| Author |
Message |
    
robert
Senior Member
Username: robert
Post Number: 159
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, May 07, 2005 - 01:55 am: | 
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I am in discussions with a company overseas (not China) regarding casting cylinders and heads for certain BC-made engines whose originals were destroyed by SW cooling. Would anyone care to comment on what other makes/models would be most in demand? This will be a cost+ operation, not a money maker. I'm aware of the Palmer NRs & ZRs and previous experiences with castings that complex. Are there any other engines that are common enough and interesting enough (in the opinion of those who own them) to make this kind of effort worthwile? I can obtain quotes promptly given proper drawings, both machined and raw castings. These people are very experienced in making knock-offs of certain British stationary engines. 'Nuff said! |
miro
Senior Member
Username: miro
Post Number: 170
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 09, 2005 - 01:00 am: |
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I was looking for heads for a Coventry Victor 2 cylinder. I think I can get a copy of the drawings.
COme to think of it, the cylinders would be a good idea.
These engines are used in DisPro boats made after 1952 and are comming to end of life. I know of about 35 boats with these engines and over time they'll only get more valuable.
Any I dea of what the pricing might be?
Did you want me to send the drawings for both?
miro |
jb_castagnos
Senior Member
Username: jb_castagnos
Post Number: 238
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 09, 2005 - 07:59 pm: |
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There are a lot of Palmers that have salt water damaged cylinders, but I don't know if it would be justifiable to cast cylinders for them. I have a YT1 that could use a cylinder and head. I could get a larger Palmer, don't remember the model, that needs cylinders and a manifold. The numbers would still be low for someone to try to make a production out of it. |
robert
Senior Member
Username: robert
Post Number: 161
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 01:55 am: |
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I am doing up drawings myself at the moment. As soon as I have an estimate of costs based on those I will post here. Probably it is premature to say much more at this point. I'll email you about the CV engines Miro. We'll await Dick's comments on the Palmers. |
richardday
Senior Member
Username: richardday
Post Number: 399
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 06:39 am: |
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The monumental effort by Bill Fiege to make the patterns and core boxes for the Palmer NL cylinder, the YT cylinder and the exhaust manifold for the YT-2 took several years of hard work. Finding any foundry that would even consider casting them was a difficult job. One that tried finally gave up. Another that did the YT cylinder and exhaust manifold did an excellent job but I gather from Bill that that foundry would not likely accept another job at any price.
The NL cylinders were cast by CatTail foundry up in PA. We had 5 cast at $450.00 each. They did an excellent job but don't have any idea if they would accept another job like that. Once the rough castings are done don't forget the machining time and the fact that cylinders the size of the NL take big lathes or vertical boring mills. Bill machined the castings on the antique machines in the Industrial museum on Key highway in Baltimore and that was another big job. Bill spent a lifetime in the machine shops at the Sparrows Point Shipyard so he had the experience to take on a job this big. I am not saying don't try to do it all I am saying is this is a job that takes a tremendous effort and a lot of experience that is rapidly vanishing from the contemporary scene. The men that did this sort of work are almost all gone and it is as much art as it is science.
I have the patterns and core boxes for the YT head which is a very complex pattern. It was made in the Sparrows Point pattern shop and three heads were cast. One was cut in half to see if the casting was satisfactory and two were machined and are on someones YTs. I will provided them to anyone who can put up a bond for their safe return and exchange for one finished head. I very much doubt anyone will want to enter into such an agreement as there is such a low likelyhood of getting a sucessful result from such a complicated set of cores. When compared to a cylinder the YT head is amazingly complicated. Cut up a junk head and you will see what I mean. I think JB had the right idea for the YT cylinder. Cast the outside portion and have a core that resulted in no water jacket with sufficient parent metal to permit boring out the upper and lower portion of the cylinder to permit inserting a sleeve. The intake manifold along the side of the cylinder can be easily bored from the top of the casting.
In short I have worked this problem for many years and I have no easy solution but maybe someone has so don't give up trying.
I think I have a source of a good used YT head now owned by a man on the west coast. If there is any interest contact me and I will give you his name. It would be a matter between the buyer and seller nothing involving me except putting them together. |
rbprice
Senior Member
Username: rbprice
Post Number: 192
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 08:53 pm: |
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Robert - for what ever it is worth, I can make 3D solid models of most anything that you can provide a drawing or dimensioned sketch of. The advantage of the solid model is the easy transition to the data needed to machine the part. I'm sure the Chinese have the CAD to CAM software to do that. If I can help with this project just ask.
Bob Price |
robert
Senior Member
Username: robert
Post Number: 162
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 03:06 pm: |
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Bob, that's very kind indeed and I'm sure it is worth a great deal. I will contact you off the board regarding details. India is where I am enquiring, rather than China. China might be better, but I have no idea where to start there. |
robert
Senior Member
Username: robert
Post Number: 163
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 02:27 am: |
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Dick, thank you for your comments. Fortunately bulk of the machining would be done by the company making the cylinders etc. If this should prove to be a reliable source of good quality, reasonably priced castings I will be only too glad to assist in getting Palmer or any other types reproduced. |
