[SEL] Coolspring. NOW: Cylinder boring

[Craig Prucha]

Hi Curt, Arnie, and Michael,

Quite a few years ago some friends and I went out to the Henry Ford Museum. They
have an awesome display of steam engines. There was one corliss steam engine
setup with a portable boring machine driven by a small vertical steam engine.
On the following webpage, (see below) about 3/4 of the way down, you can see a
photo of the setup. It's the photo just before the Lima Locomotive.

http://www.pacificsun.ca/~robert/2001/part03.htm

About using a larger piston:

The first step will be to measure the bore and indicate it on the Horizontal
Boring Mill. Usually I have the bore mapped out on paper and know exactly where
the boring tool will start removing material. The piston reguardless of how
it's achieved, will have to have the proper clearance with the new bore. After
the boring process is completed this can all be figured out, how to get the
piston within the new required specs. Piston ring land depth and OD also play a
part in the decision of how to rework the piston. Every job is different. Well
take care, Craig...


Quoting Curt Holland <curt at imc-group.com>:

> While ripping on ol' Arnie is a hoot (and so appropriate!), the subject 
> of boring an oil field engine is of interest too. During the long hours 
> of driving back from Coolsprings this weekend, I was wondering about the 
> possibilities of boring an oil field engine cylinder in place. Several 
> years ago we rented GE Services equipment and line bored 3 high speed 
> brass pinion bushings in the bed of a forging machine. I was thinking 
> similiar equipment could be used, locating one end of the boring bar 
> between the throws of the crankshaft (or the bearing caps) and locating 
> the other end with a plate clamped by the cylinder head bolts. Does 
> anyone have experience boring an engine this way? Does it sound reasonable?
> Curt Holland
> Gastonia, NC