tools, materials & knowledge for model makers
The Burrell crankshaft and layshaft gears join the crankshaft to the differential and the differential to the wheels. The crankshaft gear was made from phosphor bronze and as you see in the video this slides so that you can select between drive and neutral. At first these gears look complicated, but they are actually quite … Read more
Time to make the Burrell hub caps. I made the hub caps for the front wheels some time ago. I do need to go back and change the bolts from steel to brass, but otherwise these are finished. The rear axle for the Burrell is a fixed solid piece of 1/4″ phosphor bronze. This is … Read more
OK, this isn’t a solid rear axle like a 1960’s muscle car. This is an actual solid round phosphor bronze bar that supports both rear wheels on the Burrell traction engine. The rear axle is fixed and the wheels then rotate independently on each side. Inboard of each wheel there is a gear that is … Read more
Originally I went with 20° for the miniature Burrell differential bevel gears. However, they are not right and bind up. Then I was contacted by JG who had made some calculations on the gears and sent them through. JG’s opening words were “Ah… Bevels are a different animal 😀 well mostly, and certainly with ‘Gear cutter … Read more
It may only be 1/20th scale but I still need a differential for the Burrell traction engine. I’ve been working on the overall gearing for the Burrell and the layout of the gearing. For the overall gearing something around 10:1 feels reasonable. The layout for the 2 stage gearing and location of the layshaft took … Read more
I worked out that I roughly need a 10:1 gearing, next I need to work out options for the Burrell 10:1 gearing. The gears are going to be 0.5 module with a tooth height of 1.1mm that would be 22mm at full scale. Probably the smallest gears I’m going to machine happily on a Sieg … Read more
I’ve been thinking about the Burrell gearing for some time. Calculating the overall ratio, estimating the maximum torque and speed of the traction engine. Looking online a Mamod TE1a traction engine flywheel speed is between 2000rpm and 2500rpm. 1st stage engine to layshaft is 4:1 reduction 2nd stage layshaft to rear wheels is 4:1 reduction … Read more
The Burrell door lock is a T-head bolt with flat sides on the threaded section. This bolt goes through the door from the back, a handle with a slot then goes on allowing the bolt to be rotated. A second handle with a threaded not then allows the bolt to be pulled up tight. In … Read more
It’s taken a while to get back to working on the Burrell door. In particular making a new set of hinges for the curved door that I made a few weeks ago. The Burrell smokebox already had two holes drilled to accept 8BA bolts. Therefore, one of my first jobs was to align the door … Read more
Finally I have a curved smokebox door for the miniature Burrell traction engine. The radius turning tool has taken a few days to devise and make. However, I managed to set this at 71.4mm radius and turn the dome on the smokebox door. I must admit that turning mild steel in this way is not … Read more