patterns and cast the Bronze bearings in my backyard foundry, made a Steel mould to diecast the fiddly governor yoke. And also cut a pair of 15:30 ratio gears at 22DP.

Time was marching, by now I had set my sights on showing John the finished engine at the Astle Park steam rally in August.
Literally 5 weeks after receiving the patent drawings.

It took me two days of time to finally get a single chuff. The reason? Mr Allman hadn't realised that the piston would cut off the passage to the ignition tube due to his " special " spherical combustion chamber design. A very quick and dirty slot was cut into the side of the piston and hey presto the engine ran for its first time.

I apologise for the rather lengthy introduction to this thread but I felt a little history was in order. I know that three major contributors to this forum have now got sets of castings, one in particular is also going to do something that never got done in the beginning..... The drawings!!

Much more to come, cheers Graham.

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on August 22, 2018, 07:25:50 PM
The attached picture above is Vincent's original A&T which, if you look closely has a sideshaft. This sideshaft was hollow and carried the flyball governor control rod.

Vincent sold on this engine many years ago, I wonder where it is now.

I'm hoping that my fellow contributors can furnish some extra pictures of this project as at this moment my PC is lying dead after the last update.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: crueby on August 22, 2018, 07:58:47 PM
Nice looking engine, reminicent of a inverted steam layout.


 :popcorn:
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 22, 2018, 08:24:04 PM
Maybe worth putting up the Patent Drawings first to see what Graham had to work from. I have also attached the Patent in PDF form which has a description of the engine and explains what all the lettered parts are.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/US453071-0_zpsuvmzalmr.png)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/US453071-1_zpse5euzcnb.png)

This is Graham's finished engine

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/ifallman_zpsfkgv71wi.jpg)

And some of the patterns

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/allpat_zpsjfmfwtfz.jpg)

I collected these castings at the Bristol show  from Andy B who had kindly acted as courier for Graham, not upto the old Alyn foundry standards but mostly usable after some serious fettling.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Amberley%2008/Bristol%202018/DSC03022_zpsxjwfk5ys.jpg)

I have made a little swarf to see what the iron was like and also made a tentative start on the drawings. I will be making one or two alterations from Graham's model as there are a few things on the Patent drawings that I see slightly differently but all in all it will be very similar.

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on August 23, 2018, 11:38:15 AM
Good morning Jason.

I really appreciate your last post. I'm having to work with limited capabilities at the moment.

I'm hoping to get a short video in HD done soon of the engine running. I was particularly proud of the tiny gas ring burner that provides the heat for the ignition tube.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 23, 2018, 01:39:16 PM


It took me two days of time to finally get a single chuff. The reason? Mr Allman hadn't realised that the piston would cut off the passage to the ignition tube due to his " special " spherical combustion chamber design.



Or was it that Mr Corry did not look closely enough at the Patent drawings particularly items "b" and "c" :LittleDevil:

Look forward to the video.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on August 23, 2018, 01:44:36 PM
You mean the small igniting-port b and the feed groove c.

The original pretty gear arrangement looks interesting on the engine  :)

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 23, 2018, 03:00:45 PM
Gearing is simple enough, just need the main bearing castings so I can get crankshaft height and that will allow me to work out where to place the pivot for the larger gear.

Jo & Andy, do you have 22DP cutters or would it suit to go with the more common 24DP and add a couple of teeth?
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on August 23, 2018, 03:06:50 PM
Touché.    :)

Jo, I take it you like the rather " coarse " tooth form depicted in the patent drawings?

As you're aware a finer tooth count helps with valve timing but this engine is pretty forgiving as there's masses of adjustment available.

Jason, the sun has appeared but my son has disappeared, MOT time. Fingers crossed for a video later on.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on August 23, 2018, 03:08:20 PM
Jason, try these!!  :LittleDevil:
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on August 23, 2018, 03:19:14 PM
Hi Jason,

I have no experience of gear cutting only read the book. I hoped to rely on obtaining suitable gears from HPC.

Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on August 23, 2018, 03:26:00 PM
Jo, I take it you like the rather " coarse " tooth form depicted in the patent drawings?

I do  :) it gives it character and will make the gear teeth look chunkier relative to the size of engine. It looks like the original engine had 24 teeth and 12 teeth on its gears so I will have to do some calculations as to which DP should be used to get it to look right.

22 is one of the few DP sets I don't have but these will be cut with wider teeth to get them to look right.

Jo

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 23, 2018, 03:32:38 PM
May be worth making a special cutter with a lower angle or getting a clock gear cutter, 14.5pa would look better than 20pa from HPC, HPC also don't do 22dp. For the sake of an extra 1/4" of material some  additional gears may be found.

Also need to make sure the small gear will still fit around the crankshaft without the valleys being too thin

Graham, what use is that photo of the bearings to me, I can't see the sides to guess the height ;)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on August 23, 2018, 04:22:00 PM
Jason.

Just returning the banter....   :LittleDevil:

The patterns have arrived at the Brass foundry that I've been using for the last 35 years. I'm asking them to forward directly to you three as soon as they're done. I had to make new patterns for the Brasses as the original ones have gone missing. The new patterns are made from 1/2" thick Nylon sheet so that should give you an idea of finished thickness?

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on August 23, 2018, 04:30:16 PM
Whilst in the workshop I came across the 12 tooth gear for the Robinson " X " type.

What about them?  12:24  1.75 Mod.

The 12 tooth gear is capable of being bored out to 1/2" diameter to suit the Allman crankshaft.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 23, 2018, 07:05:14 PM
Thank's Graham that will give me a height to add onto the top of this

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03068_zpsznzlueqm.jpg)

I was aiming for 7 1/16" high but found that the Bangood cutter does not do a vertical edge so after this the A frame had a slight sideways lean >:(

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03065_zpsd0aemejq.jpg)

I'll have a play around with the gear sizes as some of the smaller tooth counts are not so easy to cut as the ones from the likes of HPC have the right undercut as they are cut on a proper gear cutting machine.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on August 24, 2018, 07:12:00 AM
I would have thought the original engine used whole unit imperial measurements JB  :noidea:

I have run the numbers on the original 24/12 tooth gears and the two options I have are: 20 DP which gives 34.3mm between centres or 24DP gives 28.56 between centres. I might try cutting them to see if they would run true  :thinking:

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 24, 2018, 07:34:02 AM
I would have thought the original engine used whole unit imperial measurements JB  :noidea:

7.045 about as near as I could get to a WHOLE 179mm Jo  :LittleDevil: But if you want to do your own drawings then I'll just let Andy and Graham have copies of mine.

I wanted to keep as much metal on the casting as possible so that the pivot for the larger gear will be able to fit the top web of the A- Frame, as you can see there is not much to play with.  Attached is what there is to play with assuming I can get the bearing castings to finish up at 7/16", if I had come down to 7" that would leave me even less to play with.  Still need to decide whether to just tap and spot face the web or add a boss to give a more substantial fixing. This is why I am machining parts as I go along, not worth drawing something that can't be made from the castings we have.

I am also finding that the castings generally have about 1/32" machining allowance so again 1/32" off top and bottom would have given me 7 1/16" to get down to a nominal 7" would have been a lot more off the top so not consistant with the other castings and therefor probably not what Graham made it to. Any more off the bottom and the foot would have been too thin.

Graham. I've now got that "texture" on the castings so they do look more like the real thing :mischief:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/2_zps4apk7q6a.jpg)

J

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on August 24, 2018, 07:51:24 AM
So 24 DP Gears would be more appropriate then. I'll see if I can cut a pair today at work  :)

Jo

P.S. You have probably noticed the two Patent drawings are at slightly different scales
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 24, 2018, 07:59:03 AM
Don't waste your time. You did not read what I said about the distance between the bore and the valley being too small.

12T 24DP gear is 0.580" OD Addendum 0.041, dedendum 0.052 so 0.186 off that mean the root to root distance across the gear is 0.394 so it's not going to fit a 1/2" crankshaft without all the teeth falling on the floor :insane:
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on August 24, 2018, 08:22:59 AM
So you said  ;)

I'll assume a 1/8" throw on the eccentric with 7/8" OD and leave a boss to suit cutting it afterwards I've just realised a slight change in design is needed to assist the timing because of the spacing of the gear teeth

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 24, 2018, 09:49:09 AM
7/8" eccentric will leave you rather thin on the strap maybe 0.050" after it's been cleaned up ::)

Don't see why you would need the eccentric so large, the bigger timing gear could run on a 1/4 or 5/16" pivot so 5/8" OD would do.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on August 24, 2018, 10:55:14 AM
I have decided the eccentric will be made when I am allowed the castings for this engine. In the meantime I will try machining the larger gear to see how they run together.

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 24, 2018, 11:25:29 AM
I suppose we should also bear in mind that what is shown on a patent drawing does not actually reflect what would have been found on the engine if it had actually been made. Once they got round to some engravings of engines you can see they used more normal gears with a lot more teeth, just like this one I made earlier.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/1-3rd%20Scale%20Allman%20c1890/5937-B_zpsxdttfamu.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/1-3rd%20Scale%20Allman%20c1890/DSC00875_zpslsy3n3qq.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/1-3rd%20Scale%20Allman%20c1890/DSC00876_zpsveon8ywl.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on August 24, 2018, 12:45:32 PM
I didn't enjoy cutting the big gear having bits of teeth left all over the place  :paranoia: It looked better once I added an additional cut and fettled any strag ends.

They roll together ok wouldn't have any power but in this application they don't need to so I will let his lordship add those to his castings   :pinkelephant: and I will get on with what I should be doing while I wait for more castings from Graham  :-X

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on August 24, 2018, 03:30:26 PM
Hi Jo.

Interesting looking gears, as you say they're not doing an awful lot.

I've just realised that Jason seems to have two inlet valve chests, is someone missing one?

I've just photographed my engine in the eccentric strap area. I too went as large as I could but with a 3/8" stroke overall.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on August 24, 2018, 03:35:39 PM
I've just realised that Jason seems to have two inlet valve chests, is someone missing one?

Yes, that is Surus' one  :stickpoke:

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 25, 2018, 04:58:20 PM
These Welsh MOTs seem to take a long time.

While waiting for the video I got a couple of bits joined together.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03075_zpslj2kqqeo.jpg)

Those with a keen eye will see that I have started to effect the modifications from Grahams engine design  to one that more closely resembles the Patent.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on August 25, 2018, 05:45:23 PM
Hi Jason.

Not so much the MOT but the weather and my son has to work really unsociable hours these days.

Perhaps you could show the readership how the inside of the cylinder outer looks like? I made the corebox with a series of concentric rings to get good contact to the liner. These contact points are where the various ports enter the cylinder proper.

As both you and Jo had pointed out I missed a few vital issues like the transfer through the piston and I totally missed the closed top to the water jacket. This hasn't really been a problem though, the engine runs quite happily and the 638 that holds things together has done nigh on 20 years now.

Nice progress.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 25, 2018, 08:23:54 PM
As Graham says the cylinder casting has a number of annular recesses that when the liner is inserted become the water jacket. having them as complete rings makes for easy core making and also makes it more likely that you will get a true bore through them all rather than having an interrupted cut if they were just cast around the various through holes.

This shows the basic shape of the cored cavity after machining, There was another contact point about 1/2" down from the top but I have shown this removed and also a recess in the top edge to take a ring of CI bar that will close off the water space.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/Core%20Revolve_zpsc3ranipw.jpg)

This shows a section through the cylinder casting, the liner will make contact at the areas where the diameter is smallest, I will have to cut away some of these parts so that the water can flow freely from top to bottom

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/core%20section_zps3srofzto.jpg)

This is a section with the liner and top ring in place

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/core%20ass%20section_zpsojf6awyw.jpg)

looking down into the cylinder you can see the areas that will contact the liner and the cavities which still have the cast texture, the blue pen mark is where I removed the upper cast in ring and the recess which my new top ring will sit in.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03084_zpselh0vpet.jpg)

J





Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on August 26, 2018, 11:31:40 AM
Good morning Jason.

Many thanks, a more than adequate description of the water jacket layout.

I used a long series drill to link the sections together, obviously making sure that I didn't drill where the transfer ports were going to be once the liner was fitted!

I forgot to mention that the Allman engines bore and stroke are.... 1,1/2" bore and 2" stroke.

Mr Allman's design was quite revolutionary at that time. A " spherical " combustion chamber. One hemisphere formed in the cylinder head the other in the piston. IC engine " aficionados " would have heard of Sir Harry Ricado and his efforts to create his " induced swirl " in the 1920's, was Mr Allman intuitive?

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 26, 2018, 01:30:37 PM
Thanks Graham, I had already decided 1.5" bore was about right from the piston and cylinder head, have bored the outer casting to 1.654" which for Jo is about 2mm wall thickness for the liner.

I'm thinking of either a Woodruff/tee slot cutter or the boring head and the rotary table to open up between the water spaces.

No wotk on teh Allman today, back on Wee Robbie.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on August 30, 2018, 07:10:21 PM
After a bit of grinding and filing the two valve chests are looking quite good. I also milled the back face of the flanges flat and drilled the mounting holes as well as taking a skim off the tops. The two bosses on the cylinder casting have also been machined flat and drilled & tapped and finally a bit of blending of the two edges has things looking as they should.

The valve chest castings seem to be a softer iron and so far there are no signs of any hard areas which is ideal for getting a good guide and valve seating :)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03091_zpsqx9mwvpx.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03092_zps2fzxqpnb.jpg)

J
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 02, 2018, 01:47:02 PM
I got the Pulley machines all except broaching the keyway

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03102_zps0xc0qtow.jpg)

Also did the governor yoke, not sure what alloy this is cast in but it is quite heavy almost like ZL12 aluminium zinc alloy. Is this one of your own castings Graham or did the Iron foundry do it? Machines quite nicely and has a decent size chucking spigot..

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03101_zpsrdauz6rf.jpg)

The two bits fitted together, bit tight to get the 10BA screws in but they fitted OK.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03103_zpskh6qvpqk.jpg)

J
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on September 02, 2018, 02:07:26 PM
Great progress Jason.

Yes, the governor yoke is one of my castings, in house. It is a Zinc alloy the same as the Robinson " X " type eccentric internal gear.

I chose this method, as a fabrication was considered too time consuming for me.

The " substantial " chucking stub is actually the " head " for the gravity die casting process.

Now, not wishing to correct you, but.... The two little stubs sticking out from the sides of the collar are where I placed a couple of 4 BA hex head bolts to clamp the yoke to the pulley. Fixing in this fashion allows adjustment of the assembly to that of the roller arm.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 02, 2018, 02:53:05 PM
Thanks Graham, I was wondering what those bosses were for and that also confirms why the yoke was the best casting of the lot.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 07, 2018, 08:24:50 PM
I've got the tapered CI ring made to close off the top of the water space.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03112_zpsd244bwsg.jpg)

Crankshaft, Crank and Crank Pin.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03113_zps8daui5vs.jpg)

Also a few simple turning jobs - Pivot pins for governor arms, governor spool and wrist pin.

J
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 12, 2018, 08:23:17 PM
Some people like to fondle their castings but I prefer to fettle mine. Got the flywheel tidied up to a point where it is now ready to be machined

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03148_zpsdxoajyyz.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: zeeprogrammer on September 12, 2018, 10:54:47 PM
Some people like to fondle their castings but I prefer to fettle mine.

Now I'm starting to think I'm watching a soap opera.  :Lol:

Albeit...not a lot of drama...but entertaining!
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on September 13, 2018, 12:02:26 PM
Good morning Jason.

That flywheel is now looking more presentable.

It's a sad fact that most foundries these days are using rather coarse grained sand. Back in the days of my production the patterns were moulded using the " Greensand " method with a sand so fine you could cast your fingerprints!!

Roger Jones, the patternmaker at Buckley always said that the pattern had to be 110% perfect otherwise you wouldn't get a 100% casting. This was one of the reasons why we changed to using Aluminium masters that were polished bright.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 15, 2018, 07:28:18 AM
Well I have a feeling that the foundry may have had a bit of SG iron left in the crucible that they used for this flywheel, certainly seems to look and machine like it and also has the smell to go with it. Having said that it is machining up quite well. The outside of the casting was much lighter than most of the rest which I thought may have been due to a different sand but seems the iron does not have the graphite in it and is not the usual dark grey that is a joy to cut.

I used an upturned boring bar to get the reach as at first the rough casting was just kissing the carrage legs ( yellow painted part) so needed quite a bit of tool sticking out, just remember to run in reverse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdM-g6Wsc1Y
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 15, 2018, 08:03:19 PM
Flywheel is now complete, did not come out too bad. :)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03149_zps0zoaq4gh.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03150_zpssbw5cefd.jpg)

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on September 16, 2018, 12:09:18 PM
Blimey Jason!!

I'll have to ask the Brass foundry to get their skates on.

You have now got most of the " Donkey Work " done, the flywheel looks great, by the way.

I'll try and post some closeup shots of the " fiddly bits " for you. Most of these come from BDMS bar stock and are easily fabricated.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on September 18, 2018, 05:14:40 PM
Graham visited me to deliver and collect castings. He brought his Allman engine engine for me to photograph the details.

After connecting it to a propane gas supply Graham had the engine running in no time at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRxc2B-coes

Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 18, 2018, 05:51:02 PM
Thank's for that Andy and Graham
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on September 18, 2018, 06:50:32 PM
Okay....

Back home and suitably fed by " takeaway ".

The journey was horrendous, particularly the roadworks on the M 5 but the welcome Mathew and I received at both the foundry and Andy's made up for it.

I'm hoping to post a picture of the casting on the Strictly thread.

Andy was reluctant to " board " the Allman so he took many photos instead.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 18, 2018, 07:07:59 PM
Thanks for all the Photo's Andy they have all been downloaded now.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on September 18, 2018, 08:07:37 PM
Some pictures of the details on Graham's Allman,

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1899/44714608322_45bd258034_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2b8h4dN)P1080295 (https://flic.kr/p/2b8h4dN) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1883/44714607932_b3a789b39b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2b8h475)P1080297 (https://flic.kr/p/2b8h475) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1843/29827143147_584995e521_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MrHUuK)P1080299 (https://flic.kr/p/MrHUuK) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1900/30893315738_7c93a7c55d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/P4WjsN)P1080300 (https://flic.kr/p/P4WjsN) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1891/44763864211_53338ae226_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2bcCvhg)P1080302 (https://flic.kr/p/2bcCvhg) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1877/30893315608_c55a4a3a87_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/P4Wjqy)P1080303 (https://flic.kr/p/P4Wjqy) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1877/30893315488_ddf3894985_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/P4Wjou)P1080305 (https://flic.kr/p/P4Wjou) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1842/29827141057_142ea83c79_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MrHTSH)P1080308 (https://flic.kr/p/MrHTSH) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1846/30893315228_5141924c3b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/P4Wjj1)P1080309 (https://flic.kr/p/P4Wjj1) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1883/29827140507_5f060b6a82_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MrHTHe)P1080310 (https://flic.kr/p/MrHTHe) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1885/30893314938_1bc82a285a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/P4Wje1)P1080318 (https://flic.kr/p/P4Wje1) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1876/44045311184_b214461d5a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2a78JuY)P1080320 (https://flic.kr/p/2a78JuY) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1864/30893314628_5d5d7e1e60_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/P4Wj8E)P1080321 (https://flic.kr/p/P4Wj8E) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4896/45705968462_25c2382f1f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cCT341)P1080323 (https://flic.kr/p/2cCT341) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1896/44045308464_a32c1e27f5_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2a78HG5)P1080330 (https://flic.kr/p/2a78HG5) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1885/29827135987_25e1f16b0c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MrHSni)P1080331 (https://flic.kr/p/MrHSni) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4835/45706037262_d7164bbe5d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cCTovd)P1080332 (https://flic.kr/p/2cCTovd) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1853/29827134947_00920d79a5_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MrHS4n)P1080334 (https://flic.kr/p/MrHS4n) by (https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4843/31884608448_14af0893fb_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/QzwXfq)P1080336 (https://flic.kr/p/QzwXfq) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1921/31884608428_b635b69293_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/QzwXf5)P1080337 (https://flic.kr/p/QzwXf5) by Andy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116764188@N08/), on Flickr

Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 22, 2018, 04:33:52 PM
The postie dropped these onto the mat this morning.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03163_zpshjvzggzk.jpg)

As the clever ones will be able to work out from the numbers they are a pair of 1.5MOD gears with 14 & 28T, this should leave enough meat in teh smaller gear for a keyway to drive it and keeps the PCD to a size where the pivot for the larger gear will fit withing teh A frame's web. At just under £20 the pair delivered from Beltingomline it was not really worth thinking about buying cutters and making them especially as being 16mm wide plus a boss there will be enough for two engines even allowing for a wonky saw cut :)

In the week I managed to get the exhaust block machined, first the hole and counter bores for the valve, I Like to do it in the lathe as turning the 45deg seat always seems better than a CSK bit in the mill.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03153_zpsfasc7lm7.jpg)

Then the cross hole tapped M12 x 1 for the exhaust stack, a 1/2" thread was getting a bit close to the waist just below the flange so went down to 12mm. Other builders can do as they wish if not keen on mixing thread forms.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03154_zpsnw98mdcd.jpg)

Then knocled up a valve from 303

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03155_zpsxjfzrswp.jpg)

Finally a collet for the top of the spring and turned down the casting where the valve pokes out to locate the other end of the spring

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03157_zps8sfvvoyj.jpg)

J

PS Andy by any chance did you measure the angle that the hot tube chimney is leaning at? I'm sure this is a critical factor in getting the engine to run well and Graham has spent many an hour getting the lean just right :LittleDevil:




Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on September 22, 2018, 07:20:18 PM
That may be awkward Jason  I think it was carefully tied on with a length of steel wire wrapped around  another adjacent part to achieve that jaunty tilt, it was probably susceptible to accidental adjustments as well.
Whatever the chimney angle, Graham had the engine running within a two or three minutes. :praise2:
Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 22, 2018, 08:11:39 PM
The cylinder liner was the one casting I had my doubts about being able to use as it was not upto the old Alyn standards, the two halves had moved at least 1/16" out of line and the core was off to one side which left very little to clean up externally. However I felt it was worth taking a few cuts to see if a usable part could be squeezed out of it.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03032_zpsgrftqdjs.jpg)

The cored hole was quite straight if a bit lumpy in one or two places so I decided to use this as my reference to set things up, an aluminium plug was pressed into the flanged end first and supported with the tailstock to clean up the OD of teh flange so it was round and concentric to the cored hole. I then held the flange edge and used the bung in the other end to turn the liner to fit the outer cylinder, it only just cleaned up, luckily the casting is overlength and the bit beyond the red line is not required. Also thinned the flange and left a 1/16 x 1/16" step at the flange end

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03162_zpspjxtccse.jpg)

It was then out with the fixed steady to support the liner while it was bored and the end cut off though still a littel overlength for now.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03164_zps7dscyrdk.jpg)

A bit of careful pre-planning meant the liner just cleared the hole in the 4-jaw chuck so it was easy to hold and remove the unwanted large dia flange to leave the step at the end.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03165_zps8ut7caae.jpg)

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 23, 2018, 07:04:19 PM
With the liner done I could use that to size the cylinder head, it was a bit chilled around the rim of the "hemi Head but a CCMT had the cast iron swarf comming off like ribbons of steel.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03170_zpswpqqvmen.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03173_zps5ssk4rnn.jpg)

Stainless stubbie exhaust stack

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03171_zpscx2tza7s.jpg)

Cut the smaller gear in two and broached a keyway

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03172_zpswaaeywou.jpg)

Eccentric strap, bit hard so needed 10mins at red heat before the spigot could be worked on.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03174_zps0pmgdcio.jpg)

Also poked a couple of extra holes in the cylinder jacket :)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03175_zpslresneaq.jpg)

Just as well I'm not retired otherwise this engine would be finished in no time :LittleDevil:
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on September 23, 2018, 07:24:48 PM
Just as well I'm not retired otherwise this engine would be finished in no time :LittleDevil:

Just be thankful you don't have an Elephant with another two sets of castings that he needed help fondling  ::) and he has just reminded me that someone still has one of his Allman castings  :stickpoke:

Jo   (https://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/verschiedene/e040.gif)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 23, 2018, 07:31:20 PM
I think he is teaching you bad ways, you seem to be spending your retirement fondling as there have been very few sightings of swarf since you gave up pretending to work full time
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on September 23, 2018, 07:53:55 PM
You have no idea  :mischief:

Best you keep on working you wouldn't enjoy what I have been doing  :LittleDevil: and someone needs to keep paying the taxes ;)

Jo   
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on September 23, 2018, 07:57:54 PM
Hi Jason.

So what's your plan for the " tank " cooling?

Are you going to form some bosses to look like they were as cast?

I was also wondering why you didn't use a BSP thread for the exhaust outlet? I did mine at 3/8 BSP. BSP fittings are readily available and dirt cheap!!

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 23, 2018, 08:44:30 PM
I'm not sure I will have a tank, I usually don't run my engines for extended periods so they only get run "dry" maybe hook up the compressor to blow a bit of cold air through the waterspace.

Yes I will JBWeld some stubs of 1/2" steel into the holes so that they look like cast in bosses, they will take 1/8" BSP OK or could be done 5/16 x 32 for PMResearch elbows.

Your original castings must be a lot larger, as I said the narrower waist just below where the exhaust goes is only 0.573" on mine so with 1/4" BSP being 0.518" OD would have only left 1/32" all round assuming flange and waist are concentric. Don't know how you got 3/8" BSP in there as that is just over 5/8" OD :thinking: The main front exhaust is 1/4" BSP and if I wanted to plumb the secondary exhaust it would be easy enough to make a M12-1/4BSP nipple or rethread a 1/4" BSP street elbow down to M12 x 1
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Tennessee Whiskey on September 23, 2018, 11:01:03 PM
Coming along very well, even with far eastern machines  8). This is one I’m really looking forward to hear running.

Eric
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on September 24, 2018, 02:07:38 PM
Hi Jason.

Oops, my mistake, yes 1/4" BSP.

I had to remake the inlet and exhaust valve chest patterns so I might have been a little tighter on the flange than previously.

I seem to remember using 1/2" BSP for the inlet valve chest top and used an off the shelf Brass " flange plug " to close and fit the ignition tube into. A word of caution, I managed to crack a casting with the 1/2" BSP tap. I had cleaned up the outside diameter beforehand. I'd suggest tapping the hole before reducing/neatening the outside of the casting.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 24, 2018, 02:34:55 PM
I thought that may be the case as using your existing casting for the master and then I assume an aluminium one cast from that to go to the Foundry would have had a bit of shrinkage.

Have not got to the workings of the inlet valve yet but do have a nice M18 x 1 tap should 1/2" BSP be a bit tight. At the moment I'm thinking of having a small 1/32" hole coming from the gas connection drilled through from the 45degree valve seat so that when the valve is opened on the intake stroke you will get the usual flow of air and the valve will also open up the gas hole, much like a Lunkenheimer carb uncovers the fuel passage from the needle valve.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 30, 2018, 07:11:27 PM
I have made a start on the piston, not easy to get it to a constant diameter as the rim around the Hemi end was very chilled which tended to push the tool off that part leaving a larger diameter than the rest of the casting  ;), enough to put people off castings. I had to resort to external honing to get a parallel piston which has taken some of the shine off the hard areas.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03180_zpsfq21gjod.jpg)

I also did a bit of work on the exhaust and governor linkages starting at the bottom I decided to ass some "cast" bosses to mount the pivot blocks on rather than onto a spot faced bit of the casting so JB welded on some scraps of brass which were then milled to size. They will need a bit more cosmetic filler to get the fillets but the 1/4" ball nosed cutter has made a start on that from the squished out JBWeld and oversize bits of brass. Also knocked up the pivots which are held by CSK screws from below.

The Patent drawings show the cross bar at two different heights as well as running right through the A frame so a bit of artistic licence is needed.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03177_zpszvfkqorb.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03178_zpsx47lbzqf.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on September 30, 2018, 07:14:59 PM
I have made a start on the piston, not easy to get it to a constant diameter as the rim around the Hemi end was very chilled which tended to push the tool off that part

Sounds like substandard machine/tooling Mr Silky has happily turn Industrial hardened tooling with his Sumitomo tipped tools  ::)

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on September 30, 2018, 07:27:16 PM
It was no problem cutting it and had it been chilled right through that would not have been a problem it is the fact the tool goes from hard to soft so you get a different depth of cut as there is far less resistance on the soft iron to the glass hard edge. Difference shows better on the cylinder head where the shiny stuff throws sparks off with blue ribbons of swarf and the dark is just like regular iron, and that is nowhere near as soft as a bit of cast iron bar. You will see what I mean when you try cutting yours, in the mean time get the Elephant man to run a file over the edge so he can give his verdict.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03169_zpsfc7oprqg.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03170_zpswpqqvmen.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on October 07, 2018, 05:19:39 PM
A bit more progress.

The larger stock gear came with a 12mm bore which was too big so after cutting in half and facing off it was stuck onto a bit of bar with Loctite 638 and then the bar was turned down to take the eccentric and also bored and reamed to fit on a pivot post.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03184_zpsy7vodrdb.jpg)

The eccentric was held in an ER collet as I find this easier so set running true when the hole is near the edge and you get the added bonus of not distorting the hole when the chuck is released.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03183_zps0xxcgo71.jpg)

I've made it so the eccentric is held with a grub screw so the position is fully adjustable.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03185_zpscb1xvrd6.jpg)

Next up was the inlet valve block. This section shows what I was aiming for starting at the top is a 17mm dia hole tapped part way M18x1. On the left is a 7/32" air inlet (I have since added a couple of 8BA studs to take a flanged elbow thatcan be seen on the Patent drawing. At the bottom is the valve guide with a spotface to seat the spring. On the left is a 1/4 x 40ME threaded hole that has a 1/32" passage into the valve seating, this will hopefully allow the valve to shut off the gas and only open as the valve lifts on the intake stroke.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/inlet%20block_zpsjvzfae6h.jpg)

All the concentric holes and valve seat being done at one sitting in the 4-jaw

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03189_zpsuqe98vj3.jpg)

The 1/32" required an extended drill so I popped a hole in the end of some 1/8" rod and loctited the drill bit in place.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03190_zps2vbegdwu.jpg)

Hole in the valve seat

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03194_zps4evjruxp.jpg)

And it came out almost spot on centre

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03192_zpsalzsxwyh.jpg)

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on October 07, 2018, 05:28:50 PM
I also cut some water passages between the various cast in pockets using the boring head. In this photo you an also see my bottom water connection coming in.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03187_zpsfhnhzc7e.jpg)

This view from above shows the three passages, there is not one at the front as the liner needs to seal around the primary exhaust port.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03188_zpseje6v9eg.jpg)

Sitting at the bottom of the liner in that photo is the piston that has now had the cavity milled out, cross drilled for the pin and tapped for a screw to retain the pin. I also cut the three ring grooves = two for iron and one for an O ring.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on October 07, 2018, 05:41:06 PM
Hi Jason.

Wonderful progress.

I'm perhaps a little late in mentioning that I made a " core " style cutter for the inlet valve chest. As can be seen in your drawing there's not much to guide the valve stem left. By using the core cutter it gave a longer guide for the stem.

I guess it'll be a case of " suck it and see " to start with. Fitting a separate guide won't be much of an issue if it becomes necessary.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on November 30, 2018, 08:30:40 PM
A bit more of the type of progress I'm more interested in.

I had been in two minds as to whether I would use the cast bearings and once in my hand decided that I would go my own way. A quick doodle in Alibre and this is what I came up with, well actually not shown are two counterbored M4 clearance holes that will let me fix the lower half permanently to the tops of the A frames and not have them move out of line any time the top caps are undone.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/Allman%20bearing%20assembly_zpsn5kxrbck.jpg)

I kept the overall size to what could be got out of the original castings for those that may still want to use them but cut 4 pieces of aluminium, milled to O/A size and then drilled the vertical holes. Next holding side upwards the bearing holes were drilled and finish bored. Over to the lathe the pairs were tightened onto a bit of 5/8" bar to bore the recesses each side.

Then the two caps where held onto the bar and the arched top roughed out before filing to blend the facets.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20181129_164427_zps5zbbs2wu.jpg)

Add a couple of threaded bosses for the oilers and drill and tap the A frames for the studs and cap head screws. I still need to knock off the corners and rough them up a bit to get the cast look but all rotates nicely. Bearing flange shave been left a little over length until I have finished playing with the gear and eccentric  layout

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03390_zpsxehrmzqp.jpg)

J

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on November 30, 2018, 09:01:02 PM
Looks good Jason

May your timing gears run smooth and quiet  :LittleAngel:

Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 01, 2018, 03:38:45 PM
Echoing Andy's comments, they look really nice Jason.

I'm rather embarrassed to remark that the Gunmetal castings weren't fit for purpose, for that I apologise.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 01, 2018, 08:38:29 PM
Spent my workshop time today trimming off the excess iron at the top of the A frames, cutting some clearance for the eccentric and making up teh pivot parts for same

Gears seem nice and quiet and are set at the correct 31.5mm ctrs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQsVmE8Uc2M
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Gas_mantle on December 01, 2018, 08:44:47 PM
Looks to be coming along great  :)

It's going to have some considerable momentum with that huge flywheel purring along
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 02, 2018, 05:51:56 PM
I got the bearings drilled for oil holes and pinned them so they won't rotate and knocked off the corners of the new bearing blocks. Also did a bit of grinding around the tops of the columns so they flowed in to the shape of the blocks

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03401_zpswtns4bqb.jpg)

Also knocked up the small intake elbow that can be seen on the patent drawings, still needs a bit more of a clean up but it fits OK and I can get the bottom nut on.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03399_zpstbhdlhho.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 09, 2018, 04:45:09 PM
Now that the crankshaft is in place I could measure what length I needed the conrod to be and come up with something suitable. I was not keen on the one shown in the Patent so went more along the lines of the engravings of actual engines which show something more like a typical marine bigend as found on steam engines.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03410_zpswsdcg3ax.jpg)

Main Bearing studs are also made, inlet and exhaust x 2  passages drilled through jacket & liner and the piston rim notched to suit.

Spent the  rest of the time watching bits go up and down as others went round and round all nice and smoothly and even without the rings fitted compression is reasonable.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: crueby on December 09, 2018, 05:38:41 PM
Thats a very graceful conrod!  Is the center section of the big end one piece of bronze? The narrower section in the middle of the sides sets it off very well.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 09, 2018, 05:47:40 PM
Big end is a two piece split bearing, unless they need to come apart for assembly I tend to leave then soldered together during construction as it makes it quicker when you are taking things apart and putting back together several times. You might just see the joint on the radiused side.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03408_zpswwqtaj9k.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: crueby on December 09, 2018, 05:57:22 PM
Nice, thanks! Gotta add that one to the files....
 :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 09, 2018, 06:00:31 PM
Hi Jason.

The progress is picking up a pace now, well done.

I copied the drawing for the conrod and made it directly. Many manufacturers of the day used Steel for the most part due to costs, just small amounts of Gunmetal for shells.

Perhaps you could draw both options? I must admit your rendition looks much prettier!

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on December 09, 2018, 07:52:17 PM
I copied the drawing for the conrod and made it directly. Many manufacturers of the day used Steel for the most part due to costs, just small amounts of Gunmetal for shells.

Perhaps you could draw both options? I must admit your rendition looks much prettier!

 :thinking: Yes I think there maybe a number of parts (like the gears  ;) ) that are open to interpretation. It will be interesting to see JB's drawings. Maybe he is planning them to be an Xmas present for us all along with the vid of his engine running  ::)

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 09, 2018, 08:03:00 PM
Xmas 2019 maybe :LittleDevil:

Don't think I will have it complete for Christmas as I may be tempted to do a bit on "Project F" which only Graham knows about :-X :naughty:
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on December 09, 2018, 08:30:21 PM
 :facepalm: :ShakeHead: Pull your finger out...  Andy's run out of models to build :stickpoke:

And you showing some progress might mean that I am allowed to fondle my set of IF Allman castings again  :naughty:

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 09, 2018, 08:48:53 PM
Looks like I won't need to send you a set of drawings then.

I thought his Robinson needed a lick of paint and I know he would like to do a "Project F" too :stir:
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on December 09, 2018, 08:54:49 PM
Looks painted to me  ::)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBDy7FamYY

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 10, 2018, 07:23:28 AM
So it is , must be that Mojave Red paint that makes it look like it is still in primer ;)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on December 10, 2018, 08:53:14 AM
Ah yes Jason it does look like primer. I sprayed the base with Thermacure Mojave Red left over from my Chuk flame licker ( £17 per 200ml aerosol inc delivery   :o). I can wipe oil off the Thermacure paint and it looks clean. When I tried black VHT exhaust paint the matt finish looked quite messy after wiping off any oil. .

Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on December 10, 2018, 07:18:03 PM
I thought I was going to be allowed to fondle the Allman Castings this evening. But :ShakeHead: Surus had spotted an opportunity and the closest I got was being handed some to put in the log burner.  He is now keeping an eye on them  :thinking:

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: 10KPete on December 10, 2018, 07:24:35 PM
I like Surus....   :ThumbsUp:

Pete
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 10, 2018, 07:41:52 PM
Tell him to get stoking you are going to need it hotter than that to try and rescue any of those castings, about 775deg C is needed and a good long soak at that.

Also buy him some angle grinder discs as I had to resort to that to notch the clearances on the pistion ring rim, so hard it snapped a brand new 1/4" carbide milling cutter :'(

The Phosphor oxide in the bronze is probably harder than the iron and you can't cook that out.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on December 10, 2018, 07:48:33 PM
You are the only person who got any of the Bronze castings  ::)

I assume you are using 38mm diameter bore on the cylinder. You could have machined rings out of 40mm diameter CI  ;)

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 10, 2018, 07:54:40 PM
You are the only person who got any of the Bronze castings  ::)

I assume you are using 38mm diameter bore on the cylinder. You could have machined rings out of 40mm diameter CI  ;)

Jo

You and Andy got the better deal then.

I did cut my rings from 40mm bar, (well 2 of the three)that was a typo and should have read RIM, we did mention it early on, they are the notches so that the piston does not cover the inlet and secondary exxhuast at TDC
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on December 10, 2018, 07:57:08 PM
The piston is one of those castings that are currently glowing red hot in the fire  ;)

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 11, 2018, 08:14:12 AM
Are they soft yet?
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on December 11, 2018, 08:41:50 AM
The one I have been allowed to clean up (Eccentric strap) seems to not have any hard spots. But it looks as if I have to go and clear another mole hill while Surus conducts his inspection and decides if he will let me have another to clean up  ::)

Jo

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 11, 2018, 08:50:34 AM
My strap did not have any hard spots, it was hardish right through :-[. managed the hole and sides with carbide, cleaned up the outside with dremel but drilling and tapping was not ideal.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 11, 2018, 11:16:23 AM
Good morning.

It saddens me to read of your exploits to date..

It would appear that the " art " of the " foundryman " is being lost with the newer generation.

Jo, might you be able to produce some rings from the defective cylinder liner that was " blown " ? Regarding the " Brasses " I'm in the throws of getting some replacements, I do however have a pair that were cast some 18 years ago if you need them sooner?

Cheers Graham.

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on December 11, 2018, 11:33:53 AM
Thanks Graham, but between Surus who is rationing his  ::) castings and Jason who is still developing his drawings I won't be starting this engine any time soon  :( Must get back to moving my mole hill  :toilet_claw:

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Stuart on December 11, 2018, 12:32:41 PM
Jo
Don’t make a mountain out of it  :stir:
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 11, 2018, 01:31:26 PM
As I said early on in the thread I am reluctant to start issuing drawings for an engine that is not yet running. Far better to wait until it is complete and then you can make your parts without the possible need to alter or modify them at a later date.

At the worst it will be early new year that I hope to have it complete by and going by previous progress project F should only take a week or two of normal working time, even less as I'll have time off over Xmas/new year so can get on at the rate of a retired person plus I don't have a mole problem to distract me.

You could always lead the way with the Sphinx Jo, but maybe better to get that RLE completed first.

Everything made is drawn and assembled but could need tweaking as other parts are made to fit, more parts are drawn and awaiting making.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on December 11, 2018, 01:54:03 PM
One monster Mole Mountain later and I was allowed two castings  ;D (they were tactfully positioned on Surus' Xmas list that mentioned he is still waiting for the castings for that other model engine Vince designed  ::) ) The cylinder head is soft but the hot tube was still a little tough in places but nothing that the belt sander couldn't sort out.

I am not looking for the drawings but some discussion of the design/dimensions: crankshaft diameter, bore and stroke... And some better photos. For instance the original engine had two piston rings 1/4 and 3/4 way down the piston - did you do this or go for a more conventional piston ring arrangement ?  We have already seen you like moving away from the patent with your marine engine con rod.

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 11, 2018, 02:54:27 PM
Hi Jo.

I've just re read the thread and apologise for not providing those " vital " statistics.

The bore and stroke is 1,1/2" bore and 2" stroke. The crankshaft diameter is 1/2" .

What would you like me to photograph for you? Don't forget that Andy took several photos and a short video a few pages back.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 11, 2018, 03:18:01 PM
I said what bore I was using in post 31. I mentioned crankshaft diameter way back in post 19 :facepalm: Though given what the liner castings are like you would be better off seeing what bore you can actually get out of the casting rather than machining the piston first, always best practice to do the hole before the part that fits into it where possible.

If you care to re read one of my posts yesterday you will see I have used 3 rings If the ring were placed as high up as in the patent it would come out the top of the cylinder and you don't really want that.

I did not get a hot tube casting, are you getting mixed up with the Chimney :Doh: hot tube will be machined from solid as it was for the X-Type, chimney casting probably won't get used.

I'm sure you know where I put all my photos and are able to view them, my intention was to write up the construction with the full set of photos once the engine was running so I can cover each part in detail and in order rather than keep jumping back and forth as a bit more is done to each part. This is the way I have written up all my other builds and I find it best suits the ones that are my own design or scratch built versions of older designs.  There are 98 photos to date and all will be placed within the text to make following the build easier and more interesting.

As for deviating from the patent, do I throw away the castings that I have got and remake to more closely follow what is on the patent? and even then do I use the top view or the bottom one as there are quite a few differences between the two. take the base casting, shown flat topped on the patent but Graham has cast in raised platforms as would most likely have been done in real practice, should I machine them all off or just scrap the casting and start with some plate?  I also think the A frame platforms place them too close together when scaling from the patent but have stuck with what is cast and had to carry this through the rest of the construction.

I have also mentioned several items where I have deviated from Grahams model to more closely follow the patent but at the same time would like to make an engine that runs, I know you don't seem bothered about having them run or even finished before moving on to the next, maybe when you have got a 4-stroke that runs you will better understand than just making static display models.

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on December 11, 2018, 04:34:51 PM
Thank you Graham  :) for some reason the Broad sheet I have does not have those dimensions on it. The broadsheet Jason has must be a different one  :headscratch:

I can report that all the heat treated castings are file-able and no hard spots were found :ThumbsUp: As a reward I have been allowed to do the same to some Sphinx castings tonight  :cartwheel:

Jo

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 11, 2018, 04:44:47 PM
I was getting mixed up with the Sphinx broadsheet but have edited my reply noting where I said what bore I was using, think the stroke may be mentioned somewhere too or could just have talked that over with Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 11, 2018, 05:53:30 PM
Good evening All.

I have to admit that at the time I rushed things a little with this model. It took me 5 weeks from start to finish. I feel Jason has added some nice touches like the raised pads for the rocker and governor arm rods.
Obviously I had no idea where these were going to be until construction was well underway. Once drawn and fully dimensioned I could add these " little extras " to the master patterns.

Another feature that Jason has added is the provision of " tank " cooling however my engine will run all day with what's around the cylinder.

Jason, I'm not quite with your statement about the hot tube chimney, are you going to try to run without it? It'll probably work indoors but you won't have a " cat in hell's chance " outside.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 11, 2018, 06:23:54 PM
Graham, chatting with Andy early on we felt that the casting was a smaller diameter then the one shown on the Alyn website and it also looks smaller than the wired on one when you recently ran the engine. My plan is to make from stainless steel, silver soldering on a bracket to the base to mount it properly and turning the small roll on the top to match the stainless exhaust stack already made. It is also hard :(

Again we can't stick to the patent for the size of the chimney as the one shown is much smaller which is OK as they have the hot tube at what on the model would be  less than 1/16" diameter, I'll leave it to Jo to drill a 2" long hole up the middle of that ;)

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03171_zpscx2tza7s.jpg)

I'm hoping I have those additional base mounting points in the right place, that's one reason for not giving out drawings as I may find they need moving.

Given the issues with the castings I wonder if any future editions could do without the cast base, with my drawing it would not be hard to thicken up a 1/2" steel plate with a few bits of 3mm material. I don't think it would be easy to omit the raised pads as there is little clearance under some of the parts such as inlet valve and gas valve given the size of the other casting which dictate their height.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 11, 2018, 06:59:32 PM
Hi Jason.

Ok, I now understand what you were getting at. I've just been out and got both the pattern and my chimney from the engine. They're a match.

The temporary fix using wire was done at the Anson due to the 6 BA bolt shearing off from the support pillar.

Regarding foundry " issues " well I'm confident that the new one that ran the batch of Robinson hot air engine castings and their obvious " pedigree " Alyn Foundry's rather presently shaky reputation will be solidly bolstered.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 11, 2018, 07:59:12 PM
Here for the benefit of Jo is a good example of the way I have had to deviate form the Patent drawings to make best use of the castings that I have to work with, had I just been making one for myself I may well have ditched some of the castings and substituted scratch built parts but as she and Andy are hoping to use the castings I have done what I can with them.

The extract below taken from the patent drawings shows the flywheel hub protruding about 5/32" either side of the rim's width, there are substantial overhangs of the bearing blocks beyond the width of the A frames legs either side and when in its highest position the eccentric is below the underside of the A frames top.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/IFA%20Section2_zpskbmp1kky.jpg)

The reality is that I have had to machine the hub flush on one side of the flywheel and can only have 1/32" proud the other. The tops of the A frames have had to be trimmed almost flush with the legs so the bearing blocks hardly have any overhang. The eccentric has had to be placed part way within the width of the a frames legs & butt it up against the gear and a large clearance cut away on the underside of the A frame to stop it hitting the same. i would have liked to have got the eccentric even further from the A frame as it puts the linkage in the wrong place but will have to get around that. I have yet to decide if the pully will have to move out further to allow the follower roller to fit or if I follow the patent and have it up against the bearing in which case a large chunk will need milling away for clearance

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/IFA%20section1_zpsxoh4ryoe.jpg)

Jo, If you can come up with better then good luck with that.


Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 14, 2018, 11:00:46 AM
Just to keep Jo  in the loop, with the eccentric now in position thought can be given to the exhaust rocker. Once a gain the Patent drawing is more artistic than technical, the two drawings have the cross shaft at different heights to start with and both have the shaft passing partly  through the base and leg of the A frame as shown on the attached image which does not show the studs and nuts which would also clash.

This seems to be the best work around with the shaft just clear of the A frame and a very close fit to the nut, I have already had to drop down to 5BA fixings due to lack of room but would have liked to use 4BA. It would be better if the pivot could be moved towards the cylinder more but that mucks up the geometry of the exhaust rocker which even as I have shown it has a lot of upward movement when you really want in inwards only. This may be why the early production engines show the large horizontal rocker arm as they too found there patent did not work in the real world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xsx3fDFhtk
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 14, 2018, 12:20:17 PM
Hi Jason.

Yes the whole thing is a little tight! I'm uncertain whether I had to slightly relieve the " A " frame to allow for the rocker shaft.

However, if I may take you back to here?

http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,8381.msg183689.html#msg183689

At 1:56 on you can clearly see the " elliptical " nature of the exhaust valve action. A little " peck " is all that's required.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 14, 2018, 01:18:36 PM
Yes it does not need to open much and probably even less so with the upper exhaust working as that will let any expanding gas out. Infact it looks to let out more gas than would be idea as it does shorten the power stroke which can be seen as your engine increased speed as the plug was put back in.

The other thing on the patent drawing is that the top view seems to show the exhaust block fitting directly to or part of the cylinder jacket which would move everything closer to the cylinder for better geometry. The other Allman that I made was all cast as one and it was a right pig to machine the exhaust valve seat as you have ti come in from the far side via the inlet.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/1-3rd%20Scale%20Allman%20c1890/DSC00816_zpswxpgbq3n.jpg)

For anyone following along this shows the large horizontal rocker used on the early production engines.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/1-3rd%20Scale%20Allman%20c1890/DSC00921_zpsdqrg7fsc.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 15, 2018, 07:40:31 AM
One down, one to go. The perspective of the photo ,makes the are look the same width but it does taper from 1/4" at the boss to 5/32" before going back to 1/4" around the slot. I will probably draw the slot a lot shorter as it does not really need to be that long. All from one bit not soldered up which will please Jo.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03417_zpsov9gd651.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on December 15, 2018, 09:32:04 AM
That looks good Jason.

Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 15, 2018, 11:41:52 AM
Hi Jason.

It's difficult to tell, is that made from Steel or Brass?

I used taper pins for fixing the levers once the correct positions had been ascertained.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 15, 2018, 12:11:35 PM
Steel, since I changed to LED strip lights the photos on my camera are coming out a bit orange which is odd as they give off a slightly whiter light

Yes that one is already pinned with a 1/16" taper pin, other is finished and just needs to be pinned.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 15, 2018, 08:14:40 PM
All done and working and a better colour from the Phone.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/3714ec7e-5101-40b1-bbc9-fa75712e626c_zpsyz0bf7bw.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20181215_141636_zps9veduldo.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 16, 2018, 12:40:06 PM
Although the bailing wire to hold the chimney had some appeal I decided on a rigid bracket much like the one that is cast into the chimney. But unlike the casting I did not include a boss for a burner as, like Graham I will make a burner ring and besides the burner is shown at the front on the patent not the rear. A bit of stainless steel swarf later and I have this, actually slightly smaller diameter over the bead and a 1/16" shorter than the cast item.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03421_zpswrbshunh.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03423_zpsdfwe295n.jpg)

Also bent up a bit of 1/8" rod fpr the governor linkage remembering to slip teh pivot on before the second bend

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03420_zpszesbyweg.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Dave Otto on December 16, 2018, 05:26:04 PM
Everything is looking very nice Jason, the exhaust linkage turned out beautiful.

Dave
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 18, 2018, 05:12:16 PM
Question for Graham

I'm now looking at the gas valve, did you fit an internal spring to keep the plunger pressed against the valve seat as there is no room below for a spring and without one the gas would want to lift the valve off of it's seat.

I have managed to put the valve casting on a bit of a diet but still quite a bit larger than on the patent but may still be able to loose a bit more once I know what has to go inside.

BTW it seems a good casting so far.

J

PS Jo are you out there or have the Moles got you?
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 18, 2018, 06:08:58 PM
Hi Jason.

I've been unable to see properly for a few days, conjunctivitis, like trying to see the road through a broken toughened glass windscreen.

The progress looks good.

Yes, I used an off the shelf Brass 1/8" BSP flange plug to seal the top of the valve. I counter bored it for a spring that pressed against the top of the valve. The valve head also had a " nipple " that stopped the spring from moving sideways.

I opted for the gas supply to be on the top of the valve so that any leakage down the stem would be minimal and only occur when it opens. The Gardner uses the same method.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 18, 2018, 06:25:42 PM
Jason.

Upon closer inspection I notice you have used a different approach to me for the governor arm.

How do you intend to stop the horizontal section from moving sideways. I securely fixed the vertical portion to a pivot that was fixed to the " A " frame leg.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 18, 2018, 07:24:28 PM
Yes I found it wants to move about, think I will change to a boss that fits to the side of that pivot with a rod top and bottom of the boss which actually looks a bit more like the Patent, which also shows an additional guide lower down.

Thanks for confirming my thoughts on the valve.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 20, 2018, 09:47:30 AM
Graham is this the sort of thing the valve should look like? Gas coming in from the left to help push the valve down onto it's seat and a small light spring located on the two spigots. 1/4" x 40 for the pipe connections and 1/8" BSP for the plug and I have given the flanges a hex shape.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 20, 2018, 11:06:55 AM
Good morning Jason.

Yes, pretty much.

As I mentioned previously I recessed the plug to house the spring to reduce sideways shift. I also had the valve a little higher up in the casting too.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 20, 2018, 11:36:55 AM
I may drill the inlet hole up at an angle to raise the seat which will also give more length to guide the valve stem as there is not a lot of room under the valve body.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 22, 2018, 07:35:58 PM
Got about 8 bits done yesterday and 7 today, just the actual valve of the gas control valve to do and that will be all the bits done from spool down to the inlet. Which should just leave me the hot tube, burner and governor arms/weights left to do. Couple of pics from yesterday.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20181221_152405_zpsqanqn9dq.jpg)

Revised pivot with a temporary pin

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20181221_152425_zpsfway7o88.jpg)

And those that are in the know will know what this is for ;)

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Engineering/Woody/20181218_154614_zpsbuxfinta.jpg)

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on December 26, 2018, 08:05:37 AM
Gas Plumbing.

Put it at the back of the engine as Graham did where it all gets a bit tight and hard to get to or put it on the right hand side of the engine where runs to a banjo on the governor valve and the ring burner will be quite straightforward and easy to access. Side mounting would also make it easier for anyone wanting to put a front burner on as per patent drawing.

Discuss.


PS Has the elephant man been a naughty boy  as I have not heard of him getting any castings this Christmas :thinking: Arthur was good and got something from ARC's new line of pet products
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on December 26, 2018, 11:47:16 AM
Merry Christmas Jason.

And of course, to all our readership.

I chose to put the gas supply lines at the rear to give the " front " an " uncluttered " feel, however....

In the " olden times" the " front " was considered to be where the power came from and all that lovely looking moving " gubbins " was called the back!!

Ultimately, the choice is yours, yes the area is rather tight but once fitted it should never need to be
" attended " to again.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on January 01, 2019, 04:16:15 PM
Not so much progress on this one over the last few days, but have got the gas valve lever and roller done

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20181223_122509_zps4gbjnked.jpg)

Also the governor arms and pivot pins

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190101_151005_zpsn0ybunga.jpg)

I have been a bit distracted doing some nice bright and shiny helical machining, can you tell what it is yet ;)

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Engineering/Woody/20181229_153728_zpsfvmghlqa.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Engineering/Woody/20190101_151201_zpslf5tlree.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Dave Otto on January 01, 2019, 04:31:25 PM
Forest?
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on January 01, 2019, 04:56:22 PM
 :)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: b.lindsey on January 01, 2019, 05:01:04 PM
Arthur is a cutie!!  Would probably prefer a bone though :)

Bill
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: crueby on January 01, 2019, 11:40:28 PM
That helical bit is a large-scale model of a watch screw....   :Lol:
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on January 16, 2019, 09:50:39 AM
Would the two potential other builders of this engine care to comment on the drawings in this thread as you will be working from them, I have already PM'd Graham for his thoughts.

http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,8775.msg192474/topicseen.html#new
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on January 27, 2019, 06:29:18 PM
Managed to get a bit more done on this one. The top of the inlet valve block, hot tube and burner ring are now done.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190127_141226_zpsubalsubg.jpg)

Also made up a banjo fitting for the gas valve

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190127_141447_zpsk5jvearo.jpg)

Assembled on the engine

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190127_142554_zpsy6ahg8ax.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190127_142645_zps7eplpebe.jpg)

J
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on February 02, 2019, 07:46:48 PM
Carrying on with the plumbing I have been working on a twin needle valve assembly to hopefully control the gas better than the commercial valve I used for the Robinson.

In the photo below gas will enter via the 1/8" BSP thread half way up then go down to the engine feed (already puimbed in copper)and up to the burner. The two nuts on teh left will be the gland nuts for the needles and will be operated by small hand finger wheels.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190202_154642_zpspx2rmkaa.jpg)

Just finished cutting an M10 x 0.75 thread to make an adaptor that will replace the stainless steel end of the Sievert burner so I can screw into a 1/8" BSP elbow. You can just see what goes inside it top right.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190202_192749_zpsfoq45tmf.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Dave Otto on February 02, 2019, 09:13:09 PM
Nice progress Jason.
I don't completely under stand the burner set up, maybe when you get it finished I will be able to wrap my head around the gas supply; the Seivert part that is.

Dave
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on February 03, 2019, 10:36:34 AM
Thanks for the interest Dave. The actual part that does the burning is the ting that I showed in the previous post but a small Sievert 8842 (https://gasproducts.co.uk/gas-blow-torches/sievert-torch-handles-and-burners/sievert-8842-lightline-needlepoint-burner-8mm.html) burner is used for it's jet and air mixing, Graham looks to have pressed the stainless steel end into a larger diameter piece of tube on his engine but I wanted to keep mine a a bit slimmer and neater.

The part I was threading above replaces the Stainless one and screws onto the mid section of the Sievert burner with a M10 x 0.75 thread which is what I was cutting, the other end of that part has a 1/8" BSP similar to your NPT male thread on the other end to go into an elbow which you can see below.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190203_084318_zpsijawmsjv.jpg)

On the Robinson that just had the unaltered Sievert burner aimed straight at the hot tube I had problems getting it hot enough, don't think that will be the case this time :) Though I am having to block off most of the air holes with my finger to stop the flame blowing off the ring burner.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190203_084053_zpsdkhpe2hg.jpg)

I have just cured the air issue by turning down the mid section and pressing on a sleeve that just has two 1/32" holes and that seems to work well. Next job is to make an adaptor so I can get from my new valve to the back of the Sievert burner, more 0.75mm pitch threads

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190203_094554_zpsyjb3wnil.jpg)

J
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Roger B on February 03, 2019, 10:55:13 AM
I like that burner for the hot tube  :ThumbsUp:  :ThumbsUp: I will need something similar for the Saurer Phaeton engine  :)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on February 03, 2019, 06:52:05 PM
Needles and hand wheels made together with a D pit to cut the tapered seats

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190203_154146_zpss3qzi2ta.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on February 24, 2019, 04:23:10 PM
Despite other distractions I did manage a bit more on this one over the weelend.

First the insides of the two valves were machined and then all the bits could be silver soldered together before finally drilling the connecting passages. I also opted to add a small boss to the base, a spot faced surface may do for others but the surface of my casting was not ideal in this area.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190224_081000_zpssd4hwlqp.jpg)

With the valve in place pipework could be finalised and the nipples soldered on for a trial fit.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190224_143730_zpsvvrk3imk.jpg)

Another job that needed doing was making and locating a bracket for the drip feed oiler and making up a small run of pipework.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190224_143816_zpsj153i2wr.jpg)

Hopefully there should not be anymore work to the base and A frame castings needed now so those working drawings can be completed.

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on March 10, 2019, 04:33:41 PM
I spent most of the weekend workshop time on this engine as I wanted to get it finished ready for taking out next weekend. The jobs included

Plug for the primary exhaust as the engine makes better compression and has a longer power stroke with it blanked off.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190309_190830_zpsfj2eccwx.jpg)

Guide bracket for the governor rod, there looks to be something similar on the patent drawing.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190309_190852_zps9askgzfz.jpg)

Finish off the governor weights and some pins for the spring

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190309_190918_zpsazhtnr2f.jpg)

Also made the last few studs and some oil cups and shaft keys to complete the engine. Doubt it will get test run for a week or two but fingers crossed it will go, compression is quite good even without rings or gaskets.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190310_150907_zpsquuublix.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190310_150921_zpskupfh2my.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190310_150937_zpsxmifmffg.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190310_150951_zpsrv7oeyaq.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190310_151003_zps7ibgsdkm.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/20190310_151018_zpsih0lh3wt.jpg)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Dave Otto on March 10, 2019, 05:16:55 PM
Looks great Jason!


Dave
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on March 10, 2019, 07:23:33 PM
Bravo !   :ThumbsUp:

Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Gas_mantle on March 10, 2019, 08:57:54 PM
Looks great, can't wait to see it running  :)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Tennessee Whiskey on March 10, 2019, 10:40:58 PM
Looks great Jason. I’ll bet a pint it’ll run as well as it looks

Cletus
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Ramon Wilson on March 10, 2019, 11:19:33 PM
'Bloody Hell' Jason I really don't know how I've missed this one - well done indeed on yet another 'Jason Masterpiece' - I really don't know how you keep the pace up.

Looking forwards to seeing in it all it's coloured glory - nice red maybe?? ;)  no, a joke I assure you  :D

Great, great work as usual  :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp:

Excuse the opening 'expletive' but they're only words I can find suitable

My best - Tug

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: fumopuc on March 11, 2019, 05:37:10 AM
Hi Jason, very impressive. This engine has so much interesting details. Waiting for the first pops.

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on March 11, 2019, 07:11:16 AM
Thanks for the comments, it's been an interesting one to do particularly as there were no drawings and some of the castings had their own challenges.

I don't think red would suit this one, quite tempted to go with satin black as that looks good on the early engines but a dark satin grey could also be on the cards.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on April 21, 2019, 05:15:39 PM
After a no go yesterday which was abandoned while I still had some eyebrows first job this morning was to rectify a couple of gas leaks and fiddle with the running gas valve which was not quite shutting off I had another go today. Got some promising pops and quite a few backfires but things are looking promising and I think it is just finding the sweet spot with the gas valve that is stopping me getting more than 4 or 5 fires in a row.

Will try again tomorrow morning before the shed gets too hot for flicking over flywheels.

J
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on April 22, 2019, 12:38:52 PM
Jason.

Near the top of this page you posted some photographs of the gas ring in action.

It looks to me like the hot spot might be a little too high up the ignition tube. Retarding slightly.

You have two options, reduce the gas pressure to get the hot spot lower or open up the internal diameter of the ignition tube by 1/64" . You could check this by using a small hand held burner to find the " sweet " spot.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on April 22, 2019, 01:16:02 PM
Thanks Graham, I have played with the height of the burner a bit as I made it so it can slide up and down the tube. I know you mentioned it somewhere in the Robinson thread but which way does the hot area need to go to retard the ignition so that it won't backfire quiet so often?

Now it is on the engine the tube does not get so hot, could be that I was testing it on my torch handle which has a 4bar regulator but have been running with a 2bar regulator. I wonder if another option would be a split supply from the gas bottle with a 2bar reg to the burner and a low 37mb one for the actual engines fuel supply?

On other question, on the gas regulator valve did you have an form of seal on the small plunger at the bottom as I was getting a small gas leak from there? I have disabled the governor for now as it got a bit hairy with flames coming out of the valve whenever the engine came to a standstill :smokin2:

I had a bit more of a fiddle this morning and am certainly getting closer, it does not fire on every cycle and runs more like it has a built in hit & miss governor but the tendency for it to backfire as it comes to a standstill seems to have gone. I think this is close enough for me to now strip and paint it and then any small tweaks to the gas supply and burner can be done after it goes back together. Should be OK for Andy to start cutting metal now as I don't think any of the major items will change from what is on the drawings already sent out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX3lqiK_kV8
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on April 22, 2019, 02:24:54 PM
Hi Jason.

From my experience the higher up the tube the " hot spot " is, the more retarded is the timing. But as you pointed out and from the video, I can see that the tube was barely hot enough. I like to see a bright Red towards Orange colour.

I can't remember if I sealed the valve stem but it shouldn't leak heavily if you have the supply side on the head of the valve.

It's nice to see the fourth engine in the line running so well but I do think the ignition is slightly retarded. Like you I have a single HP gas feed but did the same as my Gardner and Robinson and put a fine hole restrictor over the inlet pipe to the gas control ( throttle ) valve.

I'm looking forward to seeing her painted.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: RayW on April 22, 2019, 03:58:32 PM
Nice job Jason. Looks like a very small amount of tweaking will get it running really smoothly. Looking forward to seeing video of it when it is all painted up. Satin black finish would look good, perhaps with some gold lining to set it off.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: b.lindsey on April 22, 2019, 07:34:34 PM
Looks fantastic to me. Lovely result!!

Bill
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on April 23, 2019, 10:39:42 AM
That's a great result Jason, I have watched the video several times. Your skill has resulted in an attractive engine that
 inspires me to blow the dust off my own IF Allman castings and get started. I hope you will add further videos of the engine when it has been fine tuned and bedded in.

Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on April 23, 2019, 01:16:50 PM
Thanks for all the comment, I will certainly post finished photos and a Video.

I'll also start doing a more detailed account of making the engine in the next few days as well as getting out some further drawings.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on June 13, 2019, 05:40:15 PM
Rather than get teh build thread out of sequence here are a few shots taken last weekend, there are a few more detailed ones which will go at the end of that thread. Hoped to also post a video but found the reason my hot tube was only getting luke warm was an empty propane bottle so you will have to wait a few more days for that.

I went with a simple satin black finish and no over polishing of the remaining bare metal which is either off the tool or 150g emery.

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03648_zps2vwe7m8b.jpg)

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03650_zps7mdsqtzq.jpg)

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03657_zpstnaqsnvr.jpg)

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03658_zpscmmwgw5n.jpg)

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03659_zpsixawg23a.jpg)

Think I like this one the most

(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/Hit%20n%20Miss/I%20F%20Allman/DSC03659%202_zpsa4lzcmyt.jpg)

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on June 13, 2019, 07:23:31 PM
Hi Jason, that is superb. Like you I particularly like the black and white picture, how about sepia?

Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on June 13, 2019, 07:27:19 PM
(https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/jasonballamy/edited-image_zps3ixiffnq.png)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on June 13, 2019, 07:38:52 PM
Or this
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on June 13, 2019, 08:05:21 PM
Nice....

There might be a few older viewers that may remember some of my very early advertising material?   ;)

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on June 13, 2019, 08:15:44 PM
I must be too young for that ;)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on June 14, 2019, 08:10:44 PM
Time to  :pinkelephant: :cartwheel: :pinkelephant: :cartwheel: :pinkelephant: :cartwheel: :whoohoo: :cheers:

With a new cylinder of propane it took a while to find the sweet spot. First of all it had a tendency to fire too soon which I put down to too high compression. Now I may only have a green dragon machine that some say won't turn concentrically and only have a cheap brake cylinder hone not a smelly proper machine yet with just one vitron ring fitted I was getting very good compression infact almost too much which resulted on it firing every 3 or 4 cycles and petering out usually ending in a backfire that sent it violently into reverse before stopping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1zza76-BFc

Then I had a  :noidea: moment and remembered that when building the engine I had found that there was less compression when the primary exhaust was open as  the piston does not cover it until part way towards the head so took out the plug and gave it a try. Certainly ran with a loud pop and threw out a few large flames at crotch height. However it still did not fire on every stroke and seemed weak and would again slowly die but at least there was no backfire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMGemD1H-yQ

Finally found the sweet spot with the primary exhaust plug left slightly loose which acted a bit like a decompression valve and away it went. Looks like I got my hole in the right place and look forward to making some of the easier Alyn Foundry offerings :LittleDevil: It's always nice when you can choose when to stop an engine rather than snip the video short just before it comes to a halt by itself and just show that its not what you have in the workshop that matters but what you do with it and subsequently comes out the door ;).

Another big thank you to Graham for making the patterns available again and for the help and encouragement along the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmyksPR3Kr4

Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Alyn Foundry on June 15, 2019, 03:55:37 PM
Well Jason....

The third video says it all, doesn't it?

Truly spectacular!! Well done.

If I'm correct that's number 4 runner. I built the first closely followed by Mike Rodgers of Nantwich and the third was built by Jim Cheshire. Jim was an avid fan of Alyn Foundry products and had built just about everything we had offered.

Your engine will take time to bed in properly and become much easier to start. I noticed you weren't overdoing the lubrication, it's a wise idea. Being an inverted vertical the cylinder head can fill with unburnt oil and change the compression pressure over time. The Robinson " X " type has the same problem as oil seems to pool just at the end of the cylinder liner.

For me the only downside was the quality of the castings, but that's another story.

Cheers Graham.
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on June 15, 2019, 04:15:54 PM
What do you mean easier to start? I went into the workshop first thing today, turned on the gas and let it warm up to a nice red glow which took abut 60secs and it was off and running on the second pull of the flywheel :)

Castings were beyond your usual control but did add a bit of "interest" to the build process.

There is another one that is being progressed, I've seen the photos ;)
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on June 15, 2019, 05:10:11 PM
Oh good, does that mean we have a completed set of updated drawings then  :???:

... and just show that its not what you have in the workshop that matters but what you do with it and subsequently comes out the door ;).

We all have to start some where but it is nice to be in the financial position to be able to own quality tools  :ThumbsUp: I feel sorry for the youngsters who have no prospect of buying their own home so can't look forward to having their own workshop that they can make model engines  :'( . I know that there are many who have no choice but to live with their parents in their parent's house :toilet_claw: at least they have the possibility of having a workshop   :-\

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on June 15, 2019, 05:39:48 PM
Very nice Jason, do you have a video of the engine when it "threw out a few large flames at crotch height" ?

Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jo on June 15, 2019, 05:52:41 PM
...do you have a video of the engine when it "threw out a few large flames at crotch height" ?

 :facepalm2:

Please don't show it to us  :hellno:

Jo
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Chipmaster on June 15, 2019, 06:00:28 PM
Spoilsport.

Andy
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: Jasonb on June 15, 2019, 06:39:30 PM
I'll see what I can do, just need to put my flame proof Tutu on first. It does tend to develop a small flame from the air inlet if it sits for a while, the pressure builds up in the gas run and lifts the valve slightly and the leaking gas is ignited by the burner flame. All good fun.

Speaking of which Zee has been quiet?
Title: Re: The Alyn Foundry IF Allman engine.
Post by: fumopuc on June 16, 2019, 06:57:29 AM
Hi Jason, congratulations to the very well working R&D department. A very smooth runner.
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