Lubrication

[Alan]

Can anyone advise me on how the the Stuart 10v is lubricated,

[circlip]

WIV OIL!!

Stuarts also did a displacement lubricator which fitted between the steam inlet on the steam chest and the supply pipe.

[jamespetts]

The displacement lubricator lubricates the insides of the cylinders by adding droplets of oil to the incoming steam. For that, you will need special steam oil, since most oil will degenerate in the presence of steam.

For oiling the bearings, you will need to drop oil on them manually with an oiler can. Some of the bearings may have oiler cups, which will retain oil for a little while, but they are optional, so may not be fitted to your model. The big-end bearing does not have an oiler cup, so you will need to drop oil onto that fairly frequently.

Steam oil should not be used for the bearings, since it is too thick, and may slow the engine. Use bicycle oil or light engine oil, such as SAE30 (the latter is far cheaper).

[Tel]

a year or so back I gave a set of instructions for a quickie lubricator - a search might turn it up.

For the bearings I use a lightish oil, as James said, applied with a syringe.

[Alan]

Thank-you gentlemen. Good advice.

[paul]

modeleng.proboards20.com/index.cgi?board=statgeneral&action=display&thread=1872

[Alan]

Hi Paul
Thanks for the link, however can you tell me, is the oil "sucked" through by the action of the engine or is it gravity fed in some way. In the photograph the device is on it's side, as oil is used up I guess it is suction although I simply don't know. perhaps a daft question but we all have to learn

Alan

[AndrewP]

Hi Alan
Baffled me to start with then I realised the clue is in the name - it's a 'displacement lubricator'.
Steam passes through the pipe at the top and a small amount gets through the hole into the oil reservoir where it condenses and sinks to the bottom (oil floats on water). The sinking water displaces the same volume of oil which can only get out via the steam pipe and therefore to the engine.
Once finished just open the drain at the bottom to let the water out and then refill with oil at the top.
Ingenius really - I still like a pump though.

Cheers, Andy

[Alan]

Hi Andy
Thanks for your information, however it must be the air because I still cannot visualise in my mind how this things works. If steam comes in under pressure I assume it maintains it's pressure and picks up oil on the way through to the engine.Is it therefore a "T" shape configuration with the oil always at the level just below the steam passage ??

[AndrewP]

That's about it, there is a half way decent description here about 3/4 way down the page. Good drawing here

[Alan]

Hi Andy

Halleluiah, Got it. Thanks a lot

cheers

Alan

[alanstepney]

It's quite simple really.

All that hot steam comes in, and scares the oil so that it makes a rapid escape!