Recent content by huse0054

Does anyone have any idea where I would locate a part like this? I am not sure what it is even called. It needs to mate securely into the end of a shaft that turns and also needs to be able to be removed fairly easily. So kind of like a press fit. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

www.cratex.com Just rubberized abrasive sticks. I am sure a dowel with sandpaper or grinding paste will work just as well. However I did find another use for the cratex sticks when trying to sand and polish the inside of the flywheel. It worked very well for getting the tooling marks out of...

Thanks Nick I appreciate it! The "Machine" or "Engine" turning is a piece of cake and I am sure you will do just fine with it. Relatively speaking it didn't take that much time to do and I think it really added the finishing touch to the engine. Plus, it covered up all of the little scratches...

Very cool engine Shred, I am thinking about this engine for my next build and am having a hard time matching up test tube sizes per Jan's plans. Would you mind sharing what sizes you used and where you acquired them from? Also per Jan's plans he has an ID of the hot cylinder of 17MM and an OD...

Thanks Bill, I am amazed at how simple these engines are yet when I try to explain it to people they have a tough time grasping the concept. They think there is some combustion and pushing action involved and when I explain the vacuum principle they don't quite get it. Here are a couple of...

Thanks for the nice comments and I agree with you all that they are obviously not engine lovers! I think the engine turning worked great and it was easier to do than I thought, just took some patience and concentration is all.

Thought I should post a video of my finished engine. I put some polish and the proverbial "bling" on it and it runs great. It gums up and runs rougher after about 20 minutes of continuous running but I am fine with that as the noise drives people crazy long before then. Doesn't bother me any...

Thanks all, it was a great feeling to finally get it running. I have the itch now to start another engine, any suggestions for a good second build after I finish the "bling" on this one? I found a couple of things that might be helpful to anyone new to this hobby like myself and looking to...

Well I managed to remake the valve and here are the results. Click on picture!

I am currently using a glass wick and brand new denatured alcohol, however I think I may have found the problem....... My piston and valve were 2 1/2 thousandths smaller than the cylinder. Looks like my lapping went a little too far. I went ahead and remade the piston but did not have time to...

Interesting Vic, I am not sure it truly matters much but any ideas on why your flywheel would spin for more than twice as long as WinklMJ and mine? Or are you just stronger than us? :)

Thanks, I appreciate the info, I will do some testing and report back.

Thanks for the input everyone, what a fantastic website!!!! I will try what you all have recommended and am determined to get it running. It seems flame position is extremely critical, I will try be more precise when testing different positions. John, fantastic twin design! Would you mind...

Tonight I let the flame heat it up for 10-15 minutes before trying to turn the flywheel. I also tried the blowtorch and it didn't affect it at all. I will try everything possible to get this thing to run, any other ideas? I can see a very small amount of light around the top half of the piston...

Well my new bearings arrived, I installed them and still no luck, spent 4 hours tonight testing different configurations etc.. Not even a hint of a run. Kinda depressing. Just spinning flywheel- 25 seconds Flywheel and piston- 12 seconds Complete assembly with no flame- 6 seconds. I hear a...