Office of Steam Logo_1

Author Topic: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.  (Read 392 times)

yozhek

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 210
  • Location: Somerset, England
Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« on: July 26, 2020, 01:06:08 pm »
Hi All,

I won a nice Stuart Beam engine on Ebay the other day, it looked shabby and quite rusty but it ran on steam, knocked badly and leaked water and steam everywhere, but on the whole not bad.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

I decided to smarten it up a bit and stripped it down for a check.  Whoever made this did a nice job, old school mostly hand filed parts but accurate. 

First job was to strip all the old paint, mask, prime, base coat and clear coat.  While clear coat was in the gun i made a new base from oak and lacquered that too.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Next the mechanical parts, i spent way too much on parts for the Victoria and was determined not to do the same with this one, however the crankshaft was grooved and the crank loose and not drilled true so i ordered a new one from Stuart.  While waiting for the parts i set about cleaning the rust from the bare metal parts and all the nuts and bolts, that was a long fiddly job.  The hole in the piston where the rod attaches was not central and the piston rod had been bent to stop it all binding, so i turned a new piston and straightend the rod and fitted a new O ring.  Also used O rings on the gland seals as i didn't have any packing to hand.  One of the valve operating links was pinned and loose, a slightly large pin fixed that.
After the paint was cured i trimmed the flywheel and pully on the lathe to clean them up.

Then the best bit, putting it all together, originally the central column had some bits of brass under it which went in the bin, so there was a lot of 'fettling' required to get everything lined up.  Eventually it was all done.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Next job was to try it on steam, it ran fine, still has a bit of a knock but this may be timing issue, i'm guessing because if i put downward pressure on the valve linkage the knock stops and if i lift up on the valve linkage it get worse (any advice from you steam addicts would be most welcome).



Kind regards
Ade

Swift Fox

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 546
  • Location: Leicestershire, UK
    • Swift Fox Steam Co
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2020, 01:28:09 pm »
Nice job on the refurbishment and love the traditional green paint job. Great to see it running on steam too!

I really like the boiler, reminds me of the ones Maccsteam used to offer which i regretted not buying at the time. Is yours a Maccsteam or one of the newer Chiltern Steam boilers?
I take it they are pretty good steam generators?
Your nose is before your eyes, so trust it first!

Tadfafty

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 209
  • Location: Oregon
    • Youtube Channel.
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2020, 03:07:52 pm »
That was fast if it was just the other day.
If I had the storage space... And the money... I'd have a few more engines.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY8ELrOezIftrQ6MKCoHyfQ

Steam Technology

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 356
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #3 on: July 26, 2020, 05:53:43 pm »
Great job on the refurb. looks really good.
ALWAYS WORKING TO FIND A CURE FOR CENOSILLICAPHOBIA
Cheers. Dave.

Hero

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1008
  • Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2020, 06:53:00 pm »
Good work! I have one that needs much the same treatment. Better get at it...
Bob

yozhek

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 210
  • Location: Somerset, England
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2020, 01:58:36 am »
Nice job on the refurbishment and love the traditional green paint job. Great to see it running on steam too!

I really like the boiler, reminds me of the ones Maccsteam used to offer which i regretted not buying at the time. Is yours a Maccsteam or one of the newer Chiltern Steam boilers?
I take it they are pretty good steam generators?

Yes it is CMS boiler, nicely made and lots of hot wet stuff comes out the pipe  ;D

Ade

txlabman

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3593
  • Location: Plano, Texas
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2020, 07:48:24 am »
Awesome job Ade!

You have created a timeless classic.

Outstanding paint job.


yozhek

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 210
  • Location: Somerset, England
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2020, 08:33:10 am »
That was fast if it was just the other day.

Life is too short to waste time  ;D

Kind regards
Ade

yozhek

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 210
  • Location: Somerset, England
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2020, 08:33:51 am »
Great job on the refurb. looks really good.

Thanks Dave  :D

Kind regards
Ade

yozhek

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 210
  • Location: Somerset, England
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2020, 08:38:49 am »
Good work! I have one that needs much the same treatment. Better get at it...

Hi Bob,
Go for it, only took 16 hours busy work, procrastination is bad  ;D
Cheers
Ade

yozhek

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 210
  • Location: Somerset, England
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #10 on: July 27, 2020, 08:43:36 am »
Awesome job Ade!

You have created a timeless classic.

Outstanding paint job.

Thanks Charlie  :D
I think the good quality paint makes up for my lack of painting skills, it 2k and the gun finish is awesome, plus it dries rock hard and impervious to just about everything.
Best wishes
Ade

Swift Fox

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 546
  • Location: Leicestershire, UK
    • Swift Fox Steam Co
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #11 on: July 27, 2020, 11:38:41 am »
Quote from: yozhek
Yes it is CMS boiler, nicely made and lots of hot wet stuff comes out the pipe  ;D

Thanks for confirming that, good to know they are decent steam generators. Certainly worthy of consideration.  ;D
Your nose is before your eyes, so trust it first!

yozhek

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 210
  • Location: Somerset, England
Re: Stuart Beam Engine Refurb.
« Reply #12 on: August 05, 2020, 06:59:48 am »
I thought i would have a go at making a video today, my coleague at work said i should try so here goes...

A short video covering all the areas 'knocking' on my Stuart Beam engine, i'm nearly there and it sounds a lot nicer now.



Hope it works
Ade