Author Topic: Pipe and Bolt Engine Mod-Up (Read 166622 times)

vtsteam · « **Reply #50 on:** January 12, 2015, 07:44:54 AM »

Sparky, I like them because they are probably the most widely available source of massive and sheet steel and cast iron materials there is. Along with nails, you can do pretty much anything with them. And the scrap supply is huge.

Manxmodder · « **Reply #51 on:** January 12, 2015, 10:51:05 AM »

Steve,the bits you flattened out,are they made from steel gas pipe or scaffolding tube?

I've got both to choose from but from past experience the steel gas pipe seems to made from a much higher grade than the scaffold tube....OZ.

vtsteam · « **Reply #52 on:** January 12, 2015, 12:12:12 PM »

Hi OZ, the stuff I flattened was from a piece of what we call "black iron" pipe (it's steel actually), schedule 40 (the usual weight) and I believe it was 1-1/14" size. It comes in black, and galvanized.

In my experience it's a difficult steel to try to turn -- leaves a rough finish -- at least with my abilities and machines. I tend to get out the old file to smooth it up on the lathe. The cast iron of the plumbing fittings machines, and finishes out a lot better. And annealing it as I did seems to get rid of chilled spots.

Wall thickness measured a bit over 1/8".

I realized at the end of the day, that I'd made my pieces too small by about a quarter inch.

So I'll repeat again today!

--it really only takes ten minutes to saw an flatten, so not a big deal -

ps.I don't know what scaffolding tube is, but I do also have electrical conduit scrap in a variety of sizes, and fence post tube in several sizes. They're thinner. Tube instead of pipe. I have regular and some heavy duty pipe up to 4" diameter.

I've got some other ideas for engines from pipe. Something about that stuff, just makes me want to build things!

Manxmodder · « **Reply #53 on:** January 12, 2015, 04:11:13 PM »

I've got some other ideas for engines from pipe. Something about that stuff, just makes me want to build things!

Agree with you,there is loads of potential for different configurations using standard pipe fittings,V twin from elbow fitting,flat twin from a tee fitting. I think you may have started something quite interesting here.

Scaffold tube is about 2.5" dia and available in long lengths to build a temporary work platform structure outside of a building for construction and maintenance works. It comes in different systems,some interlocking clip together,and some clamp together with various universal clamp brackets.

Link to give you some idea of what it looks like: http://www.masoncontractors.org/images/news/20120411060000-4.jpg

vtsteam · « **Reply #54 on:** January 12, 2015, 05:56:59 PM »

Well OZ how about a piston?

vtsteam · « **Reply #55 on:** January 12, 2015, 05:58:33 PM »

vtsteam · « **Reply #56 on:** January 12, 2015, 05:59:31 PM »

vtsteam · « **Reply #57 on:** January 12, 2015, 06:00:48 PM »

vtsteam · « **Reply #58 on:** January 12, 2015, 06:01:58 PM »

That's just roughed to shape. I have to make a real arbor to bring it down to final dimensions.....

SwarfnStuff · « **Reply #59 on:** January 12, 2015, 10:59:46 PM »

Well, as it happens I was at the Geelong Vintage Engine day here in Victoria Australia and, Lo and Behold, Pipe Engine came to mind! There was a chap there with his working model Henry Ford's Kitchen Sink engine 1893. Hopefully this link will take you to a you-tube video. The chap told me that in his model the flywheel and crank were about the only bits not pipe / Kitchen Sink based Oh and of course the spark plug. He was running his on various fuels; Petrol, Fly-spray, Surface-spray, and the second day on LPG as the wind was blowing petrol fumes every which way. He had his LPG torch nozzle poked down the carburettor / air intake.

Or this link has a great description with pictures.

http://www.nbutterfield.com/Pages/HenryFordfirstengine.aspx

John B

vtsteam · « **Reply #60 on:** January 13, 2015, 10:01:59 AM »

Great Find John! Really interesting. That's one heck of a long connecting rod!

awemawson · « **Reply #61 on:** January 13, 2015, 10:44:09 AM »

I'm not really an 'engine' person, but that has even me tempted to make one

vtsteam · « **Reply #62 on:** January 13, 2015, 11:04:25 AM »

Go for it Andrew!

Manxmodder · « **Reply #63 on:** January 13, 2015, 11:13:04 AM »

Quote from: awemawson on January 13, 2015, 10:44:09 AM

I'm not really an 'engine' person, but that has even me tempted to make one

Here's one from our very own Chuck Fellows

vtsteam · « **Reply #64 on:** January 13, 2015, 07:18:41 PM »

Nice one, OZ.

Today I flattened and sawed out a couple more pieces of pipe. This time a little bigger pipe -- the plate measured about 0.14" n thickness. I roughed out some circles for the crank.

vtsteam · « **Reply #65 on:** January 13, 2015, 07:24:26 PM »

I drilled the center crank hole first, then pushed both webs onto the nail crank and super-glued all together lightly. Then I mounted the Dremel grinder onto my toolpost and ground the circumference of the webs while holding the nail in the 3 jaw. I figured I couldn't turn it with a lathe tool with breaking all apart. The grinder is a little slower but doesn't apply a lot of pressure

When that was finished, I re-chucked the webs in the 3 jaw, and put my milling attachment on the lathe and bolted a flexible shaft tool to it. I used a DTI to place a crank hole 5/16" above the center, to give me a 5/8" throw.

vtsteam · « **Reply #66 on:** January 13, 2015, 07:29:27 PM »

Then I assembled the crank, crank pins and webs in the vise. I brazed the crank pin to the webs, but didn't weld the crank. Since I don't have a split bearing on this motor, I will have to assemble the crank in place in the engine when the time comes. I cleaned up the webs and pin with a file. This is where I'm at now:

shipto · « **Reply #67 on:** January 14, 2015, 04:10:30 PM »

wow your really steaming along, I am still trying to decide what to do about feeding shot of air to my piston.

vtsteam · « **Reply #68 on:** January 14, 2015, 05:08:01 PM »

Well shipto, I haven't got that figured out either! I've been doing the easy parts.

I'm thinking of an external cam and piston valve. I don't think I can squeeze anything more inside the crankcase as it is.

Another hangup might be whether I've got enough clearance fo the connecting rod to miss the lower part of the cylinder. This is why people actually design engines first on paper before building them. Or screen.

But it is fun this way, for me. Figuring out the problems I make for myself.

I was very tempted today to assemble the crankshaft in the engine and solder the webs to the shaft. But I resisted in order to start on the con rod to see what is possible for swing. I've already fixed the throw at 5/8" by brazing in the pin. Guess we'll find out what the consequences of that decision is.

It sure helps an understanding of engine design to try to build one first!

Manxmodder · « **Reply #69 on:** January 14, 2015, 05:16:33 PM »

You can always make a rubber con rod if there ain't enough clearance. See, I'm full of smart solutions today

vtsteam · « **Reply #70 on:** January 14, 2015, 08:37:20 PM »

Why didn't I think of that........

vtsteam · « **Reply #71 on:** January 16, 2015, 06:27:49 PM »

Started on the conrod today:

vtsteam · « **Reply #72 on:** January 16, 2015, 06:29:20 PM »

Berfore and after:

vtsteam · « **Reply #73 on:** January 16, 2015, 06:32:14 PM »

Clamped a nail to the chunk of cast iron, after drilling a short hole to position it, and fluxing w/borax:

vtsteam · « **Reply #74 on:** January 16, 2015, 06:34:59 PM »

Brazed with a #2 welding tip I modified to work with oxypropane. Very controllable flame for small stuff like this.

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Author Topic: Pipe and Bolt Engine Mod-Up (Read 166622 times)