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WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:21 am
by Dan Hatch
Guys: I am looking for a tool for cutting the X in connecting rods. Anyone have an extra one they would sell. Thanks, Dan

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2019 11:56 am
by Mark Gregush
For Model A (or other)? T rods were not Xed unless someone made one.

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 8:55 am
by Dan Hatch
How about one of these tools, no one have for sale? How about some pictures of one of these tools. Thanks, Dan.

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 9:55 am
by Gene_French
Dan:
I will try to get a picture of my design tool that I used to sell … I made the first one when I was about 16 yr. old … by changing the mounting plate you can cut a helical oil groove in many different connecting rods … always an optimist...Gene French

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 10:08 am
by Fordfarm
I had to make one for doing Model A and Model B connecting rods. I wanted some versatility to do others so it is probably a little more complicated than need be. I also wanted a fairly rigid setup and the ability to take several lighter cuts rather than hog out the groove(s) in one pass. It works very well. The main shaft is 1 1/4" which could be scaled down to do T rods. See: http://www.fordfarm.net/ConnectingRodXGrooveCutter.html

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 10:21 am
by Mark Gregush
I make the X's with a sharp tool by hand before I fit the rods.

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 11:29 am
by Gene_French
Dan:
here are photos of the fixture I built when I was a young ladd … by shifting the 1/4" dowel pin to the opposite side of the cutter bar you reverse the direction of the helix … the angle plate mount on the front of the fixture can be made to fit
oil groove cutter.jpg
any connecting rod bolt pattern … hope this helps ...always an optimist ...Gene French 970-581-2808
oil groove cutter1.jpg
oil groove cutter2.jpg

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 12:07 pm
by Dan Hatch
Thanks, Gene. Email sent. Dan

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 12:12 pm
by Adam
Dan, I’m assuming you are looking to groove a Model A engine? On Model A engines I use a 1/4” ball-end mill to make a 1/32” deep oil groove in line with the oil hole and perpendicular to shaft rotation (that is front to rear on the bearing). On the mains, I also make a radial groove that mooves oil to machined grooves at the parting line. If you do the engineering, it actually should form a stronger oil film than the X grooving. One of the A babbitt jobs I set up this way is running 60 hp and several years old.

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 4:13 pm
by Dan Hatch
Thanks guys but I am looking to start pouring my own rods. I have been not able to get rods in a timely matter and sometimes bad workmanship when I do get them. I have been held up on customers engine jobs because of this. I am not wanting to do just one set, I am planning on going into production. Thanks, Dan.

P.S. I am talking T rods. Yes I know they were not Xed by Ford, but that is what everyone wants.

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 10:08 pm
by agriscience
You need a SIMPLICITY or Waterbury Rod lathe. For Complete rod reconditioning.
It bores the ID , radius both sides, and makes the figure 8 oil groove.
Good Luck!

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 9:23 am
by Dan Hatch
I have a Dallas Welding Mach Rod Lathe( forerunner of Storm Vulcan) and a Tobin Arp RB mach for rods. They do not cut the X grooves. How did the Simplicity do it? Any one have pics of that? Dan

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 12:04 pm
by Dan McEachern
If you go to The Old Motor- there is a picture of a Simplicity Rod machine. also the Rod Gaffery web site also has several pictures as I recall but . . . . Pretty sure the url below is a closeup of the grooving link and mechanism on a Simplicity. The hand crank shaft is connected to the boring bar spindle during the grooving operation and the link to the carriage provides the carriage translation while the spindle rotates. The link is disconnected for regular boring operation as far as I know.

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/at ... ead-xi.jpg

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:27 pm
by Ray
image.jpg
I have exact what you need.

Waterbury simplicity connecting rod lathe

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 12:34 am
by Kohnke Rebabbitting
Waterbury, Simplicity, and Amco are the 3 machines that are alike, with a few small changes. The Simplicity, has the shortest Rod length holder. All oil groove linkage is the same. on all machines. All were made by AMCO, that is If remember right was the Automotive Machine Company. They made all kinds of Automotive Tools.

Out of Texas, the National rod lathe was made first, I talked to the maker years ago, and at that time he still had all the patterns, and machining jigs for the rod lathe. The national that I used for many years, was an excellent machine. The Valcan copied the National. The Valcan I have now, we don't use anymore, as all we done was bore T, A, and B Rods, before spinning. Then the Storm company bought out the Valcan rod lathe.

National had a fine thread feed screw, Valcan machine used a square thread, feed screw, that moved faster. The only thing that Storm Valcan, done to its, machine, was to add, one to each side, a free standing belt guard, with louvers

Herm.

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 12:41 am
by Kohnke Rebabbitting
Pictures.

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 12:53 am
by Kohnke Rebabbitting
Pictures.

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 12:56 am
by Kohnke Rebabbitting
Pictures.

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 1:08 am
by Kohnke Rebabbitting
Pictures.

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 7:16 am
by Henry K. Lee
Hern, Thank You for sharing! Very nice old equipment.

Hank

Re: WTB Tool for connecting rods

Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2019 6:39 pm
by Scott_Conger
Herm

always fun looking into corners of your shop

thanks