Farm Boy Hit and Miss engine

[Dalboy]

I have made a side project so that I can make the springs for the valves. This is it ready for a test a lot of work for three springs but I do have a use for it after this project.

All the parts



Fully assembled



I will show the springs once I make them

 

[Cabinetman]

And of course even though it’s “just a tool” it’s beautifully made.

 

[AndyP]

I’ve no idea how you would use that to make springs but I look forward to finding out.

 

[Dalboy]

I’ve no idea how you would use that to make springs but I look forward to finding out.

Have a look HERE hopefully I manage to start it where it shows it in operation. If not it is near the end

 

[AndyP]

Oh that looks fun. Thanks for the education.

 

[Dalboy]

Not done much on the little engine latley as it is spring and catching up with some gardening, I now have in the region of 400 plants I have grow from seed divided between veg and flowers. But I am back onto the engine trying to make some parts for the ignition as I have all the electronics for it and a tiny spark plug. Machining plastic is great for tangles.
Will post some photos as I get the chance.

And yes the spring winder works a treat have now made the inlet and exhaust springs, it is certainly making them easy to produce.

 

[Dalboy]

Just a few photos and what I am halfway through on the engine.

First a picture of the spring I made in position on the head.


And all the ignition bits and bobs as well as the spark plug, a 1p piece for scale.





And finally, a part machined plastic piece to hold the wiring and sensor. A magnet will be in a part attached to one of the flywheels which I have yet to make.



Still needs some machining, but this shows where it will fit

 

[Dalboy]

Been machining the fly wheels today first was the governor flywheel drilling and tapping the holes for the governor weights and machining the groove on the inside.


Onto the second flywheel again, milling a groove on this one also. This was followed by drilling a hole in each spoke to hold the pulley that fits on the side. While it was set up, I milled the seat for some small blocks which the pulley will eventually fit onto. These are attached with some JB weld now, waiting until tomorrow before drilling for a bolt to secure them so that I can turn a curve on them



Machining the flats for the mounting blocks



Final work on the last flywheel before painting.


After leaving for a good 24hrs for the JB Weld to set and securing with bolts from the back, the step to align the pulley was machined. (I forgot to photograph, so this is just mocked up)



Locked the flywheel down onto the pulley, removed the original bolts and drilled a clearance hole right through and fitted the bolts to secure the pulley.



Turned over with the bolts, the right side still need to secure them as waiting for some nuts to arrive



As can be seen this was made easier by the use of the platter I made, well worth the effort making it



Next job they need painting

 

[wallace]

Lovely work, I picked up a little stuart No8 steam engine in with a box of loco bits and pieces. I should probably leave it till my machining abilities are less crude.

 

[Dalboy]

Lovely work, I picked up a little stuart No8 steam engine in with a box of loco bits and pieces. I should probably leave it till my machining abilities are less crude.

Thank you. I also am building a Loco "Rob Roy" which is still in the early stages they are both my first attempts at making working models, I normally make them from wood.

I hope to see your work as you progress.
What loco is it and at what scale mine is a 31/2" gauge

 

[Dalboy]

Made a start on the base unit for the engine today, Put both pieces through the thicknesser and the large base over the surface planer bringing both to size and square.

Marked out the bottom for some hollowing out where the electronics will sit out of sight

Test with the engine in place to see how it will look, I will chamfer all the main base edges top and bottom to give the appearance of a thinner base.

 

[Malc2098]

Looking nice.

 

[Cabinetman]

Electronics? That surprised me, I thought that you were building what I call an oiler, as seen at farm shows.
Obviously I’ve got it all wrong lol.

 

[AndyP]

i’m in awe.
Give us an idea of scale Derek. What’s the diameter of those wheels?

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Lovely work and great paint job. Nicely done Derek.

 

[Dalboy]

Thank you everyone.

Electronics? That surprised me, I thought that you were building what I call an oiler, as seen at farm shows.
Obviously I’ve got it all wrong lol.

It is classed as a Hit and Miss engine and has a spark plug. The electronics are to replace the magneto which is on the full size engines. And yes, they are also shown at some of the rallies around the country.

i’m in awe.
Give us an idea of scale Derek. What’s the diameter of those wheels?

The flywheels are 5" diameter. It is quite a heavy engine considering the size, not that I have weighed it, but I may do when finished just out of interest

 

[Dalboy]

Forgot to post a quick update, spent the day doing odd jobs before getting around the hollowing the base to hide the electronics.



Also took the engine apart so that tomorrow I can mark out the mounting holes in the wood.

 

[Dalboy]

Since my posting on Monday I ended up not feeling very well my first thought was the dreaded covid which both myself and the wife have avoided all the way through.

No not that did a test to prove otherwise then the symptoms pointed to Sepsis thank goodness not that but whatever it is has knocked me for six so did not want to play with toys that spin sharp bits of metal around or even poke a bit of steel into bits of wood spinning at silly speed.

Anyone that has the knowledge of milling cutters will know how sharp they are.

Feeling slightly better today just hope things keep improving I hate sitting down doing nothing. Slept most of yesterday.

 

[CHJ]

Sympathies, life is frustrating enough with the lack of spare hours in the day without enforced inactivity.

Hope you get your strength back up soon.

 

[Dalboy]

Thank you Chas. Just trying to do simple jobs that don't use machines. Do a little then sit down, seems like I am sitting more than doing a little.

 

[Dalboy]

Base finished took longer than expected, the wife being rushed into hospital, now on the road to recovery.

So ready to assemble the engine onto it. I had to remove the hopper assembly so that I was able to get all the securing holes in place. This was done before the final finish was applied, as I needed to drill extra holes for wiring.

The hole on the side is covered by the sensor bracket and the other which has the earth and spark plug leads has a brass insert to make it look tidy.





Underside showing the wire holes and the fixing holes for the engine



Engine first fix the studs are brass as the base is oak and I felt that steel would not react with the tannins in the wood very well





Sensor bracket in lace but not yet attached, this is to hide the wires as well as hold the sensor in place



As described above, exit hole for earth and spark plug lead.