Hi fellow steamers , I received this Wilesco D12 last Thursday, i offered the seller $30 (& he accepted) I thought it looked pretty straight & was right up my alley for electric conversion & some boiler bushing work. its 1st steam up it ran for 2.25 hrs @ 75 watts, it will generate 350 watts at full power which is just about perfect for this application. I'm not sure of the year & hoped someone (Jan ?) with more knowledge than me could weigh in on this.
please enjoy
as received...
https://youtu.be/1uimUpNZ48Yafter...
https://youtu.be/nrpbuJ3VaH8
That was a bargain Wilesco Bruce and a 2.25 hour run was impressive.
Great video and upgrade/restore Bruce, (as per usual)
Your D12 pulls that baker fan with some authority!
Your video had the bit about the loop style rod, I went and checked my ebay ad as my D12 has not arrived from Germany yet. Mine will be the newer style flat rod. In my brain your loop rod holds precision for a longer life, can you still slip that loop style off the crank pin and pull the piston/rod assembly out to Lube by compress the steam chest spring? In my head the wider bearing may resist the rocking motion needed, but it may still work fine?
Very good restoration. Applause!
Based on the color scheme on the bottom plate, I would say that the machine was manufactured in the late 1960s early 1970s. I don't want to anticipate Jan, who can certainly give more detailed information. Unfortunately, the Wilesco sticker is missing. This would make it easier to determine the date.
That certainly was a bargain, and a nicely executed restoration/modification as well.
Good job Bruce!
As far as the age goes it is tough, but very close to 1960.
Dating these older Wilescos ainīt very precise, as thereīs missing quite a bit of solid documentation, as to when the changes was introduced exactly.
By squinting my eyes a bit, when looking at your before movie, it appears to have had the oval sticker, which as a rule of thumb would lift it to the 60īs.
But still it is old enough to have the old 1950s style connecting rod, and a 6 spoked flywheel.
At some point in the mid-60s the flywheel was changed to 5 spokes, and well before that happened, the connecting rod was changed to the flat stamped tin version.
Great video and upgrade/restore Bruce, (as per usual)
Your D12 pulls that baker fan with some authority!
Your video had the bit about the loop style rod, I went and checked my ebay ad as my D12 has not arrived from Germany yet. Mine will be the newer style flat rod. In my brain your loop rod holds precision for a longer life, can you still slip that loop style off the crank pin and pull the piston/rod assembly out to Lube by compress the steam chest spring? In my head the wider bearing may resist the rocking motion needed, but it may still work fine?
"can you still slip that loop style off the crank pin and pull the piston/rod assembly out to Lube by compress the steam chest spring? " Yes , surprisingly easy, as the tension is pretty much set because the pivot pin is only threaded a little on each each end (as I discovered) so no adjustment can be made , I was surprised it didnt leak around the mating surfaces because of the ease to pop the loop right off of the crank pin.
the loop bearing works fine & looks as if it would wear forever. I prefer slide valves myself , but this D12 works pretty slick & has plenty of power.
here you go Ben...
https://youtu.be/yjEguKAfDZg
That certainly was a bargain, and a nicely executed restoration/modification as well.
Good job Bruce!
As far as the age goes it is tough, but very close to 1960.
Dating these older Wilescos ainīt very precise, as thereīs missing quite a bit of solid documentation, as to when the changes was introduced exactly.
By squinting my eyes a bit, when looking at your before movie, it appears to have had the oval sticker, which as a rule of thumb would lift it to the 60īs.
But still it is old enough to have the old 1950s style connecting rod, and a 6 spoked flywheel.
At some point in the mid-60s the flywheel was changed to 5 spokes, and well before that happened, the connecting rod was changed to the flat stamped tin version.
in looking at what was left of the sticker residue , it looked to have had an oval sticker on it. I am surprised at the size of the boiler in comparison to the cylinder assembly, it has great capacity to run a long time at low wattage. I had to borrow the S/V & whistle from another engine to shoot the video, & I'm also missing the chimney, they're all the 6mm x 1.0 thread.
Thanks Jan.
Yes, the finer 6mm x 0.75 wasnīt introduced until 1990.
Bruce, I also notice in your video you have a white box that will vary the power output, but also has a digital reading that shows current draw...is that an off the shelf purchase product? Or something you made up your self?
Bruce, I also notice in your video you have a white box that will vary the power output, but also has a digital reading that shows current draw...is that an off the shelf purchase product? Or something you made up your self?
Something I bought from Ebay awhile back. I really like it , gives the amps , watts, usage, 5 different functions as I recall...about $10-12 , when I get home I can find the exact one for you. its as handy as a pressure gauge imho.
here you go
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124052197364
Bruce, I also notice in your video you have a white box that will vary the power output, but also has a digital reading that shows current draw...is that an off the shelf purchase product? Or something you made up your self?
Something I bought from Ebay awhile back. I really like it , gives the amps , watts, usage, 5 different functions as I recall...about $10-12 , when I get home I can find the exact one for you. its as handy as a pressure gauge imho.
here you go
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124052197364
Just spotted the YouTube video called (Ben D12)
Thanks Bruce! That bullet nose shape on the crank pin certainly does not hurt, I like this feature for cleaning and lube.
Also see the link to the digital electronic unit, (I got one ordered) thank you!
Bruce, I also notice in your video you have a white box that will vary the power output, but also has a digital reading that shows current draw...is that an off the shelf purchase product? Or something you made up your self?
Something I bought from Ebay awhile back. I really like it , gives the amps , watts, usage, 5 different functions as I recall...about $10-12 , when I get home I can find the exact one for you. its as handy as a pressure gauge imho.
here you go
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124052197364
Just spotted the YouTube video called (Ben D12) Thanks Bruce! That bullet nose shape on the crank pin certainly does not hurt, I like this feature for cleaning and lube.
Also see the link to the digital electronic unit, (I got one ordered) thank you!
Glad to be of assistance Ben.
The electronic voltage/watt device is a wonderful tool.
Nice setup.
I don't have a plug in engine and I actually want one but I love the idea of converting one of my Wilesco engines (D16).
How do you adapt an engine to go electric?
The plug in guage gizmo, can that also be used to limit the power?
Nice setup.
I don't have a plug in engine and I actually want one but I love the idea of converting one of my Wilesco engines (D16).
How do you adapt an engine to go electric?
The plug in guage gizmo, can that also be used to limit the power?
There is a bit of labor involved , you need to remove the boiler from the fire box ,depending on the model can make is difficult...or a bit less difficult , if the boiler is soldered in place ,well you have to unsolder it, anyway once you get the boiler removed you will need to drill a hole in the (near) bottom rear of the boiler for the Brass sleeve (soldered in) that holds the slide in cartridge heater., I prefer 8 mm by varying lengths (longer , generally more powerful) ,affix cord to said heater, it is possible to have an onboard (built in) voltage reducer.
Re:plug in gizmo...that is plugged into a homemade variac (voltage reducer) which will reduce the voltage (only). the electronic voltage\watt device does only that...tell you what voltage\watts you are consuming.
The D16 would be an excellent candidate for a electronic conversion.