I do agree with the covers. Not difficult to do.
Just another pic of my black engine, with the geared valve train. I just cleaned up the connecting rod. Attached is a photo. As you can tell, it is very solid. Both ends have bearing adjustments. The flywheel end has a very odd screw mechanism that moves a wedge up and down, forcing the bearing to tighten up against the journal.
The other end has a wedge "pin" that you tap down to tighten up the bearing. I have never seen either before.
Gene
I have finished up restoring the black engine I am asking help in IDing. As requested by Gil, I have made and uploaded a YouTube video of the engine in operation. Please take a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6AGXh9RT60I am still looking for any info someone may have on this engine.
Thanks
Gene
It has been over a year since I asked for help identifying my black very large robust motor. I will ask again if anyone can help me determining what this motor might have been used for and when.
Thanks again for any insight.
Gene
All I can tell you is that it is a really amazing machine ... but you already knew that!
I will add that the geared reversing system is unlike anything I have ever seen, and the ornate spoked flywheel likewise is something that I've never seen.
It seems odd to me that it is a single acting engine, as it is set up in such a way that it would take nothing more to make it double acting and thus almost twice as powerful.
Perhaps you will never know the who, what, where, why of this particular engine, but that doesn't make it any less amazing in my mind!!!
Stoker,
Thanks for your insight. I did say initially I believed it to be a single acting motor. It is not. Is is double acting as you would expect. As for the flywheel, I believe it MAY be a large valve handwheel rather than a flywheel. But I like the look it adds.
I keep looking for anything like it but have really struck out.
Gene
I sort of doubt that your flywheel is a repurposed handwheel based on the cross section and profile of the outer rim. It really does look as though it was originally cast in proportions to be appropriate for a flywheel .... IMHO anyway!
I think I agree with you. A handwheel would have been much more rounded for a comfortable fit on your hand. This is squared off like a flywheel.
Gene
I was thinking the flywheel may have been off a sewing machine originally?
I was thinking the flywheel may have been off a sewing machine originally?
That almost seems likely Nick, as they often have a heavy enough rim to be able to turn it square like this one. Except that this one has some nubs on the spokes that could/would catch up cloth or thread, and be a real hinderance, if any got caught up on that side of the machine.
I think all the sewing machine hand wheels that I've ever seen had simple straight spokes without any embellishments. But, no doubt, I haven't seen them all!?!?
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That one in the upper left sure looks very similar all right, though not quite the same.
Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?!?!?
The upper left photo is really close. Not exact but I think you may have nailed it. The flywheel just never looked quite right on the motor. I like it, just not quite right.
Cool stuff
Gene
I like it on there, that engine is a Beauty!! 😍
A large valve hand wheel is not difficult to cut a flat face and sides particularly by a machinist capable of building that engine. I lean towards the hand wheel theory. I have seen a lot of engines with these. Many were left with a round face and a few are cut flat.
It is a wonderful engine and yes the reversing mechanism is fascinating.
You mentioned the reversing motion appeared to be about 75 degrees. Have you measured the actual change in timing. You might find that part of the required change comes from the gear rolling while you move the mechanism?
(I'm asking as I don't know the answer)
As for the maker, you will not likely come up with one with any certainty.
The boxbed and crosshead guide look like Mack's Castings which are advertised somewhere page 329 in an old Strelingers 1895 Catalog.
Many thousands of blacksmiths became machinists as the came to see the writing on the walls when automobiles supplanted the need for lots of horseshoes. The built steam engines of all kinds. Most used castings purchased from a supply house and some innovated beyond that. Their history was not well preserved as the small steam engines of the day were very common and treated like small electric motors or gas engines of the late 20th century.
Gil
The copy of their catalog that I have may have more detail visibility than this one which is too dark.
Link to catalog page:
https://archive.org/details/StrelingerBookOfTools1895/page/n363/mode/2up?q=329&view=theater [ Guests cannot view attachments ]