First IC Selection

benster · May 10, 2016

I've been building Elmer's engines and am becoming more proficient in machining, to the point where I would like to make an IC engine. Is there a recommended starting point? I've seen the Boll Aero engines but from what I've read getting them to run can be tricky, both with the fuel mixture and compression necessary. I'd like to start with a two stroke or four stroke single cylinder, ideally a barstock based engine.

Can ya'll recommend one?

Thanks

gbritnell · May 10, 2016

There is an engine named the Webster which is a single cylinder hit and miss style engine. It is made from barstock and the plans are free. When getting into I.C. engines precision of machining goes up quite a bit from building steam engines. Things like true bores, good fitting pistons and well sealed valves are some of the important items. Once these can be mastered then multi-cylinder I.C. engines become much easier.
gbritnell

Brian Rupnow · May 10, 2016

George is right. The Webster is an excellent first i.c. engine.---Brian Rupnow

deverett · May 11, 2016

And you can find the drawings for the Webster on John-Tom.com
http://www.john-tom.com/html/ICEngines.html

There are a few other designs (2 and 4 stroke) in that link, all free downloads, so you can compare them all at your leisure.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

Philipintexas · May 11, 2016

It's been suggested you build a Hit-N-miss engine. The governor mechanism on these can be challenging to get just right. I'd suggest a simple single cylinder 4- cycle as a starter. Eliminating the governor and related hit/miss parts would be easier. I always wondered why technology seemed to progress through that complex mechanism and then went to straight 4 cycle.