Brian builds Atkinson Engine

[lensman57]

Congratulations Brian,
Now I am inspired to get the old Webster going asap.

Regards,

A.G

 

[Art K]

Brian I am happy to see that you got it running. My engine when I set up the head and valves was a lot of sharpie on the valve seat and rotate the valve and tapping the guide with a wooden screwdriver handle till I got an even mark the whole way around. Next time I would redesign the guides so they have less ability to push in crooked.
I think there's a whole bunch of us out here doing the happy dance with you!

Art

 

[ozzie46]

You had us on the edge of our seats but you came through. Well done
Brian as always.


Ron

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Sorry boys, no video tonight. Worked at "real work" all day and spent this evening finishing off my Casey Jones type throttle lever and turning a vapour fuel tank into an ordinary fuel tank.

 

[SilverSanJuan]

Awesome Brian!!! Congratulations and Good Job!!

Todd

 

[Brian Rupnow]

The attached pictures show what I have been doing before I take my video of this thing running. Firstly, to keep the RPM's from jumping all over the place, a friction style throttle lever. I'm not sure you can see it in the picture, but there is a compression spring, well compressed under the bolt head and washer at the bottom of the throttle lever, that puts enough friction on the lever that it doesn't move unless I move it. Secondly, I have taken off all of the auxiliary piping from the vapour fuel tank and added a simple fuel outlet at the botom of the tank near the center. The third shot shows the rearranged cylinder head flipped 180 degrees, putting the sparkplug up top where it is accesable and not subject to fuel pooling in the cylinder and drowning it. The intake and exhaust cams have been switched side for side to accomodate this change.--and Oh yeah, you can see my new hexagonal exhaust stack and see the carb inlet coming directly out through the side of the cylinder head. Video comes next!!!

 

[Diversion900]

Looks good Brian, your persistence with this little monster has definitely paid off, well done.

Cheers, Neil

 

[Brian Rupnow]

This is my temporary insulator for the "Sparkplug from Hell". I've had so much electro-shock therapy in the last two days that I'm starting to feel like "Chief" from "One flew Over the Cukoos Nest".

 

[Diversion900]

. I remember that feeling Brian.

My dad used to get a laugh out of getting me to Un-suspectingly hold the screwdriver that he had placed into the spark plug lead, while he pulled the cord on the mower, to see if the coil was working.

Cheers, Neil

 

[ironman]

Brian, you have done a great job and presented a very good build of this engine.

Be waiting for the video when you get it.

Ray

 

[110samec]

I've shocked myself a few times when I was testing the spark on my lawn mower engine, I forgot that metal conducts electricity

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Here we go---as promised!!!

 

[Brian Rupnow]

What a nasty, unbalanced little brute it is!!! It runs very well at the speed shown in the video, but if you rev it any higher than that it gets downright frightning. As an exercise in engine building, its great.---As any kind of practical power source it would be horrible. I can now say that I have 3 i.c. engines under my belt, but the Webster and the Kerzel hit and miss certainly run rings around this thing. My machining skills are still improving, but thats just a matter of more and more practice. I am finally getting to the point that I can actually turn things to the size I want within one or two thou of an inch.

 

[Art K]

I must admit that reminds me of my Dad's spark plug tester, that zapped many an unsuspecting person opening the garage door over the years!

Art

 

[Brian Rupnow]

One last kick at this can.--I have maligned the engine as being a rather impractical, unbalanced little pig of a thing.--BUT--Every day I walk out to my garage, hook the lead onto the battery, and give the flywheel a flip with my hand---And away it goes, running like a trooper. No need for the electric drill or a pull cord---It just takes one flip of the wrist and away it goes. None of my other "nicer" engines will do that.

 

[thayer]

Brian,

That's 'cause she knows her place in the world and is eager to please, hoping to hold your affection. The pretty ones feel entitled to their just due and don't always care enough to reciprocate the effort you have invested.

Thayer

 

[skyline1]

Well done Brian,

Happy Dance this side of the pond as well.

The little beastie led you on a right mystery tour towards the end but she goes lovely now. Probably not a good idea to run her on that Nitro again there would be bits of Atkinson everywhere at that speed.

Regards Mark

 

[110samec]

It looks absolutely fantastic when running I think it looks quite balanced in your video compared to my granddads toy steam engines which bounce accross the table

 

[MarioM]

Great work Brian, amazing engine. Thank you for posting.

Mario

 

[Brian Rupnow]

There'no free lunch around here. Everything has to work!!! WORK WORK WORK!!! Even little engines!!!