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

Builds, Repairs, Show Your Machines! => Restorations => Topic started by: therat05 on May 20, 2019, 05:11:54 am

Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 23, 2019, 03:06:14 am
Steve, just had to say I bought a large one of those green cutting mats for my worktable.....I wish I'd bought one years ago!
Its been invaluable Jim i have used this non stop and it has still not cut through ...just to compare i borrowed trouts dress making cutting mat and the first cut i did cut right through :'( totally useless ..she does not know yet i have hidden it and with early onset dementia she may forget she has one ;D ;D ;D ;D...Steve
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 23, 2019, 02:57:36 am
You've got me interested  ;)
Spraying today and cutting and shaping the small roof ...the component parts are on my utube channel..and its a diorama of them together hopefully it will be entertaining :o....Steve
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: Jim on May 23, 2019, 02:44:13 am
Steve, just had to say I bought a large one of those green cutting mats for my worktable.....I wish I'd bought one years ago!
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: Nick on May 23, 2019, 12:48:21 am
Hello Stoker its just something a bit different than i usually tackle..its proving a bit difficult as it will have a small shaped roof that i am making out of slate which i am beginning to wish it wasnt (made of slate) ;D...Steve

You've got me interested  ;)
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 22, 2019, 05:29:37 am
I'll be watching out for that next project of yours Steve!
Hello Stoker its just something a bit different than i usually tackle..its proving a bit difficult as it will have a small shaped roof that i am making out of slate which i am beginning to wish it wasnt (made of slate) ;D...Steve
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: Stoker on May 21, 2019, 06:22:48 pm
I'll be watching out for that next project of yours Steve!
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 21, 2019, 02:16:26 pm
And we always enjoy seeing your work Steve  ;D
Thanks Nick not wishing to bore you all ::)... I have another project that i will be completing soon that should be worth a watch...
it will be a couple of weeks i reckon...Steve
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: Nick on May 21, 2019, 10:48:52 am
Thanks Charlie i enjoy the whole process of buying them... stripping and repair then painting and finally writing and filming a short piece on these engines....Steve

And we always enjoy seeing your work Steve  ;D
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 21, 2019, 08:48:12 am
Great work Steve.

I always enjoy your restoration threads. 🤠

Thanks for posting the pictures, video and detailed narrative of the restoration process.
Thanks Charlie i enjoy the whole process of buying them... stripping and repair then painting and finally writing and filming a short piece on these engines....Steve
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 21, 2019, 08:42:59 am
Two nice Stuarts in this thread. Keep up the good work!
Hello Bob i like the Stuart engines they are so solid and look good....Steve
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: txlabman on May 21, 2019, 08:34:03 am
Great work Steve.

I always enjoy your restoration threads. 🤠

Thanks for posting the pictures, video and detailed narrative of the restoration process.
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: Hero on May 21, 2019, 07:10:15 am
Two nice Stuarts in this thread. Keep up the good work!
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 21, 2019, 02:39:27 am
Nice purchase there Steve and another great resto mate.

Hello Jim thanks it did not require to much work externally but the insides were in a right old mess...Steve
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 21, 2019, 02:36:24 am
Thanks for the show, Steve!


In addition to an appreciation of your restorative work on the number 8......


     I love the wood "floors" you have under and around your steam plant/workshop.


Gil

Hello Gil im glad you like it, i try and mount these engines on boards just to finish them off ...its on a different board at the moment as part of a 4 Stuart Engine steam plant which you may have seen..i like showing it off so heres a picture of it as it is now...Steve

The No 8 as part of my 4 Stuart Engine steam plant 5 including the 504 boiler
[attach=1]
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 21, 2019, 02:20:54 am
Seems a fair trade of some needful work to off-set the bargain price of a very nice but usually pricey engine. When buying remote so you don't generally get to see it run first, it should come as no surprise that key elements are not as they should be. Redoing cylinder rings and a bit of paint seems a very good trade for such a nice "Bargain" engine!

You've certainly done well with that one Steve!!!

How about just clamping a brass band or two around the cylinder to give it more definition and a touch of bling?

I must admit though, that the gray it currently wears has industrial written all over it, and that's okay with me!
I took a bit of a chance on it but im just glad it was repairable by myself ... perhaps some Brass on the cylinder,  but im thinking Nick is right and a thin red line around the edge of end plate will do it....Steve
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: Jim on May 20, 2019, 09:28:17 pm
Nice purchase there Steve and another great resto mate.
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: RedRyder on May 20, 2019, 07:33:16 pm
Thanks for the show, Steve!


In addition to an appreciation of your restorative work on the number 8......


     I love the wood "floors" you have under and around your steam plant/workshop.


Gil
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: Stoker on May 20, 2019, 07:12:21 pm
Seems a fair trade of some needful work to off-set the bargain price of a very nice but usually pricey engine. When buying remote so you don't generally get to see it run first, it should come as no surprise that key elements are not as they should be. Redoing cylinder rings and a bit of paint seems a very good trade for such a nice "Bargain" engine!

You've certainly done well with that one Steve!!!

How about just clamping a brass band or two around the cylinder to give it more definition and a touch of bling?

I must admit though, that the gray it currently wears has industrial written all over it, and that's okay with me!
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 20, 2019, 11:32:23 am
Don't worry Steve, my lining would look pretty bad if I gave it a try  :D
Now i look at it... its annoying me a bit as it does need a line there,  so i may give it a go sometime this week....Steve
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: Nick on May 20, 2019, 10:14:59 am
Yes Nick i agree but edges on the cylinder ends were non to clever so very difficult to get a straight line but when i do it again i can file them to a good finish and paint you a line or two then....Steve

Don't worry Steve, my lining would look pretty bad if I gave it a try  :D
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 20, 2019, 10:11:42 am
Another wreck saved by you  8)

Only suggestion I have is either some very small red lining on the cylinder or a cover to break up some of the grey
Yes Nick i agree but edges on the cylinder ends were non to clever so very difficult to get a straight line but when i do it again i can file them to a good finish and paint you a line or two then....Steve
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 20, 2019, 10:07:59 am
Very nice Steve, a lovely transformation.

Thanks Kevin it was a bargain and other than being a pain to remove all the remains of the old yarn and wire piston ring from the exhaust ports it was an easy fix and spray job, i have a pulley for it now so no slipping drive bands...Steve
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: Nick on May 20, 2019, 09:57:53 am
Another wreck saved by you  8)

Only suggestion I have is either some very small red lining on the cylinder or a cover to break up some of the grey
Title: Re: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: Kevin68 on May 20, 2019, 07:01:49 am
Very nice Steve, a lovely transformation.
Title: STUART No8 CHEAP BUT CHEERFUL NON RUNNER WITH LIVE STEAM VIDEO
Post by: therat05 on May 20, 2019, 05:11:54 am
A bargain from Ebay...no really... for not a lot of money a Stuart No.8 that looked in a reasonable condition,  turned out to be a non runner but after a strip down the culprit was soon found... there was no o ring which was used in these engines as standard.... the ring turned out be yarn and wire which had turned to dust blocking everything, further examination showed there was no damage to the bore of the cylinder.
All parts were cleaned thoroughly and the machine degreased and rubbed down then painted  with 2 undercoats and 3 topcoats of Halfords enamel spray paint, the middle base was left the original green as i quite like the colour.... A new o ring was purchased from Stuarts which when fitted failed to fit in the cylinder so stan gave me a hand and the ring was trimmed to a guessed 5000 thousands of an inch wider than the cylinder, the piston now fitted with some restriction.
I made a complete set of gaskets and the engine was reassembled...timed and then tested on air....the engine now runs perfect for its age...
Here are a few pictures of the before and after and a video of the engine on its second test run on live steam....Steve

VIDEO ON LIVE STEAM
https://youtu.be/Ssct3FnFEVw

AS PURCHASED
[attach=1][attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3][attachimg=4]
[attach=5][attachimg=6]