Internal Fire Museum of Power - January Progress

Slow start with the bad weather but some progress.

The speed multiplier for the Allen S47 is now in the final stages of setting up and will be concreted by the 1st of Feb. next job will be to finish cleaning the pistons and get the final assembly done. This may drag on to the end of Feb as more bad weather is due :-(

The Petter VJ single from David Edgington is now completely stripped and the fondations are being prepared. Assembly will start in Feb but still have a seized piston to deal with! Top of the bore is fine (see pic below) but there is heavy rust visible through the exhaust port. Next job will be to fabricate a frame allowing a 20 ton jack to be used to press the piston out.

The original main bearings for the VJ were stolen off the wagon 30+ years ago so these will need to be made. Hopefully they will be done in Feb and we can get the crank in and barrel back on before the end of the month.

Work can then start on the Crossley SE126 gas engine from Milton Keynes. In remarkably good condition considering her 30 years under a rough cover at Milton Keynes (well done to them for protecting her so well), she should be in one piece for Easter but I doubt she actually be running for the Crankup.

Inside, there is not a lot going on other than in the Turbine Shed. The exhaust for the ULA5 Mirrlees is being fabricated and the Heenan & Froude cooler is next on the list. She will be running for the Easter event.

Update:-

We have also finished the gear for the baby Tangye gas engine. This was machined from two, 2" thick pieces of Tufnol which was donated by Tufnol, our thanks to Lawrence Moore for that. Two round blanks with a 6.5" OD were cut out and then bored to 3.5". These were then drilled on the vertical mill for the 5 3/8" bolts that locate them between the brass end plates. The root of the tooth was then drilled, again on the mill and each tooth cut out roughly on the bandsaw. Keith then filed the teeth to shape.