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

Hey Fellas!  This Jensen 70 showed up today. Upon close inspection it's a litte needy. I've never had one of these so your help is appreciated. First.. The sight glass flops around to the point that I can almost take it out.. Are there supposed to be a gasket against the boiler and some kind of bushing for those nuts the tube goes into? Where do I get such things?
Next dilemma.. While turning the flywheel it was pretty stiff and while trying to see the bind  the cylinder fell off the steam chest. I'm going to try to attach some pictures.. But there's a tiny screw that holds it on... Is that all that's supposed to be there? I'm not sure if it was loose or what. The hole it goes into looks challenged.. Could it be retapped with a larger screw or try the one I have.. It did tighten up but I'm not sure how secure it should be seem like maybe 2 threads or something..  I haven't even tried plugging it in yet.. Any help, instructions or advicewould be appreciated. Thanks!

Billy

Jan offers good advice and Rog's webpage is full on awesome, so do spend some time there!

One of the nice thing about Jensen engines is that even after almost 90 years, they are still a family owned business and will supply parts for the engines that they have made, with but very few exceptions of some of the really rare or old ones. Parts for yours will not be a problem!

You'll find them here:

http://www.jensensteamengines.com/parts.htm

Is Jensen still open to fill new orders on parts. I thought they were down, just filling orders they had. Or did they get reclassified to essential business.

They can take orders online but will not begin shipping and building until allowed to open.

Thanks for the info guys! Rog site is quite informative. I have a feeling I will be spending some time there. I'm sad that Jenson isn't shipping orders because it looks like they have  all I need.
But on the bright side Jensen engine #2 came in today and it looks to be in really good condition. Fingers crossed!

Thanks again guys!
Billy

Good luck with those first Jensens! It's not unusual at all to get an eBay engine that needs repairs. I've had some really good luck repairing 2 or 3 that I was REALLY disappointed in. It's a fun hobby for several reasons. They don't take up a lot of room, most will run or try to and there are lots of ways to maintain the hobby cheaply if necessary.

Enough ideas and top rate knowledge to see you through any Jensen problem.

Welcome to the room.

Here is a picture of the 2nd Jensen engine. It's a style 25. It drips a little from the sight glass, slide valve and back of the piston but I guess that's to be expected. I'm happy with it. It seem like pretty smooth runner.
Thanks again for the advice and encouragement.

Billy

Ah , you got that nice looking (heavy flywheel) Jensen #25, nice purchase Billy, its fairly normal for it to leak from the slide valve & piston area...not much you can do about that, the sight glass can be made tight , sometimes its just a matter of the gaskets swelling back up after a few steam ups.

Very nice 25 Billy!! That one came from right near me. Those non-reversing 25's can run very slow and smooth