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

[Mike Royster]

Dallas and Linda are alive and well at the Reidsville show this weekend.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "R & M Ingold" <randmingold at hotkey.net.au>
To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 6:04 PM
Subject: Re: [SEL] [OFES] Ball Oilfield engine - Now what do I do with it?


> 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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