Model engine builder

I have a small shop for my machining projects.
1 bridgeport milling machine
1 southbend 9a toolroom lathe
1 hardinge HVAC lathe
1 7x10 small lathe (china?)
1 horizontal band saw (harbor freight)
1 B&S surface grinder
1 sherline tabletop mill model 2000
1 sherline tabletop lathe
misc tooling

I build small gas, diesel and steam engines from raw stock no castings.
I am currently building a 2 cylinder gas engine about 5"x5" from a Jerry Howell design. It is about 50% - 60% done.
I am getting up there in the age department and things don't happen so fast anymore (81). I am retired and find the best days are the ones when I only make a part right the first time. :) Oh well you learn by your mistakes.

Hi kenco001 - welcome to HomemadeTools.net :welcome:

Model engine builders are always welcome here :) How is the 2 cylinder engine build going?

Hi Ken,

I see you've already joined the Model Engine Maker forum. You'll like it there. Good people and a lot of engine building expertise. I'll look forward to hearing more from you over there.

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Originally Posted by mklotz

Hi Ken,

I see you've already joined the Model Engine Maker forum. You'll like it there. Good people and a lot of engine building expertise. I'll look forward to hearing more from you over there.

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Hi Marv, you are no stranger to me--I have a lot of your math software and find it comes in handy when I need to
machine a part and need a little help.
Thank you for a great place to find or check my calculations or even how to do the calc for some stuff.
The engine is coming along slowly as I am moving a little slower these days but no complaints, I just go with the flow.
I have to redo the gear case section as I did not check the clearance on the assembled gears for shaft centers and found that the drawing numbers were close but that sure doesn"t make the gears mash properly.
Of course when I read the assembly tip page -it did say to lay the gears out in mesh and measure the center distances. This part is the most difficult piece to make so I have practice on it already. :rolleyes:
Ok , time to go make some chips.
Regards, Ken Pepi:hattip:

Clockmakers have what's called a "depthing tool" to set gear spacing properly. You can use Google images to get a picture of one.

Basically it consists of two shafts, each of which carries one of the gears. The shafts are carried on frames that are hinged together. The hinge is adjusted to provide the proper gear mesh. The ends of the shafts have points that can then be used to mark the workpiece with the exact spacing to produce proper mesh.

I'm glad you're finding the math programs useful. Almost all of them were written to address a real shop problem so there's very little fluff there.