A simple Vertical Steam Engine.

[Roger B]

Glad to see that you are back in the shop  I hope all is going well     

[Jo]

Thanks Roger, things are still slow to recover = it is some days better than others  .

Time for some more Swanning around  Actually another casting repair on the 5A: Four of the stud holes in the steam chest were not in the right place. Only out by a fraction but enough to not fit on the cylinder  So having hacksawed off four bits of CI block and turned them round they have been inserted in the offending holes with 638.

On inserting the plugs I got to thinking about getting good coverage of the 638. I had already cleaned the holes with brake cleaner which acts as an accelerant for Loctite. But decided to use a cocktail stick to winkle the 638 into the holes as well as putting a bit on the plugs and rotating them as they were plunged up and down before resting at the bottom. By the looks of things the holes and plugs are fully covered and this time I remembered to put a piece of paper underneath so it doesn't stick to the bench.

By tomorrow morning I should be able to work on all of the Steam chests 

Jo

[Jo]

There are a few bits to the Steam chests and more bits that are missing 

First off that missing steam chest needs a hole in the centre. So having zeroed in on the centre the four corner holes were drilled in their correct locations. Then stepping in 0.3mm each of the insides were chain drilled before swopping over to a 3.5mm cutter to take out as much as possible and keeping the centre piece.

Sadly the milling cutter was not long enough to go through so the remainder had to be encouraged out using an abrafile. Annoyingly the remaining bit is not big enough to make one of the missing valves out of 

Jo

[Jo]

So far no progress  Someone has been forcing more sets of castings on me 

I'll try to do a bit of fettling later but it won't be worth posting

Jo

[Jasonb]

A double crank single - you don't see many of those about

[Bluechip]

Looks to have the makings of a rather elegant engine .. 

Any pics. anywhere of a completed one ?

Dave

[Jo]

As J pointed out these are the dreg ends of the parts from a prototype that my supplier made the original two prototypes and the company chose not to proceed with the model

But there is enough to make one engine out of the leftovers 

Jo

[Jasonb]

Did Anthony Mount beat him to it with the James Begg engine? If so I can understand why it would not have been viable to produce a similar engine and Coles have there bottle engine too so no market across the pond.

Having seen the raw castings for the Begg they look far superior to what you have, though I can't see it listed on cotswold's site ?

[Bluechip]

Shame .. attractive engine .. 

Beyond my skills I'm afraid.

Just before Jason posted I was going to ask if 'James Begg' meant anything.

Something from a distant memory. Not as far gone as I thought.

Dave


 

[Jo]

That engine predates Anthony's engine by about 20 years and comes from the other side of the pond 

Jo

[Jasonb]

In that case does it predate the Coles as I can't see why a company would want to bring out a very similar model given the limited market.

[Jo]

I have no details on a Coles Bottle engine. It is not in their No 26 Catalogue.

Jo

[Jasonb]

Sorry I meant P M Research

[Jo]

The PM Research one is smaller and this rather nice one  is bigger: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIVE-STEAM-ENGINE-BOTTLE-STYLE-STATIONARY-MODEL-CASTING-SET-CAST-IRON-Castings-/263064789558 but it is on the wrong side of the pond 

Jo

[b.lindsey]

No plans with that one though. A significant omission I would think.

Bill