My Site, My Stuff

3” Traction Engine Build

Ever wondered what you are faced with when you start a large model engineering project? Here you go…

As this engine is fully written-up in my two books – Little Samson 1 & 2, which are still available (contact me), this build will only be a pictorial guide.

LScylinderbits
Cylinder, covers & trunk-guide
LSaxlebits
Front axle and support fork
LScrankbits
Flywheel and crankshaft
LSdiffbits
Differential gears and winding drum
LSwheels
Wheels
LSboxofbits
A box of goodies
LSfork1
Front axle fork and support plate
LSaxle1
Front axle being milled
LSspringpads1
Spring rubbing pads being milled
LSspringpads2
Spring rubbing pad fitted
LSaxlespring
Front axle assembled
lsfrontdone
Painted and fitted
LSfrontwheels1
Part machined, bearings pressed in
LSfwheelhub
Oil tube fitted, hubcap made
frontwheel
A finished front wheel
LSmainbearings
Crankshaft brackets
LSbearingstub
Crank bearings and turning mandrel
LSmains
Crank bearing parts
lscrank1
Crankshaft in the lathe
lssplines2
Splines milled in
lsgears2
Crankshaft gears, keyways cut
lssplines3
Fitted to crankshaft
ls2ndshaft
2nd Shaft bearing blocks
ls2ndgear2
2nd Shaft output gear
ls2ndgears1
2nd Shaft high/low gear cluster, smaller gear is underneath
lsboiler
Boiler

The boiler was made by a certified boiler welders, this is necessary to get the correct CE paperwork etc, the ring on the right is the smokebox.

lstubebore
Axle tube being bored out
lstubedone
Finished, bearings pressed in
lsaxlefittings
Drive pins and axle collars
lsdiff1
Pinions fitted, final drive gear fitted
lsdrum1
Winding drum fitted to gear
lsdiff2
Differential pinions and shafts
lsdrive1
Drive hub
lsbackwheel1
A back wheel being bored out
lssmokebox1
Smokebox and reducer rings
lsdoor1
Smokebox door on lathe
lschimneybase1
Milling bottom of chimney saddle
lschimneybase2
Saddle finished
lssmokebox2
Smokebox finished
lschimney1
Chimney and former
lschimney2
Chimney finished
lssteering2
Steering gear assembled
lssteering1
Worm and wheel
LSEccentricBore
Boring an eccentric strap
LSEccentricSlit
Slitting the strap
LSEccentricDone
Finished strap and eccentric
lsvalve2
Finished connecting rods
block1
Milling the block
ports
Valve ports milled in
block2
Cutting the saddle
lsports
Finished block
lscoverplate
Valve chest cover
trunk
Trunk guide and end cover
millnod
Drilling port connecting passages
piston
The piston and connecting rod
partxslide
Milling the cross-head from solid
donexslide
The finished cross-head
conrod1
Milling the ends of the connecting rod
valvespindle
Valve rod, spindle and valve
lsbigend2
Big-end and main bearing
lsbigend
Assembled big-end
lsliftinglinks
Lifting links
lsstelink
Reversing link and die
lslinkblocks
Cutting a pair of dies from solid
lsstephgear
Stephensons reversing gear assembled
lssquarethread2
Brake rod in the lathe
lssquarethread
Brass nut and square thread
lsregbracket1
Milling the regulator bracket
lsregbracket1a
Back side of bracket
lsregbracket2
Ready to cut off of support bar
lsregbracketdone
Finished bracket

Stage updates

A few years work in a few pictures.

lsprog1
08/09/2006

As it was on 08/09/2006. The hornplates are fitted along with 2nd and crank shaft bearings and dummy shafts. The gears are being test fitted.

lshornrivet
09/09/2006

09/09/2006 – The riveting on the hornplates is now done, apart from holding the steering shaft brackets on, they are all ornamental.

lsprogress3
30/09/06

30/09/2006 – The steering fitted and all shaft bearings done.

lsprogress5
14/10/2006

14/10/2006. – The first full fit-up. The rear axle is complete and work has now started on the smokebox and chimney.

lsprogress6
10/08/2007

10/08/2007 – Pretty much the same state but now in its new double garage workshop after our house move, much more space!

Finshed and on the bench
finished2
June 2008

June 2008 – All finished and ready for it’s first steaming.

Video of first run