Boiler with steam engine?

[Michael S.]

I got lucky on eBay today and bought this steam engine set. The woman who sold me the engine and boiler said the steam engine belonged to her father and is over 30 years old. Her father was an engineer, and the steam engine set was a gift from colleagues for an anniversary. (A very generous gift!)

I don't think I'll have to do much repairs on it. Maybe just clean it.

The boiler is from Stuart? Approximately 70 mm in diameter. But who manufactured the engine? Maxwell Hemmens?

The small horizontal steam engine came with it and is perhaps a Wilesco or something similar.

Michael

[crueby]

Very nice find!  It would be a good idea to do a static pressure test with the boiler safety valve.

[Michael S.]

Yes Chris, that definitely needs to be done. I'm also thinking of using a gas burner instead of methylated spirits.

[PaulR]

What's with the odd shaped top on the water tank?

[Michael S.]

It's an egg cup used as a lid on a tin can.

[PaulR]

It's an egg cup used as a lid on a tin can.

Yes I could see it was a can but an egg cup?!  I'd be inclined to put it to better use and position it on top of that boiler 

[john mills]

does it have the original stuart method burner?
the original metho  burner  works vaporises the metho  and works well 

[Michael S.]

The burner looks like this:

[john mills]

that would have been the one that suits that boiler  try that with metho you should find in that boiler it will work well

[Michael S.]

I have a question about the boiler. What is the maximum permissible operating pressure for this 501 boiler?

I have the original operating instructions for the boiler, but the pressure limit isn't mentioned there.

Michael

[Michael S.]

I've now taken everything apart. The individual parts need to be cleaned. The valves need to be readjusted, and perhaps the base plate needs to be repainted black.

[crueby]

I have a question about the boiler. What is the maximum permissible operating pressure for this 501 boiler?

I have the original operating instructions for the boiler, but the pressure limit isn't mentioned there.

Michael

Those boilers were designed for a 60 psi working pressure.

[Michael S.]

Thanks Chris for this information. I'll set the operating pressure at the safety valve to 4 bar.

Regards, Michael

[Michael S.]

I'm currently cleaning everything and getting the boiler and motor working again. The motor wouldn't turn. It looks like the eccentrics are stuck. So, I have to take everything apart after all. Old oil had completely gummed up the eccentrics. That stuff was holding everything in place. Then it looked like the connecting rod was crooked! And it was. Since everything was now disassembled, I decided to repaint and re-seal the parts. The O-ring on the piston was rock hard. I also didn't like that the screws and nuts had been painted over.

The boiler looked good, and the pressure test is still to come. The wooden base has felt feet on the underside. I built a steam collector and modified the steam whistle. Let's see if much condensation forms in this position. The water level indicator will get a drain valve.

[crueby]

Oh yes, really needed the cleaning!  Looking much better!