Minnie Traction Engine

[davidimurray]

Hi

I was just wondering if there were any builders of Minnie's in this group. I'm working from the book and notice that there is a dimension missing off the motion plate saddle. I was wondering whether this dimension was included on the full drawings ?

Cheers

Dave

[baggo]

Hi Dave,

I've got the ME articles. Which dimension are you missing?

John

[spurley]

Hi Dave

I am working on a Minnie, or more correctly I started the Minnie about two years ago and built a boiler but, following an ebay purchase, I moved over to a 3 1/2" Tich. I have a fair bit of info at home, sadly no drawings yet, so I'll have a trawl and see if I can help.

Cheers

Brian

[davidimurray]

Hi Guys

The part i'm looking at is the Motion Plate saddle. The problem is that the holes for the actual motion plate are dimensioned from the top straight edge of the saddle. But there is no dimension as to where the top straight edge should be!

If my explanation doesn't make any sense I can post a copy of the drawing from the book.

Cheers

Dave

[baggo]

Hi Dave,

That dimension is missing from the drawing in ME as well! Scaling the drawing gives the height of the top edge of the bracket from the top of the inside radius of the flange as 9/32" The horizontal centre line of the two 7BA tapped holes is level with the top of the outside radius of the flange.



Hope that helps,

John

[davidimurray]

Hi John

Thanks for that - that was the same dimension that I guessed at! I will machine the bracket up to those dimensions and then make up an over size motion plate, pick off the cylinder and valve centre lines using some homemade pointers and then mark the centres on the motion plate before machining to final size.

Thanks for your help

Dave

[alanstepney]

I'm surprised he hasnt responded to this thread, but possibly the best person to advise on Minnie is Roger Mason, who apart from being an active model engineer, is also the son of Len Mason who designed it, and many other models.

[Roger Mason]

Hi all,

Yes I am here and monitoring all the chat!

If there is anything I can help with I will try and assist, but at the moment I don't think there is anything I can help with.

Cheers,


Roger Mason, in St. Agnes.

[davidimurray]

Hello everybody

Been away from the computer the last week as I've been busy moving house and setting up the workshop so I've only just caught up with the thread.

Kernow - I would be interested in chatting - drop me an email at murraydi1`at`cf.ac.uk.

Roger - Have you ever thought about republishing the book with perhaps some tweaks and modifications ? The book is brilliant but some areas are covered rather briefly and there is very little I have found on things like keying the gears etc. One thing I would like to see is it slightly rearranged so that everything on one area is done at the same time - e.g. bypass valve when the tender is made One other little quibble I have is the rear wheel retaining bosses. Being only 6BA, it can be quite difficult to get the grub screws nice and tight. I wondered if there was a reason why they weren't held on in the same way as the front wheels?

Cheers

Dave

[Roger Mason]

Hi Dave,

Just a quick answer to your main query. Yes I have thought about putting the book back into print. However many other projects have come along and slowed the process down (bringing it to a complete halt in fact!).

I think I would be reluctant to change the contents of the book, but perhaps an appendix with possible "improvements" might be appropriate.

Perhaps it is a project for the winter months!


Cheers,


Roger Mason, in St. Agnes.

[davidimurray]

Hello

Just re-started this thread as I was wondering if someone could help me. I want to try and get all the 'extras' for the tender made up and ready for fitting before the tender is complete. One dimension I can't find is the distance from the back of the hornplates to the mounting holes for the brake standard. I'd be greatful if someone could measure up their engine and let me know.

Cheers

Dave

[baggo]

Hi Dave,

Don't know if this will help but according to the articles in ME, the top fixing for the brake standard utilises the rearmost fixing bolt for the reversing lever quadrant. By my reckoning that makes that hole 1-15/16" from the rear edge of the hornplates.

John

[davidimurray]

Ah ha - ah ah ah - good job someone reads the text properly!!!

I prefer to just look at the drawings - less words! I know what I'm doing this evening then.

Cheers John

Dave