3" Burrell Traction Engine build.

  Welland Steam Show 2024 Report..... Welland Steam Show (Upton-upon-Severn July 26th - 28th  2024). Ross-0n-Wye Steam Engine Society 58th Annual Rally. Hotel : Star Inn also responsible for the "Minge" Music festival details below.  The show as usual was well attended. I'm happy to report the numbers looked fantastic and the weather was as good as needed. Maybe we have inspired the next generation of Model Engineers. It certainly looked like there was no shortage of money changing hands for tools.  The show boasted 37 miniatures and 94 full size engines, along with a huge number of commercials, cars, bikes, tanks and military vehicles and displays. This time again, like last year, there was the heavy haulage arena, which was fascinating to watch, as long as you could keep the coal ash out of your eyes :-) I can imagine the rising fuel costs to move large machines, but this has not stopped them from attending this year. Thank you to all the organisers and engine owne...

 3" Burrell Gear Change / Gear Guard. Just a small update, the gear change parts I have been modifying and fettling the parts. The object was to try to get the lever as straight as I could to maximise mechanical advantage. The sliding rod is ground silver steel and the bearings were bronze with added oil holes.  The gear guard (left) is the cardboard mock-up taken from the drawings and these 3 pieces will be used to cut out in 0.8mm steel the final guard. I have not decided how exactly to join them yet, I have been testing with my MIG welder on thin sheet. I've not completely ruled out simply soft soldering it, assuming I can get some etching acid to clean the joint. Or TIG welding if there is some gas left. As a last resort using rivets and brackets internal as a means of construction.   For now I'm just going to make the parts and park it whilst I practice on some more 0.8mm scrap mild steel.                   ...

  3" Burrell Oilers, gear change, etc >Pressure gauge installation. Hello, I'm Back !! Well sort of... I have been off colour, and work is proving to be more challenging that before. Progress has been made, but its slow as I explained in traction talk (I write). I'm still alive, just a few Mental Health issues and a project of this size is difficult to stay focused long term, especially after spending 12 years on my other engine. After some time out of the workshop I'm back in a small way.  Below are a few photo's of recent progress gear change parts were progressing along with installing some of the controls on the spectacle plate.  Last Photo taken before my holiday. Attempted to mount some   of the controls for safety so as not to lose them in the                 workshop.  <   My best efforts at silver soldering prior to clean up. I do hope to be back on it properly, as it helps with my mental...

 3" Burrell Eccentric straps and Oilers Year (5)! Happy New Year !! - Well its been a while since my last post and with the festivities over attention can be turned to the progress since last time. To say that a break was taken from machining is not strictly correct, as often a small amount is squeezed in to keep it ticking over. The eccentrics are all finished to the same standard as the one below just with the centre hole left rough. This is because I was having a nice new boring bar and tips for Christmas, so decided to wait for the new year to complete this.   Attention turned to some easy machining in the bracket and oiler cup, a quick turning job from some Brass hex. I decided to thread the top with a tap I already had, but found I was not in the possession of the matching Die. To supplement my collection I have since ordered the Die in HSS from Tracey Tools so this will be a Birthday present (February)   size : 1/2" x 32 TPI ME for information .  ...

 Carbide Tips (Part 3) in use in the workshop Above the eccentric sleeve under way and used as a machining demo with a new tool and tip I bought.  Finally the reason for the large diameter bar above, was to start to make the eccentric sleeve. As a way of demonstrating a reasonable cut on a small lathe, with positive rake cutters and slow feed. The Lathe is an Atlas 10F with I believe a 3/4 hp single phase Motor. The eccentrics are to follow after a weekend break in Blackpool !! Eccentrics started just required finishing and a grub screw to lock, the collar just requiring the curvature machining for the governor drive belt. Well a short one this month, and another day off at the end of the week to drive a narrow gauge engine on a pig farm! Next month continuing with these parts and perhaps starting the eccentrics outers made from bronze castings. Until next month stay safe; make swarf; have fun!

  Midlands Model Engineers Exhibition 2023. This year’s Model Engineers Show 2023 was a huge success! All four days of the show were fantastic with exhibitors and visitors alike enjoying plenty of opportunities to purchase items, learn and explore the very latest in machinery tools and model engineering. The 2 exhibition halls were abuzz with vibrancy, excitement and anticipation. I went with a usual shopping list, and a few parts that I had organised from suppliers to take to the show for me for collection and postage saving opportunity. Centre piece if the show for me, a huge amount of work in this engine and the builder, sadly no longer with us, only finished it last year.   A fantastic selection of Loco's on display and also a good number of Traction engines both engines in steam on the parade field, but also a number of static models in side. It appears this year whilst there were still a few suppliers missing, there were a good number of static displays to improve t...

 Burrell Bearings (Part 3) Hello, following another holiday and time at shows to enjoy the hobby, I am taking the plunge and finishing at least one of the bearings. This has taken some time to come up with this Jig idea to hold the bearing, and its carrier square and true, in order to be able to bore the final hole. A hexagon carrier is perfect for aligning in the 3 Jaw chuck and has sufficient metal to provide stability for the part it is carrying. This method the bearing it self can be removed, checked on the job, and replaced back on the internal datum seating in perfect alignment. Only time will tell if the gear mesh is accurately maintained by this method but we will see in a couple of weeks! (A week later) - Yes it did !!   (Right) both finished. I also made a start on the crankshaft by machining the ends smooth to take a centre drill for mounting. So far its looks ok, and my large drive dog fits nicely over the end of the shaft so that's a bonus.  (can be seen...