What did you do today? (2014)

[davebParticipant @daveb17630]

About 50 years ago, on a motorcycling holiday in Morecambe, the clutch centre stripped on my Matchless. The nearest jobbing engineer (remember them?) was in Lancaster. There didn't seem to be any buses so I took the clutch part and walked to Lancaster. I found the place OK and the man agreed to repair the part for £7 (Ouch! best part of a weeks wages for me) and then walked back to Morecambe. Two days later I walked back to Lancaster to collect the repaired part. When I got back to Morecambe I was surprised to find the part fitted perfectly. Bike was OK but my left foot was now making very loud creaking noises when I moved it, felt as if it was low on oil. Well! I thought, I won't do that again. So far, I haven't.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

At least it was only your feet…

Neil

[StovepipeParticipant @stovepipe]

And don't believe that editor – He only wants you for your articles ! I hope to get back to my Cowells lathe today, on the grounds that it's too hot to work in the garden ! Very very much a learner and grateful for all the advice and knowledge that is dispensed on here. Thank you, gentlemen !

Dennis

[Nigel McBurney 1Participant @nigelmcburney1]

Manchester museum photos, how many of you noticed the superb Crossley carrier flame ignition gas engine in the first photo?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I think Graham had the grasshopper description correct its just he was looking at the wrong engine

As you can see in the foreground is a nice little grasshopper adjacent to the double diagonal.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

And behind that is an A-frame vertical engine,, which is one of my interests…

But put 'steam engine' into their search facility and you won't get much help:

**LINK**

Fortunately it turns out to be another John Chadwick engine:

**LINK**

Has anyone got a pic from the cylinder side?

Neil

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Also got this by searching 'grasshopper':

Neil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Well worth looking through the rest of this guys PhotoBucket albums when you have a couple of days to spare

[Pete Gilbert 1Participant @petegilbert1]

I removed my Boss! As you do.

And I shall shortly replace it with a top hat insert with a lower diameter to match the 8mm T slots in the cross slide on my Toyo ML1.

Hey old boss! You're not the boss of me!

No boss.

And, by taking off 0.2mm , I've cured the 0.15mm runout that was present. No complaints though as this little compound slide was £13.80 +vat.

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Took the nice new Berlingo for a 'day out' from N Norfolk to 'Stevenson Country' to pick up an Ebay purchase. That JS has got a lot to answer for! The SatNav speed camera warning was working like an aircraft missile warning radar!! I reckon that JS has got a share in the market there!! No sign of the Master himself though.

Rgds

Bill

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Posted by JasonB on 16/07/2014 17:20:45:

I think Graham had the grasshopper description correct its just he was looking at the wrong engine

As you can see in the foreground is a nice little grasshopper adjacent to the double diagonal.

That is as is maybe Jason but as you know, I am totally ignorant of the different engine types and designs by and large. I, like many on here, very much rely on pictures and descriptions to tell us what we are looking at. That sign in front of the "wrong" engine is positioned in such a way there can be no doubt it is referring to that engine. I will say, the description which described the as why they are called "Grasshopper" did confuse me on the day, it did not make sense but I put that down to my interpretation of the geometry of the engine. That and my ignorance of the different designs.

Without Neil pointing out that it most certainly wasn't a Grasshopper design I would have been none the wiser – FOREVER – so I thank you for pointing that out and for Jason taking the trouble to post pictures.

graham.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

That's great, thanks Jason.

As someone who fancies modelling lots of stationary engine a 1" to the foot, theres' a huge range of choice, and all small enough to be made on a Super Adept

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 16/07/2014 20:52:55

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

Finally got the balance shaft fitted to the cylinder casting for my 4" Durham.

Now the casting can go back on the boiler for good.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Hottest day blah blah – yeah in London. I was feeling distinctly cold still working up my chimney at 8pm and am now inside with the fire lit!

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Went to an event called Art in Action at Waterperry near Oxford.

**LINK**

It is a really good day out with, painting, wood workers, stone carvers, sculptors, jewellery, ceramicists, glass workers, plus lots of stuff I'm too lazy to type.

Loads of ongoing practical demonstrations, plus things for the young ones.

if you want to buy stuff as well there is lots to be had.

OK I know it's not Model Engineering but well worth the visit over this Weekend, in my opinion anyway.

It's in Marquees plus outdoor stuff, parking on large field areas.

 

Oops missed most of the capitalisation!

Edited By V8Eng on 17/07/2014 21:53:52

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I popped-in to MOSI to check the signage for the Diagonal and Grasshopper engines, which had caused Graham some confusion.

Each information sign is to the viewer's left of the engine … but the two engines are displayed at right angles, so [perhaps] the Grasshopper sign could be misinterpreted.

… Hopefully, these Photos will clarify:

.

The best bit was … Both engines were running.

MichaelG.

[Raymond Sanderson 2Participant @raymondsanderson2]

Finally got round to editing and uploading video of small Hobby & Model show we went to recently.

Edited By Raymond Sanderson 2 on 18/07/2014 07:13:33

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 17/07/2014 22:25:07:

I popped-in to MOSI to check the signage for the Diagonal and Grasshopper engines…………………..

Did you not take one of the inverted engines cylinder, Neil will be most disapointed

J

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by JasonB on 18/07/2014 07:26:13:

Did you not take one of the inverted engines cylinder, Neil will be most disapointed

.

I did not … I just grabbed those four, for the specific purpose.

But I go into Manchester most Thursday afternoons.

[ Neil; what details do you want photographed? ]

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Jason's linked pic answerd my query – it was the attachment of the slide bars and the crosshead.

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Just looking again at the Technical data for that Double Diagonal engine

… would anyone care to correct the Stroke dimension ?

MichaelG.

.

P.S. … Check out the name of the Operator !!

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 18/07/2014 08:39:57

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 18/07/2014 08:29:31:

Jason's linked pic answerd my query – it was the attachment of the slide bars and the crosshead.

Neil

.

That's O.K. then … you had better get that Super Adept ready to start work.

MichaelG.

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

There is the" Langbridge & Co. Diagonal" engine in the Bolton steam Museum that seems to be a similar design.

Les.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Les,

Yes, it's a beauty, that one.

The one at MOSI appears generally smaller, so I presume it has 9" stroke, but it would nice if someone could confirm.

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 18/07/2014 08:34:10:

P.S. … Check out the name of the Operator !!

.

Found 'em … t'internet is amazing !!

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 18/07/2014 13:52:27

[Author]

Posts