Myers Model engine works Murdoch single cylinder

[55fairlane]

At last years Indiana Model Engine Show i met Mr John Jensen, he purchased Myers Model engine works & is offering the entire catalog.





I am going to build the single cylinder murdoch. This is a large engine with an 7 inch flywheel, 1¼ bore X 2½ stroke. https://myersengineworks.com/product/murdoch-vertical-oscillating/ note the 6 inch scale under the flywheel for size comparison. Same engine pictured on his business card

My initial inspection of the castings is not quite applicable as most of my kit is a "2nds". I believe the exseive casting flash is the reason for these being 2nds, none the less these will clean up nicely and should machine nicly. these castings are made off the original molds Norbert Keeley had made in 70's when he designed the engine. The kit includes base, 2 uprights, upper bearing blocks, flywheel, cylinder and cylinder heads, intake manifold , crankshaft throw & 3 pages of drawings.



A note about the drawings, these are hand done to the standard of the late 60's/early 70's . No tolerances given. No "finished surfaces called out. No reference dimensions. Study these carefully, even i a master machinist find these hard to follow at times.

[55fairlane]

Step one.....using this very sharp & corse file, start to fettle the uprights while think about how I want to tackle the base & uprights. I have a basic idea , but want a more complete thought before starting.



Please be very careful with sharp edges on your tools, my thumb was the guest of honor at a blood letting ceremony

[55fairlane]

I knew the base and uprights are "table work" , but as the world's laziest tool make it did not want you pull the vise, so I swapped the jaw to the outside position, grabbed some parallels and the tooling plate I made early in my apprenticeship.......instant table, and the vise is still on the machine....



I got the base mounted and tried up as best I could with an indicator. After I get the bottom of the casting tried up, I will use a long endmill and clean up the casting flash.


All was going splendid until the thunderstorm caused a power outage. *SIGH* oh well go inside and cuddle with the dogs

[55fairlane]

Haven't gotten a whole lot done, between the race shop (work) , the home improvement the wife found (painting a room) and the lawn (that first of the season cut & clean up. I hate lawn work.)

I 1st mounted the base casting upside down and cut it flat. After pulling the clamps, I found the base wasn't flat. After pondering "how do I cut this flat with the use of clamps? The clamps will twist the base and once I take it loose, it ain't flat anymore " I tried the woodworking trick.....I burnished painters tape on both halfs, and used super glue.....took ten thou cuts....perfectly flat. Turned the casting over and machined the bottom flat.


Hopefully tomorrow I can figure out how the clamp the base down and start to machine the features called out on the "suggestion "

[CI]

 

[Sanjay F]

That's interesting as I was looking at this model and also a similar one available in the UK supplied by AJ Reeeves, but formally Hemmingway's (see picture). I did in fact get the castings and had similar issues with the quality of some parts, but they are replacing all of the dodgy ones.

I like both these engines so will be following your build with interest 

[55fairlane]

Sanjay.....can I post a pink to that engine,  i looked and don't see it.....this is not a little engine , this should prove to be a lot of fun....

[Jasonb]

Its a bit of a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other.

The Hemmingway kit tries to better replicate the old original engravings of the Hick engine but as many have found the castings can't replicate the detail at that size.

The Myers one is considerably larger but also unfortunaley omits the finer details eg no vertical flutes at the top of the A frames

So really chose a scale an dadd any detail you feel is missing, I think there is a thread on here where that was done in teh case of the flutes a pocket was milled to remove th epoor cast detail and a new machined piece bonded in.

https://www.hemingwaykits.com/category-100

https://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,9227.0.html

[Sanjay F]

Now that's a good idea re. the flutes, I'll have to take a look at that! Look at the difference between these 2 castings from the same kit, they are replacing the less good quality and one and the flywheel

EDIT: also looks like Jo has already bulit one, a few years ago!

https://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,9443.0.html

[Jasonb]

Do you mean they are replacing the less good quality one and the even worse one

I know some people like castings as they want the "texture" but that flywheel is taking things a bit far.

[Sanjay F]

Hopefully I'll get a matching pair of the left hand one, but yeah I get your meaning......

They must have bought the entire Hemmingway stock and are now having to deal with people like me calling up and asking for replacement parts. They said they usually ask for the dodgy parts back for assessment, but when I sent them the pictures, they didn't question it 

I know its not a large selection, but I do like the Hemmingway steam engines

[55fairlane]

Thank you all for the build theads as I did a deap dive into to this engine and the history of it. Your engines are much more detailed them mine....time to think how to pretty it up

[55fairlane]

Finally an update....after a week of severe thunderstorms & near misses with tornadoes, we headed to Chicago to the science and industry museum, a must go! A real Zephyr train, space capsules, race cars and the gem U505! Areal U Boat!




I did manage to get the base plate drilled, I opted to drill thru, so the bolts will come from underneath and be hidden, I also drilled for dowl pins, for easy alignment.


Next up was one of the 2 bearing pillars, all was going will until I took a test to determine over all leanth, took a slim facing cut on both ends and nope not gonna clean up....and debating on cut under size or ?? I decided to build up the surface with everyone's favorite disaster in a tube....JB Weld.....let it cure as I make dinner

[Sanjay F]

That U-boat is amazing, I do like a submarine.....

Build is coming along I'm now appreciating the size of it, a lot bigger! 

[55fairlane]

That U-boat is amazing, I do like a submarine.....

Build is coming along I'm now appreciating the size of it, a lot bigger! 

The upright columns or pedestal bearing supports finish at 5⅞ tall ....yes this is a bigger engine....

I have had the privilege of touring the submarine USS Drum & battleship USS Alabama....also a must see.