How flexible are these Chinese heaters? I am wondering if a turnbuckle type arrangement couldn’t be made to fit inside in order to expand the heater out to make full contact with the boiler.
I wouldn't say they are flexible. I gave the burnt one a bit of a pull and it started to make a cracking noise. The method that
@eec1910 came up with seems pretty good - I just don't have anything else to put into the middle other than a 1-inch socket.
This morning I did a heat up test and did a video once it was fully warmed up & running.
@5 minutes 110 F at base - Water sizzling
@8.5 minutes 150 F at base - Whistle working
@10 minutes 179 F at base - Running under steam
@12~15 minutes ~200 F at base - Full Steam and runs like a bat out of hell!
Shortly after this she is at full power and no evidence of slowing her down. Even engaging for a number of seconds the whistle only slows her down a bit. Once whistle is close she recovers and bounces back to full stream speed. Another thing, when I remove the power she will keep running for a number of minutes. My other B31 does this too but not to the not to the extent of this B31 with the Injected Mould Heating Element Band Heater.
The video shows my temperature gun taking some readings but take a look on how fast she goes! Poor little guy with no sight glass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRm-UaMUBqI
If you have ever seen the forevertron in Sauk City Wisconsin, it has a true GE(?) Generator that looks just like this seen in red in the rough picture below!
This morning I did a heat up test and did a video once it was fully warmed up & running... and no evidence of slowing her down.
Wow, Rich! That injection mold heater really worked out for you! And here I am fiddle-farting around with cartridge heaters...
If I do another vertical boiler engine that needs a heater, that's definitely the first method to try. It's strange well it worked, even with the incidental contact between the outside of the heater and inside of the boiler.
Thanks for posting the video.
Paula