Recent content by KBC

Pete, I would use either brass or bronze bushings with an oil hole, I don't think it's worth the hassle of finding ball bearings as you are only going to use the boat intermitantly and you will have power in plenty with your engine. With the shaft needing a grub screw, am I correct in...

Tony, I am not 100% sure but I think it went into an "African Queen" When I say that he is a friend, he like you I class as a friend of the Forum. He lives quite far South of Hadrian"s wall and like others who I class as friends, although we have never met face to face. I also built the boiler...

Hi Tony, Just found this video of the Blue engine that I made for a friend, didn't know he had made a video of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwEK9WBu_k George.

Tony, Here are 2- pics of Blackgates engines that I built some time ago, I only buy the main frame as the cylinder castings are very poor. All other parts are made from stock material and I fit a Silicone "O" ring in each of the piston rods. Just to show an alternative method of making the pipe...

Pete, I have seen the video of your Stern Wheeler in action and thought at the time how realistic it was, I didn't know that you had posted a thread on the build of the engines for it and after having a quick look at some of the posts I am truly amazed at your workmanship considering that you...

Hi Pete, I seam to remember some where that you stated that you were just a beginner, Some beginner !!!! You are doing great work on that little machine and I for one have picked up some very good points and your pics are very informative.. Are you a trained machinist ? Thanks for everything...

Hi Pete, Like a41capt I have been watching your progress, the engine is sure looking good. Some times when you go off the drawing you have to improvise and most times it works out for the best. I look forward to it's first steaming. George.

Hi Pete, Looking very good and making good progress. George.

Drat and double drat, Frazer you have found me out so I suppose I should post a pic of the little engine to date. It's a Marcher engine from A.J.Reeves and can be made either piston valve or Stevenson reverse linkage, I am making it with the Stevenson gear. It stands about 3.25" high x 3" long...

Pete .Another method that I use is to machine up a collet as shown about 1/2" long and bore out to leave a ledge the thickness of the cover and cut a saw drift thro' to allow the cover to be clamped, the wall thickness is about 3/16" max. Use any material that you have, the big one is mild...

Pete, Nice runner, you shouldn't have any trouble with the socket grubs it's a well supported shaft, if you do don't use the 243 Loctite it's only for thread lock. If you have to, be brave and use Loctite 603 or 620. and it will never move. Keep up the good work. George

Pete , It makes no difference to the engine performance, stick with the designers discs. I have in the past made the crank webs with the balanced cut outs and some with just strips of mild steel and I find no difference to performance. At this size it's purely aesthetic. George.

Pete. Make your discs the exact same dia and drill thro' the centre to suit your shaft ensuring that they are machined parallel. Make a small piece of your shaft material as a sliding fitting set it up vertical in your bench drill and feed the 2- disc blanks on to it, wind out the "X" or "Y"...

Hi Alec, My drawing is of very poor quality and when scanned onto my desk top it's unreadable. I have inked in most of the dimensions and taken a pic of it which is not bad for clarity. These prints are a disgrace to anybody buying them from Stuart , the drawing is dated 24-3-55 and mine...

Hi Alec, I noticed some time ago you asked this question on R/Cgroup forum and I asked you to P.M. and I would see if I could help. On not hearing from you I assumed that you had received the info else where, however I now see that you have been unwell so here is a pic of the drag links which I...