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

I was given this flame gulper to get running. I have spent the last three days trying to get it working, to no avail. Parts have been Shimmed to allow more free running, adjustments have been frequently made to the valve settings, and the cylinder and piston received a coating of a soft HB pencil graphite.

I think I need to buy longer wicks to rule them out, but is there anything from watching the video that can be noted as to why it doesn't want to run. I feel it's so close but also so far.

Any and all help appreciated on this one. If I can get it to run I would like to keep the rough machining to prove that anyone can build one lol, but it may receive a polish up to make it nice for my friend. Enjoy the vid, (appolagies for the background noise and me been clumbsy)

Jon have you tried running a flame on the cylinder and prewarming it to quite hot?

Jon have you tried running a flame on the cylinder and prewarming it to quite hot?

The cylinders been used from cold, allowed to heat. Adjustment to the timing and the wicks and flame position. At the end of the day I think the biggest issue is that the wrong materials have been used from the start.

Thats why Jan did a MK2
Stainless cylinder graphite pistons giving no rust no lube and  low expansion
My engine ran for years but was never an easy starter as was his twin cylinder design
If I was going to make a first attempt that engine would be the last on I would try
The easiest starting and most reliable engines I have are both designed by the late P Duclos
the larger engine was my first build and it worked straight away and has continued to work for nigh on 30 years
There is a set of plagiarised drawings on jon-tom I think Dallas engine its called also the French ACFF1is good to go
and will take a bit of shaky workmanship unlike the Ridders
Who sells the graphite Noggin end
just my two bobs worth