Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines
Builds, Repairs, Show Your Machines! => Technical Tips, Builds, and Help => Topic started by: RichSteamTx on December 28, 2023, 06:29:39 am
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That runs GREAT Rich ..... well done!!!
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here's a video with it running with the correct chain - it no longer flies off!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUeVuw6U4xM
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New in the box, I would LOVE to see that - what a wonderful item to have in your collection!!
Strange that so many would be "fixed" the way mine was... it really wasn't a hard fix. Granted I was a little worried heating it up to get all the old solder off - often it is so much harder to fix the previous fix. There is some other solder blobs that doesn't seem right around the burner cage but I left that alone.
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I think I have seen more of those Rollers with that sloppy solder repair than with the studs to hold that bracket on, good for you Richard to fix it right.
Same here! I’ve had 3 of these and 2 were smeared with solder. The 3rd is new in the box so I may have to find that and get a picture for Rich…
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I was talking to my brother this morning about the smoke stack as I was fairly certain the one on it now is incorrect. This one is roughly 4 inches long and I believe the proper one is about 3 inches. Also, this one has been forced onto the tank's fitting (flared out a bit at the bottom). Come to find out he took the one off the steamroller because it had a little dent on the side and it's a little wobbled at the top. I rather have a dinged up stack that is correct than a straight one that is incorrect!
So he'll send that stack when he sends the Mamod SR1a steamroller :-)
Here is a photo of what he sent me. Looking at the photos from @Weedensteam website the #646 came with both shinny and black smoke stacks. The wobbled top is on the other side of the ding.
[attachimg=1]
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I think I have seen more of those Rollers with that sloppy solder repair than with the studs to hold that bracket on, good for you Richard to fix it right.
That's high praise @Weedensteam - thank you!
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I think I have seen more of those Rollers with that sloppy solder repair than with the studs to hold that bracket on, good for you Richard to fix it right.
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Wow Paula, nice job on the whistle repair, that is how they should have been made in the first place. :)
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@Paula I am beyond happy with the results!
Funny thing, my brother has "gifting it to me remorse". Seems he didn't realize how well it would come out and how quickly I'd be able to sort it out. Which I am not sure how to take that, as it was his xmas gift to me this year LOL
I might give it back to him, as this engine was from his old-timer friend that passed away last year (lots of provenance for him). So it surprised me a LOT when I unwrapped it. Though I REALLY like this steamroller, so I don't really want to give it up LOL
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Richard, I'm glad you are so happy with the result! I thought it turned out nice too.
I did nickel plate the new valve stem, but then it stuck out like a sore thumb (on a vintage engine.) I treated the part with something called "nickel ager", but all it does is turn the nickel black. Rubbing the finish with fine steel wool then makes the nickel look like "black chrome". Better, but still doesn't resemble old nickel plating.
Anyway, I'm happy with how it turned out.
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I thought I'd do a x5 zoom shot of the whistle lever that @Paula made on the base. It is so professionally done, its like factory IMO - if Weeden had made them this way.
@Paula - did you nickel this little lever or is it a metal that is naturally so pretty? How you found such a small & strong spring is pretty amazing!
[attachimg=1]
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Looking good, Richard! I'm surprised you received the whistle that fast, since I just sent it out Monday.
Glad it works for you, and nice job on the steam roller!
Paula
Agreed, two days with just 1st class stamps - not sure how it got here so fast. Not that it bothers me LOL
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Very nice of you Paula.
Congratulations Rich.
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Looking good, Richard! I'm surprised you received the whistle that fast, since I just sent it out Monday.
Glad it works for you, and nice job on the steam roller!
Paula
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YAY - Thanks to @Paula my Weeden Steamroller's whistle lever no longer pops out (it isn't fun to have pressured hot water/steam come out)! She made me a new one that is kept on with a spring, much like how Empire lever's are kept in. Paula was even able to use the original red knob off the old busted lever :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZxMNk27jbk
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I gave it a go, for the record cap on the piston unscrews. Some previous owner put on a gasket that was x2 or more too thick. I wished my fiber washers weren't red but in my kit of various sizes there was a perfect one. I used a little of my Permatex 59235 (white) High Temperature Thread Sealant on it too.
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I believe that to be pretty spot on, well said.
So, the piston end on this Steam Roller is leaking a fair amount. I see there is a fiber like seal but how do you pull the cap off and properly put it back on to insure it seals?
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Empire, Jensen and most all of the German engines from the early part of the Twentieth Century were mostly heavily built and EXPENSIVE within the economies of their times. Weeden's were the every-boy's engine that could be won as a reward for magazine subscriptions or paper route bonus. They were mostly not built like tanks, but they worked and worked well, and were AFFORDABLE in the relative scheme of things!!!
That being said, there were Weeden's that were more heavily built to a higher standard, and thus more expensive too, that were and are certainly desirable engines to have in most any collection!
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I think Wayne has a soft spot for Weedens, with out a doubt they are neat little engines. I just find them hard to work on and often very fragile and not very forgiving of time.
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Oh, I don't think any offense was given, or taken. It's just that "spirits" tend to run a bit high during the Holidays. [attachimg=1]
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Oh, I love it. A fight between Weeden and Empire engines.
Apples and Oranges, maybe, but worth a discussion...someday.
Wayne
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I 100% agree with your thoughts on Weedens.. though I think Momads are in the same ballpark. I just got a Mamod engine and did a dodgy repair but I didn't see any other way (with what I have on hand and skills).
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Richard,
Nice job getting that thing rolling again... it was a major hoot seeing that little guy dance around the floor! I laughed out loud when the chain flew off! [attachimg=1] (Sorry!)
I'm with you on the Weedens. There are some nice ones, and I've got a couple in my collection, but they're not my favorites. They were a "steam engine for the masses", and it seems the cost saving measures took a toll on long-term quality. Just my opinion.
Paula
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Thanks Nick - all great ideas.
Funny, I was just thinking that denatured alcohol kind of smelt like Everclear. When I was a teenager I took a BIG swig of Everclear out the bottle - that was much like touching a hot oven the first time when you are very little - I'll never do that again.
I am not so sure my chain is right, as it doesn't line up perfectly with the wheel's spokes - the chain is just slightly offset. I can't take a link out because then it is to short to tie together. I did flip the chain over and that seems to hold better.
On the whistle topper, I put some of my Gorilla Glue gel on the crack last night, pretty sure that will hold. If I am careful I can move the lever (luckily it is pretty tight in the base) but the whistle is pretty darn weak. I think these whistle levers are flared at the end or at least what I can tell from other photos. If so, don't think there is a way to fix it without a replacement lever. Pretty sure no chance on that, so I'll have to find a donor - ugh - I think I just won't move the whistle lever and might just glue it into place (boo).
As fun as this Steamroller is I'm still not won over on Weedens, I still prefer my Empires.
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I also use weak MN Everclear for a smaller flame.
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Great fun videos!! :D
Along with watering down the fuel, another option is keeping your wicks very low, pretty much level with the top of the tube. It will take longer to heat up but won’t be such a crazy fire :D
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It is possible to tame the flame of denatured alcohol by adding a little water to it, say 5-10%. Many prefer it that way.
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Run #2 for a little longer video, until the chain came off - I can't win LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQg3qCZ7R2M
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Thanks @Stoker!
I got her oiled, filled with water and denatured alcohol. I swear watching it fire up is something crazy, so much FIRE LOL! Likely wasn't a good idea running it so close to the (real) Christmas tree.
I have a whistle problem, the level comes out of the base. Also, sadly the topper has a split. Though the whistle lever coming out is the bigger problem, as when I tried to "whistle" it popped out and I liked to sh*t my pants. What a freaking mess LOL.
Not sure what I'll do about the whistle lever .... but here is a video before that calamity. No telling the last time it ran, likely decades.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6llZHf7XiU
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Way to go Rich ... proper repair made to order!
You might want to test those solder joints for leaks with air pressure and some soapy water before firing it up. Hot steam leaks are a bit harder to deal with than air leaks you can simply shut off!
Denatured alcohol is just fine for that sort of burner, and is generally considered the standard fuel, though a few alternatives do exist.
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I cleaned off the solder off the brace and tank. I got lucky and the holes in the tank were clear, just needed to use my small hand hobby drill to clean them up from the solder. Then I cut down #4 Brass screws, screw them in a few turns and sweated them to the tank. I didn't have any #4 brass nuts, so I used my stainless steel #4 nuts.
When my brother got the Steam Roller the brace was already solder on, so that was a old repair a PO did. Now I need to figure out what fuel to use, I have some denatured alcohol on hand, I wonder if that is okay to use?
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Oh, well - I wonder where the little screw stand off went. How are they attached to the tank - from inside before they sealed the tank?
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[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
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Hi Guys,
My brother has seen fit to gift me for Christmas a Weeden #646 (I think this is right). While the roller if busted off the tank, it seems otherwise in very good shape. Perhaps steamed only a few times? I do here something rattling around in its tank, something small.
So I am not a Weeden guy and if it wasn't for being a Christmas gift I would be figuring out how to unload it LOL. Anyways, how was it original attached to the tank? I'll go as far and ask: Anyone good at repairing this type of damage? I hate to make it worse, as the rest of the engine seems in pretty good shape for its age.
Here are some photos!