The 3" feed pump kit arrived yesterday together with the 4 1/2" boiler tube and the tube for the funnel, so I'm only waiting on the burner tube and the cast phosphor bronze for the bushes. The boiler tube as supplied was rough cut with a saw and approximately 1/2" over size. Those with a nervous disposition, look away now. What follows is almost certainly inadvisable but I did recognize the fact and wore my crash helmet and worked at arms length. I shipped the 4 jaw chuck and mounted the tube over the jaws then used the dial gauge to centre the chuck end of the pipe. I used my little folding rule as a feeler gauge between the tube and the lathe bed to get the tube roughly straight then dial gauged the tail end of the tube. Then I nipped up the chuck and did a final check. Max run out 2mm with 1/16" clearance from the bed and 3 1/2" overhang. I switched the motor to slow speed and set the drive belt to slowest speed. I ran the lathe and all seemed ok with just a gentle wobble on the table, (it's not very rigid at the best of times). Then, with my sharpest tool in the tool holder, I started taking 2 thou cuts working from inside to out. No problem at all, kept my patience and didn't try to rush it and after 1 1/2 hours the end was squared and finally smoothed off and de-burred with a file. I reversed the tube on the chuck and dialled it in again. Turning the chuck by hand and using the pointy bit of the tool I scribed a line to mark the 5" length. I then ran the lathe and cut a shallow groove to guide the hacksaw when I finally cut the tube to length. I transferred the tube to the vice with the jaws at max opening and clamped the tube with a clamp using the jaws as a sort of V block. Then began cutting in the groove with a hacksaw, long, slow strokes, with minimal pressure, using the tip of my thumb as a fence to protect the tube should the blade jump the groove. I rotated the tube in the vice often and after about 30 mins the end came off quite neatly. Back in the lathe again to dress up the cut end. Please don't shout at me, I know I took the lathe to its limits but it did the job and I'm safe and sound. There was a little puckering but thankfully not on the work piece.
Now to the feed pump kit. It comes with 6 castings in, I guess, bronze, with comprehensive drawings, O-rings and valve springs. I'm going to need a couple of number drills and a few reamers. I've probably got enough s/s round to get it done. The drawings are third angle projection, which if memory serves me well I was taught as "American Projection". At the time (Grammar School), it fitted in my head easier than first angle. A bit of Googleing to brush up I think.
The picture shows the castings and, reading from left to right, no 1 is obviously the cylinder, no 2 the valve chest, no 3 the water cylinder, no 4, I think is the water cylinder top cover and no 5, I think, is the cylinder bottom cover, and finally no 6 is for odds and sods.
I'm not sure in my head how to mount rough castings in lathe or mill and the order of making good faces etc, I would appreciate some tips which would add to the thread for others watching.
Jerry.