Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

I assembled the new engines "bone stock" just so I could start planning the wood board layout, they will get tune upgrades soon.
  This morning I had a thought....what "IF" someone buys a QX-6 after reading my "flowery" thread....but has no access to a lathe or desire to tinker with the engine...So I fueled a bone stock and bone dry (no lube) engine to see what folks might experience...not real pretty!...at first the engine did not want to run and then as it warmed up it was trying a little...I just loosened one of the set screws and gave it what I would call "excessive" end play between the bearings and the engine took right off and ran "ok". It was much louder than the mod unit and the flywheel wobbles more with all the end play but it Runs.
  Hope that was full disclosure!...I am enjoying these immensely but I get a kick out of tuning them and they respond nicely to a little love. I realize most people don't have a lathe....I suppose a very thin washer special diameter washer might be the fix for a person without a lathe to prevent bearing/flywheel rub issue.
  Ok, now I have my full disclosure out of the way it's back to the engine room!

Ben , that's a whole lot of QX6's there , lots of nice cast to look at. Put em' to work and lets see what they're capable of 😊👍

Well, I managed to find some hard graphite round stock (for better power piston) and order today, it may be a few days before it shows up and I was eager to try a better piston. I turned up this Aluminum piston today and left it .0015 oversize and polished it to fit bore.
  I could tell right away when I fit it to engine the fit was better when I rolled engine over.
  It makes a bit more speed and a bit less vibration being lighter BUT the best discovery is it makes More power. I think the reason is china does not polish fit, a lathe cut will leave "record player" fine radial micro grooves, this can be less with a radius dressed on the tool bit but polishing levels the surface finish.
  I think a stock china piston as it Runs in wears the high spots off the micro grooves and we are left with a piston that is slightly smaller and leaks more than desirable.
  I am pleased my Aluminum piston runs better than stock but eager to try a Graphite piston.
  The homemade aluminum piston is on top, stock brass is the lower piston.



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And then there where Two. With the double reduction the red engine is medium speed and the far right is turning quite slow. My Aluminum homemade piston is getting a workout.

Sorry about the green tape. It's not a Classy solution. Looking for a lazy Susann and some cork board.

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Ben.....last time I say it so as not to bother you.....but you need a YouTube account.

There's so much more 'bang' for the viewer watching a video.

Nice set up Ben!

...and please don´t hold back!

Very happy to be served stills in here, while you figure out the motion picture part 

Quote from: classixs on March 25, 2021, 10:13:33 am

Nice set up Ben!

...and please don´t hold back!

Very happy to be served stills in here, while you figure out the motion picture part

As Jan said above, don't hold back..... enthusiasm is great and we're all addicts that need our daily fix

A story is good, a photo is gooder.....but a video is even gooooooooder 

Your posts are enjoyable Ben and I really like your tinkering brain

My "tinkering" brain time is my one of my favorite parts of my day!

Teaser: Spoker "D"!

This is my most Prized Ertl toy(to date) and best belt drive setup (I) have tried so far, My modified QX6 powers the belt pulley OR the Spoker flywheel with ease!
  The Flywheel spins so true on this premium grade model, I do not think I could improve it much...but still would like to bronze bush it.
  I hope to make this setup my first video, I may need to mount the QX6 on a board or power it with my taller D405 as the low base QX6 does rub the lower belt on the front axle a little.
  I would like to power with a PMR flat belt next....

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