I received the grasshopper engine that I recently won on eBay. It was machined very well and runs very well. I thought the flywheel was going to be too light, but it is not. Does anybody recognize the design and where the plans came from?
I don’t recognize it but sure had thoughts of bidding on it, nice buy 👍
I was next high bidder!
Glad another forum member got it. Is the cylinder aluminum- that was my only concern. Beautiful engine. Congrats.
Crazydoug
Yes, the cylinder is aluminum. On other steam engines with aluminum cylinders, I make a new piston from "MDS-Filled, wear resistant easy to machine nylon" rod lthat I get from McMaster Carr. It will withstand steam without growing. I have had good luck with this. Brad
Congrats, Brad..!!!
A very nice buy and a great addition to your collection.
What does the engraving say?
Gil
Looks nice to me Brad , look forward to seeing it run. 😊
Yes, the cylinder is aluminum. On other steam engines with aluminum cylinders, I make a new piston from "MDS-Filled, wear resistant easy to machine nylon" rod lthat I get from McMaster Carr. It will withstand steam without growing. I have had good luck with this. Brad
Interesting- i,ll have to try that.Do you use rings of any kind?
Nice looking - maybe scratch build (freelance)?
Congrats, Arnold
I'm sure it was made from plans somewhere. It lacks parallel motion, but I don't know if every grasshopper engine had parallel motion. The lettering reads: GRASSHOPPER ENGINE NO. 5, TO PASUL OTTENHEIMER, FRED FOX 1991.
I have not used rings on the plastic pistons, just machined them to a tight tolerance. O-rings could be used and I might, keeping them a loose fit.
