Building an Aligator

Thanks for the interest. Your correct, the soot from the torch acts as a release agent for the shaft, actually works quite well. If it sticks to the caps all the better but think the bearing is mostly held by the slots or holes in the cap to key it. When your pouring the top half shimms are added on top of the babbitt to hold the cap up, I blacken them as well. If you look at the end of the completed bearing you can see the end of one of the shimmy at the joint. The joints are filled in this case with high temp silicone to stop the babbitt flowing out the ends or between the caps. The cap can then be lifted off to open the grease passages and cut groves to distribute the grease. With the shims that were used when pouring you'd have a zero clearance bearing, (guess shrinkage in the babbitt as it cooled would give some clearance, but not enough). You can add more shims for clearance or scrape the bearing to get the fit you want. In this case the shaft is only rotating at 20 rpm so I'll just add a shim.
Im sure there's lots of information out there on the web, we poured this set from memory, sometimes it kicks in.
I remember the old fellow that taught me saying not to get the pour too hot, when a pine stick turns brown in the liquid your good to go. Looking at the elements in babbitt Im not sure why, Tin, Copper and Arsenic all have high boiling points.
Preheating the caps and shaft I think is important. If they're cold the babbitt would freeze before the cavity filled.
Hope that helps, its definitely not rocket science if I can pull it off.

Thanks for watching,
Greg
 
Amazing work you've done there, and I'm sure the excellent crew you have is essential. Kudos to you all for keeping the past alive and well. Cheers, Mike
 
It appears you are pretty far along. Do you have projected date for the launch?
Robert
 
Thanks Mike, it has been interesting, trying to follow some of the old ways of doing things and blend in whats available now that was't around when these were built. Im just along for the ride, it's Dr Bill's project, I just provide technical guidance and a machine shop. Hope I have the energy these guys do when Im in my late 80's.
With any luck we'll have her wet by fall Robert. Still a lot to do but it is coming together. Jim has most of the piping done between the boiler and the engine but he went in for a knee replacement last week so he'll be played up for a while. I have all the parts for the paddles cut out, need room in the shop to assemble them.

Greg
 
hi Greg - just spotted this thread, which somehow had missed my attention up to now.

This is one cool project and you can add me to the list of dedicated followers going forward as you winch your way to the goal line.
 
Hi Greg,
The Alligator is really coming along nicely. The poured babbit bearings are a nice touch.
Keep up the good work.
Michael
 
When on the water, how do you steer the boat? Tilt up rudder?
Nice to see a group of guy's work together with never an argument !
 
They ran a pair of hinged rudders near the corners of the hull. Guessing they could catch the wash off the paddles to help pull it around.
A tie rod between them and cable steering up to the wheel.
Its fun working in the group, not much like the reality shows Im afraid.

Greg
 
Can you steam down to Charleston to pick me up? It's a great town.
R
 
Spent some time this morning fabricating parts for the rudders. Though it was time for an update.
The rest of the crew has been busy framing, sheeting and painting the cabins.
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The engine boiler and reduction gear is in place.


Thanks for watching,
Greg
 
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