Bob,Have you figured out to incorporate this into a cocking rod? I will ponder that too. HmmmmmmLloyd
.... Scott, I like the idea of a Bicycle spoke, only thing I can think of is that since the spring is compressed all the time it may not stay straight if the spoke is too small relative to the ID.... Perhaps a plastic sleeve over the outside, I have already thought of that idea, problem is drilling a long, small hole, maybe?.... or possible find a piece of plastic tube that will do the trick, without adding drag inside the bolt that guides the guide?.... Bob
Quote from: lloyd-ss on December 31, 2015, 04:00:37 PMBob,Have you figured out to incorporate this into a cocking rod? I will ponder that too. HmmmmmmLloydLloyd,was thinking that too ... BUT sadly with Bobs idea there is no mechanical connection between the Rod and Hammer.so while you can play pin ball launch all day long, hammer just sits there un-moving.Tho it does make a nifty action COCKED indicator.
Lloyd, that seems obvious, since the guide sticks out the back.... The one TomG did even had a Delrin knob on the back.... but pulling on the knob doesn't move the hammer, it only compresses the spring.... I don't know how you would connect the hammer to the rod and still have it fly freely.... Scott.... I think if the hammer bore can drag on the spring it may not fly easily.... may drag on the spring at launch and lose energy and/or be inconsistent.... I think I was seeing some of that last night during adjusting.... My Monocoque PCP has an oversize hammer bore to insure this cannot occur.... I have used a moving spring guide as a cocking indicator many times in the past.... It is captured between the spring and the hammer by the spring force, and adds to the hammer mass.... You can even use it to directly measure valve lift by sliding an O-ring over it....RE supporting the spring on the outside, the spring could be contained inside the hammer, and/or inside the hollow adjusting bolt to keep it straight.... but even then in the uncocked state, there would be a portion of spring that could not be in either the hammer or guide bolt (minimum of the length of the stroke).... The spring has to collapse that distance and enter either the hammer or guide bolt, or both.... doesn't it?.... Bob
The hammer travels independent of the spring/guide for the clearance between the two at rest, plus the amount the valve opens.... I would think any additional drag could reduce the lift and dwell.... If it reduced the lift from 0.080" to 0.070" (with a corresponding decrease in dwell) that would be very significant, no?.... In a conventional setup, if the spring preload is greater than the lift, the spring travels with the hammer the entire round trip with the valve.... With a stiff spring and negative preload, there is no force on the spring to kink it sideways and slow down the hammer.... With my setup, there is the potential for that extra friction between the inside of the hammer and the spring/guide, and my gut feel is that it is important that any possibility of it be eliminated.... Bob
For a name, I have been toying with "Slapshot" like in Hockey (from the Great White North).... Wind that hammer up and let it fly!.... *LOL*....Bob