There is a sound and a feel of a shaft sliding into a bushing or bearing that is a perfect fit that is just so satisfying. It is like a perfect paint job, a perfect balance beam dismount, a three-pointer that is nothing but net, it demonstrates the Acme of human knowledge, skill and technique. This is not “close enough for government work” this is the art of the master craftsman. Well done, sir!
I find nowadays most mechanics can replace parts but few can truly fix the problem, fewer still can create the tool to create a repair. Much respect for your time, talent and tenacious fixing of these machines.
From 30 years and counting as machinist , that is an elegant solution that solves several problems at once, well done! Like mentioned below, mounting the block to the lathe carriage and driving it via a U-joint drive shaft would be my solution. I use such a shaft made from steering shaft U-joints salvaged from a mid 90's Lincoln Towncar.
I really feel sorry for people who cant appreciate how amazing and wonderful it feels when you stare at a serious problem for a while that is perplexing, come up with a plan, make something to execute said plan and have it turn out exactly how you envisioned it and it solves a serious issue. 👍
With your new specialized tools, you will be the guru of Cat starting engines. How many starting engines with damage from spun bearings can now be repaired and find a useful future? Thanks for mentioning Pete's channel. His Farmall's are still getting the job done. It was fun to see him plowing snow with the "A" and that little blade. Good guy!
I truly enjoy seeing how a person's mind works. The solution is simple yet elegant. Spec the setup, draft it, and then you can patent it. That is so awesome, it is pure artistry.
145? 143? Found Squatch253 about a month ago. Got hooked. Binge watching playlists on 5J1113 and random other Squatch content ever since. 144(?) videos on #1113 in four weeks. I've lost count. Charles Ward: '...this is the art of a master craftsman'. Well said! Incredible attention to detail and a gift for teaching and informing, to boot. Thanks Squatch! Can't wait for more on #1113. Getting started now on everything else! '
Your box of scrap turnings made me chuckle. I filled two plastic trash cans with turnings while making a blunderbuss barrel on my lathe. Like you said, "many hours"and a mess.
One of these years hopefully you will get back to working on X231, I really miss watching all the fab work on that but I'm sure it was wearing you down.
That looks like an expensive box of steel wool you made, you weren't joking with your post the other day about DIGGING a tool out of that slug. Excellent work as always sir
Hello Squatch 253; You have been blessed with knowledge of fore thought and the ability to carry to get the job done., I have NEVER seen a BAD video from you. Thank you and please continue on. As with the Super M, the trek was long and hard but the finished product was worth it ten fold. Be well and safe.
I watch a YT channel called Cutting Edge Engineering, a fellow from Australia. He does line boring, yet his set up is with a couple of cones on each end instead of specially building end fixtures out of billets. Might be worth the effort to look and see his set up. Might keep you from doing a lot of extra engineering if a simple cone can be utilized. jmho Thanks for taking the time to make vids. You are a lot more entertaining than anything the media shoves down our throats.
Looking forward to seeing how you finish this up. Great ideas that look incredibly solid and repeatable over and over with minimal setup time and error.
My boss back when I worked in an auto shop back in the '90s had a line bore kit for the VW bug engine blocks. Works much like your setup there. A couple of bushings positioned the bar in the case. It had a sleeve unit that controlled the feed and he drove it with an air drill. Of course, he was cutting aluminum and magnesium cases which are easier to cut than cast iron. The feed unit could be as simple as a very fine thread bolt and nut attached to the end of your shaft. It would take several passes to eliminate the thread pattern but that was basically what his sleeve unit did for him. I only saw him cut a couple of cases to fit bearings but it worked well. The VW bug business was a minor part of the cars we serviced towards the end of my time there.
Knowing the condition of so many of these old starting engines in the world some seventy years on it seems to me you've created a tool that could help you further monetize your channel and reduce the likelihood of returning to the dealership. Nice job Toby!
Line boring is such a fascinating process. Especially on a mobile setting where they have to bore out pins on construction equipment. Also, looks like you’ve made yourself to Squatch brand steel wool haha.
When you asked if we wanted a hint I heard a faint thwap thwap thwap of those old flat belts working the drive on that old bed lathe this a beautiful thing.
Wow! Incredible what you can do with the right tools and the knowledge! That’s some great work Squatch! Great job! Looking forward to seeing more updates videos!👌😎👍
If I didn't know any better I would think this tri-billed is turning into a love story and love stories always bring tears to my eyes don't you just love it I do
I concur with Kevin Jones comment. My machinist was a WWII radial mechanic, and aligned bored hundreds of VW blocks for me. Think that bar drive would work well.
The best investment I ever made for my sharpening shop was machining equipment (mill, lathe, drill press, and so on). The ability and flexibility to produce shop made tools changes the game BIG time.
Between you and the Pacific Hillbilly guy got me more interested in D4 rebuilding than I ever thought possible! Keep ‘er going and when the day comes to turn the key we’ll have a party
One way to move the head vertically on a round column mill is to set/clamp a precision square to the table or workpiece at right angle to the head. Attach a dial indicator to the head and use it to radially align the head to the square after moving it vertically.
Excellent machining job on making the tooling to repair the block bearing bores you have a good design figured out there that is really nice to see all of the processes it takes to get a workable tool
Keith Fenner has a great video about line boring an engine block with the block strapped to the lathe saddle and the boring bar being driven via a cardan shaft. I'd bet good money that's what you've got in mind. Think the video title is "because I can" if memory serves. Loving your work as ever!
I felt such a sense of victory and accomplishment by team Squatch in this video -- even though my contribution was just a greying cheer person. Great job! Video liked.
I think it is safe to say the whole "I'm not a machinist" comment you made when talking about what lathe's you use... I think we can safely say that was modesty at best! ha ha. Man, what a slick setup that is. A lifelong/generational tool with just a little forward thought made. Nice work, buddy!
Squatch, love your content. May I suggest getting a mighty mag indicator holder and a 1 or 2 inch travel indicator, that will attach to your bed ways that makes getting those bores and shoulder depths correct easy.
I was thinking Big Lathe, Squatch??? Am I in the ball park. Great video. As the old saying,"Necessity, is the mother of all inventions". Love your analytical mind. Excellent 👍
Squatch jigs are a treat to watch come to fruition. Dunno what it is, i've seen thousands of jigs, made a few myself, but there's something special about these.
I'm pleased to say that, so far, you have totally failed to prove me wrong. That really is an elegant solution to the problem. The way the boring bar slid through the two bushings was like the whole assembly had been line bored.
Well done mate great solution to a complex problem, I reckon if you're up for a bit of a viewing have a look at. Cutting Edge Engineering Australia, has a lot of line boring and very well set out videos. Looking forward to the next problem solving.
Notched tabs need additional holes to keep with support block when not in use. By the way I love it and the ups guys are going to hate you having to bring you pony blocks from around the world to bore. Next would be a custom newway valve seat cutter
A place on RUclips named @ cutting edge engineering australia pty ltd reviews is also into line boring when needed good luck with the over-sized crank bearings.
Using the seal bore to line up for machining the bearing bore was what I thought you would do. I hadn't thought of making it a one piece tool. My thought was that you would use a sleeve with a plug and plate to attach it to the mounting holes for the cover. But you were obviously way ahead of me in the designing process. I really hope I get to meet you in person someday.
Lathe is the right answer for driving the bar. The only hurdle is making sure the center axis of the boring bar is coincident with that of the lathe. To be honest, all you really have to do is get close, and simply use a flexible coupler for driving. Your bushings will keep the bar concentric, and the flex. coupler will take up any misalignment between the block assembly and the lathe. The saddle will serve as your feed, heck you could even do power feed! I think you're certainty on to something here, both for the Tri-build blocks and any others in the future!
I don't know about anybody else. But I really enjoy watching squatch253 make a tool! This was an awesome video and there's not a doubt in my mind this set up won't work. Cheers squatch253
Brilliant. I love it. Great watching..........there is just something awesome about the perfect fit in machining. It's challenging, frustrating, often infuriating and ultimately rewarding all at the same time.
Bolt the block to the carriage. Keith Fenner does that all the time. After you line it up, then you could probably remove the bearing fixtures to get them out of your way.
Love it. If you watch that guy from Australia (CEE) they make a power head to work with a boring bar. The work he does on really big caterpillar stuff is fun to watch. Yea very expensive no doubt but considering how many things you can use a boring bar on might be cost effective. Thanks again
Well done again, it is a joy to follow along with your tool making. Now fixture the block to the lathe cross slide. Center of the block too high/low, add a pair of u joints on a short shaft like a stub shaft from a ranger front end. The lathe spins it, allows accurate movements of the cutter the stub shaft allows flexibility of alignment to the center of the block being bored... should come together nicely. PTO shafts, short drive shafts, etc. Can't wait to see it...
You nailed it perfectly. Will be interesting to see your idea for driving the turning shaft. Now you can go into business resurrecting pony motor blocks.
Absolutely. If you don't have a horizontal mill then finding a way to set it up on a lathe is a good idea, so long as you have a way to hold down the piece level and true . . .
You could always retain your boring bar adapter with super glue. No kidding, it works. I've done it before on bearing bores. Release the glue with a heat gun and don't breathe it.
Great job Toby. The end is in sight. Looking forward seeing the Cat parade during the Meets. By the way when are you going to restore the gauges. Also you said you were going to put the wide pads on the tracks, would those be the one off the Frankestien John Deere track drives you aquied some years ago.
sometimes make self-centering cone bushings. but your method also deserves attention. it's just that the tapered self-centering sleeve is more versatile for other bores
There is a sound and a feel of a shaft sliding into a bushing or bearing that is a perfect fit that is just so satisfying. It is like a perfect paint job, a perfect balance beam dismount, a three-pointer that is nothing but net, it demonstrates the Acme of human knowledge, skill and technique. This is not “close enough for government work” this is the art of the master craftsman. Well done, sir!
Ditto what Charles said.
For a man who claims not to be a machinist, y0u certainly do impersonate one well! Thanks for the video sir.
I find nowadays most mechanics can replace parts but few can truly fix the problem, fewer still can create the tool to create a repair. Much respect for your time, talent and tenacious fixing of these machines.
From 30 years and counting as machinist , that is an elegant solution that solves several problems at once, well done! Like mentioned below, mounting the block to the lathe carriage and driving it via a U-joint drive shaft would be my solution. I use such a shaft made from steering shaft U-joints salvaged from a mid 90's Lincoln Towncar.
I would suggest milling 3 windows in your bushing do you can see what you are doing and chips can get out.😎
Solving problems like this is the difference between a technician and an engineer. You, sir are an engineer.
I really feel sorry for people who cant appreciate how amazing and wonderful it feels when you stare at a serious problem for a while that is perplexing, come up with a plan, make something to execute said plan and have it turn out exactly how you envisioned it and it solves a serious issue. 👍
With your new specialized tools, you will be the guru of Cat starting engines. How many starting engines with damage from spun bearings can now be repaired and find a useful future? Thanks for mentioning Pete's channel. His Farmall's are still getting the job done. It was fun to see him plowing snow with the "A" and that little blade. Good guy!
I know you didn't want to work on other peoples tractors, but you could offer the main bearing repair to others for $$$.....nice job!!!!
Don’t let anybody tell you that you aren’t a machinist. Nice problem solving!
I love how you’re building the tools needed to save old engines from the scrap pile. I look forward to part 2. Nice Job.
Squatch loves it when a plan comes together! Almost as much enthusiasm as for foldover locks and cosmoline!
A gallery should be displaying that work of art.
I truly enjoy seeing how a person's mind works. The solution is simple yet elegant.
Spec the setup, draft it, and then you can patent it. That is so awesome, it is pure artistry.
145? 143? Found Squatch253 about a month ago. Got hooked. Binge watching playlists on 5J1113 and random other Squatch content ever since. 144(?) videos on #1113 in four weeks. I've lost count. Charles Ward: '...this is the art of a master craftsman'. Well said! Incredible attention to detail and a gift for teaching and informing, to boot. Thanks Squatch! Can't wait for more on #1113. Getting started now on everything else! '
2 + years of watching 1113. Grrrr. lol. Let’s hear it purr. Although the attention to detail is second to none
This was fun to watch. Almost had to close my eyes when you were running that tap through...too many bad memories from my days of using cheap taps.
Your box of scrap turnings made me chuckle. I filled two plastic trash cans with turnings while making a blunderbuss barrel on my lathe. Like you said, "many hours"and a mess.
One of these years hopefully you will get back to working on X231, I really miss watching all the fab work on that but I'm sure it was wearing you down.
Let me tell you something, the feeling I'm having right now... is pure joy.
Good work with the fixture. The hard part is making it simple and elegant and I think you accomplished that. Looking forward to seeing it in action.
That looks like an expensive box of steel wool you made, you weren't joking with your post the other day about DIGGING a tool out of that slug. Excellent work as always sir
Hello Squatch 253; You have been blessed with knowledge of fore thought and the ability to carry to get the job done., I have NEVER seen a BAD video from you. Thank you and please continue on. As with the Super M, the trek was long and hard but the finished product was worth it ten fold. Be well and safe.
Never underestimate a Squatch's ability to creat awesome tools lol !
I watch a YT channel called Cutting Edge Engineering, a fellow from Australia. He does line boring, yet his set up is with a couple of cones on each end instead of specially building end fixtures out of billets. Might be worth the effort to look and see his set up. Might keep you from doing a lot of extra engineering if a simple cone can be utilized. jmho Thanks for taking the time to make vids. You are a lot more entertaining than anything the media shoves down our throats.
Looking forward to seeing how you finish this up. Great ideas that look incredibly solid and repeatable over and over with minimal setup time and error.
I could almost feel it when that bar slid through to the second bearing. I hope that called for some celebratory ”feelgood juice”!
My boss back when I worked in an auto shop back in the '90s had a line bore kit for the VW bug engine blocks. Works much like your setup there. A couple of bushings positioned the bar in the case. It had a sleeve unit that controlled the feed and he drove it with an air drill. Of course, he was cutting aluminum and magnesium cases which are easier to cut than cast iron. The feed unit could be as simple as a very fine thread bolt and nut attached to the end of your shaft. It would take several passes to eliminate the thread pattern but that was basically what his sleeve unit did for him. I only saw him cut a couple of cases to fit bearings but it worked well. The VW bug business was a minor part of the cars we serviced towards the end of my time there.
Nice engineering. It's guys like you who built this country.
Some may call it perfectionism, some attention to detail and some OCD. I call it pure craftsmanship!
Knowing the condition of so many of these old starting engines in the world some seventy years on it seems to me you've created a tool that could help you further monetize your channel and reduce the likelihood of returning to the dealership. Nice job Toby!
What a project - I’m enjoying every minute !!
Line boring is such a fascinating process. Especially on a mobile setting where they have to bore out pins on construction equipment.
Also, looks like you’ve made yourself to Squatch brand steel wool haha.
The lathe - king of tools.
When you asked if we wanted a hint I heard a faint thwap thwap thwap of those old flat belts working the drive on that old bed lathe this a beautiful thing.
OMG you are so cruel, ending that way. LOL. Can't wait for the next one.
Your ability to think through a challenge and make a solution puts me in awe. That solution is so beautiful and uncomplicated.
I really enjoy episodes like this that involve problem solving and fabricating of custom tools. Fantastic editing too 🙂
Your ingenuity is amazing, I so look forward to X231 coming back to life as no obstacle seem insurmountable for you. Top class work.
Wow! Incredible what you can do with the right tools and the knowledge! That’s some great work Squatch! Great job! Looking forward to seeing more updates videos!👌😎👍
It would be awesome to see X231 get some more work done on it
I really like the machining, I know a guy can spend hours in front of lathe without realizing it. The setup looks great, thanks Toby!
Enjoy watching you solve problems. Hope to see you on the MM again
If I didn't know any better I would think this tri-billed is turning into a love story and love stories always bring tears to my eyes don't you just love it I do
Squatch, these Macgyver episodes are great !
I concur with Kevin Jones comment. My machinist was a WWII radial mechanic, and aligned bored hundreds of VW blocks for me. Think that bar drive would work well.
The best investment I ever made for my sharpening shop was machining equipment (mill, lathe, drill press, and so on). The ability and flexibility to produce shop made tools changes the game BIG time.
Enjoyed watching, Squatch! You are very talented. Thanks for sharing your shop time with us. 🇺🇸🚜👍
Between you and the Pacific Hillbilly guy got me more interested in D4 rebuilding than I ever thought possible! Keep ‘er going and when the day comes to turn the key we’ll have a party
Looking forward seeing the boring process!
One way to move the head vertically on a round column mill is to set/clamp a precision square to the table or workpiece at right angle to the head. Attach a dial indicator to the head and use it to radially align the head to the square after moving it vertically.
Should mention that placing the square farther from the spindle gives more accuracy, obviously.
Excellent machining job on making the tooling to repair the block bearing bores you have a good design figured out there that is really nice to see all of the processes it takes to get a workable tool
Well Done Squatch, another specialist Catapiller tool for the box. Mick 👍🍻
Keith Fenner has a great video about line boring an engine block with the block strapped to the lathe saddle and the boring bar being driven via a cardan shaft. I'd bet good money that's what you've got in mind. Think the video title is "because I can" if memory serves. Loving your work as ever!
I felt such a sense of victory and accomplishment by team Squatch in this video -- even though my contribution was just a greying cheer person. Great job! Video liked.
I think it is safe to say the whole "I'm not a machinist" comment you made when talking about what lathe's you use... I think we can safely say that was modesty at best! ha ha. Man, what a slick setup that is. A lifelong/generational tool with just a little forward thought made. Nice work, buddy!
Another great specialty tool for the collection. Soon you’ll need a catalog of them.
Squatch, love your content. May I suggest getting a mighty mag indicator holder and a 1 or 2 inch travel indicator, that will attach to your bed ways that makes getting those bores and shoulder depths correct easy.
I am glad you were able to get two bolts in 180 degrees apart to hold the last piece you machined to the block.
I was thinking Big Lathe, Squatch??? Am I in the ball park. Great video. As the old saying,"Necessity, is the mother of all inventions". Love your analytical mind. Excellent 👍
Man I love watching and learning!!!
We need a weather cam............ a window to your outside world! Nice job on the tool making.
Awesome solution to a difficult problem. It is much more challenging to keep things simple and being able to use in the future!
Squatch jigs are a treat to watch come to fruition. Dunno what it is, i've seen thousands of jigs, made a few myself, but there's something special about these.
Oh hell yes….love this series
A marvelous consistent solution. Should have a Cat tool number for it!
Excellent work-up. The hardest part of machining is the set-up. That’s where experience pays. Looking forward to the next video. Stay safe.
You make me jealous. I fancy myself a pretty good mechanic and a half ass machinist and I'm not sure I could do that.
I'm pleased to say that, so far, you have totally failed to prove me wrong. That really is an elegant solution to the problem. The way the boring bar slid through the two bushings was like the whole assembly had been line bored.
Well done mate great solution to a complex problem, I reckon if you're up for a bit of a viewing have a look at. Cutting Edge Engineering Australia, has a lot of line boring and very well set out videos. Looking forward to the next problem solving.
My first thought was why not flip the block over so the bad bore was on top, but it doesn't look like you have enough z height.
Notched tabs need additional holes to keep with support block when not in use. By the way I love it and the ups guys are going to hate you having to bring you pony blocks from around the world to bore.
Next would be a custom newway valve seat cutter
Very cool problem solving. You could market those pieces I assume?
love the simplicity. looking forward to how you drive it off the lathe
A place on RUclips named @ cutting edge engineering australia pty ltd reviews is also into line boring when needed good luck with the over-sized crank bearings.
What an enginious and elegant solution for trueing the bore. Kudos!
You are a truly fine machinist, sir!
Excellent video 👍 techniques way above my pay grade but a joy to behold 💪👍👌
Using the seal bore to line up for machining the bearing bore was what I thought you would do. I hadn't thought of making it a one piece tool. My thought was that you would use a sleeve with a plug and plate to attach it to the mounting holes for the cover. But you were obviously way ahead of me in the designing process. I really hope I get to meet you in person someday.
Lathe is the right answer for driving the bar. The only hurdle is making sure the center axis of the boring bar is coincident with that of the lathe. To be honest, all you really have to do is get close, and simply use a flexible coupler for driving. Your bushings will keep the bar concentric, and the flex. coupler will take up any misalignment between the block assembly and the lathe. The saddle will serve as your feed, heck you could even do power feed! I think you're certainty on to something here, both for the Tri-build blocks and any others in the future!
Toby I've waited on this pony engine rebuild for 2 years and it has been worth the wait. Man you never fail. Keep up the good work.
I don't know about anybody else. But I really enjoy watching squatch253 make a tool! This was an awesome video and there's not a doubt in my mind this set up won't work. Cheers squatch253
Brilliant!!!!! As always.
Brilliant. I love it. Great watching..........there is just something awesome about the perfect fit in machining. It's challenging, frustrating, often infuriating and ultimately rewarding all at the same time.
Necessity is the mother of invention.....well done indeed. My compliments.
What a pain in the ****!!!! But it looks workable. Nice job Toby!!!
Blonde hack latest is
Line boring .
The boring bar is turned by the lathe .
First time I've heard about it
Bolt the block to the carriage. Keith Fenner does that all the time. After you line it up, then you could probably remove the bearing fixtures to get them out of your way.
Love it. If you watch that guy from Australia (CEE) they make a power head to work with a boring bar. The work he does on really big caterpillar stuff is fun to watch. Yea very expensive no doubt but considering how many things you can use a boring bar on might be cost effective. Thanks again
Well done again, it is a joy to follow along with your tool making. Now fixture the block to the lathe cross slide. Center of the block too high/low, add a pair of u joints on a short shaft like a stub shaft from a ranger front end. The lathe spins it, allows accurate movements of the cutter the stub shaft allows flexibility of alignment to the center of the block being bored... should come together nicely. PTO shafts, short drive shafts, etc. Can't wait to see it...
Very nice indeed. Good cold weather work!
That is a work of art....
You nailed it perfectly. Will be interesting to see your idea for driving the turning shaft. Now you can go into business resurrecting pony motor blocks.
You can use a squeeze or squirt bottle to cool your cutting bit, even a chip brush dipped in coolant/water works good
I was tempted to put on safety glasses during the lathe and drilling close-ups.
Absolutely. If you don't have a horizontal mill then finding a way to set it up on a lathe is a good idea, so long as you have a way to hold down the piece level and true . . .
You could always retain your boring bar adapter with super glue. No kidding, it works. I've done it before on bearing bores. Release the glue with a heat gun and don't breathe it.
That, sir, is a work of art.
Great job Toby. The end is in sight. Looking forward seeing the Cat parade during the Meets. By the way when are you going to restore the gauges. Also you said you were going to put the wide pads on the tracks, would those be the one off the Frankestien John Deere track drives you aquied some years ago.
sometimes make self-centering cone bushings.
but your method also deserves attention. it's just that the tapered self-centering sleeve is more versatile for other bores
Oh, I knew you were going to do that!!! Brilliant work as always.