Slowest running engine suitable for a begginer

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MattB

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Sorry if this is the wrong section of the forum, wasn't really sure where to ask really

I asked about which engine to build a couple of years ago and got some advice, but never got round to building anything. Recently I've been thinking about it again but would like to build something that runs as slow as possible but still easy enough for a beginner to build.

Ideally I'd like to build an IC engine, but realise this may be unrealistic for a first engine

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks
Matt
 
That is a tough one. IC engine do take some considerable skill to produce, I am still a beginner and I have a half started IC engine which I started with which ground to a halt. To keep myself interested I built a wobbler which ran really slow and built up my confidence alot. I was reading an article on the interweb about a system loyale 2 stroke which ran at 400rpm 1" bore 4" stroke ETW drew up some pics for the chap who designed and built one.
Go a wobbler very satisfying.
My 5 cent worth.
Brock
 
Well Matt, In two years not a lot has changed. You are more than likely not going to get any different suggestions than you did back then. Also, unless your access to machines that will accommodate reasonably close tolerances has changed, it will be very difficult if not impossible to produce a IC engine that will run. Not to say that it can not be done, just extremely difficult. Secondly, has your access to raw bar stock and materials gotten any better? I'll suggest the Macabe Runner or one of Elmer Verburg's wobbler engines, they can be made from common aluminum barstock. The plans can be found at john-tom.com. Good luck.

BC1
Jim
 
I'm a rank beginner and I have completed both the HMEM EzEngine, (plans are in the downloads section) and the EJS Wobbler. Both are really nice easy engines to build. The EJS will run fairly slowly as it is double acting and has a nice big flywheel.

Both can be completed on a lathe, a mill is always handy but not essential. As Jim says Elmers engines are always a really good choice, both the Mill engine and Beam engines run very slowly.

For an IC engine there is always the Webster engine, its a very simple IC engine, still no walk in the park though and does require close tolerances. I want to get a couple more air driven engines under my best before I go to IC.
 
Both my machining skills and the tooling available to me (company has bought more tooling - we now have a mill and more stuff for the lathe too) have improved. I'm not too worried about making something to dimensions anymore, I've recently made some tooling for the company that has required more accurate machining which has prompted me to think about the engines again.

I will look into the suggestions that have been made and hopefully make a start this time!

Matt
 
Matt I admire you for wanting to build a slow running engine. there have been guys hear build flame eaters and stirlings on there first try not generally recommended.
Do a McCabe runner and a couple oscillators to cut your teeth on. then try and IC maybe a small hit and miss. maybe an Upshure . Pick a simple plan set stat making pars yea you may have to make the same part a few times but eventual you will have and engine.
Tin
 
If you're new to building engines, I'd suggest you do a couple of steam engines before trying an I.C.

One of the early issues of HSM had plans for a barstock hit-and-miss engine that might be a good choice. No expensive castings to sweat over.e
 
I would have to agree that compressed air engines are good to start with. IC engines have the added complexity of the fuel system and the ignition. The valves are also a lot more demanding to get a good seal, without which the engine just won't run.

You might try one of my compressed air single cylinder engines. It looks and sounds like an IC engine but is a lot less complicated.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXH2nNLmBXo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXH2nNLmBXo[/ame]

The hissing air sound in the video is a leak in the air hose, not the engine.

I've attached the drawings for it.

Chuck

View attachment Hit_n_Miss.pdf
 
Don't forget that extremely close tolerances is usually the result of abrasives... grinding, honing, lapping... and not machining. Anyone with a drill press and a $10 expanding lap can produce a perfect bore that is truly round, and within 0.000,2" end to end. Probably the hardest part is being able to measure such values.

When I want a steel shaft that must be +0.000,0", -0.000,2", I reach for abrasives in the form of progressively finer grit silicon carbide paper, backed by steel flats, and careful hand work. A cylindrical (or toolpost) grinder would be better, but not essential.

My point is that an IC engine is within the reach of most hobbyists who have a steam engine under their belts, and have basic machining skills. My first IC engine was a 1/6 scale deHavilland Cirrus, and the hard part wasn't the bore and tolerances, it was the large number of very small and somewhat fiddly parts like valves and rocker arms.

A slow farm or hit & miss style engine would be even easier than a higher-speed 4-stroke engine.
 
Thanks for all the advice, I think a wobbler is on the cards, I just need to decide which. I have some material already so I'd like to use that if possible. I'll post something in the work in progress board once I start

Thanks
Matt
 
cfellows said:
SNIP....
You might try one of my compressed air single cylinder engines. It looks and sounds like an IC engine but is a lot less complicated.
SNIP...
Chuck
Click to expand...

Chuck - That is a cool little engine! Thanks for the plans as well. This is a perfect engine for the grandkids and I'll be making a couple after I finish my current project.

Harold
 
Harold Lee said:
Chuck - That is a cool little engine! Thanks for the plans as well. This is a perfect engine for the grandkids and I'll be making a couple after I finish my current project.

Harold
Click to expand...

Thanks, Harold. I'm not a draftsman, so if you find the plans lacking or have any questions, I'm happy to help.

Chuck
 
Chuck,

Thanks for sharing, I too am adding it to my to be built list.

Dale
 
Chuck
Thanks for posting the plans. If more plans were done with this level of "here's how I did it, one step at a time", more runners would probably be built.
These are a model for what plans should be.
Thanks
Stan
 
matt, a wobbler is definitely the way to go!! this is one i built when i was in year 9 at high school with only a wood lathe and drill press, plus the casting which i did myself!! :).

the flywheel was made from an old outer shell of a roller pin bearing glued to some aluminium sheet.

DSC00216.jpg

i am sorry for the bad quality was taken on a phone years ago


it has been modified a little since that video and it will run slower then that.

anyway wobbler...way to go.

kye
 
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