Office of Steam Logo_1

« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?  (Read 1142 times)

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1254
  • Location: Kyle, Tx
Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?
« on: December 13, 2024, 07:17:14 pm »
So I got this #500 off eBay, which is in fairly good shape, other than the balanced wheel is missing a few spokes (others where broken at the hub, I had to glue them).  I also don't think the stack is correct because it splits out when its mounted.  Perhaps a stack from a different model.  I also need to do some more polishing.

Anyways, the burner is giving me fits.  It wants to keep burning from the top's seam and makes a big fire inside base and ends up lapping out.  Then it ends up lighting the vent line.  I have tried different levels of fuel and only if I leave a wee bit in does this not happen but then there isn't enough fuel before I run out.  Basically its a hot mess to run.  Which before I start getting close to burning down my apartment, the engine runs well.  

I think I need to figure out how to seal the top where it crimps onto the base.  

Any tips / thoughts?  Though I hate to use solder, so perhaps a bead of superglue?  Or perhaps I am doing something wrong but what I am not sure.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Logged
Richard

  • Global Moderator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 5148
  • Wherever you go ......... there you are!
  • Location: Eastern Sierra
Re: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2024, 07:41:53 pm »
A couple of possible alternatives would be to either add more water to your alcohol, get a small Bix burner and fire it with gas, or perhaps just a metal jar lid of the proper diameter with some Sterno.

As for the original burner, Alcohol has a way of finding every little imperfection in seams, joints and any other possible leak point. As the burner heats up the alcohol expands and volatilizes actively "looking" for a way out, and once it finds same, it will gladly ignite from the nearby wick flame.
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.

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1254
  • Location: Kyle, Tx
Re: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2024, 07:51:41 pm »
I didn't think of adding any water to my denatured alcohol.  That's a interesting tip.

When I looked at the seam under my magnifying glass, perhaps there used to be some sealer between the top/bottom when they crimped it?  Or it is some interesting sand like colored dirt in the seam.  I think I am going to use a toothpick to lay some superglue all around the seam.
Logged
Richard

  • Global Moderator
  • Engineer
  • *****
  • Posts: 5148
  • Wherever you go ......... there you are!
  • Location: Eastern Sierra
Re: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2024, 07:58:24 pm »
I don't know if denatured alcohol is a solvent for cyanoacrylate or not, but Acetone certainly is. Also, I very much doubt that Super Glue will hold up to the heat that your burner will produce.
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.

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1254
  • Location: Kyle, Tx
Re: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2024, 08:13:01 pm »
Hmm, I didn't think of either of those problems.  Likely back to the drawing board or use a alternate source.   
Logged
Richard

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1254
  • Location: Kyle, Tx
Re: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2024, 05:42:39 am »
Well, I cleaned off the superglue and punted to a bead of JB Weld, which I know can withstand the heat.  Shame about the balanced wheel.  Even if I found a donor replacement it would be a bear to replace it.

Edit:  At the end the engine slowed down, that was because I had used up all the fuel!  Prior to making the below video I had gone through a pretty long test run to insure the fuel was staying inside the burner.

Logged
Richard

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1193
Re: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2024, 09:26:33 am »
Good show, Rich!  I've used JB Weld (24-hour kind) to seal several
burner cans with reliable results.  All of the leaky seams were pretty
small/thin so that might have helped.  Also, as previously mentioned,
diluting the alcohol (only grain alcohol, please - the cleanest burning
type) will slow down the likelihood of any aberrant flames. 

Good Luck,
Wayne 
Logged

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1254
  • Location: Kyle, Tx
Re: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2024, 09:32:42 am »
I guess grain alcohol, something like Everclear Grain Alcohol 190 Proof would be better.  I didn't think of the "extra" crap that they put in denatured alcohol.  Likely cheaper too per liter.
Logged
Richard

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1193
Re: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2024, 12:23:10 pm »
The best things about grain alcohol over other formulations of alcohol....
It is pure.
It is organic.
It has no smell when burning.
Mixed down it cleans well and slows/kills bugs.
It is really good for making punch.

JUST DO NOT TRY AN UNDILUTED SHOT! EVER!

Wayne


Logged

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1254
  • Location: Kyle, Tx
Re: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2024, 12:41:45 pm »
Quote from: komet163b on December 14, 2024, 12:23:10 pm
The best things about grain alcohol over other formulations of alcohol....

JUST DO NOT TRY AN UNDILUTED SHOT! EVER!

When I was a senior in High School, we had a party out at a friend's lake house in East Texas - pretty sure it was the start of our "Senior Skip Day Weekend".  I drive up and go straight to a bottle and proclaim "I need a drink and I am not waiting for a glass" (or something like that).  I proceed to slam a big swig of it from the bottle and close by friends were trying to tell me "No, Stop!".  It was as you might expect, Everclear Grain Alcohol 190 Proof.  I thought I was going to die right there.  Though it did get me started on a real good buzz (or drunk) ;-)

Side Note: I also fixed the jam box after the batteries died that night and no one thought to bring a cord.  I then proceeded to cut a gal's power cord off her hairdryer, stripped the end of wires bare with a butter knife, used some alligator clips & electrical tape I happened to have in my glovebox, a waded up stick of gum from another friend (the gum was to engage the "from battery to power cord switch") and we had jam'n music again.  From then on out I was called "Crazy Drunk'n MacGyver"!  I am pretty sure it was the "stick of gum" that sent everyone over the edge that night LOL!
Logged
Richard

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1254
  • Location: Kyle, Tx
Re: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2024, 03:34:57 pm »
I got some parts from Weeden.com / Frank - thanks @Weedensteam - little engine is all repaired :-)

Logged
Richard
Pages: [1]
« previous next »