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

Pretty looking engines - I like the finish you chose.

  As to the high pressure needed to run....early in the
video you are turning it over by hand....and it looks
stiff.  I think it just might loosen a bit after it is
run for a while (properly lubed, including the cylinder),
maybe off an electric motor at a modest speed.  Let the
cylinder suck up a bit of oil now and then to lubricate
it. 

  The exhaust ports, as pointed out, are pretty small.
Maybe that is also contributing to the relatively high
pressure needed to run.  Could they be opened and smoothed
a bit as in a 'port-n-polish' job?  It makes a difference.

  And the oily sloppiness....Perhaps you could rig up a pad
to absorb the oily liquids while still allowing the steam
to exhaust.  Only while being run, otherwise hide it away.

Good Luck,
Wayne