Simple Jingle Bell Motor

[arnoldb]

Congrats! - & well done Paul Thm:

Now you're in for it :big:

Regards, Arnold

 

[esteam]

Nice looking engine and sounds good. Congrats Paul.

Erdem

 

[ke7hr]

Yes, now I AM in for it... It looks nice but,...

Ok. So, I can't leave well enough alone. I had to tinker with this first engine before
moving on to other projects. Running well on 6 psi was not good enough, it seems.

I got a set of accurate pressure gauges with a cool regulator free (from the "Craig's List" in the US) because it only could take 200 psi input and only would give 15 psi on the output, but with really good gauging. They guy that was giving it away had picked it up hoping to use it on welding tanks. His loss my gain! Now, I really know the pressure that the engine is running on.

I lubed the running parts with a drop of air tool oil and added Teflon tape to the pivot screw to reduce friction. I also played around with different washers to put varying amounts of pressure on the cylinder frame face by compressing the spring. By using a larger washer right on the frame, the speed went up at any pressure setting of the regulator. It was giving a better seal to the air input on the cylinder.

Progress. It would now run down to 4 psi all day long.

By watching the movement when the lowest pressure would stall the engine, I determined that the flywheel (which probably should have been larger like the plans) probably would be better off with some of the material taken off the middle part to put the heavy part out on the rim where it belongs. Pop the flywheel off and turn 2/3 of the middle of the flywheel into shavings.

With the flywheel back on the engine, I was able to get it to run quite well at 2.5 psi indicated on the gauge. It ticks over nicely and I let it run for nearly an hour this way before taking the video (below).

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Running on 2.5 psi!



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Teflon tape on the threads of the pivot bolt.

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turned flywheel.

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2.5 psi indicated!

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New Gauges and engine running.

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Now, maybe I can keep myself from turning a full size (according to the original plan)
flywheel and move on to another project...

 

[black85vette]

On a wobbler that I built I also used something called teflon tape but not the plumber tape used for pipes. I used a type of tape that has teflon on its surface, a plastic carrier and adhesive on the back. It is used in high heat / pressure sealing applications to keep material from sticking to a heating element.

Anyway, I cut out a small piece of it and put it over the air port on the cylinder and then cut out the port with an exacto knife. It needs to be long enough to keep the air supply covered when the cylinder moves to the exhaust side. Then I put an equal amount on the end opposite the port and the same distance. This reduces the amount of contact area between the cylinder and the frame to two small spots. The tefllon acts as a bearing and reduces the friction even further.

Great idea covering the threads and reducing friction there. Appears that you have caught "the bug". The next bug is when nothing is ever smooth, shiny or perfect enough. :big:

 

[GordTopps]

Lovely job Paul, i'm really pleased for you! th_wav th_wav
Gordon

 

[zeeprogrammer]

Nicely done Paul.
And thanks for the tips!