Borderer Piston valve version

[Team ricky]

Just made up a simple exhaust manifold or supply depending on the reverse valve

Now running on around 7 psi so I’m happy with the tightness and timing 🙂

Video below ..

Next I’ll steam test just in one direction and then crack on with the other manifold and reverse valve.
Should be fairly straightforward but need another very good bore and valve in the reverse gear to keep the low slow running , I don’t think I will fit this to a boat or anything I may just build up a steam plant on a wood board lol 😂 Still just watching them run is a good experience anyway!


Some pics of the remaining parts included….

[Team ricky]

Pics of the remaining parts to fit / machine

And a pic of the valve arrangement

[Team ricky]

Here’s the engine on steam

Ran much better and once warmed up ran as low as 5psi on the gauge

[Team ricky]

I managed to do a little work on the reversing valve and body , All looking good !

The piston valve itself I wet and dryed down to tolerance to get as close to a gas tight seal as possible

Interesting the valve itself has a vee cut feature to the forward and reverse lugs if you will , It looks like it provides a bit of throttle control

Only question is how to make the feature lol 😂 I’m sure I’ll find a good way

[Team ricky]

A bit more out of the way and nearly finished!

I’ve made a good valve body and valve , all lined up nicely and is just a little tighter than a slip fit ..

I must admit I’m getting cheesed off with the drawings not in decimal and never stating lengths overall for parts or correct use of a datum ….. it makes everything so slow lol 😂

Example pic below

And a brain teaser if anyone wants a go at this question!

Drawing shows two positions for feature A-A

The feature makes sense as the tapered groove lets the steam in slowly then fast as you increase the valve travel to give some throttle control, All good so far until the drawing states ‘Detail at A x 4’


Then the detail drawing shows 2

The overall drawing shows two positions only for A

What a laugh 😆

[Team ricky]

So I think I have two options here….

Both pretty good..


One is to mark up the valve land that keep the ports shut at neutral travel/engine off
Then simply hand file a taper to the remaining section of the valve that opens when operating, I did a test piece and it was very easy and controlled to get slow progressive air past it .

Next is to use a long reach marker to accurately mark to port position onto the valve in neutral to achieve the correct orientation and mark the limit for the vee feature as per plans, I have got a chamfer carbide cutter which seems to create a nice tapered slot and should work! It’s very hard to see without magnification whist cutting so I’ll have to come up with something to help , Either solution would be good 👍🏼