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

Hi,

The water cooling coil is a nice solution, but I wonder if it would run longer with air cooling if you used only a simple alcohol burner? Those ceramic gas burners are extremely hot.

You are possibly correct, I have little knowledge of Stirling engines, I have only tried powering the engine with a ceramic burner because it is easy to control, using a tachometer varying the heat allowed the rpm to go from around 200 to just over 900. 

I also wonder if that plastic tube "linkage" is robbing a bit of power, thus requiring more heat; would be simple to make a 2-part jointed connecting rod.

This interesting type of coupling was what was fitted to the engine when it was given to me, I didn't think it would work; but it did, with seemingly little friction. You are probably correct a hinged linkage would need less effort to operate, but I rather like the different/unique? alternative.

Take care Tony.