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Burrell Traction Engine & Happy 50th to Me!

 Happy 50th to Me February 2nd !


So far like other years of this Burrell build, I ask myself will this ever get finished! then I have to remind myself, the enjoyment is in making the parts. If I wanted a finished engine, I'd simply just have to look on Station Road or some other online steam reseller and Bobs your uncle.

To date then, a number of smaller jobs have been completed as expected after the Christmas break, it takes a few weeks to get back into the flow, and the steering wheel and shaft provides a suitable part to get back into the swing of things in the workshop.


This doesn't look much but there's a 2mm keyway cut inside the handle and the key inserted. (Photo Right) I was able to cut this with a 2mm broach I had from the previous engine, but the bushing I needed to make a new one. I didn't have one that was 1/4" diameter, this actually proved to be difficult to make as the broach as the body results in quite a large slot to put into a 6.35mm bush. I managed to machine one without the wall breaking through, and with the help of a Swiss file to get the slot started, I could get the broach in finally to complete. (see photo below).  I since learn 't the broach possibly should have been 1/16" for use with a 1/4" Bush, and my method of mixing up imperial and metric primarily to use the 2mm keys I had, and the 2mm woodruff key cutter, I just got away with it.  Final point to note the steering shaft was a free cutting piece of S.S I found so hoping for no rust or corrosion in the future. Its a little detailed but the cold weather and a slow start to the year means talk is limited.
Avoiding the title of this post so far, we address the elephant in the blog. 2nd Feb I'm 43 again (+ 7) ! and this build is estimated to take approximately another 12 years, next stop happy retirement at 62, with a finished engine ready to rally.

2 Final views of the finished steering wheel, if which I'm very proud of how this has turned out. And as I have a show invite to display the engine's progress, so this was an attempt at finishing off a vital bit to be displayed, along with the horn plates and gears to give an idea of what it is I'm making. 


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