Running in a newly completed engine

[david newman 9Participant @davidnewman9]

Just finishing a Stuart half beam, seems pretty good other than a couple of tight spots, would it be acceptable to set this up on my lathe and run it for a while to loosen it up. As I say it's not bad but would like to run it in before running on air. Maybe an hour or so would be a good idea but would any damage occur ? David

[david newman 9Participant @davidnewman9]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

It won't do any harm provided its well oiled and you use some form of flexible coupling or belt.

The only problem with this approach is that all the forces are acting in the opposite direction as you are pulling the flywheel round rather than it being pushed by the piston.

I'd just link it upto the compressor, squirt some oil into the valve chest and give it a gentle run then check it over and repeat a few times making any adjustments to bearings and listening for knocks. You will get a black oil come out of the exhaust for a while

Edited By JasonB on 16/05/2013 18:29:46

[CHRIS WOODS 1Participant @chriswoods1]

I've recently finished both the Stuart 'Beam' & 'Half-Beam engines and simply ran them on air straight away. Don't overlube the cylinder as the oil may not be able to release through the drain cocks and you will get an annoying knock before it finally disperses.

I actually found that one of the 'cast-in' steam passages on the half- beam engine was blocked (i.e. it had not been cast properly.) This required a strip down and a tricky drilling operation to rectify the problem.

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

not good irea to force it via lathe – I siezed solid a big flywheel bearing doing this and had to remake bearing and shaft. If you can get it to turn over on air then add a little oil to the cylider/valve chest, put loads on all other moving parts and let her run – feel for any warm spots but watch your fingers!

[Jens Eirik Skogstad 1Participant @jenseirikskogstad1]

With oil and air pressure will bring the worned metal particles out of steam engine via exhaust pipe. Running in the steam engine with lathe is not good idea where the worned metal particles is still inside the steam engine. Do not forget lube the bearings! 

Edited By Jens Eirik Skogstad on 17/05/2013 07:13:52

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Find where the tight spot is, and sort it out, then with it well lubed, run it on air, you should not need more than 30 psi, proberbly much less, I don't now the size- bore and stroke of the Half Beam engine, but it may use quite a volume of air if its anywhere near the size of the S9 engine. Ian S C

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