Kees Bijker's 3-D Printed V4 Update

Hello Allen,

I wish you and all your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This is the last update of 2023 of my 3d printable Howell V four. Nearly done and still so much to do. Got 99% of the parts printed now and just need to figure out some minor improvements for printing and fitting. Then it is back to the printer and printing all the final versions and creating a bom list and build instructions. This will be 2024 I am sure. The camshafts prove difficult and I have printed 4 different iterations without luck so far. This last one has to be the one. Going to print it with a much smaller nozzle and lower speeds for high definition. Should do the trick. Enjoy the festivities and hope to hear from you either this year, if not next.

Kind regards, 

Kees.

Jan 10, 2024: Here's a link to the completed project:
https://www.printables.com/model/714791-working-model-of-the-howell-v-four-engine

Alan Gorlick's BuzzCoil Review and Comments

 Hi

Just a note to let you know the "buzz coil" ignition module kit, spark plug & hall effect sensor are installed and working well on a hit & miss engine that I have just finished, it's based on a David Kerzel design. 

I am using a 2mm x 1mm magnet set in the cam gear at 0.5" radius which works very well at the low speed of this engine. The hall effect sensor is epoxied onto an arm that can pivot around the cam gear shaft as suggested in your notes. That change to Mr Kerzel's design made setting the ignition timing extremely simple and precise. The coil is a universal ATV coil and is the only thing in the ignition system that has caused any problems. The first one had a loose primary terminal.

I did successfully bench test the spark saver circuit with a second hall effect sensor but have only installed the single sensor circuit as battery capacity has not been an issue. I am using a 6V 4.5ah rechargeable lead acid battery (AGM type) which I haven't had to recharge yet and cost very little more than a pack of 4 AA energisers and case.

One low cost change that I suggest you could make to your kit is to use an 8 pin IC socket that is soldered onto the PCB first and the 555 Timer IC just clips into that socket after everything else is installed. It removes any risk of exposing the 555 to the heat of soldering and allows easy replacement of the timer if ever required.

Thanks for the quality product,

Regards

Alan Gorlick

Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0d5FHJTjAPdnaYQS7rdgz797A
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0b5nNV26JYIzEbaKk6JayRknw

New show near Ft Wayne on Oct 14th!

 

Anthony Holden's Farmboy #673

 

Mark Journee's Farmboy #995

 Hello Allen 

Thanks again for the drawings i have finished the engine. it was a great project to make here are some pictures of the farmboy #995.

kind regards.

mark journee from the netherlands

Mark Journee's Farmboy #995 (so far)

 Hello Allen 

First of all thank you very much for the plans!   I'm almost in love with making the parts.  I've made some progress since I have some free time at the moment. I make the farm boy a little bit different from the original but here are some pictures of the engine:

Kees Bijker's Flathead V8 vs Howell V4

 Hi Allen,

A "little" comparison with my previous Ford V8 flathead 1:3 model I made.

Your father's V4 is really tiny.

I am hoping that the Howell Vfour will end up looking just as nice. (Don't look at the engine stand yet, that was a fail to be rectified soon).

Take care.

Kees