‘new’ engine advice

[Terry Chapman 2Participant @terrychapman2]

Hi,After many years I decided to but a ready built 'Minnie' traction engine.The build quality is fantastic, in fact it was on the cover of Model Engineering in 1976.

Its hardly been used by the look of it and I was looking for some advice before and how to steam it? Should I get the boiler pressure tested,I guess yes?

Any tips would be most helpful.

Thanks

[Terry Chapman 2Participant @terrychapman2]

[Paul KempParticipant @paulkemp46892]

Terry,

If you wish to steam the engine in a public place then yes it should be tested and in fact will have to be tested to get insurance – a desirable thing for both yourself and anyone around you! If you just intend steaming it in your backyard without any one else around then no you don't have to have it tested, it's your own risk!

To get it tested and certificated you have two routes, a commercial boiler inspector, a member of the Independent Boiler Inspector's Association would be a good one to choose, could cost you between £100 and £200. The other route is to join a model engineering society, they usually do boiler tests 'free' as part of the member service. It is important to note the two routes are not interchangeable, ie you can't have a 10 year hydraulic commercial certificate combined with an annual cold exam and steam test from a MES.

Hopefully you will have some previous evidence of test in the form of old expired certificates that came with the engine? You should at least have a certificate for a 2 X WP hydraulic shell test when the boiler was built? If not it is possible either a commercial or club inspector will require the boiler cladding to be removed so a full examination can be carried out – more likely so in your case as the boiler is clearly over 10 years old (you stated it was on the cover of ME in 1976).

Any steam event organiser will want to see evidence of current test certificates and insurance before you will be permitted to steam it if you want to attend a rally or show.

Insurance is available from several sources but the best option for you would probably be Walker Midgley, you can pick and choose cover with public liability (boiler insurance), RTA cover and even theft or damage, check their web site for costs.

Last comment I would make is if you have never steamed an engine before it's a good idea to find someone experienced who can show you the way to do it, as someone suggested in your other post joining a club is a good way to find someone and a source for boiler testing. It will keep you safe and prevent damaging the engine / boiler. It's not rocket science but with little knowledge it's easy to get things wrong!

Enjoy it and have fun.

Paul.

[Terry Chapman 2Participant @terrychapman2]

Thanks for that Paul.Ill have a look and see if there is a club near me?

Regards

[Paul KempParticipant @paulkemp46892]

Terry,

In the absence of a personal assistant there are a number of books around that will give you some ideas about steaming up. "The Building and Running of Steam Traction Engine and Roller Models" by H R Plastow being one. It is more pitched towards building one but does have a bit of information in the back re running. Not sure if it's still in print and the copy I have has no ISBN number that I can see but you may find a second hand copy somewhere. Whilst you may not be interested in the building of one looking at how they are made will give you an insight into how they work.

If you give a clue as to your location, even just County some one on here may recomend a suitable club. There are a few things you will need to collect together before you put a match to it like a small electric 'blower' which is really a 'sucker' to pop on the chimney to draw the fire and some steam oil.

If you check the websites of the Southern Federation or Northern Association of Model Engineering Society you should find a link to the latest version of the boiler test code which will give you some idea of how to get it tested or do your own test.

Addendum – no idea what went wrong with this!  It just stopped accepting text had to post it incomplete to avoid losing it altogether, reopened twice to edit and it still wouldn't accept text!

Paul.

Edited By Paul Kemp on 17/05/2018 23:56:47

Edited By Paul Kemp on 17/05/2018 23:58:24

Edited By Paul Kemp on 18/05/2018 00:03:14

[Terry Chapman 2Participant @terrychapman2]

Thanks for that info, will look for that book?

I built a Markie a couple of years ago so have a good idea lol??

I was thinking of hooking it up to my airbrush compressor at say,15 PSI what do you think?

Regards,

Terry

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

That's fine for having a play about, if your hose is long enough you can set the steering so it goes round in circles.

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