Direct pipe from Minnie

[David Bothwell 1Participant @davidbothwell1]

pipe into cylinder orifice

[David Bothwell 1Participant @davidbothwell1]

I have had an idea (not sure if good or bad) but I have thought of piping directly from the boiler into the cylinder orifice, which having tested the cylinder away from the boiler (engine) should work. I should point out that I intend to gas fire the engine so a blower would not be needed? I wonder if someone would be kind enough to say if this is a workable solution? i.e from a single hole in the boiler to cylinder orifice

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I don't see what that would gain, and may make it prone to prime.

The boiler has a group of holes drilled into it that let steam freely flow up into the milled recess in the bottom of the cylinder from where it can flow around the cyliner liner and upto the regulator port face.

All you woul dbe doing is putting a pipe across the space with all the problems of how to join it to boiler and underside of the cylinder casting.

Did you check to see if the exhaust passage was plugged that I asked in the other thread?

Edited By JasonB on 13/09/2016 16:48:14

[David Bothwell 1Participant @davidbothwell1]

Hi Jason, Thanks fir the reply, yes I did check the exhaust, It was not plugged until I noticed in one of the photos I had (in the model engineer) that this had a screwed plug in. I immediatley made a plug for it. I will try without my pipe idea, just seemed a way of taking out the uncertainty I have been experiencing! I will post when I solve it!

[David Bothwell 1Participant @davidbothwell1]

Should add I havde noticed that there was a tightness in gthe guide bars which needs resolving, I dfo not think much of the motion plate (compared to the alternative elsewhere on this site) which is a take on a Fowler engine and is one of the best Minnies I have seen. which makes me feel rather inadaquate!!

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

That sounds like your problem, when you were testing it off the boiler the air was going in the right place upto the regulator to valve chest and then exhaust.

If you don't have the plug in place when it is on the boiler the air will take the easiest route out which is the open exhaust passage.

Also make sure the blower hole is plugged or the valve fitted as that is the next easiest route out of the cavity.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The original is a very forgiving motion plate as the ends of the guide bars are not fixed they will move to take up any poor workmanship.

[David Bothwell 1Participant @davidbothwell1]

Thanks once again for your replies, I also thought that once the exhaust hole was plugged that would be the problem

solved, but it wasn't so,however I now know that I will not need a blower (although I have made a valve) and that eliminates that point of air escaping. I will, as I said update the post later in the week (hopefully!!)

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