new toy . Fairbanks headless

one day you mite listen to the old feller that's had loads of items from the states....
it a bloody long way away..about 5,000 miles away feller.....

mike d wrote:one day you mite listen to the old feller that's had loads of items from the states....
it a bloody long way away..about 5,000 miles away feller.....

I do listen mush ... Its the old boys that you learn from . Old tricks etc but when a parcel took that long i had my doubts .....

Anyway its here now .

matt

right all its been a long time but last few evenings i have managed to get the engine running with a few modifications lets call it . Could not get the valve timing set up . In the end i made the puhrod for exhaust valve adjustable so have a more fine adjustment for valve timing .

Thanks to Chris i have a original igniter striker arm which helped alot knowing thats the correct length . But now i can get it to start and run but i have to use my hand as a choke to keep it running by acting as a choke .

Any ideas what can be done ? My theory is the mixture is too lean causing need for a choke but it will kick out black smoke indicating too rich but lean it off and will stop ...

any ideas ?

matt

Good to hear your getting it sorted Matt
Someone at the last rally I was at had a similar issue where his Rushton would only run by choking it with his hand. That turned out to be the fuel line non return valve sticking open.

Ian

Good point well made Ibonaol - I'd be looking at each and every step in the fuel delivery chain with a microscope - from airlocks in pipework to blocked /stuck vales or air getting in and unbalancing the ratios - all need investigating.........

Good luck Matt - looking forward to the end result and perhaps a video!

Best

Hamish

Too light/ too heavy spring on the inlet valve? I assume its an atmospheric inlet?

Matth92 wrote:Too light/ too heavy spring on the inlet valve? I assume its an atmospheric inlet?

yes it is matt , im starting to think the timing is too earlly as its blown out 3 paper gaskets now ...

here a video of me acting as a choke to keep her running ..

does she kick when your trying to start her

Matth92 wrote:does she kick when your trying to start her

has kicked once badly, sounded like a gun!  but not kicking that much , but starts easy.

I can advance the valve a tooth which brings the ign timing forward. But with my adjuster can tweek The valve timing so valve opening and closing when should do

have been playing around with the headless again today and chandged the fuel line and check valve and fiddled with the timing and i can get it to start and run alot better and does not kick ..

Only thing is once its warm , when it fires its a bit lively so jumps a bit , im thinking the igntion is too advanced now ??

any thoughts ?

Il get a video up and you can see for yourselves

matt

right lads i have been busy but i have managed to sort out the thread problem with the valve / fuel mixer assembly . The threads was that worn that you could pull bolt out without unscrewing it and wouldnt clamp down tight .

So i got a friend of mine to turn up some studs up and i drilled the holes out and helicoiled them fitted helicoil with bearing fit compound . My theory was when you take the casting on and off so many times in its life you will be wearing the threads in the hole slowly . So with studs you wont have any fear of damage as will permanently stay in there .



with the mixer back on .



matt

Looking good, that's a new looking tap n die set you have there?

Thanks but it's not a tap and die set. It's a reamer set and it's old but we'll looked after.

Matt

right lads , my mate had finished making the adjustable trip rod so i can adjust the ignition timing easier .



its got a rose joint on the end , and a lock nut to lock in position .

matt

had my headless running today after the modified trip rod and seem not too bad , needs some more fine tuning but i need to get a fuel tank and trolley for her 1st i think .



matt

are you going to have this one out on your local rally field next year?

Lewis MacRae wrote:are you going to have this one out on your local rally field next year?

Lewis i think they both will be to be fair . Got all winter to get them on a trolley and fine tuned . I think this will be the one that i will paint .But not till end of next season .

matt

restore them both?

Lewis MacRae wrote:restore them both?

no point i dont think ....

well the fairbanks has basically been restored mechanically by myself ..

but i may paint it some point as not too much to paint  see i hate painting !

matt