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Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 14212712

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Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 14212712

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    Piston Ballast Systems

    salmon
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    Post  salmon Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:13 am

    I read the book Model Submarine Technology. I have a new appreciation of the delicate art of balancing a submarine.
    Still looking for a how to on the spindle part of the piston.
    salmon
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    Post  salmon Fri Nov 18, 2011 11:29 pm

    Nigel,
    950D61 is ordered!


    Last edited by salmon on Fri Nov 18, 2011 11:30 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : spelling)
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    Post  david f Sat Nov 19, 2011 8:42 am

    I recognise that number. An MFA/Como geared motor.
    Good choice Sir!
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    Post  salmon Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:57 am

    Yes sir, it is! I asked Nigel for a parts list and he mentioned beginning with this.


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    Post  salmon Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:05 am

    sorta bump -
    Can anyone help me with building a piston ballast system? Does anyone have a working or broken piston system they want to sell?


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    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 Empty PISTON TANK /GEAR BOX.

    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:24 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1610

    mark up with a felt tip pen a piece of 1/16 x3/4 (approx) brass sheet,take a MFA 950D 6:1 gearbox unit,remove gearbox from motor,mark on the gearbox case as shown all spindle holes that are in use.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:30 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1611

    mark a centre line along the brass strip,and then with a square mark a line one inch from the end as shown.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:34 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1612

    arrows showing used holes on the drive side of the mfa gearbox.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:38 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1613

    arrows showing used holes in rear case of gearbox.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:44 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1614
    gentle prise gearbox apart keeping the three brass spacers safe.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:50 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1615

    gearbox dissembled,the front case is no longer needed (the one with the large steel bush).
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:55 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1616

    rear case with the ideller shaft and bronze bush,this will be used as a drilling template.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:02 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1617

    returning back to the brass strip,at the intersection of the two line previously drawn centre pop and drill a 2.5mm hole.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:15 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1618

    Place the idler shaft in the hole,place the gearbox rear plate on the shaft as shown,drill a second 2.5mm hole using the old gearbox plate as a template (drill through the hole previously marked with an arrow insuring that the hole is on the centre line, I centre pop through the hole just to help keep the drill on the centre line).
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:18 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1619
    another view
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:20 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1620

    the second hole drilled.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:24 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1621

    now place the gears on the new gearbox plate and check that the mesh feels ok.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:31 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1622

    for the third hole,motor drive messure with a pair of calippers between the ideler shaft hole and the large motor hole on the original gearbox,this needs to be as accurate as poss,but it is ultra crittical.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:36 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1623
    now transfer the calipers to the brass gearbox plate mark centre pop and drill another 2.5mm as shown.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:42 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1624

    now mark a line and cut of at around three inches,as shown.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:46 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1625

    now cut another plate the same as the first.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:52 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1626

    as with the first plate mark a hole 1inch from the end drill a 2.5mm hole,put the idler shaft in the hole lay the first plate on top of it clamp together and thansfer all the holes to the second plate.
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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Fri Apr 13, 2012 11:55 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1627

    holes transfered to second plate.
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    Post  salmon Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:13 am

    Nigel,
    Thank you!
    This is so exciting!
    Peace,
    Tom


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    Post  nigele(ADMIN)2 Sat Apr 14, 2012 9:50 pm

    Piston Ballast Systems - Page 3 100_1629

    now take a 4mm dia prop shaft (the dia of the inner shaft),the type with top hat bearing's,knock out the bearings and put the outer shaft aside to be used later,the inner shaft is not used.
    drill out the first hole in the gearbox plates to match the bearing dia,in this case it was .250 inch.

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