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Listeroid Engines / Foundation
« on: April 18, 2019, 05:47:55 PM »
Hello Everyone,
Well, planning a foundation for the Listeroid genset. Should get started on it next month - we'll see... Looks like it’s going to be about 48 long X 30 wide X 36 high (inches) – about 4000 pounds of concrete. I'm planning to use fiber reinforced concrete and rebar. Depending on what I find when I dig, it could be a little taller (so, even heavier). Where I am you hit granite pretty quickly.
My plan is to mount the engine right to the block (no subframe at all). I'll grout it right to the concrete using little soft wood (pine) wedges and machinery grout. I’m going to use fine thread nine sixteenths threaded rod (grade five) to mount the engine (and the generator).
I’m not going to embed the rod in the concrete, but instead I'm going to "through-bolt" it via long clearance holes in the concrete. Plan is to go about eighteen inches into the concrete with the bolt holes.
That way, if I should ever break a bolt I can change it. It also gives the rods plenty of stretch room. Access to the lower nuts will be through little "tunnels" cast into the block from the sides. With this much mass, though I really don't think I'll break a bolt. I'm hoping there won't be any up and down motion with 4000 pounds firmly tied and grouted to the Listeroid's butt.
I've read where others have drilled out the mounting tabs on the engine base to accommodate bigger bolts but I'm nervous removing any more material from an already fragile looking casting. Nine sixteenths fits pretty nicely as is.
I also found where guys were talking about the top surface of the tabs not being machined flat. Strangely, my tabs are milled and have a circular depression cut into the tops of them. It's a crude cut but seems pretty flat.
Last Summer I mixed around 35 bags of concrete (80 pounders) all by hand with a hoe. My back says "you're NOT doing THAT again!!"
I already bought a concrete mixer. It's so old that it has a flat-belt drive pulley (sixteen inch diameter by three inch wide crowned pulley) - might as well do this in style... Don't know much about the mixer but she's a pretty heavy one - I think she'll do two bags at a time.
Sadly, the original engine (probably hit and miss) is gone. I'll have to graft in a modern replacement. I already fitted the mixer up to a carry-all so I can move it around on the three point hitch on the tractor. I'd set it up to run right off the PTO but I need the tractor to load the mixer (so I don't have to lift the bags). Hmmm... I guess I really DO need two tractors after-all - can't have too many tractors you know...
Like a lot of my projects, first you have to work on the equipment you're going to use to do the project. Then you can work on the actual project.
-John (Boston)
Well, planning a foundation for the Listeroid genset. Should get started on it next month - we'll see... Looks like it’s going to be about 48 long X 30 wide X 36 high (inches) – about 4000 pounds of concrete. I'm planning to use fiber reinforced concrete and rebar. Depending on what I find when I dig, it could be a little taller (so, even heavier). Where I am you hit granite pretty quickly.
My plan is to mount the engine right to the block (no subframe at all). I'll grout it right to the concrete using little soft wood (pine) wedges and machinery grout. I’m going to use fine thread nine sixteenths threaded rod (grade five) to mount the engine (and the generator).
I’m not going to embed the rod in the concrete, but instead I'm going to "through-bolt" it via long clearance holes in the concrete. Plan is to go about eighteen inches into the concrete with the bolt holes.
That way, if I should ever break a bolt I can change it. It also gives the rods plenty of stretch room. Access to the lower nuts will be through little "tunnels" cast into the block from the sides. With this much mass, though I really don't think I'll break a bolt. I'm hoping there won't be any up and down motion with 4000 pounds firmly tied and grouted to the Listeroid's butt.
I've read where others have drilled out the mounting tabs on the engine base to accommodate bigger bolts but I'm nervous removing any more material from an already fragile looking casting. Nine sixteenths fits pretty nicely as is.
I also found where guys were talking about the top surface of the tabs not being machined flat. Strangely, my tabs are milled and have a circular depression cut into the tops of them. It's a crude cut but seems pretty flat.
Last Summer I mixed around 35 bags of concrete (80 pounders) all by hand with a hoe. My back says "you're NOT doing THAT again!!"
I already bought a concrete mixer. It's so old that it has a flat-belt drive pulley (sixteen inch diameter by three inch wide crowned pulley) - might as well do this in style... Don't know much about the mixer but she's a pretty heavy one - I think she'll do two bags at a time.
Sadly, the original engine (probably hit and miss) is gone. I'll have to graft in a modern replacement. I already fitted the mixer up to a carry-all so I can move it around on the three point hitch on the tractor. I'd set it up to run right off the PTO but I need the tractor to load the mixer (so I don't have to lift the bags). Hmmm... I guess I really DO need two tractors after-all - can't have too many tractors you know...
Like a lot of my projects, first you have to work on the equipment you're going to use to do the project. Then you can work on the actual project.
-John (Boston)