08/03/2009
New delivery of Brake gear Castings from Alan Davenport,
one set for Andy!
Trial fitting for the Brake parts
The new brake castings were machined,
the brake shaft has 1-3/8" squares, I had to cut squares in the
castings to match. The small end of brake lever has a 3/4" square,
the pin has a flat machined in to stop the brake block rotating when
the brake is off.
28/04/2009 Update
Well for the last 7 weeks I have been
busy fitting a Kitchen, Bathroom, New Central heating and a bedroom
extension. I know Andy has been doing similar too, so no news form
our projects. Well, I'almost done with my house renovation work. This
evening I collected the New Castings from Alan Davenport to improve
the differential. The previous diff was found to be too wide in practise.
A saving of several inches has been made by scrapping the existing
deep dished bevels and following the same practise as used on the
original.
Pair of inner diff bevel castings and two sets of
Cylinder drain castings
The Bevel gear pattern is part salvaged
from one of the oringinal diff castings. I pre-bored the casting to
allow a register for the new centre to be fitted, then parted off
the Bevel teeth. Alan Davenport turned this into a pattern by adding
the centre, core prints and a core box. The Cylinder drain castings
were modelled in 3D CAD, then drawn for Alan to make the patterns.
I will post a copy of the finished drains on TT to compare with the
photos posted on Ruston orginals. The strange looking bosses on the
drain castings are used to hold them during machining, and wikll be
cut off when finished.
So now I have some free time, and some
new castings to play with. Watch this space. Time to get on with it.
17/05/2009 Update
View of the Original Diff problem,the
final drive pinnion was resting on the final drive to check the alignment,
this was the closest I could get the gears to the 2nd shaft, some
3" to much out, and then the flywheel would not fit on the Crankshaft!
The same scene but using the new Diff
casting and re-working the problem. Well worth the effort to see it
correct.
View showing the much larger Bronze bush
in the centre, the bevel pinnion mounts are tack welded at this stage
for a trial fit. Now it all fits, I will make it good.
22/07/2009 Update
A start on the cylinder drains at last.
I made a tapered 'D' bit cutter to bore the internal taper on the
bodies. This is used again when you come to make the spindles. First
as shown on the left you turn a pair of inverted tapers on to the
bar while the top slide is still set. In this case, I made 2 of them
so my Maaatttte Andy can have one to use with the 'D' bit. Cut the
part in to two pieces and face the ends. Then mount a piece of scrap
brass in the lathe and bore it using the 'D bit. That makes a perfect
taper holder for the brass spindles, and exactly the same angle as
the bore of the main castings. Each shaft is then inserted, supported
in the end with a revolving centre. Then turned to profile. I will
add a photo of the finsihed drains later.
"She's coming on well now Trev"!
- More to come!
Any information or parts for Ruston Steam
Traction Engines will be gladly received
