Website contains animated engine drawings

[ohiorider]

http://www.animatedengines.com/

Check out some of these head-scratchers.

[Sasquatch Jim]

I have built, without plans, two of those engines from scratch.  The first is an oscillating 4 cylinder engine from brass.
 It has only 9 moving parts, one more moving part is the throttle that controls start, stop, forward, reverse, and speed.
 It worked on the first try.  The second was a two cylinder double acting engine of the locomotive type.  It had more moving parts and was a bit more complicated. 
It also worked on the first try.  It is made of steel and brass with a bronze crankshaft and aluminum manifolding.  It was made from scrap metal.  I used a lathe and milling machine to start with a steel block and cut away all that did not look like a steam engine.
 I had photos of it and videos of it in bike pics .com but I no longer have access to that site.
 The 4 cylinder engine had a half inch bore and one inch stroke giving 4 power strokes per revolution.
 The loco engine had a 3/4 inch bore and one inch stroke giving 4 power strokes per revolution.

[charlie b]

Nice selection.  They did leave out the most important, the steam turbine.  Probably cause it has so few moving parts, but, the principle of operation is also one of the more important.

[ohiorider]

"I cut away all that did not look like a steam engine."  Great comment!  Wish you still had those pics to post.

Bob

[oldbike54]

 That was fun .

  Dusty

[Sasquatch Jim]

"I cut away all that did not look like a steam engine."  Great comment!  Wish you still had those pics to post.

Bob

Some of the PNW riders have seen the loco engine in the flesh.  One morning I put it and an air tank in a sidecar and took it to the Krain breakfast for show and tell.  The air tank had enough to run it for a little less than a minute.  A couple of years ago that one fell and hit the concrete floor.  Since it weighed about 8 pounds it hit hard and bent the crankshaft.
 I did my best to straighten it but it still doesn't run as easy.   It binds a bit in the crank main bearings and requires a bit more pressure to run it. Yes it does make the traditional Choo Choo sound.

[charlie b]

A friend of mine is a steam engine junkie.  He and his dad build a 4-6-4 (IIRC) from scratch.  They made the fuel car into the seat for running it on their "back yard" track.  He now has a 1/4 scale Case tractor, about 2000lb worth, in his garage.  Built by a friend of his from original drawings, also all hand made.

[SmithSwede]

Is there any mechanical contraption that is cooler than an old rotary aircraft engine?

Other than Guzzi engines, of course.   

[charlie b]

Is there any mechanical contraption that is cooler than an old rotary aircraft engine?

Other than Guzzi engines, of course.   

Nope, especially when you see something like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq78ZocOAkY