Ryder engine circa 1875 - first steamup

Ryder engine circa 1875 - first steamup
Posted by komet163b on 15 May, 2024 14:05
What we have here is the first steamup of my oldest engine,
the Ryder #3 'Large Horizontal Engine' first noted in an ad
in 1875 (Thanks, TEC). I carved two pencil erasers as stoppers
(tested for strength in boiling water) and used a 90%/10% grain
alcohol/water mix to keep the flame low (successful).

After a few minutes it took off with a gentle nudge on the
flywheel. It runs very smoothly and is a relatively quiet engine.
I thought I might sell this one pretty quickly, but, it is too
sweet to part with, barring an offer I cannot refuse. It isn't
getting any younger and they aren't making any more.

Two curiosities. I wonder if that brass tube (3/4") on the top
was meant to receive the whistle that was sold separately, and if
the engine could be a double action engine. Just cogitating.

https://youtu.be/6_uDq55kOzI

Enjoying the rush of a first steamup,
Wayne

#1 Reply
Posted by Stoker on 15 May, 2024 14:28
Lovely!!!

Almost certainly double acting as the steam line comes into the port block at the connecting rod end, so there is almost certainly (99.999%) a feed steam port at that end of the cylinder, and would of necessity be one at the blind end of the cylinder too, or else you'd be constantly fighting vacuum and compression.

#2 Reply
Posted by RichSteamTx on 16 May, 2024 13:27
I have to say, I like that engine. I'd love to get a pre-1900 made engine, just to have one of that era.

#4 Reply
Posted by TEC on 15 Jun, 2024 00:04
Very nice! Thanks for the video!!

Part 2 of my article series which is focused on Buckman/Union should be done by the end of summer.