One of the last machining tasks was to manufacture replacement valve piston rods. These were heavily corroded in the area that travels thru the packings. Bob purchased some 1045 TGP 5/8” stock to make the new rods. This material is accurately turned, ground, and polished to the major diameter of new rods. One end had to be machined to 1/2” diameter to mate with the valve piston and threaded 1/2”-13 for the piston retaining nut. A hole also had to be made thru the threads for a cotter pin. Overall length is 17 3/8”. The end that goes into the connecting rod had to be threaded to 5/8”-11. This is where the length (timing) is adjusted and maintained with a locknut. Threading was all performed by single point threading on Bob’s lathe.

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