Office of Steam Logo_1

« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Jensen #55 Brass Tag  (Read 1744 times)

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 617
  • Location: Plano, Texas
Jensen #55 Brass Tag
« on: July 16, 2025, 09:51:46 pm »
Hung out with Charlie today and we’re debating a project on using a #55 boiler from this plant for me to build a Stuart 7A plant with a Chuff pot from OZD, though we’re looking at other boiler options too, since this is a rare and beautiful #55 (brass tag).

I have cleaned it up today and fixed the sight glass entirely since it was not receiving any reading at all due to corrosion.  Patience was key to remove the bottom banjo bolt and finally got it free and used a completely new sight glass kit.

Thing runs smoother than any Jensen I’ve ever had in my possession!

The video below is BEFORE the sight glass was fixed but it has since been fully fixed!

[ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Logged
The steam engine has done much more for science than science has done for the steam engine.”

― Lord Kelvin

  • Administrator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 9189
  • Location: Minnesota, USA 🇺🇸
Re: Jensen #55 Brass Tag
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2025, 10:42:17 pm »
Have you thought of just getting a new boiler from Jensen? The immersion rod heater would be a lot better than blanket…

I would have a hard time breaking that engine up…
Logged
Nick

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 617
  • Location: Plano, Texas
Re: Jensen #55 Brass Tag
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2025, 03:37:39 am »
Quote from: Nick on July 16, 2025, 10:42:17 pm
Have you thought of just getting a new boiler from Jensen? The immersion rod heater would be a lot better than blanket…

I would have a hard time breaking that engine up…

Probably not gonna break it apart, however the blanketed heat just died on it, and it is a blanketed heater, original to it.

Not sure what I will do. Perhaps convert it to a fired boiler even as a #55.  Or order a new blanket heater

I could drill a hole into it and install a heating element.. but that changes the dynamic to the originality of this bad boy. I’m not even sure the year of this guy.
Logged
The steam engine has done much more for science than science has done for the steam engine.”

― Lord Kelvin

  • Administrator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 6266
  • Aussie Steamer always on the boil :)
  • Location: South Coast of New South Wales Australia
Re: Jensen #55 Brass Tag
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2025, 06:23:28 am »
Order a new blanket heater.
Logged
_______________________________________________
Cheers.
Jim

Blue Heelers Model & Toy Steam Engine Room YouTube Channel -
 https://www.youtube.com/user/Blue123Heeler/videos

  • Global Moderator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 5148
  • Wherever you go ......... there you are!
  • Location: Eastern Sierra
Re: Jensen #55 Brass Tag
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2025, 08:13:24 am »
A Jensen 55 is certainly one of my absolute favorites, with their smooth distribution of power, so I'm with Nick & Jim on this one. Keep it original as it is already a classic and destined to join the ranks of riveted boiler engines by the time you reach my age!

Heaters typically don't just up and die, but sometimes connections do, so be sure to have a good look around for what actually went wrong before you throw the baby out with the bathwater!?!?
Logged
"Information is not knowledge, Knowledge is not wisdom, Wisdom is not truth, Truth is not beauty, Beauty is not love, Love is not music: Music is THE BEST...   
Wisdom is the domain of the Wis (which is extinct). Beauty is a French phonetic corruption of a short cloth neck ornament currently in resurgence..."
F. Zappa ... by way of Mary, the girl from the bus.

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 617
  • Location: Plano, Texas
Re: Jensen #55 Brass Tag
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2025, 10:01:36 am »
Quote from: Stoker on July 17, 2025, 08:13:24 am
A Jensen 55 is certainly one of my absolute favorites, with their smooth distribution of power, so I'm with Nick & Jim on this one. Keep it original as it is already a classic and destined to join the ranks of riveted boiler engines by the time you reach my age!

Heaters typically don't just up and die, but sometimes connections do, so be sure to have a good look around for what actually went wrong before you throw the baby out with the bathwater!?!?

It just gets warm. Not hot.  The first few runs heated it up no issue.   I was running it in full wattage when I noticed it just wasn’t getting hot, only warm to touch. 

Sadly this older boiler is riveted in, which it was screws. A somewhat easy fix, however I can always convert the boiler to be fired with gas. Hehe.
Logged
The steam engine has done much more for science than science has done for the steam engine.”

― Lord Kelvin

  • Administrator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 9189
  • Location: Minnesota, USA 🇺🇸
Re: Jensen #55 Brass Tag
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2025, 12:17:07 pm »
Those eyelet rivets can also be ordered from Jensen and are very easy to replace
Logged
Nick

  • Global Moderator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 5596
  • Location: St. Paul Indiana
Re: Jensen #55 Brass Tag
« Reply #7 on: July 17, 2025, 06:39:17 pm »
If it gets warm, it's working,it's like a light bulb,it either works...or it doesnt.is the belly heater snugged up tight under the boiler (heater screws tight) ?
Logged
Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
"Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind."
  Nikola Tesla

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1193
Re: Jensen #55 Brass Tag
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2025, 10:13:03 am »
Nice engine.  Nasty looking banjo bolt - you are lucky it didn't snap!

  Now you have it looking nice and running...and then it seems the heating
element died or is dying.  Have you checked the resistance with a meter?

  First, in any event, the rivets need to go.  I replaced them w/nuts-n-screws
of a size that fits well.  Good enough for me.  The next owner in the distant
future can install the rivets if they want.  It's why they call it a hobby and
not a job.  You only have to please yourself.

  If it really is dead I strongly suggest buying another Jensen heating element.
Keep it original.

  If not an original, look thru ebay listings for various heating elements.  I've
found success with cartridge types (properly buffered) mounted under horizontal
boilers (Empires) and cylindrical 'pipe warmer' types for vertical boilers (Elektro
and Empires).

Good Luck,
Wayne
Logged

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 617
  • Location: Plano, Texas
Re: Jensen #55 Brass Tag
« Reply #9 on: July 18, 2025, 11:32:59 pm »
Well?  I did my inspection and found the wiring to be faulty on the Blanketed heater.    Not the largest fan of electric heat, so I converted the entire boiler into a gas fired system.

I removed the heat element and wiring along with the asbestos insulation and cleaned it up.

Painted the firebox a nice heat resistant black.  After such? I used an insulation pad and then a piece of copper on top of it screwed down. 

Installed a gas tank and a BIX burner and it does wonders. Barely need a flame and the boiler produces more steam than the engine can use.

Some of you may not like the modification but it is what it is. The plan originally is to use this on a #7a plant anyways, so I may eventually just get a 55 boiler from Jensen and slap it on here and it’ll stay a nice brass tagged #55.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Logged
The steam engine has done much more for science than science has done for the steam engine.”

― Lord Kelvin

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1193
Re: Jensen #55 Brass Tag
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2025, 10:43:36 am »
Sweet-n-smooth!

Also, I have to say...you are a fast worker.  Well done!

Wayne
Logged
Pages: [1]
« previous next »