[SEL] O/T Steam main bearing babbitt

[Orrin Iseminger]

Rick -- 

This is just a SWAG, but I'm wondering if you thoroughly warmed up the steam
lines and engine.  If you didn't, the engine might have excessive condensate
in the cylinder and is going into hydraulic lock-up at TDC.  

If you've ever seen footage of steam locomotives pulling out of the station,
you'll see steam blowing out of the cylinders at every stroke.  Petcocks are
left open to let excess condensate escape.  They are closed after the
cylinders are up to temperature. 

Regards, 

Orrin 

Orrin Iseminger
Colton, Washington, USA
http://users.moscow.com/oiseming/lc_ant_p/menu.htm
So many projects.  So little time.   

-----Original Message-----
From: sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com
[mailto:sel-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com] On Behalf Of Richard
Strobel
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 4:40 AM
To: The SEL email discussion list
Subject: Re: [SEL] O/T Steam main bearing babbitt

Joe, we've ran it on air and steam. With steam the knocks are very 
obnoxious.  To be honest, I don't recall it on air.
  Here's the deal on our timing.  Please keep in mind the eccentric is keyed

to the crankshaft and eccentric has two keyways with setscrew.  I assume the

two positions are for forward and reverse.  There is no reverser lever on 
this engine.

  So we centered the piston in it's throw and adjusted the slide "D" valve 
linkage so that the throw was equal on both centers.  This automatically set

the lead/lag/cushion which in turn opens the ports when the crankshaft is 
past it's centers.  This is not right but we don't know how to change 
it...other than elimate the key on the eccentric and just use the setscrew 
so we get a "lead."

  We don't have a good book now on timing a stationary.  One is on order and

the other we'll get at Rollag steam school next year.

  I find the governor feature you mentioned very interesting.  We have not 
loaded the engine yet nor "put it on the gov." so to speak.

  Gotta be something simple...hell, I might be turning the engine the wrong 
direction.

  Very soon the setup will be going into the shed as winter is arriving way 
too soon...and then back to the drawing board...."steam 101 fer dummies."

  Thanks much Joe...ya got me thinkin' which is a scary thought in itself.

  Many thanks also to Ken, Curt, Dave, and Peter.  I have re-read all your 
posts..hopefully it will sink in.

  Sorry to garbage up the SEL, the steam list is pretty dead nowdays.

  RickinMt.