can i start the engine ?

hi stw staff,

i am ready with the technical build.
water,burner,boiler and electrics.
everything is working seperatly.

I read about starting for the first time on ricks site (memorys of dreams )
can i start the engine ?

best regards,

roel

Roel,

That is a very exciting moment first start of the engine. Put the champagne on ice ready to celebrate, not forgetting to get the whole thing on a video. When I started the Cobra for the first time the neighbours and friends had turned out to watch, made it very special. Even when it did not go quite as expected, with a petrol leak on the carbs, then an electric issue which had not shown up with earlier dry tests. But eventually that V8 5 litre roar without silencers split the peace of the evening. Not forgetting the three foot flames coming out the the exhausts both sides of the car. The video of it all makes great watching as a reminder of the event.

Good luck and can we see some pictures of your build.

Best wishes

Ian

hello,

steamcar is working !!!!!!!!!!!!
need to make a few adjustments en repairs where steam is coming out,but i am very happy at this moment.

also all kind of questions are coming up in my mind.

when not steaming for a few days or weeks: do you keep the boiler full with water or do you empty it?

who has the answer ?

best regards


roel

Roel,

Well done Have you come down from all the exitmemt

Ian

roel rasker wrote:hello,

steamcar is working !!!!!!!!!!!!
need to make a few adjustments en repairs where steam is coming out,but i am very happy at this moment.

also all kind of questions are coming up in my mind.

when not steaming for a few days or weeks: do you keep the boiler full with water or do you empty it?

who has the answer ?

best regards


roel

Hi Roel

Congratulations on your first steaming. I can not wait until mine, should be around June.

There appears to be 2 sets of thinking.

1. Drain and dry out fully between steamings.
2. Fill to the very top to create what is called "Water wedge"

Option 1 requires a complete confidence in the boiler being totally dry as most corrosion will occur where dampness and steel are together with Oxygen in free abundance. Safest way if you are setting aside for over say 5 weeks and there is a chance of frosting. Will take a few hours of preperation to get boiler and pipework completely dry. You also need to keep condensation out of the boiler as while the boiler is cooling down to ambiant it may draw moisture out of the air.

Option 2. Water wedge. Boiler full of water with boiler treatment to the correct solution will hold very little free Oxygen hence the thinking will be little corrosion. Takes less time to get water level to operation levels ready for steaming. Not so much mess when shutting down after a steaming event. As you are adding clean water and not draining everything. You still need to blow down every once in a while to remove sludge and sedements. It is also a good idea to empty the boiler competely at a regular interval to reset the boiler treatment to the optimal values if you are not confident in your treatment management.


Having spoken with my Father who was a pressure vessel inspector. The water wedge is most common on commercial standby boilers.

I know it is not a definitive answer, but gives you an idea of the thinking into both options. Myself. I will be water wedging mostly as I plan to steam most of the year. Except when the ambiant temperature drops below -5degC.
Possibly be making an insulated crate for the engine and have a frost heater inside it that starts when the temperature gets close to +3 and below.
So I can even steam on a crisp frosty day. That will be enjoyable.

Part of me is considering getting a carcoon bubble for storage for the same reason....

http://www.frost.co.uk/carcoon-car-plastic-bubble.html

thanks Lynn,

i will give it a thought.

roel"still with a big smile"rasker