Help please.!!!

Hi everyone
As a first time builder and steamer,I'm after a bit of advice on fire control,coal,and what oils to use around the engine.
Any advice will be helpful to this newby

thank's Tony

Hi Tony

Mastering the fire is crucial to the smooth running of the engine and the smaller they are the more skill required! Also getting good steam coal is important as house coal is not hot enough and anthracite can be too hot if the engine is working. To start with start the fire with wood and then add anthracite slowly to get the whole engine up to the same temperature (don't rush this bit). I would use anthracite on the first few steamings as you will not be working the engine hard just running in and it is predictable and clean to use. You can also get it in beans small enough for the size of engine.
Regarding oil I ran my engine in on a good quality engine oil then after about 10 steamings used EP90 gear oil as it is a bit slower running through the cups. After 4 years of running nothing has shown signs of wear or needed renewing so the oil is doing it's job!
I notice that you are in Truro, our local club has a meet this Friday (20th) at the Mechanics institute, St Agnes at 7pm. You are welcome to come along if you want. You can email me at steven.traill@sky.com for any more info.
Regards
Steve

As another complete beginner to steam engines, I hope that we will be getting the equivelant of an operating manual with the last kit, for example I am not sure how to opperate the water pump to supply the boiler. Perhaps Steve can confirm through the forum what instructions will be supplied.

JDA

Hi JDA,

A full set of written steam instructions are supplied with the final kit of every model. This goes into everything from steaming to maitenence to even cooking in the smoke box (if your engine is big enough)

Dean

Hi Steve
Thanks for the info on the fire process and oils.

Funny you mention the meeting in St Agnes on Friday,you're the second person to mention that to me today,Dave was the first earlier.There you go,a small world we live in.

cheer's Tony

I would not want to cook in Tony's smoke box i've seen his underpants

Nice one Vapor,I wouldn't want to touch anything with those grundys.!!!!

Anyhow,I,m sat here smoking fags,drinking cider,listening to live Metallica from Knebworth,and pondering over yesterdays steaming.I had real trouble to get the fire going,and was wondering wether it might be worth a try with the contents of a disossable bbq to set the fire in the first place.Theory being,if I can get a good bed of charcole going first,and then introduce anthracite slowly to build an even fire,I might stand a chance of getting things going.Bear (?) in mind I,m trying to light a fire on a grate no bigger than a tobacco tin.!!! Do you see where I'm coming from.I know this is a dark art and I'm on a real steep learning curve.

thanks Tony

HI BUNGLE,
DO YOU USE A 'BLOWER' TO DRAW THE FIRE, OR ARE YOU TRYING WITHOUT? WE HAVE ONE READY FOR WHENEVER WE GET AROUND TO STEAMING OUR ENGINE.

REGARDS
BUNGLE

P.S GONNA KINDA MISS YOUR PANTS, NOW WE ARE NEARING THE END OF OUR BUILDS !!!

Hi guys
thanks for the INFO as I am used to useing meths and gas
I was thinking of the house coal that we use as It gives a big flame

Ha ha Bungle

Was you having a senior moment sending a message to yourself ? or too many beer's!!!

cheer's Tony

HI TONY,
YES IT WAS MEANT TO BE TO YOU ! BUT LOOK AT THE TIME ON IT !! I HAD BEEN 'UP' FOR 27 HOURS AT THAT MOMENT, SO KNACKERED IS MY EXCUSE !!!

BUNGLE

Excuses, Excuses, pool Bungle Ah !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HI IAN, LEAST I WOULD HAVE PUT 'POOR' NOT 'POOL' !!!! WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT PEOPLE IN GLASSHOUSES

BUNGLE

Well I am 99, although you'd never guess from my photo, (but dont you just love my smile

Ian,

Oh you're smiling! There was me thinking you were straining to fill your nappy. lol

Dean

BUNGLE wrote: WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT PEOPLE IN GLASSHOUSES

BUNGLE

Take a lot of water / beer