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

I was originally Not going to post THIS build, however it came as a happy surprise this kit draws the Least power of Any Accessories I currently own, so if you have a cute tiny(or Very low power) engine that you would like to belt up?....perhaps read on!

The kit:

Called a dynamometer but it does not really measure power per say, it is a relatively simple gearbox for youth to build and learn a little about gears. They made it into a "toy" and the idea is the top most gear turns VERY freely such that you are supposed to blow on it with your breath and it will spin fast, the power is run down to the bottom where a clock hand will point to one of several icons....it is slightly reminds me of an old toy "magic 8 ball" where you ask a yes/no ? And shake and your answer will appear.(silly, I know)
  The icons are things like: have a drink/take out trash/take a walk and several more. This did not interest me but the Very free turning gearbox Did.

I have successfully run this on ALL 3 engines in the photo, and will try my little adjustable speed Stirling tomorrow!...Now a coffee cup powered stirling probably could not power...but one of those Fancy twin cyl beam low temp ones just might!
  To give an idea of just how easy the top gear (curved teeth) spins....its actually 2 wood gears stacked side by side to make wider, mine where slightly warped so I pinched togather and added a drop of super glue to hold flat. When I let go.... the tooth with the super glue turned to the bottom as it was now the heavy tooth!
 
Anyway, if there is Any interest I can share a couple tips on the build, it's simple, but there is a couple potential pitfalls.

The clock hand(I colored it dark red) is currently pointing to "take out the trash" icon

Sorry about the terrible photo quality!

I hope to make a video of this running soon.

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Belted up to my aircraft "looking" stirling. I put some green tape on the prop tips but it's still just a faint blurry view. The top gear spins fast, middle gear spins slower, bottom large gear slower still, then that gear powers a Geneva style gear that causes the clock hand to advance (1) icon per complete revolution of the largest gear.


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Side View:

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