I am getting ready to time my Sweet William engine. I have read on these forums (though for the life of me can't find the threads) where people used clear steam chest covers to aid is setting the valve gear. I was going to purchase some 3/8" polycarbonate to make covers but wanted to see if others had a better recommendation for material and perhaps thickness.
Thanks.
Clear material for steam chest cover timing
- Benjamin Maggi
- Posts: 1409
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:38 pm
- Location: Albany, NY
Clear material for steam chest cover timing
"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
Re: Clear material for steam chest cover timing
as someone who has worked with polycarb,it can be cut with HHS ,drilled and tapped ,etc, you can heat polish it with a propane torch.As to the thickness,are you going to make your clear cover the same as the one used to close the steam chest? if so 3/8 will work. The only thing about polycarb is it scratches very easy, 3/8 thickness will stop a 357 mag round from 10 feet,but will scratch .
stay on the shine side of the rail
Re: Clear material for steam chest cover timing
I did this, i just stopped by the local glass shop and asked if they has any 1/4 plexiglass in the scrap pile, he handed me a piece large enough to make a couple lids. it worked well, but they will not hold up to steam (dont ask)
If it is not live steam. its not worth it.
Re: Clear material for steam chest cover timing
plex dose no have the crosslink that polycarb dose,the parts that the company I worked for made from polycarb were used in the medical testing area,it had to stand up the being autoclaved,pressure up to 500 psi and acid .I don't know if you can put it under steam or not,butair will not hurt it,have fun.
stay on the shine side of the rail
Re: Clear material for steam chest cover timing
well the .25 plex had not issue with air and the price is right.
If it is not live steam. its not worth it.
- Benjamin Maggi
- Posts: 1409
- Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:38 pm
- Location: Albany, NY
Re: Clear material for steam chest cover timing
Thanks guys. I think 1/4" thick poly. will be fine. I found some on Ebay inexpensively.
"One cannot learn to swim without getting his feet wet." - Benjamin Maggi
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
- Building: 7.25" gauge "Sweet Pea" named "Catherine"
Re: Clear material for steam chest cover timing
Years ago I saw a Briggs & Stratton gas engine with head removed and replaced with some 1/2 inch thick Plexiglass. The compression had been lowered a bit to reduce the firing pressures. The clear plastic allowed one to see the rapid flame front propagation from the spark plug. It only took a few minutes of run time to reduce the clear plastic head to a well fogged, slightly toasted and useless mess. Each demonstration required a new head the guy told us.
- Greg_Lewis
- Posts: 3016
- Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2003 2:44 pm
- Location: Fresno, CA
Re: Clear material for steam chest cover timing
But I'll bet it was fun while it lasted!Rwilliams wrote: ↑Wed Apr 29, 2020 4:47 pm Years ago I saw a Briggs & Stratton gas engine with head removed and replaced with some 1/2 inch thick Plexiglass. The compression had been lowered a bit to reduce the firing pressures. The clear plastic allowed one to see the rapid flame front propagation from the spark plug. It only took a few minutes of run time to reduce the clear plastic head to a well fogged, slightly toasted and useless mess. Each demonstration required a new head the guy told us.
Greg Lewis, Prop.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.