Six Cycle Odd Ball Engine

[Roger Taylor]

The Phillip Duclos engine shown in the three views below was completed in 2023. I began the engine build after a series of Home Shop Machinist articles appeared in the Jan/Feb 1990 edition. My plan was to present it to my dad, and sadly, he passed before completion. The completed flywheels, frame, cylinder, piston and connecting rod were boxed up and rediscovered in early 2023. After the restart and completion, my efforts at starting resulted in some pop pops and once gain it was put away. I now have it apart and I am working through all aspects of the build to try to get her working. Most of Phillip's engines are on display at the Joe Martin Craftsmanship Museum. The six-cycle odd ball is not among them, and it is my understanding that someone broke into Phillips Anza, CA shop and stole some of his engines. My plan is to get her running and donate to the museum to set alongside Phillip's collection.

 

[oldengineguy]

FWIW I built the Duclos Odd-Ball engine from the Home Shop Machinist magazine plans last fall(2024) The only changes I made were to the carburator which I made with a smaller venturi in order to run it on propane and to the piston which I made of cast iron with no rings or O rings, just a sliding fit. Starts and runs great at approx. 900 rpm on the governor.
Regards, Colin

 

[oldengineguy]

Forgot the most important change! Use a one way bearing in an adapter on the crankshaft to start the engine with instead of the hand crank. I found it too hard to spin it fast enough to get going.
Colin

 

[Roger Taylor]

Forgot the most important change! Use a one way bearing in an adapter on the crankshaft to start the engine with instead of the hand crank. I found it too hard to spin it fast enough to get going.
Colin

Thank you Colin, when i get this guy back together I'm clueless as to what and how tghe one way bearing is employed.

 

[Piston_Broke]

It's also known as a clutch bearing. It allows you to insert a shaft and turn over the engine using a cordless drill for example. Once the engine starts, the bearing rolls free around the shaft.

 

[Roger Taylor]

It's also known as a clutch bearing. It allows you to insert a shaft and turn over the engine using a cordless drill for example. Once the engine starts, the bearing rolls free around the shaft.

Great, thanks, I'll do some research and try to find a source.

 

[jirvin_4505]

Joseph on YouTube did a very detailed build series on youtube