Original Steel Star

[windybob]

Steve, I took your advice and changed the upper pitman to a 3/4 " pin. Lots of room for babbitt which I poured today also. Now, about the crankplate pin...... I'm not so sure it's 3/4 because when I poured the pitman, I did both ends, and the lower hole had very little room for babbitt when I used the 3/4 inch pin. I poured it anyway, but do you think the lower pin could be 5/8? I mean, for an 8 ft mill pumping from possibly 100 or more feet down, would that be stout enough?

Another note about pouring.. WHen doing the pitman, i found it handy to pour it on the pumprod while it was clamped in a vice level. 2 wraps of thin brown paper gave me good clearance. You can level the arm easy on the rod by laying the end on a piece of 1X wood. was really quick to do.

[steve p]

Bob, I don't think it would have been 5/8. The hole in the pump rod is 5/8. The square part of the rod is only 7/8.
After looking at and trying a 7/8 pin , it might not be too big. I'm going to guess that it's no smaller than 3/4.
Is there a small brass insert inside the hole where the Babbitt goes In the Pittman? The one here has one in it. The other one was probably worn away .

Steve

[steve p]

Bob, do you have a picture of the Pittman?

[windybob]

I don't have a picture now, maybe next week. Seems to me that I ran into brass also drilling out oil holes in the babbitt.. Not sure why.

I went with 3/4 inch pins . I had to make a pumprod, so I had nothing to work with except a picture.

I babitted the mainshaft bearings today. There are 2 inside the carrier. One on each end with a space in the middle for an oil pool. For a show mill, you could just do the whole thing solid if you wanted. I did mine with the oil passage and space in the middle for practice.

ALso, I was wondering which end of the main bearing carrier was the front, it fits both ways. However when fitting the mill together I found that the bell side goes toward the wheel. I have the solid double hub.

[windybob]

Oh...what are you going to do for a crankplate pin? If I can find a 3/4" LH partly threaded 3" bolt, that would work.

[pcowley (RIP)]

Talk real nice and furnish dimensions and I will make both pins for a fee.

[windybob]

You are the nicest guy I know. Also a Brad Pitt lookalike. lol Not sure about the pins yet, just sucking up early just in case.

[steve p]

John, has the pins. The crank plate pin will need to be turned down some. The pins came from Paul.
Already have the bearings poured. Separate pours for each end. The pins are really the only thing left to do. Will try and remember to take some pics and post them.

[windybob]

okay good deal. Did you make a channel where there looks to be like a keyway in the front ring in the top of the carrier from the oiling hole? So when you put oil in it, it fills up the trough in the middle. Probably missed it, no big deal.

Why the pin turned down? something I need to watch for?

What color did you make it?

[steve p]

Did not make a channel. Can go back and do that though. The pin for the pump rod needs turned down to go through the hole in the rod. Needs to be 5/8. The crank plate pin needs turned down to 7/8. 1 inch now. Too big.
Steve