A bottle engine made from an old gas tap.

[Michael S.]

Thanks Sanjay

Next up is the connecting rod. I'll build it the same way as on your bottle engine. I just need to determine the exact distance between the holes on the large and small ends. That'll be a bit tricky in this tight space.

The guide for the slide rod should also be like on your engine, with square steel tubing. But I'm wondering why the square tubing is rotated by 45 degrees. What's the advantage of that?

[PaulR]

That's looking really good! Will you be painting it or going for the 'all brass' look? Those tiddly little 1mm screws remind me of work (in optics), I wonder how many I dropped and never found again in my 42 year career... 

[Sanjay F]

Thanks Sanjay

Next up is the connecting rod. I'll build it the same way as on your bottle engine. I just need to determine the exact distance between the holes on the large and small ends. That'll be a bit tricky in this tight space.

The guide for the slide rod should also be like on your engine, with square steel tubing. But I'm wondering why the square tubing is rotated by 45 degrees. What's the advantage of that?

I have no idea if there's any design or mechanical advantage to it, but I remember forgetting to rotate the piece below by 45 degs and having to remake it!! 

[Michael S.]

Thanks, Paul.

I think I might not use any paint. The brass can darken on its own and maybe in 50 years it'll look like the motors Sanjay always finds. 😉

Michael

[PaulR]

Thanks, Paul.

I think I might not use any paint. The brass can darken on its own and maybe in 50 years it'll look like the motors Sanjay always finds. 😉

Michael

Here's a larger but similar part of a plug valve I unearthed about 18 months ago - it was from a steam powered well pump building and had been buried for 100+ years so didn't look too good! I sawed it in half and used some of it for a flywheel, I still have the rest.

[Michael S.]

Great, then you can build a bottle engine too.

I have one of those things as well. Let's see what I can make with it. 

[crueby]

Old plumbing fittings never die, they get turned into steam engines!   

[PaulR]

Great, then you can build a bottle engine too.

Nope, I sawed it up (and found that the casting is full of holes).

[Michael S.]

Today was the day for the connecting rod.

After determining the exact distance between the two holes, the connecting rod was machined from a single piece of brass.


https://youtube.com/shorts/WCZKlkWpQi4?si=DokI9UUy3Vrsy4Ck

[PaulR]

Very nice! How did you shape the flat part in the middle and round the little end?

[crueby]

Excellent!   

[Sanjay F]

Definitely gettibg, its a great looking engine, looking forward to seeing this run 

[Michael S.]

Hi Paul,

As long as the brass piece still had its rectangular shape, I was able to reduce the surface area in the middle by 0.5 mm and also machine the bevel in the vise and milling machine. Then the narrow end was reduced in width and the whole piece was brought to the correct length. The curve was created on the belt sander.

The rest was finished with a file and sandpaper.

Michael

[vtsteam]

Looks great!

[Kim]

It's looking great, Michael! 

You're getting pretty close now!
Kim