My new project ...Diesel engine .

Started by Minh Thanh · 57 replies · 9,495 views

vtsteam
Reply #30 · 28 Dec 2025, 22:35
Minh Thanh, I like your lathe! It's heavy where it needs to be. And you have a boring table. I like your anti-backlash nut, too.

I've built two lathes, and I like any lathe that someone else builds and uses. Are there pics of your drill-press/mill or did I mistake one in that set of photos?

Great!!!  :ThumbsUp: :cheers:
redhouseluv
Reply #31 · 28 Dec 2025, 22:41
I'm amazed too, that's really astonshing that you made that and the result you have obtained are superb!  :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp:
Minh Thanh
Reply #32 · 10 Jun 2026, 16:08
  Thank you for your comments !!  :ThumbsUp:
Hi All !
I'm back.

Reason for my absence :
- I was a bit busy.
- My computer's hard drive failed and I lost all the engine designs, which was crazy when I updated Windows 10. It's probably because the old hardware wasn't compatible with the updated software, causing conflicts... a lot of things to resolve afterwards, including redesigning this engine.
Anyway, it happened - and life goes on !

A little update :

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redhouseluv
Reply #33 · 10 Jun 2026, 16:56
Sorry to hear about the loss of your engine designs, that must be tough. Glad you're back  :popcorn: :ThumbsUp:
Minh Thanh
Reply #34 · 21 Jun 2026, 10:32
Sanjay F , Thank you !
 
Hi All !
A few updates:

During the design and  process, I initially planned for a sealed gearbox. After preliminary machining, I found it quite unsightly – at least in terms of size ; there was another way, making the gears even smaller – so I decided to replace it with an open gearbox: it seems to fit the engine's design best - Or at least I find it pleasing to the eye.
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Roger B
Reply #36 · 24 Jun 2026, 10:15
Glad to see you back on here  :)  I agree that the open gears look better  :ThumbsUp:
Zephyrin
Reply #37 · 25 Jun 2026, 09:18
Great work Minh Thanh;
I totally understand why you want to show off those amazing helical gears, but I dare to say that I disagree—for me, a less bulky gearbox, one that gives a glimpse of the internal gears, similar to  the gearbox on the Crosley engine shown in post #5 would be more elegant and closer to reality.
Just to say, but of course this is your creation from A to Z, (including machine tools!) truly impressive.
Laurentic
Reply #38 · 25 Jun 2026, 10:36
Hi Minh Thanh, I'm a bit late to the party but on reply #5 you asked what a part on an engine was.  It is, as others have said, a mechanical lubricator.  I worked with them back in the 1960's - yes, I'm that old! - on ships main engines, they supplied lube oil to the diesel engine cylinders, lubricating the liners to help prevent the piston rings sticking in the grooves as well as generally lubricating the liners in use. 

Down in the base of the unit is a simple two diameter plunger - the difference in diameters producing the displacement areas - that pump the oil via ball suction and delivery valves.  Varying the plunger stroke varies the output.  The oil is pumped up into the glass tubes which are filled with distilled water, or distilled water and glycerine, and the tubes are fitted with a fine wire up the centre whose function is to guide the oil up to the top and out without the oil mixing with the water.  On a bank of lubricators, one glass tube for each engine cylinder, one can check all cylinders are getting the same oil delivered by checking the rate and size at which the little drops of oil are produced and ensuring the rate and size is the same in all glass tubes.  Not very technical and specific, as it's purely visual, but it works!  Plus it's a constant and easy confirmation that the cylinders are being supplied with lube oil too.  Nice to see again in your video after all these years!

Now back to the build - all coming along very nicely.  Plus loved your self built lathe too, well done.

Chris
Minh Thanh
Reply #39 · 25 Jun 2026, 11:58
Sanjay F, Roger B, Zephyrin, Laurentic
  Thank you !

Quote from: Zephyrin Great work Minh Thanh;
I totally understand why you want to show off those amazing helical gears, but I dare to say that I disagree—for me, a less bulky gearbox, one that gives a glimpse of the internal gears, similar to  the gearbox on the Crosley engine shown in post #5 would be more elegant and closer to reality.


Previously, I had a solution: shorten the thickness of the crankshaft gear  (or both gears) – that would make the gearbox more suitable for the engine size. But I found an open gearbox quite interesting, anyway,  ;)
----
I also didn't think I could get this far with these so-called "machines"  ;D

 
Minh Thanh
Reply #40 · 30 Jul 2026, 12:04
Hi All !
An update :
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Admiral_dk
Reply #42 · 30 Jul 2026, 19:59
I agree - looks Amazing  :praise2:

Great that you were allowed to login and post today  :ThumbsUp:
And sorry that other things on the Web prevent this from being easy ....

Per      :cheers:
Minh Thanh
Reply #43 · 31 Jul 2026, 12:19
Sanjay F, Admiral_dk Thank you !

Quote from: Admiral_dk
Great that you were allowed to login and post today  :ThumbsUp:
And sorry that other things on the Web prevent this from being easy ....

Per      :cheers:

I just hope it doesn't happen too often  ;)
PaulR
Reply #44 · 1 Aug 2026, 20:08
I haven't had time to follow this thread so I'm not at all sure what I'm looking at... but I do know it looks fantastic!

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