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The engine is running very good, grain alcohol seems to be the hottest burning fuel. I get about a 10 minute run time, a steam pressure gauge that screws into the water fill would make monitoring pressure easy and be the finishing touch.
October 13 ,2023 Retrol Beam Steam Engine Update.
Today decided to run the engine first time on steam. Preheated distilled water before placing it in the boiler. Filled fuel container to the max. Placed water inside the boiler making sure that there is plenty room for the steam, ignited burner and placed it under the boiler waited until the water got hot to make steam. Noticed leakage of pressure/steam around and trough the whistle no matter of adjustment I was unable to stop the leak. Opened the valve on the boiler to allow the steam flow to the engine. Engine would not run I believe that was due to the steam pressure loss and not being able to produce steam quick enough in order to maintain proper minim pressure to ran the engine. Took the whistle apart and plugged the hole disabling any flow of steam trough it, no difference it leaked on the sides of the body. Burned the entire amount of the fuel in the burner , tried to adjust steam flow with the valve and nothing engine did not turn at all . I believe that was due to insufficient pressure and to the leaks. While cleaning the engine a small exhaust pipe on the engine piston body came off it. Looks like this pipe was just pressed in the hole on the body and now it would not stay in it. I join it with solder in place. Well in previous review I rated this engine 4 stars that was when I ran it on a compressed air it ran very good. Compressor can produce steady flow of minimum compressed air pressure required to ran the engine even with a small leaks. Steam can not be replaced as quickly to maintain that same constant pressure flow in the engine. After running it I cleaned it , while cleaning it a small exhaust pipe on the engine piston body came off it. Looks like this pipe was just pressed in the hole on the body and now it would not stay in it. I join it with solder in place. I test run the engine on compressed air and it runs good on air only.
Rating this engine for operation under the steam power I will give 0 stars. I am disappointed that it does not run as it should on steam , that is why it is called STEAM ENGINE.. If you plan running it on steam only, well you are on your own.
Hi
I have assembled the engine but cannot get the engine running. the steam seems to be escaping and there is not enough pressure to move the piston. The piston is continually filled with water condensate.
Gerard Lim
Well designed and great looking engine. The whistle valve leaked way too badly to allow full boiler pressure. I plugged it until I can think of a way to
make it steam tight. I still think it was great value for the cost.
No problems assembling this unit. One pre assembled piece, the beam section, had been put together backwards which made it difficult to tighten the grub screw. Ran it on air to test. It seems to lose air pressure much faster than my Mamod or Wilesco units. Happy with the purchase though. Be careful when tightening the long screw holding the regulator in place that you don’t accidentally screw it into the top adjuster.
The engine is running very good, grain alcohol seems to be the hottest burning fuel. I get about a 10 minute run time, a steam pressure gauge that screws into the water fill would make monitoring pressure easy and be the finishing touch.
October 13 ,2023 Retrol Beam Steam Engine Update.
Today decided to run the engine first time on steam. Preheated distilled water before placing it in the boiler. Filled fuel container to the max. Placed water inside the boiler making sure that there is plenty room for the steam, ignited burner and placed it under the boiler waited until the water got hot to make steam. Noticed leakage of pressure/steam around and trough the whistle no matter of adjustment I was unable to stop the leak. Opened the valve on the boiler to allow the steam flow to the engine. Engine would not run I believe that was due to the steam pressure loss and not being able to produce steam quick enough in order to maintain proper minim pressure to ran the engine. Took the whistle apart and plugged the hole disabling any flow of steam trough it, no difference it leaked on the sides of the body. Burned the entire amount of the fuel in the burner , tried to adjust steam flow with the valve and nothing engine did not turn at all . I believe that was due to insufficient pressure and to the leaks. While cleaning the engine a small exhaust pipe on the engine piston body came off it. Looks like this pipe was just pressed in the hole on the body and now it would not stay in it. I join it with solder in place. Well in previous review I rated this engine 4 stars that was when I ran it on a compressed air it ran very good. Compressor can produce steady flow of minimum compressed air pressure required to ran the engine even with a small leaks. Steam can not be replaced as quickly to maintain that same constant pressure flow in the engine. After running it I cleaned it , while cleaning it a small exhaust pipe on the engine piston body came off it. Looks like this pipe was just pressed in the hole on the body and now it would not stay in it. I join it with solder in place. I test run the engine on compressed air and it runs good on air only.
Rating this engine for operation under the steam power I will give 0 stars. I am disappointed that it does not run as it should on steam , that is why it is called STEAM ENGINE.. If you plan running it on steam only, well you are on your own.
Hi
I have assembled the engine but cannot get the engine running. the steam seems to be escaping and there is not enough pressure to move the piston. The piston is continually filled with water condensate.
Gerard Lim
Well designed and great looking engine. The whistle valve leaked way too badly to allow full boiler pressure. I plugged it until I can think of a way to
make it steam tight. I still think it was great value for the cost.
No problems assembling this unit. One pre assembled piece, the beam section, had been put together backwards which made it difficult to tighten the grub screw. Ran it on air to test. It seems to lose air pressure much faster than my Mamod or Wilesco units. Happy with the purchase though. Be careful when tightening the long screw holding the regulator in place that you don’t accidentally screw it into the top adjuster.
