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I’ve now made progress on the float assembly, making it out of very thin walled turned aluminium. It just about floats! But whether there will be enough closing pressure to seal the valve remains to be seen! If it doesn’t work I can always revert to a cork or bale afloat.

Hi Andrew, I have decided to go with the full float chamber approach. I am going to see if I can make the float itself from very thin-walled turned aluminium. It remains to be seen whether I can make something light enough to actually float!

I have been cracking on with the float chamber for the Kiwi, making it up from brass bar stock as I thought that would look better than the aluminium casting supplied. I made the clip from a spare feeler gauge that I tempered first so that I could work with it and then re-hardened after...

Oh now I get it! When I first read your description I thought you meant holding up a flattish plate with a hole in it which sounded rather scary against a fast running chuck! But I can see how a hardened tube would work. I actually made mine using the Hemingway 'sensitive' ball turning tool...

Thanks Andrew. I started with an oversized shiny needle and then used the Dremel to grind the taper. It was all a bit Heath Robinson on the lathe but seemed to have worked ok. I wasn't very happy with the strength of the thin knurled wheel, so added another threaded ring that butts up...

It has been a while since I've posted due to various distractions. However I have now been able to get on and finish all the fiddly bits for the carburettor, as well as give it a bit of a polish up. Quite pleased with how this has come out for a first attempt from what was quite a rough...

It has been a while since I've posted due to various distractions. However I have now been able to get on and finish all the fiddly bits for the carburettor, as well as give it a bit of a polish up. Quite pleased with how this has come out for a first attempt at a carb from what was quite a...

Very helpful, thanks!

Great, thanks again Andrew!

This week I've been working on the carburettor, which has a lot of awkward parts. It will be the first time I have made one, so fingers crossed!

Hi Mike, Good luck with building your Kiwi, I've enjoyed the process so far! Judging by Andrew's answers already, he took a much more methodical and annotated approach to his build, so I'm sure he will be able to share many pearls of wisdom as you proceed. I'm sure you have already seen...

Thanks for the information, very helpful. I'll investigate availability and cost of 6082 and also whether I can source some reasonably priced offcuts of 7075. Thanks again

Hi, I am in the process of making a Westbury Kiwi Mark ii and anticipate that I may need to make a second piston from barstock aluminium. I have been running in the engine with the piston made from the casting from Hemingway kits and have seen some significant rubbing and pick up. Is there any...

I thought I'd have a change from all the fiddly bits, so have been working on the flywheel. Nice to have a bigger chunk of the engine complete! I have also made the tapered collet but have not shown that here as yet.

I've been working on the Con Road. The central linking part of the casting was a bit crooked relative to the bearing surfaces and so the sides have come out a little bit wonky! Overall though, after a bit of fettling, it's a very smooth running fit on the crankshaft big end bearing.

Thanks! I agree that the little details are worth the effort. I like the idea of some extra dishing and doming, so will bear that in mind as I proceed further.

This week I have been working on some of the 'shiny bits' namely the oil reservoir and breather assemblies. Relatively straight forward turning and threading jobs, but quite a lot of them! I adjusted the design of the oiler so that it mounts directly on to the engine bearer. Hopefully engine...

Thanks! Yes, pleased with how it came out for a first attempt. Not quite so shiny now but it’s been going up and down test fitting it in the cylinder for a bit!

I've been working on the piston for my Kiwi Mk 2. It is the first time I have machined a piston for an IC engine and had to hit the finer tolerances required. Took it slowly and it seems to have come out ok. Piston rings seat nicely after a little bit of additional fettling.