Ford's Quadricycle Engine

[Rdean33422]

I made up the exhaust valves and some head gaskets today.


I always make extra gaskets it's so easy to damage them.



Here they are installed on the engine.



Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[Rdean33422]

Not much shop time lately with the cold weather but I did get the rocker arm cut out of 0.200 aluminum plate.


I started on the other pieces for the valve train but didn't get very far.

Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[Rdean33422]

These are the pieces for the rocker arm.
Yep that was a 1/2" bolt with two nuts reduced in width for the center stand.


Arm installed and the valve timing set.


I started with the push/pull timing gear connector attached to the large timing gear at a radius of 0.375. I had no idea just where it should be so I errored on the side of it being too much. It really was too much so I moved the pivot to 0.180. That was better but still too much. I ended up with a radius of 0.100 and that is just right.
Getting all the pieces adjusted so that each side of the rocker arm has the same lift was an adventure. I wanted a valve lift of about 0.070 but adjusting the push rod would effect both sides and if I had to move the center pivot distance that would change the push rod adjustment too. So it was a back and forth of adjust, adjust, and adjust again. When done I really tightened the center pivot bolt and I hope I don't have to ever move it again.

Thanks for looking
Ray

 

[Steamchick]

I guess H. Ford had the same experience?
A lot of empirical "tuning" - just to get to a condition you think will be correct - just to find that things are not as expected and iot doesn't work, so then lots of trial and error to get to a working condition.
I would have guessed that a drawing or a few calculations should have given you a closer "starting point" (Radius of 0.100" instead of 0.375" ?)? - But you got there anyway.
Well done Sir!
I am learning a lot about this engine. - Fascinating!
K2

 

[Rdean33422]

K2 the really interesting part is yet to come.
The ignition system is next.

Ray