The finished mold. A spare because I know the machinist and he is likely to bugger one up.
The finished mold. A spare because I know the machinist and he is likely to bugger one up.
Next patterns to mold. Six bolt cylinder attachment to suit slider cylinder and some other cylinder configurations
Inserts will be placed in the crankcase to suit the different cylinder requirements.
Some of the cylinders that will be tested.
These depressions are carved in by hand as locators for the top half of the sand mold. Opposite lumps will be generated as the top mold is packed and set so two halves will go back together in the same orientation. Handy little tricks.
Who needs high pressure die casting machines ???
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”
Love your work Neil. Wish I had 1/2 your energy..
Don't you look at my accountant.
He's the only one I've got.
Sitting around with the family talking to someone , then you look up and find that they are actually talking to someone else on the phone, or glued to some screen or other!
Should've gone and done some patternmaking instead , sounds like a much better way to spend the holidays than trying to communicate!
Maybe Whanganui on Boxing Day or somewhere like that (like I used to do) would've been a better alternative!
You've got the right idea Neil ie making use of the season doing something worthwhile, you either have an understanding family or got them trained! - Must have a chat and get a few tips from you on that as well as the foundry stuff!
There's not really enough space at my place in Auckland and a lot my gear is dispersed through the country, so it's all a bit difficult at present and I will be needing some advice on all this, as time is (beginning) to run out!
Carry on the good work!
Strokers Galore!
I guess so. I have raced the F9 for many years in various classes (with its heavily modified fuel injected engine). Wayne Blackwood and I have raced the YZ TPI for many years in the Acerbis four hour, an enduro race class and as to TPI sucess I think KTM are taking care of that.My 700 twin was not ever designed for any race class but never the less is powering my Autogyro at the moment (what it was designed for) a success in my book.
Most of my developments are just too far out there to be completed , fetteled and built to any race class (on my budget or time) e.g. HCCI engine, linier crank engines, sleeve valve engine etc.
The 360 is most definitely aimed at racing, I'm just not sure what class yet, probably just next year's Acerbis four hour or possibly get a young hot shot to MX it. Can be made back to a 250 easily for the class.
These small RV cases I'm casting up now are also aimed at a race class, probably enduro again as that's about all I'm good for now, this engine is destined for the mark two TPI.
I know what you are saying, you are talking bucket class I guess. This set of cases would probably make a great bucket engine but I don't have the resorses to make a complete bucket (I just concentrate on engines)
I post here half hoping someone will take up casting their own project, I don't mind helping, I do what I do and enjoy it, I've learnt some valuable lessons just having a hack at it, lessons you will not ever read about as there just is no information available (no ones actually done it to see what happens), success? Depends on how you look at it. I would certainly like to win some class but I might have left that a bit late now.
This case half has a tricky part line. I had to make this special base with inserts. I'll post pictures of packing the mold so you can see how they work. Also has the pattern insert installed so it might run the epicycloid crank. I'll be casting more normal cases, this one with the insert is just a one off.
The fact that you have a complete self designed engine built and running is a huge achievement in itself!
Probably some cooperation amongst those interested, rather than sitting waiting for one to appear might go a long way to acheiving that!
I can only speak for myself here of course not all the other guys (I only know a couple of them personally) but I would suggest that many of us are watching your developments in awe and are afraid to put forward any useful (or otherwise) theories we might have on this subject! - I'm sure many of our ideas (or parts of them at least) are relavent and may actually be useful, but we do need some input from others as well - look at the ideas on ESE - naked and unashamed questions and comments made by all!
If I could gather all my ideas, thoughts and aspirations from way back ( I have done that to some degree) and have the confidence to give it a go, I would do that.
However there is a time when it would reach a stage where my expertise in the design and fine tuning (both in engines and foundry work) would probably run out!
I might need some help to achieve my goal, which would not include Bucket Racing of course, (way past that) just to design, cast and build a very mediocre engine (not intended for anything in particular) - don't hold your breath!
To be honest, I am a very late starter, working (read fumbling) in cramped conditions, and do not have the single mindedness or the energy that you seem to have, but I would be pleased to take some direction from you!
I did have an offer of some help by another member but didn't take it up, (sorry about that) - At that time I really just wanted to ease myself in slowly, feel my way around and see where I stood in the scheme of things!
Neil, as I see it, you are more or less explaining to us, that we should just give it a go anyway without worrying about failure (failure is just part of learning)!
I did find that out when building my furnace, burner and various associated tools, I designed it as I went along with minimal input from anyone and it all worked fine - very simple really.
But patternmaking and moulding? well, a lot of lessons to be learnt there!
Strokers Galore!
Oops, went back to the 'drawing' and realised I'd forgotten a drain bung boss. Attached now.
Rubbing the plumbago in is also useful to detect lumps and irregular surfaces by feel, surprising how well this works, dirty old job though.
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