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

I was running the #10 this morning on a really good flame, I had extended all three and flared it out.  This thing will fly and nearly move itself.  Then I started running it as slow as I could, letting it stop and starting it back up at slow speed again.  After about 3 of these cycles I got a real good "scare jump", the #10's pressure valve popped.  Well, I don't think it popped but my o-ring did.  The 670's didn't seem to care about the pressure.

So, it works - kind of, since it was the o-ring.  It doesn't actually fit well, its scrunched in.  I had to stuff it back down with my little jeweler's screw driver.

Edit:
I had a bright idea, that seems to be working pretty good.  I am using some of my 3mm ID x 5mm OD Flexible Silicone tubing. See last two attached images.  I fiddle with the pressure valve steam whilst it was full on steam and it blew steam, though it took a bit to get it reset & sealed.  I think perhaps 4mm ID x 6mm OD might work better.

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Longer demo video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iJ8bXgnOPc

Hi Mike, That is a real interesting and unusual find.

Weeden comes to mind with lead cylinders however not even closely related to yours.

If you get a chance to pull the steam chest cover off, I would be very interested in photos of the internal rigging.
None I have seen have the valve rod going into the steam chest that low.

Congrats..!!!

Gil

Howdy Gil, looks to me from the first photo when magnified, that the valve rod is actually entering the steam chest at centerline height or very nearly. The second photo's perspective does make it look to be very low, but I don't think that is actually the case?!?!

I got myself a Weeden #10 off eBay last weekend, boy did I have fun getting it to run!  I think this is a pretty rare engine, as compared to the other Jacketed Engines?

First off, if it isn't apparent I am missing the whistle - so I'll be looking for one of those.  As you can see from the little video I have a cork in the hole.  That was easy, the rest of the issues where a bit of a challenge.

Two of the steam lines had hairline cracks.  The one from the stream dome and the one coming of from the piston.  I disassembled the engine, which was pretty easy, and took apart most of the plumbing lines.  I wasn't able to get the pipe off the piston.  I then used my large Weller soldering iron to seal the hairline cracks.  I have to say, I am very happy - the one from the steam dome, its crack is on the bottom, so its rather hard to see my repair.

When I disassembled the engine, the next issue screamed out at me - the whistle shaft had a previous owner's (piss poor) repair.  This was the hardest one to fix because getting everything clean for new solder isn't fun.  I just glad you can't see it because the steel jacket and the collar keeps it hidden.

Lastly, the Pressure valve - the threads are nearly 100% stripped and required quite a bit of Teflon tape.  Even then it isn't actually tight. If that isn't enough, steam just blows the center apparatus and I can't seem to figure how it is suppose to seal.  For now, I stuff a o-ring inside until I figure how it actually works (seals).

Here is a little video, basically a miracle I got it running.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqp4RYHDJ_0

Wow, are you going to try and steam it?  That thing is cool!

I’d like to try to steam it at least once, but I’m a little concerned about the low melting point of the babbitt base. It has obviously survived being steamed in the past, so it should be ok as long as I don’t get crazy with the heat.