IF you google " Wilesco compressor adaptor" there are quite a few available, I see Ministeam do several so maybe ask Forrest Classics if yhey do them as they are Ministream dealers in the UK.

Though looking at the price thats a nice littel earner for someone if they want to knock out some adaptors and sell them on e-bay. Now where did I put that bit of brass hex

J

Edited By JasonB on 29/03/2012 19:25:06

There is a clue in my answer

……..usually a case of making something …….

Gosh. I was surprised to see a D18 for sale on eBay for £295 when it is between £191 and £227 new on Amazon. I still wouldn't use compressed air on a boiler that size.

Regards

Terry

Hi John,

Steam engines can run very slowly, just think of all of those magnificent Victorian pumping engines. However I don't think that you will get such elegant movement from a small toy engine (Wilesco's description) – not mine) whether with steam or compressed air. As for 'messy', that is one of the attractions of steam engines, it appeals to my boyish instincts. Steam engines are not meant to be pristine.

If you are retired may I suggest a visit to the (free) Science Museum in London with their historic display of engines – a wonderful experience to touch actual engines that were working for our ancestors.

If you want to see the action moving slowly you could run it from a geared down electric motor such as is used in Meccano on the flywheel pulley.  Just pretend it is a generator run from the steam engine, or even dress it up to look like one.  I think that I'll pop up to view the pumping engines at Leicester Museum now that my appetite has been aroused.  I'll take some pictures while there.

Best regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 30/03/2012 10:02:06

Hi Terry,

I think you mean 1903 not 2003.

I now see you have corrected the error while I was typing my message.

Les.

Edited By Les Jones 1 on 30/03/2012 10:33:46

Edited By Les Jones 1 on 30/03/2012 10:46:05

Ian, look at the links I posted to Mini steam,

"Use this nickle plated fitting to run your Wilesco steam engine on compressed air and still use your whistle with safety valve protection."

The Wilesco's have an additional bush for a whistle, the cpmpressor adaptors that I linked to are in effect just a "T" so all the functions remain including the safety valve which is not disturbed.. Also the mamod should not be via the safety valve, there is a plug on the backhead for filling which also serves to stop the boiler being completely filled with water causing priming.

There is also an actual Wilesco adaptor so you can pressurise the system from a car foot pump so another safe option.

When I run my engines off a compressor I wind the regulator down to about 10psi so there is no risk of over pressurising the engine. I also use the same method to test run the traction engines putting air straight into the boiler. As I said its all safe provided you have the compressor regulator as this limits the pressure output even though the actual compressor tank may be at 100psi or more. They are just like the propane regulators and work in the same way.

John you should still be able to get a certain amount of speed control when running with steam, just don't open the steam valve very much, this is in effect your throttle.

J

Edited By JasonB on 30/03/2012 13:18:43

Edited By JasonB on 30/03/2012 13:19:35

Hi Ian,

You are quite correct, the Mamod instructions state that the end plug is a filler level. If the boiler were to be filled through the water level hole it would have to be held vertically using the funnel provided, a novice could fill the boiler completely and perhaps get a faceful of boiling water when the safety valve blows.

John, my problem with a compressor is not necessarily the pressure but the speed at which the boiler would fill. In that case there are all sorts of dynamic forces at play which influence the pressure vessel integrity. I would not advise a novice to use one but a garden sprayer would be ok as they have a built in low pressure safety valve. Just my opinion, but my pressure vessel experience is restricted to a few years designing large ones in the late 60s, early 70s.

Have regards for safety until you are experienced.

Best regards

Terry

Terry

Hi Jason,

I do have a compressor, and understand how to use it including filters and gauges. I used pneumatic systems extensively when teaching Control Technology to students and well know the dangers of compressed air.

I still wouldn't use it on on a toy pressure vessel let alone advise a novice to do so, but that may be my own aversion to danger. On the engine itself yes, but on the boiler no. I see no advantage in pressurising such a small pressure vessel with a potentially aggressive source when there are other perfectly satisfactory and suitable methods of running an engine including driving it with an electric motor for demonstration purposes or attaching a compressed air supply directly to the cylinder.

I never thought that there would be an explosion caused by overfilling (read my post), but I do think that boiling water expelled from a safety valve may be dangerous for the eyes. Just an opinion.

Best regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 30/03/2012 22:39:14