Stormin

Grab a lump of ally..
 

 
 
Bung it in the lathe and face the end off.
 

 
 
A bit of a trim down the side.
 

 
 
More metal removed, the black pen stuff was to help me get the right shape.. Or near enough..
 

 
 
Almost there now..
 

 

 
 
Parted off.
 

 
 
Then finished off... HHmmmm.. Shiny
 


To fit the knob thingy I had to drill yet another hole..
 

 
 
Tap a thread in it.
 

 
 
Ta Daaa... Almost..    Not sure about the thread showing..
 

 
 
A bit of ally tube soon had the looks sorted..
 

 
 
And finally fit the finished tool holder to the lathe..
 

 
 
I hope you all have enjoyed this little build, it was quite fun to make
 
Of course..... This build comes with a video
 
 
 

Thanks Richard, it's good to be posting again, it's been far too long...
Nigel mentioned yesterday that it's been a bit quiet on here, something about that strange place that's Farcebook!
 
I should of built this tool holder a long time ago, it's such a handy thing
 
So where was I?  Oh yes.. about here.
 
With both top and bottom bit's drilled and countersunk....
 

 
 
It was time to cut some threads in the middle section..
 

 
 
Top bolted down..
 

 
 
As was the base.. Before the bolts were welded in, I countersunk the holes a bit wider so I could get a good weld all around the bolt heads.
 

 
 
A quick check to see how the cutting tools looked... Quite happy with that.
 

 
 
A nice sturdy bolt was cut down and welded to a small square of steel, it will come in handy for clamping the holder to the carriage. 
In this pic you can also see the "block" has had the bolts welded up and turned flush on the lathe.
 

 
 
The bolt with the big square head fit's like so.. The original "1 tool" tool holder won't be in use for much longer..
 

 
 
A quick test fit, me likey
 

 

 
 
The big question was...........
 
Had I got my measurements right and did the tip of a cutting tool end up in the right place????
 
Yep, that will do nicely
 

Now for a errr... Interesting challenge..  How to cut a smallish square from that big slab!
 
The best and quietest way I could think of was a bit "iffy", but it worked..
 

 

 
 
That looks very close!!
 

 
 
But it clears, just..
 

 
 
Lot's of cutting and turning later, all three parts are the right size.
 

 
 
A quick look at my plans... Or should that be rough scribble?
 

 
 
And it was time to fix all three parts together... A single bolt kept it all in check..
 

 
 
So I could mark out and start drilling holes to put some bolts through. Here's the top drilled out..
 

 
 
And the base...
 

 
 
A bit of countersinking was needed..
 

 
 
So the bolt heads would sit flush.
 

 
 
More to follow later including a rather well edited if rather long video... Tune back for more later..

Hi all, sorry for the lack of posts from me in...ooooo... quite a while!
Life changed a great deal when Covid appeared and my Wife started working from home....   Spare time is something that is very very hard to come by!
 
That's not to say I have not been busy in my little Workshack, it's finding Workshack time and the time to post anything anywhere that's been the problem....
 
Sooooo.. With my new Workshack finally (well, almost as they are never finished) and the lathe re-power done (I will update the Re-power thread), it was time to make something that my Southbend lathe has needed in a long time.. Yep a new tool holder that can hold more than one cutting tool at a time
 
The said lathe in question..
 

 
 
To make the TH I needed three different size lumps of steel.. Here's the base part being cut to size.
 

 
 
The middle part will be cut from this odd lump of steel that was coated in clear rubber, then bolted to a Volvo bulkhead!  No idea what it did in the Volvo!
 

 
 
The third and top bit will have to be cut from this rather big slab!
 

 
 
While the middle part was being cut roughly to size..
 

 
 
It was filmed on an old phone that was rubber banded to a tripod!    My faithful video camera had snuffed it you see.. 
 

 

 
 
The middle part being turned to size..
 

 
 
As my hands are not working that well these days the Power Crossfeed thingy I build has come in very handy and saved lots of hand ache..
 

 
 
The middle part done..
 

 
 
And plonked on the base.
 

 
 
 

Hello Gents,
                      Thanks for viewing and your comments. A little more progress to date. The front end is more or less sorted ready for the chimney to go on and is now sitting on it's front wheels.
The cylinder in the original model design had a bland side face just shaped and usually painted black. I, as may be seen in a previous post,  just had to make things more difficult for the sake of detail.
I made up a cover plate and secured it with screws as per the full size engines. This has been painted the same dark blue as other parts and (I think) helps to finish the area off. 
I have just replaced the last temporary screw on the cylinder part for a stud/nut, but you will see a countersunk screw in the top Guide Bar in this pic which I had taken earlier.
The tiny (7mm dia) steel handwheel on the Blower Valve was drilled and finish filed by hand/eye, but looks ok I think.-
 

 
The steering chain drum finshed and now fitted is also modified from the model design to reflect full size layout. The chain (brass) is what used to be supplied to clockmakers for the winding system on long cases.
I plan too make my own at a later stage in steel with brazed links-
 

 
Lastly for now, I finished making the square headed blanking plugs and stop pins in bronze for the water pump and now fitted in it's partially hidden place down behind the rear wheel.
Original model design was for it to fit on the side of the boiler, which looks way out of scale, and over the years, other modellers have experienced priming issues when in steam with boiler mounted pumps.
I think it is because of the heat, but I fortunately redesigned this back in 1987 to locate in a cool area similar to full size layout-
 
 
 
Sorry about the last image quality, I deleted the wrong one . You may notice a red dot adjacent to gear tooth on both the 2nd and 3rd motion shaft gear wheels.
I have a slight resistance in rotation where these two coincide, so i think i must have a tiny burr on them, so i will pull these off and run them with some p600/oil & 'T' cut grinding paste to bed them in.
The running clearances were set using cigarette papers (about 0.0015"), so it doesn't take much to obstruct free movement. Hopefully more soon.
Regards.
 
 

Hello all 
Some of you will  remember my Huttenwerk Tractor which i had on here,  well I have been busy overhauling the Tracks starting with the track plates then new rubbers and bolts , And today the track cover plates were fitted 50 off factory made from 1.6 mm mild steel  then drilled and painted  Matt black .
and to finish 200 coach bolts washers and m8 nuts all to be tightened up.  Then over to the wash and clean corner this now runs so well now i can hardly believe it hope you like i think it great 

Thanks for the photo's, Paul.

Our local event so popped up for a look this morning
 
Not much horticultural but one or two machines of interest...
 
 

I am 19 years old and always working on garden tractors. People my age are always spending time with their girlfriend. The other day my parents came asking if I had met any nice girls and if their was a girl I liked. I replied with only this picture:

now its time to see if the engine will spark and bypass  the fuel tap and fuel pump needs cleaned out pipe work full of old crap
That will be the next job to overhaul  the fuel pump  and tap leaks. Sparkplug is sparking now to put a small amount of fuel down plug hole
Yes it offered to fire. I just tied a spare old  fuel tank that was kicking about the workshop connected  up fuel lines and it now running.
That's enough  for today still more to do the next few weekends

Here we are back at  the workshop today starting to find out why we have no spark at the plug

Started to remove   front mask to get into the point

Starting to remove flywheei

Have now removed flywheel found more snail 

Here I have got to  the bottom of the problem  points dirty  so whipped them out will clean them later. Replaced them with new points.

I've been making a couple of attachments for the Sears/Roper recently.
 
First was a front tow hitch out of some scrap lying around. May not look pretty, but functual and cheap.
 

 
  Secondly a rack for the rear of it. I did make a tote box for the front to carry my chainsaw etc, but on really rough ground it would hit large bumps or ground out on deep holes. So I decided to make a rack to carry it behind the seat.
  Again made from scrap and an old scrap gate.
 

 
Box trial fitted.

 
 Finally some paint thrown on with a brush.

 
 Later I had an idea. I was bored BTW. A seat was lying on the shelf, so let's fit it to the rack.

 
Not ideal but good for a laugh.

 
Certainly strong but best not pull any wheelies.  
  

After 2 months of poor weather conditions, I have managed to continue with painting and some assembly. I finally fitted the last of the valve covers on the cylinder block after setting all the valve event adjustments and finishing the motion work off to a standard of sewing machine smoothness. This allowed me to apply a penultimate semi matt black coat over all the joints, stud heads and nuts to consolidate the whole finish. The Chimney saddle and the exhaust pipe were painted separately, as the saddle is bolted, instead of the original model design of riveting. It is easier this way, as I can reach into awkward corners and touch in the bolt heads with the Airbrush on a fine setting.
Just need a little more care this way of fitting without paint damage. I detailed the exhaust a bit more with fitting a bolted flange at the cylinder end. The exhaust is 1/4" diameter pipe for clarity-
 

 
The Regulator Rod just under the safety valves in the next pic has a dummy tail rod and gland. I have to make the 2 x 14ba studs and nuts for it yet.
I decided to machine and file it from the excess metal on the casting to give it some detail, as the original model design just showed a lump of round metal there.  
A bit of cleaning up of the overspray on the raised brass lettering to do, but otherwise a major step forward on the assembly front-
 

 
I did manage to get the top coat on the flywheel last month and very pleased with the finish. Only temporarily fitted, so the gib key pulls out easily-
 

 
Hopefully progress and updates will continue to speed up now, as the jobs on other projects are building up as well as work down at the museum.
I have managed to get some lathe time in though, helping out with making unobtainable parts for old mowers for a guy on the Old Lawnmower Club forum, so I have been busy really.
Regards.

The day was coming to an end fitted the mud wings 

That's all folks  stay safe enjoy the rest of the Bank holiday weekend
Hame time now.

No but I got a nice new pallet and a load of twist wire included.!

Managed to get it fitted and operational spent a few hours levelling off the drive and made a huge difference, really pleased with it has to be my bargain of the year new price in the States is $1600 

South East Marts sale at Herstmonceux this morning
 
Weather not great and I only bought breakfast but I did get a few photos...
 
 

Ransomes bought out an American company called Steiner that made small  tractors and a range of sophisticated implements, boom mowers,trenchers, snow blowers and ploughs etc. I have two of these machines, a 420 and a 425 both of which are fitted with a Kubota three cylinder engine.
Some time ago I managed to find a NOS front loader in America which had been stored for a long time but never used ( someone had removed the hydraulic operating levers) . Earlier this week I was looking again on E Bay USA for Steiner parts and came across a listing for a NOS Ransomes branded hydraulic front mounted snow plough dozer blade with angling ram. Again there were a few bolts missing so it had lain in a store somewhere for years, strange thing was it was in Norwich UK. I managed to buy it and await delivery at the beginning of next week. I knew these blades existed branded as Steiner in USA ( still available new ) but have never seen a Ransomes branded green version. Last year I bought a front hydraulic adapter from the States with a view to building a blade which is still sitting as NOS in my workshop!! No idea why the owner listed it in the States, I was the only bidder.

Sorry for the resurrection of this one, but thought those who watch Gardener's World (BBC uk) may see this mower (briefly) on this Friday's programme
It's included in Clive Gravett's (of the Budding Foundation Museum of Gardening) 2nd instalment on the programme covering the history of the mower.
It is also in the Atco Centenary Video on their website:- LINK  within the 1950s period. So at least it's still earning it's keep with the Charity.
 
Regards.
Richard
 

I've been making a couple of attachments for the Sears/Roper recently.
 
First was a front tow hitch out of some scrap lying around. May not look pretty, but functual and cheap.
 

 
  Secondly a rack for the rear of it. I did make a tote box for the front to carry my chainsaw etc, but on really rough ground it would hit large bumps or ground out on deep holes. So I decided to make a rack to carry it behind the seat.
  Again made from scrap and an old scrap gate.
 

 
Box trial fitted.

 
 Finally some paint thrown on with a brush.

 
 Later I had an idea. I was bored BTW. A seat was lying on the shelf, so let's fit it to the rack.

 
Not ideal but good for a laugh.

 
Certainly strong but best not pull any wheelies.  
  

there are several suppliers of Kohler parts one I use regular is MEETENS at PRESTON LANCS they do excellent mail order try NOT to use Chinese coils they tend not to fit or fail very quickly

I've been making a couple of attachments for the Sears/Roper recently.
 
First was a front tow hitch out of some scrap lying around. May not look pretty, but functual and cheap.
 

 
  Secondly a rack for the rear of it. I did make a tote box for the front to carry my chainsaw etc, but on really rough ground it would hit large bumps or ground out on deep holes. So I decided to make a rack to carry it behind the seat.
  Again made from scrap and an old scrap gate.
 

 
Box trial fitted.

 
 Finally some paint thrown on with a brush.

 
 Later I had an idea. I was bored BTW. A seat was lying on the shelf, so let's fit it to the rack.

 
Not ideal but good for a laugh.

 
Certainly strong but best not pull any wheelies.  
  

Just after Christmas the log store was getting a bit depleted. So I reluctantly order a load of logs that where duly delivered. A week later, talking to a farmer neighbour I mentioned this. "You needn't have ordered any", he said. "There's a tree I want down and you can have it". Typical!
   This was a fair sized sycamour. Maybe 2-3 ton. What surprised me when I started to cut into it, the amount of water that came out of it. Anyway a few hours work and a few trips with the Sears/Roper and Saxon trailer and log splitter at home, the 2' x 4' x 8' wood cage is nicely full. Due to it being so green, it's being left to dry out for next winter.
 
 
 

 

 

  I've had a bit of a trim since that photo was taken. And Carol is just posing.
 

 

 

 
   Not long after that, my mate Dunc landed down from over the border in Scotland. 10' x 5' trailer in tow. Full of seasoned timber. And all for me. Some of that is now cut and logged and stored ready to use.
  About three weeks ago, the same farmer's son was felling dykes/hedges down the side of a field. I could go and get as much wood that I liked. Oh! I liked alright. I can't remember just how many loads I brought home. Maybe 8-9. Decent sized stuff as well.
 
   Problem now is, my little wood yard is full and nowhere else to store more.

 
And there's another stack for me waiting over the border.
 

I've been making a couple of attachments for the Sears/Roper recently.
 
First was a front tow hitch out of some scrap lying around. May not look pretty, but functual and cheap.
 

 
  Secondly a rack for the rear of it. I did make a tote box for the front to carry my chainsaw etc, but on really rough ground it would hit large bumps or ground out on deep holes. So I decided to make a rack to carry it behind the seat.
  Again made from scrap and an old scrap gate.
 

 
Box trial fitted.

 
 Finally some paint thrown on with a brush.

 
 Later I had an idea. I was bored BTW. A seat was lying on the shelf, so let's fit it to the rack.

 
Not ideal but good for a laugh.

 
Certainly strong but best not pull any wheelies.  
  

Just after Christmas the log store was getting a bit depleted. So I reluctantly order a load of logs that where duly delivered. A week later, talking to a farmer neighbour I mentioned this. "You needn't have ordered any", he said. "There's a tree I want down and you can have it". Typical!
   This was a fair sized sycamour. Maybe 2-3 ton. What surprised me when I started to cut into it, the amount of water that came out of it. Anyway a few hours work and a few trips with the Sears/Roper and Saxon trailer and log splitter at home, the 2' x 4' x 8' wood cage is nicely full. Due to it being so green, it's being left to dry out for next winter.
 
 
 

 

 

  I've had a bit of a trim since that photo was taken. And Carol is just posing.
 

 

 

 
   Not long after that, my mate Dunc landed down from over the border in Scotland. 10' x 5' trailer in tow. Full of seasoned timber. And all for me. Some of that is now cut and logged and stored ready to use.
  About three weeks ago, the same farmer's son was felling dykes/hedges down the side of a field. I could go and get as much wood that I liked. Oh! I liked alright. I can't remember just how many loads I brought home. Maybe 8-9. Decent sized stuff as well.
 
   Problem now is, my little wood yard is full and nowhere else to store more.

 
And there's another stack for me waiting over the border.