Sometimes, remarkable things happen

[RLWP]

I got roped in to fetching a table base the other day, and was allowed to have a poke through the garage as a treat. The garage was being cleared, so I was allowed to have a dig and take anything I wanted. Lots of bent nails, modern cheap power tools, tat, rubbish and stuff. In the back of a cupboard was this:





It's a Stuart Turner Sirius engine, very similar to the ones used on military generator sets in WWII. It has the dipstick that the military ones had, although the base seems to have been turned around. It also has the pressure gauge red lined at 30psi:



The pipe fitting is exactly the same as modern airline fittings:



This made it easy to connect up to my compressor. She runs beautifully, doing a steady 3000rpm at 30psi.

What an strange piece of luck!

I appreciate that this isn't actually a model...

The Station Road Steam page for reference: www.stationroadsteam.co.uk/Stuart/sirius.htm

Richard

[samsoncogg]

That was indeed a lucky find.

Perhaps it is an ex WD item, as it has PULL TO TURN on the cap.

Stuart models currently list a set of castings for this engine.

[gwrfan]

Jan 13, 2013 16:00:55 GMT @samsoncogg said:

Perhaps it is an ex WD item, as it has PULL TO TURN on the cap.

Err, Pull To RUN, perhaps?

[samsoncogg]

Jan 13, 2013 17:53:17 GMT gwrfan said:

Jan 13, 2013 16:00:55 GMT @samsoncogg said:

Perhaps it is an ex WD item, as it has PULL TO TURN on the cap.

Err, Pull To RUN, perhaps?

Yes, so I made a typing error due to my poor eyesight.

Sincere apologies everyone.

Shame you have nothing better to do than nit pick

[gwrfan]

[quote author=samsoncogg board=general thread=7857 post=78446 time=1358100631

Shame you have nothing better to do than nit pick[/quote]

My humble apologies, nit picking was never intended.

[ettingtonliam]

Odd, I read it as Pull to Turn the first time I saw the photo too. As it does in fact read Pull to Run, what exactly does that component do? It just looks like a plug on the top of the crankcase, but must be something more?

Richard

[RLWP]

When I turn the sump around, I'll let you know. Pushing it in doesn't make the engine stop. But then, it says pull to run, not push to stop

Richard

[samsoncogg]

Jan 13, 2013 19:06:54 GMT ettingtonliam said:

Odd, I read it as Pull to Turn the first time I saw the photo too. As it does in fact read Pull to Run, what exactly does that component do? It just looks like a plug on the top of the crankcase, but must be something more?

Richard

Richard, Interesting that you initially read it as I did.

I did not mind the error being pointed out to me.

What I found upsetting was the two smiley faces along side the comment. If they had not been there I would not have reacted as I did.

[samsoncogg]

Jan 13, 2013 19:10:41 GMT RLWP said:

When I turn the sump around, I'll let you know. Pushing it in doesn't make the engine stop. But then, it says pull to run, not push to stop

Richard

Richard.

Sirius build notes show the dipstick in that position.

I saw one once that had a breather fitted on the opposite side at the flywheel end.

Just a thought, but maybe the writing on the cap is a red herring?

Hope this helps.

Edited - bad spelling again.

[ettingtonliam]

Yes, red herring is possible, because that cap looks very like the cap on the fuel taps which many small petrol engines (such as those fitted to lawnmowers and rotavators) had under their fuel tanks to cut off the supply when not in use. I seem to remember they usually had some wording such as 'Pull to Run' or 'Push to Stop' on them.

Richard

[RLWP]

Ahhh, that makes sense. I'll have to do some forensic surgery

This engine has some of the features of the military ones (drain valves, air manifold, pressure gauge) and some of the model ones.

Maybe it's a post-war clearout engine

Richard

[samsoncogg]

Richard. Extracted from the Stuart history page.

In World War II (1939–45), the company produced a number of products for the military including combined boiler, steam engine and generator plants, designed to be used by resistance fighters of troops operating covertly behind enemy lines to power radio transmitters. The modest-sized steam generator plants were based around the Stuart Sirius engine.

Hope this helps.

[RLWP]

Hi Samson, if you check the link to Station Road Steam I put in the first posting, it will tell you a little more about those engines.

Richard

[RLWP]

The 'Pull to Turn' thing is a crankcase breather. If you push it in, it seals the crankcase so the oil doesn't run out

I found this out by carrying the engine with the breather pulled out, oil ran out

Richard

[geoffj]

Hi Richard
Your post immediately kicked my brain into action. I vaguely recalled a piece related to this engine and associated gear in Model Engineer. I was right; a quick trawl through the Colin Usher indices took me to 1990 ME Vol 164 page 86. It looks like a 5 part series with a further couple of letters. The title was `A Model at War'.
Perhaps you've got access to back copies, but if not I could scan the lot into a PDF.
PM me if that would help
Geoff J

[RLWP]

PM sent Geoff.

Richard

[sirius]

Jan 18, 2013 12:33:17 GMT geoffj said:

Hi Richard
Your post immediately kicked my brain into action. I vaguely recalled a piece related to this engine and associated gear in Model Engineer. I was right; a quick trawl through the Colin Usher indices took me to 1990 ME Vol 164 page 86. It looks like a 5 part series with a further couple of letters. The title was `A Model at War'.
Perhaps you've got access to back copies, but if not I could scan the lot into a PDF.
PM me if that would help
Geoff J

Hi Geoff, i'm new to this forum and having read this thread the 'A model at War' article sounds like its just what I'm after. That is more information on the wartime Sirius engine outfits.
Is there a chance you could forward me a PDF copy please?

[92220]

This is interesting. Found on the internet:-

During WW2 Stuart coupled the Sirius engine with an Alco generator to create a compact electrical generating set for use behind enemy lines to provide power for radios. The set fitted in a compact case and a boiler fitted in another box. The engine had a couple of additions to extend running time. The base casting had an extension added to which was fitted as brass riser tube and cap. This allow the oil sum to easily be kept topped up while running. A steam manifold was also added to the front of the engine with a pressure guage fitted on the right hand end. A condensation drain valve is also fitted. To secure the manifold to the main casting a bulge was added to the casting allowing a securing screw to be added. After the war some Sirius engines retained this bulge. Perhaps unused castings left over from the war production.

Bob.

[sirius]

Yes indeed that is interesting, every little nugget helps to build the picture, thanks!

[SteveW]

RLWP,
It occurs to ask what are you going to do with your little treasure?

Lucky finds usually come as a double edged sword. In this case it could be : give it away, sell it or keep it. Maybe have a load of fun playing with it first but do take care.