My Garage Machine Shop

[A_Pmech]

Originally Posted by fergus

Awesome idea man. I feel as though I'm watching the beginning of something grand. Like a modern day Britten. Don't feel uncomfortable with that comparison...if you want to do something badly enough, you will. You definitely have the odds stacked in your favor as far as your abilities and capabilities run. And you've got quite a shop to work out of. I'm glad to see you put it all to great use.

Oh...I love the sound and smell of two strokes. I often look up RD 500s , TZs, etc on Youtube just to hear em run. So I'm slightly biased. I've just subscribed to your blog.

Hi Fergus,

I think Britten and I have similar modes of thinking and share a lot of experiences in common. I'm always impressed with how much he did with the little he had available to him. His achievements are something to aspire to.

This engine will probably not sound much like a loop-scavenged 2-stroke. It will probably sound more like a modern 4-stroke but with a much louder and higher pitched exhaust note due to the slightly early exhaust valve timing.

I figure the engine will have a redline in the neighborhood of 10,000 to 15,000 RPM, which means it will sound like a 4-cylinder 4-stroke operating at 20,000 to 30,000 RPM. All in all, it will probably sound like a very big and very angry RD500. We'll see...

As the engine will use full pressure lubrication and journal bearings there will be no need to inject oil with the fuel or use pre-mix. The smell of half-burned castor oil will be missing from the equation, but I think it will have other redeeming qualities.

The RD-500 was actually my "quest bike" before I decided even it wouldn't satisfy my need to build something.

Originally Posted by machine-punk

Great to see a new post from you! I assume you used something besides OA to actually weld that tool holder holder. It's still cool to see others using OA, even for heat straightening. That is actually why I picked OA as my first welding process in The Aerodrome Studio...it is so versatile: brazing, welding, heating, bending, cutting (with the right torch). With the small torches I am using, it will take nearly-forever to go through the larger gas bottles I have.

I was actually AO welding for practice on 'coupons' of scrap steel today. I've been using a Victor 100 torch for now, but I will start moving toward thinner material with my Meco Midget torch, until I get to welding aluminum sheet metal, which is my eventual goal. I think I've become pretty consistent in technique, now I just need to play with different tips and thicknesses of steel.

Anyway, cool design for a tool holder holder. It is always great to see what you are working on in your shop. Looking forward to seeing it with tool holders on it.

Kev.

Kev,

The tool tree is welded with the SMAW process using 6013 electrodes.

OA is a very versatile process and has so many applications besides just welding. Heating, flame heat treating and cutting are all within it's capabilities. No shop is complete without an OFW rig.

It sounds like you're progressing well. "Modern Welding" by Turnquist has one of the best sections on OFW welding and cutting I've seen in any welding textbook. If you don't already have a copy it's worth the few bucks to buy a used one from Amazon.

I'm ordering the HDPE for the tool holder blocks today.

Originally Posted by zeke

As a kart racer of nearly 40 years, I have a liking for 2-stroke motors, especially water cooled. Subscribed.

BTW, what can't you do in that shop?

Zeke,

So do I. It's time to take the 2-stroke to it's logical conclusion.

Well, I haven't found anything I can't tackle yet.

[machine_punk]

Oh...forgot to mention that I've owned an RD 500 before. It was definitely the 'crotch rocket' of it's day.

My little pipe dream is to build a radial-engined car. I was thinking about using the heads from modern V-Twin motorcycles and arranging 3 to 5 of those in a circle and figuring out a central crank shaft box to bolt on those air cooled cylinders. Of course, if you are going to do something like that, you have to build the vehicle so the engine is visible and a central part of the design.

kev

[Hotz]

Originally Posted by A_Pmech

There's a saying that goes something like "If you wait until you're fully prepared to do something, you'll never do it because you'll never be fully prepared."
http://pauldingracer.wordpress.com

Good words, we will never be prepared because we learn every day ...

Good luck...

[cobraace]

WOW just got done with this your the man and so young cant wait till the 2-stroke project posting startsI am working on my own 2-stroke project I am mating a arctic cat 440 to a suzuki t250 engine

[A_Pmech]

Originally Posted by Hotz

Good words, we will never be prepared because we learn every day ...

Good luck...

This is true!

Thank you.

Originally Posted by cobraace

WOW just got done with this your the man and so young cant wait till the 2-stroke project posting startsI am working on my own 2-stroke project I am mating a arctic cat 440 to a suzuki t250 engine

It's going to be a loooooong project, but I'm looking forward to it!

It sounds like you'll have a fun ride when you're done.

[shopnut]

Originally Posted by A_Pmech

All in all, it will probably sound like a very big and very angry RD500.

Being somewhat of a 2-stroke nut, I can't wait to hear it (someday)!

Good luck with your endeavour. Sound interesting, for sure, and it should be fun to see where you take this project.

[A_Pmech]

I'm back to work on the surface grinder again! It's about time...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s....php?p=2901992

[A_Pmech]

It's been a month already and I haven't had a lot of time to update my threads here because I've been busy with my blog (and LOTS of reading).

[kevin47]

Just caught your thread for the first time...I must say ( as a machinist/welder ) I'm mighty impressed with your "garage" shop...My only question is, "Where in the world did you come up with all the time & money...? Let alone some very good connections..." lol

Keep up the good work...Kevin

[A_Pmech]

Originally Posted by kevin47

Just caught your thread for the first time...I must say ( as a machinist/welder ) I'm mighty impressed with your "garage" shop...My only question is, "Where in the world did you come up with all the time & money...? Let alone some very good connections..." lol

Keep up the good work...Kevin

Thanks Kevin.

Basically, it's all about priorities.

[miatakid]

wow!! how did i miss this garage bulid ? I plan on doing something like this. a wood & metal shop to rebulid and restore old machines, appliances, furniture,lawn epuipment , cars, what ever the harts desire ect. so with that being said what you do differant?

[Riley]

Dude, spell check.....

[A_Pmech]

Originally Posted by kevin47

"Where in the world did you come up with all the time & money...? Let alone some very good connections..." lol

I thought about your question in regard to how I find time. It's really all about using the time I have. Maybe this post on my blog will shed some light on that:

DETONATION AT THE LAUNDROMAT

Originally Posted by miatakid

wow!! how did i miss this garage bulid ? I plan on doing something like this. a wood & metal shop to rebulid and restore old machines, appliances, furniture,lawn epuipment , cars, what ever the harts desire ect. so with that being said what you do differant?

Hi Miatakid,

Well, the short answer is: Nothing!

The slightly longer answer is: It isn't done yet!

If I could have one thing it would be a fully powered overhead crane. When I build my high bay that will be one of the main priorities.

[Hotz]

Great promises for the future of your blog ....

Good information...

Congratulations.