Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Your belt looks pretty seamless to me! Nice work!

Really surprised that they wouldn’t send you the drill start adapter; I mean, at least 1 (or probably at least 2) existed… we saw the pic! Haha

Just listen for any pinging when running fast or under load.  If it sounds funny or seems to run overly hot, advance the timing a little.  The breaker cam is on the camshaft, not the crank. That means ten degrees deflection of the timing lever is actually five degrees of timing advance or retard. If you’re pointed left visibly, say ten degrees, that’s maybe five degrees after TDC, which is a sweet spot to start them.  I actually have crank started a John Deere tractor from about 1940. Built a birds nest fire in the air box, fully retarded timing,  turned on the gas, and gave it a twist. Ka-bang it lit.