[DLMACHINE]

Here is a link to a site that has free plans for building a Webster engine.
There is also a nice video of the motor running.

I downloaded and started cutting tonight and will post pics as I go.
Dale

http://cablespeed.com/~jbwebst/WEW/W...as_Engine.html

[JFettig]

That is pretty cool, I wish I had the patience to make something like that these days, an engine that just ran and really didn't do more than that.

I like the concept, its quite similar to a steam engine.

Jon

[DLMACHINE]

I'm taking it on as a stress reliever and it's already working wonders.

Dale

[itsme]

Hi there,

It looks like an interesing project. There is something fascinating about a slow running engine with all the working parts exposed. Keep us updated with your progress.

BTW, the site seems to have died. It worked the first time I went to it, but now it won't load anymore...

Regards
Warren

[itsme]

Hello Dale,

Have you made any progress with your engine lately? I know it's only just been over a week, but I'm keen to see how it's coming along. Any photos?

Regards
Warren

[Zoriander]

the site has moved, but it is very nice

[balsaman]

those are those new fangled bronze bushings...

[DLMACHINE]

Very nice job. I had to kill mine due to lack of time for working on it.Maybe I'll get back to it sometime in the future.

[itsme]

Hi balsaman,

WOW! Your Webster looks great. I like the rounded cylinder head and how you mirrored it (your flywheel is on the 'wrong' side ). The spoked flywheel also adds an extra finishing touch to it.

What points did you use on your ignition and what kind of fuel are you running it on? I tried using a straight petrol/oil mix, but it clogged the spark plug up with carbon after only about 10mins of running. I now use a methanol/oil mix and everything stays clean.

I see you also didn't take the shortcut and use a commercial carburettor. It seems to run very well with your needle valve assembly. Does it start easily?

Well done once again.

Warren

[balsaman]

Thanks!

It starts easily, but I did add a spool to start it with a rope. I can't start it with a flip of the flywheel like some.

I have since modified the carb to include a rotating barrel which provides true throttle control.

I use straight camping fuel (no oil). No fouling of the plug yet with an hour or two of run time on it.

Points are out of a 69 dodge charger, which is the set recommended in the plans.

Eric

[itsme]

Hi Eric,

It's funny that you should say your engine won't hand start. I added a pull-start to mine when it was new, because I was having trouble starting it, but it only lasted about a day when I then took it off. It now starts easily with a couple of flicks of the flywheel.

The camping fuel makes sense. A lot of guys are using this for their model engines. I tried to get some here in the UK when I was having trouble with petrol and I did find it, but at £6 per 500ml, I decided to go with methanol.

Regards
Warren

[balsaman]

Perhaps it's the carb. I'm sure the motor would run better with a RC engine carb. Still, I don't mind pulling the rope and I can say the engine is all mine (besides the points and sparkplug).

I have started it by flipping the flywheel once, but it's really hard to pull it thru the compression (flywheel slips thru my fingers). How much compression does yours have? Does it use the cast rings called for in the plans? Mine uses an o-ring...

Eric

[balsaman]

Warren,

Hundreds of folks are using the VITON high temp o-rings on thier engines. It's not something I invented. The viton o-rings are reddish brown, not black. The trick is to machine the groove for the o-ring a few thousands wider and deeper than the o-ring, so it can float on the piston, but rub on the cylinder wall. This makes a low friction, long lasting seal.

Some say the inside of the cylinder should be honed to a mirror finish, altho my cylinder is cast iron, and is smooth but not a mirror finish.

Works so far...

Eric

[Ken_Shea]

I learnt the hard way with this, after my knuckles met the edge of the workbench a few times.

LOL, Ain't pain a great teacher

[balsaman]

Hey, my knuckles never met the workbench, but I flipped the flywheel until I had a blister. That's when I decided I needed a rope pulley.

Eric

[8inlinea]

since the original site with plans is now offline, has anybody saved a copy of the plans?
thank you!

[sorveltaja]

since the original site with plans is now offline, has anybody saved a copy of the plans?
thank you!

I downloaded mine from http://home.comcast.net/~webster_engines/ , and it seems to be online.

Link to PDF plans is on the bottom of the page.

[8inlinea]

great, thanx!

[sorveltaja]

Here is some sketching:



and pieces made so far:


The block that will be holding valves, exhaust pipe and carburetor, is vertically slightly oversized, and simplified so that it is made from one piece, instead of three-piece that mentioned in original drawings.

That block has already M4 thread in it, so that valve guides can be screwed into it. Does it work, I can't say until I've made some more parts...

Other modification is to make cylinder that has brass or aluminum cooling fins, and iron cylinder liner, instead of making whole thing totally from iron.