This appears to be a fascinating project that needs to be closely followed!
This appears to be a fascinating project that needs to be closely followed!
Many thanks, much of this project is being invented as I go along... hoping it works out
Set up the main drive sprocket and assembled two sets of drive chains, built a set of boige spacers and trial assembled the set up, will need to build the dummy springs next to keep everything in place
Machined up axle spacers and the springs to set these all up, turned an M4 thread on the axle ends to put some temporary M4 nuts on, then gave the whole assembly a road test down the uneven garden path.
This worked surprisingly well with the undulations, pleased to see nothing was binding and the roller chain ran as sweet as a nut.
Next off need to finalise the chassis mounts and spring pivot set up, I've built a dummy wooden chassis to bolt parts to so as I can get the set up right.
Interesting, simple and robust way to link the power to both rear axles without multiple drive lines and differentials.
I like it!
Great to see progress on the Garrett John!
Cut and fabricated a set of forward chassis mount plates along with the first part of the rear spring hangers, did discover a tendency for one side of the chain drive to bind and found this chain was one link shorter, made up a new chain and seems to have cured the problem.
Next of assembled the front axle components - silver soldered up the axle stubs and the main axle spacer bar, then fabricated the front spring. Found that the Foden front axle I had measured is actually shorter than the rear in width, meaning I had to add in an insert to get the right scale 7'-6" width overall - had this been done on the full size machine the same would have to have been done.
Made up a set of track rod fork ends and a track rod with a 10BA thread on it useing a bot of steel rod from a Firework sparkler (never throw away useful items...)
Rear boige showing chassis mounts
Ok well this project is being restarted following a break to build traction engines, paint my house, build my 7/8ths scale Exhill Works layout etc...
Had a massive tidy up and went through all the parts, so a bit of an update...
Having built the Virgo engine and bedded it in once id resolved an issue this is now running on air as sweet as a nut, ive been working on the gearbox / transfer box to get this running correctly (currently on version three) while i sort out bearings and work out the gear shift mech..
Carried on with the gearbox, made up a set of bearings and drilled oil holes in these, cleaned off the paintwork on the steal side plates and soldered in the bearings adjusting where required.
Set up and tested – this now runs satisfactory
Amazing amount of precision work on display here. Serious ingenuity and engineering being applied!
I wished you where here in Texas and specifically in the Austin area - I'd just camp in your shop and watch things being made!
Many thanks for the comments, much of what I am doing is trial and error, which is why the main chassis and body parts are all wood at the moment so I can alter them and resolve issues before I cut metal
Currently making a rear axle hanging support pattern so this can be cast as I need to reduce the width of the chassis so the drive chain from the gear box will clear the front mounts - all will become clear in due course once I've built yet another wooden chassis...
I wished you where here in Texas and specifically in the Austin area - I'd just camp in your shop and watch things being made!
Seeing as I am in Devon and your in Texas... here is the workshop pictures 1 & 2 are from the diving wall and a turn round by 90' gives the view the other way above the drawing board and desk