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Author Topic: Clarkson vertical  (Read 4370 times)

Scorpion2nz

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Clarkson vertical
« on: May 09, 2020, 03:58:12 am »
This is. Tale of woe and grief .
This was purchased of TM a while ago and while I am taking a break from thenD10 compound and waiting  for bits
I have made a start on this .
The castings are rough and no square edges .
Got the base started .

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Trunk guide is a Solid casting  ie not cored


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Eventually got it drilled  and turned and reamed .
Casting have hard spots and easy spots .

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The cylinder
A bast... bit of cast iron .

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Drilled the bore and reamed .
Cut port holes and steam ways .
Broke a tap on the port face for the retaining studs for the steam chest .
Then the final straw was while drilling the exhaust port I developed a hole in the bore .
Decide to scrap it and start a brass one .
Start  with a solid lump of hex .
In order to offset it for turning the bore I silver soldered two plates on to it .

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Scorpion2nz

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2020, 04:06:45 am »
Port holes drilled . And steam lines drilled
Can you see the issue

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I have a plan to fix it .

Cylinder head made .

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Drain cock holes done and cylinder top and bottom holes drilled and tapped .

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Now need a steam chest.

Time for some hard labour with hacksaw.

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After some hacksaw and milling

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Cheers
Dennis






yozhek

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2020, 04:20:53 am »
Looking good Dennis, nothing worse than broken drill bits in your work, well except for broken taps  ;D

Best wishes
Ade

Scorpion2nz

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2020, 04:24:53 am »
Evening Ade
 Just waiting for some Alum to arrive so I can hopefully  cook the cylinder and dissolve
The broken drill bit .

Cheers
Dennis

yozhek

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2020, 04:32:16 am »
G'Morning Dennis  ;D

Hope it works, never tried it myself, someone said ferric chloride, total disaster, disolved the work and left the drill bit  :'(

I just found your other build thread too, great reading, good pics, thanks!

Cheers
Ade

Hero

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2020, 07:59:48 am »
Ah, but when it's done it will be a thing of beauty and a joy forever!

Here's my Clarkson horizontal, which I hope you will take as inspiration.

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Bob

Scorpion2nz

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2020, 01:54:19 pm »
Morning Bob
Yours may be a thing of beauty but mine  is becoming the start of a prolonged nightmare.

Cheers
Dennis

Hero

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2020, 05:35:01 pm »
Cheer up! It'll work!😁
Bob

Steam Technology

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #8 on: May 09, 2020, 07:12:15 pm »
Now its coming along.
Watching with interest re the alum.
ALWAYS WORKING TO FIND A CURE FOR CENOSILLICAPHOBIA
Cheers. Dave.

RedRyder

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2020, 07:49:14 pm »
Hang in there, Dennis. You will get there.
It isn't just you. Clarkson was known for great designs and second rate castings.

Scorpion2nz

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #10 on: May 10, 2020, 03:54:56 am »
The cylinder needs a tidy up on outside .
Hold in vice on mill with a arbour .
Mill back and forward.
Shift slightly and repeat .
Eventually it is roundish

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And after some filing and a wire brush

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Scorpion2nz

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #11 on: May 11, 2020, 02:51:27 am »
About ready to throw the whole lot in the scrap bin .
The two uprights are unusable.
 Nothing square  and parts are as hard as hell
ie milling along with finest of cuts producing fine swarf then hit a hard spot and
 new bit instantly glows red . A new bit down the drain .even a new file has issues.
So i either make two stands from brass or  use the cylinder in a horizontal configuration.

I think this might be my worst purchase for a year or two ..

Cheers
Dennis

Hero

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #12 on: May 11, 2020, 07:11:43 am »
What a shame. Guess Gil is right about the second-rate castings.
Bob

Jim

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #13 on: May 11, 2020, 07:29:55 pm »
Enjoying the photos Dennis, you'll do wonders with this one.
_______________________________________________
Cheers.
Jim

My YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/Blue123Heeler/videos


RedRyder

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Re: Clarkson vertical
« Reply #14 on: May 12, 2020, 02:30:17 pm »
While the castings can present a real challenge, if you can get through and beyond the process, there is an elegant engine on the other side.