Recent content by Sprocket

Runs really well! I always liked that engine, so much going on and all out where you can see it. Doug

I went to the hardware store looking for fuel tank parts, and by the time I'd found a couple of iron pipe end caps and a short nipple, I thought, "holy crap! it's a pipe bomb! hope the checkout guy doesn't call the police." But really, a couple of copper end caps make a very tidy looking fuel...

That's a lot prettier than mine! Looks good! What did the little coil come from? I like the way you stashed it underneath. Doug

Don't know if it matters, or would make it easier, but I usually drill the largest diameter hole first, then only have a little way to go with smaller drills. They are going to center on the point of he other drill anyway, and I don't like drilling any deeper than I have to with tiny drills. Doug

Actually, I always single point to start ,too. I finish with a die just to get it as close as I can. I didn't try single pointing with my old lathe because minimum speed was 150 RPM and I found that scary, but with the South Bend I have now, I can thread in back gear at 50 (?) rpm and it's very...

Thank you all, it was a long time getting done. James, whether the magazines are still available or not I don't know. you could check with Storefront « Village Press They did collect all of Philip Duclos articles in two books, and the "Gearless" is in "Two Shop Masters" along with three other...

If you are using a CDI, do you need points? Wouldn’t you use a magnet and Hall effect trigger? Or maybe I’m misunderstanding.

They often say “start from this side “ on the die and that’s the tapered side to make starting easier. Then you can turn it around to get more complete threads further up the part. You could also turn a short section to the minor diameter ( tap drill size) and that can ease starting too.

Make sure you are starting from the right side of the die. You may wonder how I know.... Also, make the part 1/8 or so long and file a little taper on it to get started, then trim that later if you need to.

I think it is done. Some finished pictures of my Philip Duclos "Gearless Hit and Miss" engine from plans in Home Shop Machinist in 1993. Wire management. Governor...

That's what I was looking at too. Truly, they are not flat bottom but what remains of your drill point angle for a distance of half the difference in drill diameters. It is too small to show up in a drawing. It's good to try to hit the dimensions exactly, but the difference between the point and...

Mid shaft sounds right. There is a section of the needle where the sides are parallel that is going to be soldered into the cap. The eye gets cut off, and the tapered tip is used for adjusting fuel flow, so the midsection is all you can really measure. Also, looking at A.Wakes plans, are there...

Interesting valves, but why not. My wife refers to valves as “those things that look like nails “.

The fins are a really good idea. Mine runs well, but I limit the time it runs because it heats up. The square cylinder body is very thin on the sides. Doug

I've built that one also. It really isn't that complex. It uses a SHCS for the cam, a little rough, but it works. Intake and exhaust through the same pillar. I had a little trouble keeping the plug lead on as the plug oscillates with the cylinder. Fun little engine, and mine ran well too! Doug