The Contraption 2.0

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:03 pm

MozyBonz wrote:

Mozy, Did you hit the LOTTO and not tell anyone... Wow what a great Project...........

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:50 pm

ibdave wrote:
MozyBonz wrote:

Mozy, Did you hit the LOTTO and not tell anyone... Wow what a great Project...........

Actually just the opposite at the moment.
But dance floor bookings are picking up.
This MV was not intended for BM 08 never was.
Iâ€™m all about research design and budgeting before I put
money into a project. I found out the hard way on that one.
Never again! Found the rear-view camera and monitor today for about $80.
I have some of the systems for the MV on the shelf all ready.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:53 pm

Costco has a wireless rear view camera. I haven't looked at it but heard a few good things about it..... Research is good.....

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:59 pm

Now THIS is contraptioneering!!! I love the projects. And I've heard rumors of this Sabakhasour creature. It keeps looking better all the time. You guys can hijack my thread any day.

That sounds like a euphemism, but its not. At least I donâ€™t think it isâ€¦

Elliot,

I used something similar for the one-way clutch in the pump mechanism. A buddy of mine machined it out for me. Technically called a roller ramp clutch, its functions like a sprag, but with roller bearings and a sloped face (incase someone doesnt' know, the sprag clutches use lots of little slanted keys to flip up and bind in the drive direction).

You can get both types commercially, even with gear or sprocket teeth already on them. But purchased new they are pretty pricey.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:59 pm

Research?

I just lay stuff out on the garage floor and keep cutting until it is long enough.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:13 pm

unjonharley wrote:THe CAtman must have brain pain after that post..

I too am using two powers for my ride.. PEdle and electric.. In this set up I will use two, three speed coaster brakes.. Both chains will be engaged all the time.. One power will be able the assist the other..It amounts to two ratchet drives

smart, unjon... each power unit helps the other last longer!!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:15 pm

LeChat, I love you and want to support you, but most of this thread is in the stratosphere as regards my head.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:19 pm

You can get both types commercially, even with gear or sprocket teeth already on them. But purchased new they are pretty pricey.

Can you point me in that direction?

The only one I know of is a tiny one by Torrington, and you have to make your own inner race for it, of proper hardness. Instant failure, in most cases -- certainly in my case.

A new sprag for a common car transmission like a GM TH350 is only around $30,-. But it would have to be adapted.

I'm-a-tellin-ya-guys, the hardware is out there -- I doubt any of us are inventing anything that wasn't around 100 years ago. It's all a matter of finding it!

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:25 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:LeChat, I love you and want to support you, but most of this thread is in the stratosphere as regards my head.

From someone I've respected for lo, these many years, these words alone are support enough, Fishy.

You guys have no idea the joy I get from this goofy stuff... the threads I mean. It's a whole other dimension to this project that I didn't expect to find.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:27 pm

Can you point me in that direction?

Check the hotlinked words in my above post... but be prepared for sticker shock in the $200 and + range.

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:46 pm

LeChatNoir wrote:
Can you point me in that direction?
Check the hotlinked words in my above post... but be prepared for sticker shock in the $200 and + range.

Hot links???

A BBQ and contraption building â€¦.Sweeeet!

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:52 pm

Now I'm hungry...

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:00 pm

LeChatNoir wrote:Now I'm hungry...

oops!

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:17 pm

I've been following every word and diagram... wish I had stuff to contribute but time and budget are both too tight to do much contraptioneering right now. (Got car, house, and BM motorhome projects all going on). I considered adding a flying bridge to the land yacht, complete with full operating controls, but making the thing taller presents storage issues. This year it might not see anything but a radical new paint job and a hell of a lot more lights.

The big news is that my buddy that helped build the yacht just came home with a shiny new plasma cutter today! It's pertier than a new set 'o snow tires! It's enough to make a man cry happy tears...

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:52 pm

Oh man... more lights are good, Cap'n.

Mozy came across some really cool controllable lightsthat are affordable too. I'm thinking of adding some on "Ol' Rust Bucket" (well hidden in the daytime of course, to make the playa glow even brighter underneath. Maybe even some sound activated stuff.

ETA: I just read "buddy got a plasma cutter". Dude... your horizons just got even wider. Plasma=Good. Wear a dust mask if your inside, though. They put off very fine dust and we want you playa cruising for a long time.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:41 pm

I'm thinking fluorescents, for light output-per-watt and per-dollar reasons.
And same as you, I'm trying to figure out how to make an impact at night while not messing up the lines in the daytime.
I'd also like to add an extra alternator or two, geared up to run at full output with the motor at idle, so I could run the Honda generator a lot less. Super-easy except the boat motor is transverse mounted, with very little room on either side. And the A/C compressor is still in place on the engine... that could be used to make compressed air for a real horn...

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:57 pm

Check the hotlinked words in my above post...

That's how "out of tune" I am with this modern technology. I never noticed the links.

(clicks on link)

..........

Oh my. Oh mother of all mys. There goes the "rent money".

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:57 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:I'm thinking fluorescents, for light output-per-watt and per-dollar reasons.
And same as you, I'm trying to figure out how to make an impact at night while not messing up the lines in the daytime.
I'd also like to add an extra alternator or two, geared up to run at full output with the motor at idle, so I could run the Honda generator a lot less. Super-easy except the boat motor is transverse mounted, with very little room on either side. And the A/C compressor is still in place on the engine... that could be used to make compressed air for a real horn...

\/
For night runing, I'm thinking a removable mirrored shadow box..Installed at night it wouls face down the playa.. Giving my ride a sparking effect..

I built a Corvar trike once.. NO room for the generator.. So I run it off the drive line.. Room was so little that the U joint was insie the tail stock..We had to machine the pully after welding it on.. to much heat worp..

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:59 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:I'm thinking fluorescents, for light output-per-watt and per-dollar reasons.
And same as you, I'm trying to figure out how to make an impact at night while not messing up the lines in the daytime.
I'd also like to add an extra alternator or two, geared up to run at full output with the motor at idle, so I could run the Honda generator a lot less. Super-easy except the boat motor is transverse mounted, with very little room on either side. And the A/C compressor is still in place on the engine... that could be used to make compressed air for a real horn...

\/
For night runing, I'm thinking a removable mirrored shadow box..Installed at night it wouls face down the playa.. Giving my ride a sparking effect..

I built a Corvar trike once.. NO room for the generator.. So I run it off the drive line.. Room was so little that the U joint was insie the tail stock..We had to machine the pully after welding it on.. to much heat worp..

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 2:54 pm

I've seen driveline-driven alternators... but of course, at Playa speeds it'd make as much power as dropping two wires into a copper box full of fermented orange juice and alka-seltzer...

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:36 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:I'm thinking fluorescents, for light output-per-watt and per-dollar reasons.
And same as you, I'm trying to figure out how to make an impact at night while not messing up the lines in the daytime.
I'd also like to add an extra alternator or two, geared up to run at full output with the motor at idle, so I could run the Honda generator a lot less. Super-easy except the boat motor is transverse mounted, with very little room on either side. And the A/C compressor is still in place on the engine... that could be used to make compressed air for a real horn...

Hey captain do you have a higher resolution picture of the land yacht I could play with?

TJ · Post by TJ » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:20 am

I have a few in process shots of the welded rims and axles online here:
http://www.thirstybeachlandscaping.com/quadbike2

Thanks to all for the continued inspiration. LeChat, I took you're last advice to go with a 220 mig and haven't looked back since!

fciron · Post by **fciron** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:58 am

TJ, that is totally badass. Awesome wheels. That thing is gonna be a pedal powered tank.

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:02 am

TJ wrote:

I have a few in process shots of the welded rims and axles online here:
http://www.thirstybeachlandscaping.com/quadbike2

Thanks to all for the continued inspiration. LeChat, I took you're last advice to go with a 220 mig and haven't looked back since!

Truly a great contraption youâ€™re building there.

I was just thinking how some of the contraptions came to beâ€¦ with LeChatNoir I think it came from looking at some old pieces of iron and feeling the need to not let them go the furnace again. With TJâ€¦ I think it was some construction waste that triggered a wheel for a really cool playa crawler. With me I had a buggy in mind for a year or so but had no idea what I wanted to build with it. Then in one of my many online searches I saw a picture of a building. That was itâ€¦ after that it just starting clicking for a month. Designs and ideas just started pouring out of head. You should see the word file on the Sabakasours youâ€™d think I worked for GM Mutant Vehicle Division.

I think what I like the most is the attention to detail. Like with the Captains Land Yacht its down on the ground so it has a great profile and it really looks like a Yacht boating on the playa. Not only that it has the feel of a boat on the water when you ride in it giving more to the illusion of boating on the playa. To look at something and say you know if I just cut this off and turn it over weld this on it and screw this on that would make a great thingamajig.

I'm humbled by the presence of contraption greatness.

So what triggered your contraption?

I bet Elliot has some great ones from the look of his contraptions.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:50 am

TJ wrote: Thanks to all for the continued inspiration. LeChat, I took you're last advice to go with a 220 mig and haven't looked back since!

Nice, TJ...

The project is really looking great. I'm impressed with the design work and assembly on the front end. Nice looking plasma cut parts. They seem well thought out. But I have to confess, sometimes the part I enjoy the most is the jigs and fixtures that are required to get something assembled, so thanks for the shot of the wheel in progress.

I canâ€™t wait to see how it continues to progress as August gets nearer.

And on a similar note, I fear time is coming around quickly so tonight I've set aside some time for contraption lathe work. Heh Heh Heh

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:26 pm

Contraption Update!!

Testing the crankcase passages with compressed air the other day, I found that air was leaking out somewhere. So with the exception of leaving the crankshaft the hell alone and happily in place, I completely broke the compressor pump apart the other day to give it a good once-over and try to locate this leak.

Through this inspection I found a strange system of little check valves. Best I can tell, they were used to pressurize the crankcase during operation to force oil through a hole in the crankshaft and on to the bearings. These valves were threaded into a couple of passages leading into the crankcase and took a bit to locate.

Since I want to use the existing internal passages for routing the steam, and Iâ€™m now pressurizing this system in a backwards sort of way than it was designed for, and left unchanged this will allow steam to pass into the crankcase where it will condense back into water. Not really a good thing. In truth, it'd probably just let steam flow straight through from the inlet, into the crankcase, and out the exhaust without it ever even entering the piston chamber at all!!! Yikes!!!

After giving it a good ponder to see if I should backup and reassess my approach, I have determined that it will be fine to plug these passages, thus eliminating the problem, and continue on as planned.

Apparently this system was designed to allow the compressor to use less oil in the crankcase by keeping it moving and forced into places it might not ordinarily go at a lower level, and also forcing it through a fine screen at the bottom of the crankcase to filter it. I think for this project, it will be acceptable to simply block off the passages and use more oil in the crankcase to lube things up. Since it will be running much less rpms as an engine than it was as a compressor, oil should just splash around down there and stay happy. Any pressure that might build in the crankcase due to heat can be dealt with by a sintered bronze vent.

Besides dealing with this minor issue, everything looks great. The bottom end bearings are pristine and everything is in good sorts. Now its time to regasket and reassemble.

unjon... You got an pointers on this? Iâ€™ve cut a few gaskets before, but I've never had to be ths application specific, so the more I can learn the better.

For the lower end (oil) seals, Iâ€™m using this gasket material here. the book says its great for oil and lubrication type situations.

For all high pressure steam seals, Iâ€™m using this material(specially designed for steam applications):

The gasket material should be here tomorrow, so Iâ€™ll try and post some pics tomorrow night.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:50 pm

MozyBonz wrote:
Hey captain do you have a higher resolution picture of the land yacht I could play with?

Well yeah, I gots lots!

I'll PM you some.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:31 am

LeChatNoir wrote:Contraption Update!!

unjon... You got an pointers on this? Iâ€™ve cut a few gaskets before, but I've never had to be ths application specific, so the more I can learn the better.

For the lower end (oil) seals, Iâ€™m using this gasket material here. the book says its great for oil and lubrication type situations.

For all high pressure steam seals, Iâ€™m using this material(specially designed for steam applications):

The gasket material should be here tomorrow, so Iâ€™ll try and post some pics tomorrow night.

\/
Yes, I have spent many loving hours making gaskets.. I'm of the vintage where you didn't just run down and buy a kit.. f'in Fords Harleys and Indians.. often as not, in the middle of now here..

Tap them out the patren with a small ballpeen hammer, cut with exacto knife and punch holes with different sized gromit cutters..

Ever pound a tire full of grass so you could make home from fishing?

Then you wounder why I hate working on cars..

Anyway,, Take a change of oil with you.. You may want to drain and ((settle)) the water out..

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:19 am

Le chat I think what you have is an Air conditioning compressor used on large commercial units.

Sounds like it would be about a ten-ton unit. With these types of compressors the Freon gas passes though the crankcase. Remember the compressor is used to recompress the gas back to a liquid in the condenser. So the system is a sealed loop with a dryer in line to keep any moister out. Does this unit have a site glass on the side for oil level instead of a dipstick level? Some did. Some times the oil from the crankcase would migrate out into the coils. And they would lose a compressor. Also flooding liquid Freon back to the compressor was a big problem. I am sure you can seal the crankcase off from the steam
But you may need a vent for the pressure in the crankcase. Not having the unit in my hand makes it hard. But if the compressor has an id plate I can see if I can get more info on the compressor.

Tap them out the pattern with a small ball-peen hammer, cut with exacto knife and punch holes with different sized grommet cutters..

Yep he is right a small ball-peen hammer works great
been there done that.

MozyBonz · Post by **MozyBonz** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:33 pm

If it is that's great! the AC units are designed to run at higher temperatures and pressures. I think you will find that this is a sealed system compressor with no vent for the crank case.

The Contraption 2.0

Quad bike update...

Re: Quad bike update...

Re: Quad bike update...