76017
Active Member
Posts: 14
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Post by 76017 on Mar 30, 2020 18:27:26 GMT
Been building a freelance 1/2 sizeish portable for a while now, finally got round to steaming it here's a link to the video :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMD2ranqrdo&
Starting point was the LSM 5" Foster cylinder, cannon bracket and flywheel castings, although many of the later castings we have produced using 3 D printed patterns. The design and boiler are my own, boiler was under the auspicious of British Engineer services (Ex RSA) so it is a proper CE marked job.
Hope its of interest.
Bob
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,902
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Post by JonL on Mar 30, 2020 18:33:53 GMT
That looks just grand Bob. Tell us a bit about it, and yourself! Welcome.
Note: I have one of those Tachometers, a very handy device.
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Post by coniston on Mar 30, 2020 19:46:55 GMT
That looks great Bob, unusual to see a portable engine on here and what a smooth runner. Do you have anything planned to run from it?
Chris D
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Post by ilvaporista on Mar 30, 2020 19:51:35 GMT
Very good and the noise is fantastic too. My great grandfather had a threshing machine with which he would travel around farms and worked with another who had a portable engine. My mother as a young girl would go and see them work before the war came. She always took great delight in hearing the whoop whoop and years later heard it again at a steam rally bringing back memories and telling us about it with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes.
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Post by Roger on Mar 30, 2020 21:56:41 GMT
Very nice indeed, it runs beautifully too.
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76017
Active Member
Posts: 14
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Post by 76017 on Mar 31, 2020 15:09:09 GMT
Had it running again today, all the little snags from the first steaming now addressed. Now drained down and put away, boiler inspector here mid May.
In answer to a couple of questions, plan to run a saw bench with it, we were booked in at Hollycombe in June to drive a 4" rack bench.
The engine is purely my take on a portable, I have owned a couple of full size ones over the years so just tried to do things a in a manner seen on full size engine.
It is 3 3/4" x 5 1/8" bore and stroke, barrel is 12" dia and 14" across the fire box. Boiler is all at least 10 mm plate except the the tube plates that are thicker. Welded by a coded welder, however the stays are conventional screwed and knocked over. 3/4 BSF. Runs at 120 PSI and has a pump and 3/8" lifting injector.
Although the LSM Foster block has no provision for a governor, I have grafted in a suitable arrangement and there is a proper 1/2" double beat valve under the governor. This is why the safety valves are now mounted behind the chimney.
I am based in the middle of Southampton and have been mucking around with steam for about 50 years. Usual tale of Father taking me to Henley on Thames to buy my first Stuart 10H casting set at about 10 years old.
like most, a shed full of projects!
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Post by suctionhose on Apr 1, 2020 20:36:39 GMT
Your engine turned out very nicely! Lovely finish and character! Every home should have one...
Is it reversible by moving the eccentric? I thought it would run the other way for a saw bench?
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76017
Active Member
Posts: 14
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Post by 76017 on Apr 2, 2020 7:17:44 GMT
The eccentric is mounted on a slider dog, like a full size portable. This allows you to reverse it and shorten the cut off. I have tried it and the engine runs well in both directions.
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,902
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Post by JonL on Apr 2, 2020 20:51:55 GMT
The eccentric is mounted on a slider dog, like a full size portable. This allows you to reverse it and shorten the cut off. I have tried it and the engine runs well in both directions. I believe its one thing to get a steam engine running, but getting it run well in both directions is the real skill!
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