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Steamchick, with respect, that's a bit unfair. PM Research are not really "at fault". They are just providing a period-correct simple stationary steam engine model. I don't recall seeing such full size engines with a counterbalanced flywheel although there may well be some. Most basic traction...

Thank you Terry. I was particularly curious to see Ed's ideas on the calcs and machining of the skew bevels. (I have a thing about gears and gear cutting). Kozo makes his gear cutters using the circular button tool method to suit his tooth size rather than designing the gears around standard DP...

Terry and/or Ed, I realise this is an old thread, but maybe you could answer a couple of questions... 1. Is the design mainly suited to CNC machining, or are instructions given for manual machining setups, for example motion parts and the cutting of the gears, both straight spur and the skew...

Hi ajoeiam, just letting you know that superlative adjectives are widely used in the English language, as is punctuation! "In English is now considered appropriate to use 'more better'." Definitely not the case in the English speaking world. The correct words are "good", "better" and "best"...

Hello Alan and welcome. Would you mind posting a link to the Retrol HM-01 that you purchased? I would also be interested in your thoughts on it when you receive it. Thanks, Ross.

Hi Brian, would you mind saying where you got that quote? Is it continuous cast rod? That is quite cheap compared to the quote Brian R received. Only AU$96 (CAD87) and it's 9 times as long at 1m (39.37") and 4mm bigger in dia. I guess that's the advantage of buying 39" vs 4.5". I'm in NSW too...

BE CAREFUL ! That appears to be a 2 SPEED motor (1700 & 3400rpm?). You will NOT be able to change motor speeds without first stopping the motor with the VFD. Risky, as it is easy to forget... The motor will able to handle 120Hz ON LOW SPEED no problem, but I doubt it would handle it on the high...

Hi Gordon, I have done a Hercus SB9 clone and am about to start the rebuild of my Dad's '47 SB9A. I can definitely say the felt kit and rebuild book for the SB9" from Ilion is worth every cent. Not sure if the felt kit is the same for the 13"SB.

Hi Nautilus29. The SB 9" does not have bronze spindle bearings. Never has AFAIK. The hardened and micro-finished spindle runs in the honed cast iron bores of the headstock casting. If the felt wicks are clean and the oil is kept up, it will be perfect for at least a couple of lifetimes! I have...

That sounds like a good idea. I will need all the help I can get! FWIW I have just purchased an Ender 3 S1. Look forward to any progress on the engine here. Regards Ross G. radial1951

The Toyota 4.5L V8 Diesel in Landcruisers has aluminium bearing shells for the crankshaft main and conrod big end bearings. Definitely not a cheap engine. I'm sure many other engines are similar. And EVERY car on the road has the gudgeon pin running in the bores in the aluminium pistons. Of...

Now that is a beautiful classic. Do you have any information about it?

Nicely made, much perseverance, and a real achievement! Sincere congratulations.

Absolutely agree. By all means have a play with it every now and then. If I would be so lucky to have such a piece... Very carefully clean only the gunk off and lube everything well. Leave the patina exactly how it is. Put it in a glass case with bags of silica gel hidden under it. Have a low...

Thank you Errol, very useful info and a nice shade of grey. New controllers are on ebay... often see treadmills on the kerb during council cleanups! Regards, Ross.

Good job on the Hercus. And the nice old Qualos behind. May I ask, what brand and colour paint did you use? Brush or spray? Is the DC controller new, if so from where? Looks like it may be a better way than 240v 3ph with VFD. I am doing a similar refurb myself... Thanks and regards, Ross.

As far as I know, the 9" South Bend (I have one, bought new by my father in 1947) and the plain bearing Hercus (I had one) run the spindle directly in the cast iron of the headstock casting. There is no bronze or silvered bearings in those lathes. In fact I have never heard of silvered bearings...

* Ok Wazrus, I'll take the bait! If you are near Sydney, are you a member of a local club? Anyway, as you know, our boiler codes are well researched and documented. They are also used in many parts of the world where live steam builders don't have a suitable local code. The AMBSC boiler codes...

Annealed copper "o-rings" are perfect. Many race engines use that method. But can be a pain to machine the copper rings, unless there is some other way to make them. An easier alternative in this case would/might be annealed aluminium rings. You only need a few thous (inches) of crush. Just turn...

"So there is no drive to the rear of the engine for a distributor." Not necessarily. An accessory drive mounted in the rear crankcase cover can be driven by the end of the crank pin. Saito use this method to drive the diffuser impeller in their 5cyl radial. The crank pin engages in a radial slot...