Thanks for the comments fellas, having fun doing this job, lots of out of the box thinking trying to adept stuff that I have in the shed, don't want to spend bugger all cash on the project, only need to pick up the motor, when the water goes back so I can get to the ute.
Some more done today, started off adding a couple of brackets for the uprights of my height adjuster to stop them moving around too much.
Then made up the saddle to go around the spine with the two prongs to go through the meat either side of the spine to stop the carcass flopping and potentially breaking up when near the end of cooking. Used the threaded part of the bung collar that is welded to the top of the keg, cut it off and then welded the last two pieces of 1/4 rod I had. Cut the threads and then cut out a strip of excess that was the end of the keg to go on the outside of the meat when cooking. Made up the two spacers out of the spear from the keg with a couple of 1/4 washers tack welded to the end.
Next I made up a couple of sliding stops to stop the shaft moving laterally when working. Then I made up the bearing holder for both ends, the tail end was made out of a stainless work light mount welded onto the end of the 5/8th height adjuster rods, I then covered in the ends and cast some lead for a bearing, runs nice and smooth.
Drive end bearing housing was made out of the screw in bung out of the keg, blocked of then ends half way using a large washer cut in half, then poured some more lead in for a reasonable fit, I stuffed up a bit by not using a narrower piece of round tube to case around, its a bit loose around the shaft, but still does the job pretty well
Ill use some animal fat or cooking oil on the bearing surfaces when using it.
Did a heap of grinding and cleaning up welds today, even cut the meat spikes off and re did them as I wasn't too happy with the way they were, much neater now. I am going to paint all the surfaces that aren't going to touch the meat with some high temperature black paint, something like they use on exhausts, should be able to clean it up pretty easily.
That is the end until I get out and acquire the motor, then there will be more head scratching and working things out.
Stay tuned..................................
gunna be lots of grinding to clean things up, followed by filling holes and covering up, thinking of using H/T black paint for most of the parts that wont be in contact with the meat.
