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

I received this Jensen 40 in the mail today. Some of you may have seen it on eBay. I didn’t have a 40 in my collection, so I went for it. Overall, it seems to be a nice example with the usual signs of age, but not much use at all.

When I was cleaning it up and doing the usual work on the sight glass, I noticed it was rusty around the lower sight glass hollow screw, which seemed odd. The hollow screw was rusty all around the head. Then, I noticed what looked like a washer under the head of the top hollow screw, and that’s exactly what it was and the lower one had rusted. There was also a washer under the head of the hollow screw in the steam dome.

Looking closely at the screws, you can see that the slot in the head was cut way too deep and went clear through the head of the screw. There must have been a whole batch made like this by accident since Tom Jensen decided to salvage the screws by placing a washer under the head. Or, he was more frugal than anyone ever thought and saved just these three screws by using the washers! 🤣🤣 We will never know the whole story, but almost every Jensen engine tells its own story about the personality of Tom Jensen.

Boy that sure looks like it would seriously weaken the screw head such that any serious calcium buildup making the screw had to remove, would likely snap the screw head in two. Lucky that was a very low mileage engine so that didn't happen.

Just between you and me Mike, I think I'd replace those banjo bolts with some new one!?!?    ;c)

Yes, I did have that one on my watch list and was planning on throwing a low-ball bid on it, only because I already have a very nice one, otherwise I'd have offered you some tough competition and you wouldn't have gotten it quite that cheaply. But it went beyond what I had in mind before I had a chance to enter that offer. Still, as I recall, you got that one at what should be considered a bargain, for a semi-rare Jensen in such near new condition!

I’m actually quite surprised that Tom Jensen went ahead and modified those screws with those washers. I had the same thoughts about them being weak. I did replace the rusty one, but the others were just fine and showed no evidence of being distorted, so I put them right back where they were for originality.

Now, I have to find a wood base 30 and 40. They seem to elude me for some reason. Lol

It's hilarious cheap, but I agree with Stoker and I would replace the screw ASAP.  If the head would snap off it would be a pain to remove. Besides, best to get the parts while they are still available as you never know what the future may bring.

Great observation, Mike. 

Makes me wonder if I have or have had any similar and just not noticed.

Mike, how were those bolt heads secured to the washers fitted under them ..... or were they in fact just loose?

They weren’t loose at all, so they may be just a slight press fit.

Quote from: Junkologist on July 23, 2024, 03:34:49 pm

Quote from: Stoker on July 21, 2024, 10:35:25 am

Mike, how were those bolt heads secured to the washers fitted under them ..... or were they in fact just loose?

They weren’t loose at all, so they may be just a slight press fit.

Hmmm, but they weren't bonded in any way like soldered perhaps?

Nope. No solder.