The "2-Bits" V-Twin

[fumopuc]

Hi Ron,
very impressive this conrod.
A piece of art.

[RReid]

Stuart, Chris, Kim, Achim - Thank you all for the nice comments!

This conrod seems to be taking forever, and it's still not quite finished. I'm spending more time thinking about machining that doing machining on this part I guess. I felt like the web looked a little chunky, so before I flipped it over I thinned it down a little more. Then did the same to the other side and added the recess feature (there must be a better term for that, but I can't think of it).

To round off the small end, rather than set-up the RT, I got it close with a file, then set it up on a pin held in a collet on the mill and mounted a small Dremel sanding drum in the spindle, and just swung it 'round by hand.


Finishing off the big end cap was just a matter of milling to final size and cutting in the little steps. With that done, the last job is to cut a chunk out of the center to form the fork that gives space for the other rod. Tomorrow I can flip it over, put in a filler piece so the vise just crush it closed, and finish from that side. And then I'll be ready to start on the knife rod. That one should go faster, it's a little bit simpler, plus I'm all "experienced" now (famous last words?).

[Brian Rupnow]

I have always liked the look of a "knife and fork style" pair of connecting rods. I'm not sure why, but there is something very appealing about that. Maybe in the fall I will design something that uses that configuration. You are doing very nice work.---Brian

[RReid]

Thank you, Brian. I'll be interested to see what you come up with, should you decide to do that.

[propforward]

To round off the small end, rather than set-up the RT, I got it close with a file, then set it up on a pin held in a collet on the mill and mounted a small Dremel sanding drum in the spindle, and just swung it 'round by hand.

That's cunning. Never thought of doing it that way with a sanding drum - a nice way for getting the smaller radii and a bit less grabby than an end mill I should think.

[RReid]

Thank you, Stuart. Definitely less frightening than trying to do the same thing with an end mill, and no helix trying to lift the part off the pin.

Here's the finally finished conrod. Work on the other one is well under way.




I used the lathe to give it some initial running in. That white stuff is some scrap Gore-Tex(R) gasket material, which is both soft and slippery. You can tell why it's there when I pull it out.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhFV9DfSj7Q" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhFV9DfSj7Q</a>

[crueby]

Looking great!!   And without the goretex it sounds like a hotel room air conditioner!

[RReid]

And without the goretex it sounds like a hotel room air conditioner!

[Craig DeShong]

Nice clock, I mean connecting rod!


 

I would have never noticed if Chris hadn’t mentioned it.

Nice looking grandfathers clock. Connecting rod.   

 

[RReid]

Thanks, Craig!

Got the "knife" rod finished up today (well, may need a bit more elbow grease to remove the last machining marks. Dang close-up photos!).




Below is a shot of the engine assembly table inside the Curtiss factory. The second fellow from the front is just finishing up on my engine. Standing at the back, in the bowler hat, is Thomas Baldwin, the dirigible guy. After he lost his factory in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake/fire, he relocated to Hammondsport to be nearer to his engine supplier and collaborator.

[kuhncw]

Ron,

Very nice work on the rods.

Enjoying your thread.

Chuck

[Kim]

Nice work on the con rods, Ron!   

And that is amazing to have a picture of your exact engine being worked on at the factory.  What a stroke of luck to find that picture with your engine.  Very nice! 

Kim

[Admiral_dk]

The Crank and Rod assembly looks really good - I understand why some here call it Art       

Per

[RReid]

Hello Chuck, Kim, and Per - and Thank you all very much!
Yes, I do feel quite lucky to have found that picture...

[Roger B]

Excellent