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Author Topic: Weeden NP No.500 and Burner Flame Out?  (Read 1137 times)

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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.

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Richard

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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.
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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.
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Richard

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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.
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"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..."
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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.   
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Richard

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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.

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Richard

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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 
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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.
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Richard

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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


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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!
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Richard

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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 :-)

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Richard
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