3" Burrell Steering Part 3a and spectacle plate (Continued)...

Background story.

If you are have been following my posts, or have just landed on this page by accident here is a brief intro to what this is all about.

I'm Stephen and I am currently building my second traction engine. The first engine was a 1" Minnie that I completed a few years ago, and I'm happy to say it runs well and I do steam it every month or so to make the most of it and the 12 years it took to make.

I did say I wouldn't build another one, however the Minnie is small and not capable of hauling on a rally field, it is difficult to keep in steam for more than a few hours and need constant attention to the water and fire otherwise it will go out in a flash.

Then a major pandemic hit, and I had been looking at various drawings to see what I could understand, what castings were available and at what cost.

I finally decided, just before the 4 year Covid holiday started, to look at building a 3" Plastow Burrell.

I was able to source a nice tube for the smokebox and it was underway.

The background bit - I'm not a machinist or an mechanical engineer, as such but a software programmer. I do possess the machines, and previously made a small marine engine and the Minnie, so the Burrell is just a bigger Minnie. This engine will be my last one 100% and not actually finishing it will be a bonus, because when its finished there's nothing to do.

I get the enjoyment from machining the parts and gaining new skill and knowledge from doing it, just running it at the end is less important.    

        Monday mock-up to see if anything also doesn't fit right. It turns out the steering shaft was a bit short and catching on the flywheel, so I've added a new bit onto the end of it, now need to re make the end keyway again. However I've taken the opportunity to increase the angle and length so that a more comfortable driving height is achieved.  (Allows for the current and future beer belly).

Until next month stay safe; make swarf; have fun!