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Burrell Traction Engine, Differential - First steps

 Differential - First steps....



 Another builder diff for reference. 
                                                                
The first stage of cleaning up was completed, and the centre bore was opened up to 38mm, this was used to check the distances to the bevel gear bosses relative to the drawing below.



Currently (photo right) the boss position has been slightly adjusted as the casting was not running completely true. The portion for the winch cable on the casting was quite close to finish size, so getting this to run true was key. 

I measured a difference of about 1mm between the bosses to centre so this re-adjustment should also reduce this. The area to be removed, marked in blue dye, is the portion for the winch cable, this will enable the pins for the bevel gears to be drilled out. At this stage it is still just preliminary roughing out, as the teeth for the gear still need cutting. However, as it's on the limit of the milling machine and may have to be farmed out, or at least more thinking is needed for a clever horizontal gear cutting setup.

It seems to be an over complicated way of working, but as this is an expensive casting so care is needed to ensure it will all work out properly.

The plan here is to get this to a stage as far as I can, turning and the drilling and then park this part, after a good coat of red oxide paint to protect it.

Following on from that last thought, I have decided to purchase a new Vertex HV6"-4 slot rotary table, with the view to adding the dividing attachment to it for gear cutting of the differential myself. This was a bit of a gamble at £180 second hand to see if after removing the winding handle it has the 3 tapped holes to fit the dividing plates. But will be a nice, pleasant Suprise when it arrives in the post in the coming days all thanks to a popular internet auction site. 


The new Rotary table

 
These are the auction photos, hopefully it should clean up nice!
  

I may be a bit forward in posting the pictures to the blog even before receiving it in the post, but I'm confident I've made the right decision here. Especially as trying to modify my father's home designed rotary table, I think could end up in hours of wasted time and potentially spoiling it in the process. 

More to follow if flebay has been kind to me, or if I've just thrown £180 down the pond, and people that know me, know how slow I am normally to part with any cash.

We also have the boiler to consider in the future, the preliminary costs for that are likely to put me in therapy for life, I guess building a Burrell on a budget was never really an option but as I joke, it's cheaper than smoking and better for your personal development.


Until then stay safe; make swarf; have fun!

Stephen.





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