11/28/05 - 11/30/05
Photo #1 shows center drilling a hole where a point will be pressed into the pivot shaft finger. Photo
#2 shows milling a flat at 15 deg. on the pivot point shaft. Photo #3 shows drilling a hole where
the pivot point shaft finger will be pressed into...
In photo #1 you can see the hole for the pivot point shaft in the ignitor housing being reamed with an
exspandable reamer. Photo #2 shows mica pressed into the hole for the stationary point. This point shaft
will be isolated from the main ignitor housing...
Photo #1 shows the stationary point shaft all assembled. Photo #2 shows positioning the pivot point
shaft and finger, then MIG welding in place. Notice the spring clamp to maintain the position for
welding...
These (2) photos shows various stages of assembly, fitting the ignitor parts...
These next (4) photos are of the completed Hercules ignitor...
In this photo the ignitor is being bench tested to see how it sparks...
12/03/05
On Saturday December 3rd, 2005 I had a Christmas Get Together for some local engine people. We never
know what the weather will be but we deal with it the best we can. On the 3rd, the temp. was in the
high 20's, sunny, and a steady cold breeze. We ran (3) engines, 25 HP Columbus, 10 HP Ajax, and the
12 HP Field Brundage mounted in my shop. Everything ran great. Stiles Bradley had just aquired the
10 HP Ajax the weekend before the get together and got it running for the first time on the 3rd. To
see some photos and a write up on the 2005 Christmas Get Together check out the "Antique Gas Engine Forum"...
12/16/05 - 12/17/05
The next cylinder to be bored and piston reworked is for a 12 HP Bessemer. Photo #1 shows getting the
cylinder up on the Lucas HBM. Photo #2 shows the machined surfaces cleaned up on the bottom of the
cylinder, where plates will be mounted to fasten the cylinder to the machine table...
I had some plates from another cylinder bore job that would work on the Bessemer cylinder but (2) of
the holes needed to be opened up to slots. Photo #1 & #2 show doing this in the vertical mill...
In this photo you can see the (2) plates mounted to the bottom of the cylinder...
Two more holes had to be added to one of the plates to line up over the keyway in the machine table.
Photos #1 & #2 show drilling the holes. Photo #3 shows the completed plate...
Photo #1 shows the setup starting to take shape. Photo #2 shows the setup with everthing mounted and
just snugged so the measuring and indicating can be done...
Photo #1 shows the Bessemer piston ready to have the rings removed, keeper pins removed, and a general
cleaning. Photo #2 shows the piston rings removed...
12/23/05 - 12/24/05
These are photos of a project my son Christopher has been working on for his paint ball gun. He's
building a bi-pod that will slip over the barrel. Photo #1 shows Chris facing the ends of the (2)
legs in the lathe. Photo #2 shows him cleaning the parts up in the parts washer. Photo #3 shows Chris
cutting the (2) legs to length...
These next (2) photos show getting the legs laid out in relation to the main ring to grind the radius
on the other end of the (2) legs...
These (2) photos are of Dave York's model Callahan that we finally finished tuning up this winter.
A few ignitor parts had to be made and adjustments to the cams and governor. During the 2004 / 2005
shows season, Dave has put a lot of running time on the Callahan model...
In these (2) photos the (2) legs are being welded to the main ring to form the bi-pod. Now to plate
or paint the bi-pod and it will be complete...
12/27/05 - 12/28/05
These are (2) photos of Chris' paint ball gun with the bi-pod he just made slipped over the barrel.
He still needs to put some finishing touches on the bi-pod and paint it...
These next series of photos show flattening the mounting surface for a 10 HP Ajax valve chest. Photo
#1 shows setting the valve chest up on the shaper. Photo #2 shows starting to take the first pass.
Photo #3 shows another pass being taken and you can see how uneven the mounting surface was...
In these (2) photos you can see the mounting surface starting to really clean up...
This photo shows the mounting surface completely flat with just some minor pitting left...
Below is a small video clip of the shaper flattening the Ajax valve chest... shaping operation on the Ajax valve chest, Video Clip
12/29/05 - 12/30/05
Here in these next (3) photos I started removing the 3/4-10 studs from the Bessemer cylinder. They
are in pretty bad shape. Some heat had to be applied to get some of the studs out. Photo #3 shows
heating the area around the stud...
Well there's always one. Photo #1 shows the stud located at 3 o'clock broke off flush to the head
mounting surface. Photo #2 shows a hole drilled through the center of the remaining stud. Photo #3
shows the stud all removed and all the 3/4-10 threads chased...
In these (2) photos I have started to clean the bore for measuring...
Photo #1 shows a ridge warn into the head end of the cylinder. Photo #2 shows starting to indicate
the existing bore...
01/03/06 - 01/05/06
In these next (3) photos you can see an 8 HP Reid brass half being built up to use as a pattern to
get another brass half casted...
When gluing the material to the brass half, weights are used to keep it in place till the glue sets...
These (2) photos are of a Tom Thumb project I am working on. The next step is to order the piston rings
and then fit them to the cylinder and the piston...
01/06/06 - 01/08/06
In the first photo more indicating is taking place to get the cylinder set up on the HBM. Photo #2
shows using the coaxial indicator to get the machine spindle on center to a good portion of the existing
bore. Usually an area where the piston doesn't travel in. Photo #3 shows starting to assemble the boring
head and support bar...
Photo #1 shows the boring head and bar all setup. Photo #2 shows the first pass being taken. Photos
#3 & #4 are taken at different stages of the first pass through the Bessemer bore...
These next (4) photos are taken during different stages of the boring operation. If you look close
you can see the bore starting to clean up...
These (2) photos show the completed bore...
The head mounting surface on the Bessemer was in rough shape so these (2) photos show taking a few
passes on the head mounting surface to clean things up...