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I am getting back to my boiler project and was interrupted by this little steam engine. It‘s missing pieces. Today I finished the cylinders.

The displacement cylinder walls are 0.012”.

Using my lathe to make new headstock bearings for itself. Just aligned the tail stock. It’s much happier. My wife says I have to paint it.

It’s a close match, however music helps pay for the machining supplies.

I like the concept. That’s exactly what this engine needs. I would have responded sooner, but I was asked to play in a pit orchestra for a show opening this weekend. The proceeds of course go directly into my projects.

Good point. Did not consider the speed imbalance due to pumping. I have some nice indexing tools for cutting gears. Old clocks can wind up storing the power of a garage door spring. I’ve had to make a gear or two.

Here is the engine info. Bore: 1.2” Stroke: 2” Eccentric stroke: .5” (easy enough to change) Compound running configuration. It runs smoothly as a compound engine. Speeds over 300 rpm starts to demonstrate the need for counter balancing. At about 250 rpm, it seems very happy and I can watch...

As a compound engine the boiler seems to keep up although it still requires a lot of water pumping to keep up. You can definitely see a pressure drop as water is added. I will run it with the boiler at full fire next time and alternate compound and non-compound configuration. I saw an...

Spent the day cleaning and adjusting the mill.

I agree. People should read the music back stories.

Getting ready to play the 1812 overture and show tunes for the 4th. I’m also spending some quality time with mill gib adjustment and back lash. I was told that the speedometer in the Tollycraft has priority over the mill.

I now have two sets of pipes. In a compound configuration, it runs better on steam. It definitely has more power in non-compound mode. Time to work on the boiler.

Actually I miss read my own notes. I was running 5lbs of propane.

Rear piston contacts the head on back stroke. The burner jet is .25 and I was using 5lbs of pressure. The first engine has a 1.5” bore and a 1.5” stroke and the boiler seems to keep up. This was the thought when I decided to build a larger boiler. I am also thinking it needs to be a...

This is the very first time it has seen steam. I need to tighten up the gland packings. Needs a boiler feed pump and a water preheater as pointed out. You have to watch the water level. Back to the larger boiler project.

Just finished a hard line for my current boiler. I’m curious to see if the boiler keeps up with the engine.

It’s coming together. Have a few things to clean up. Making a hard line to connect to my boiler.

For orchestral work, I’m on an oboe or English horn. I occasionally cover bassoon. We are looking at Beethoven’s 6th with some nice oboe work. Recently did E. Horn for New World Symphony. I’m also a Mendelssohn and Korsakoff fan. I also do pit orchestra work with my wife. Pits are as much...

I’m adjusting and shimming. As always, I learned a new set of “what not to do”, but I was trying to use some of the original engine. Would have it together, but I was ask to be a guest woodwind musician for a conductor’s symposium this week. I’m deciding if it should have a common...

It’s just automotive paint with a clear coat.