[SEL] [OFES] Ball Oilfield engine - Now what do I do with it?

[R & M Ingold]

What Happened to Dallas?
Reg & Marg Ingold.
Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
randmingold at hotkey.net.au
http://www.oldengine.org/members/randmingold

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Curt" <curt at imc-group.com>
To: "Oil Field Engine Society mailing list" 
<ofes at lists.stationary-engine.com>; "SEL" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Cc: "SEL (Oldengine.org)" <stationary-engine at oldengine.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 1:23 AM
Subject: Re: [SEL] [OFES] Ball Oilfield engine - Now what do I do with it?


> Spencer,
> You need to meet Dallas Cox and his buddy Brose Easterly (sp?). They are
> in the High Point area. Dallas used to be on the SEL.
> They have several OF engines and can lend you a hand.
> Curt Holland
> Gastonia, NC
>
> Dave Rotigel wrote:
>> Hi Spencer,
>>          Let's take this One step at a time. First, how much compression 
>> do
>> you have? Try to pull it through and see if you can. If it's pretty easy,
>> but you can tell that there is a bit of compression, then oil the hell 
>> out
>> of the rings and try it again. Let us know what happens in this first 
>> step.
>>          Dave
>>
>> At 08:51 PM 4/26/2007, Spencer Yost wrote:
>>
>>> Good news:  I have one Ball oilfield engine on the ground, and it should
>>> run.
>>>
>>> Bad news:  I don't know how to make it run )-;
>>>
>>> Check out Dave's link to refer to the engine while looking at these
>>> questions:
>>>
>>> http://www.oldengine.org/members/rotigel/Spencers_Ball_Engine/index.html
>>>
>>> How do I hook fuel this thing up?   I presume it is a 2 cycle - similar
>>> to a Bessemer where the back end of the cylinder is the charge cylinder
>>> and then the power stroke charges the combustion chamber.  It is a hot
>>> tube ignition (though there is an eccentric for a magneto and spark plug
>>> on the base of the hot tube so I know it use to run on a mag at some
>>> time) and the hot tube is in good shape considering.  The hot tube is at
>>> least operational I feel.  The engine is 25HP.  It is solely controlled
>>> by a gate valve on the gas supply line  as best I can tell.
>>>
>>> I understand most folks use a 100 pound propane tank.  While testing the
>>> engine, can I use a 25 pound tank of propane though?
>>> Will I need an accumulator?
>>> Any safety tips or special adapters/fittings I need to know about?
>>> I have an oil tree and an oiler (Thanks Dave ad Brice - pay you back at
>>> Portland).  However, I need that little wick/screen that hangs from the
>>> bottom for the connecting rod cup to hit .  I need the cup for the
>>> connecting rod too.
>>> Any tips for checking this engine thoroughly?
>>> How do I actually spin it to start it?   I remember seeing some folks
>>> use the "bump in the wrong direction trick", but I didn't watch close
>>> enough to understand it.   I also would like to learn to start on air (I
>>> have air available here at the shop).  However, since I am a real man, I
>>> will hand start it the first time - at least until I get tired (-;
>>>
>>> So many questions, so little time.   As for what I have done so far:
>>> I have got it off the ground and off the flywheels.   I need to continue
>>> raising it and cribbing it so I can replace the skids.  I am working on
>>> locating some affordable oak skids.   I fortunately have a friend that
>>> runs a sawmill and I can usually get wood cheap or can do some log
>>> trading.  I am in the process of dropping off my pine logs as trading
>>> stock.  I'll let everyone know how many big pines it takes to buy a big
>>> oak.  I also have it tarp-ed as I believe the original paint is in good
>>> shape.  I'll need to clean it carefully to be sure, but everyone at the
>>> "rescue" believed only the paint on the flywheels and the head was
>>> shot.   The rest is intact but coated in grime and dirt.  I'll be
>>> carefully cleaning it over the next few months too, trying to retain as
>>> much of the original finish as possible.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance for any help, advice and discussion!
>>>
>>> Spencer
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> OFES mailing list
>>> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/ofes
>>>
>>
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>
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