John gallo | 20/06/2016 14:39:48 |
26 forum posts |
I am finally getting to steaming up my recently completed Stuart beam engine. To any one who has used one of Stuart's displacement lubricators I have a question. What is the proper level to fill it with steam oil? I notice that there is a valve tube near the top. Should that be covered? Thanks in advance, John. |
JasonB | 20/06/2016 16:18:50 |
![]() 25215 forum posts 3105 photos 1 articles | My stuart catalogue says "do not fill above the cross bar" If you fill above this you will just get oil run out into the steam pipe, too far below and you won't get any oil to the engine until the condensate has brought the oil level upto teh oitlet. |
Bryan Bushranger Red | 14/06/2017 10:29:25 |
![]() 5 forum posts | How does the displacement lubricator continue to work once the lubricator body gets too hot to allow condensation of the steam which enters it?
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Neil Wyatt | 14/06/2017 17:15:45 |
![]() 19226 forum posts 749 photos 86 articles | Hello Bryan, Welcome to the forum. What is the consistency of your mixture? Sewing machine oil is like water, but steam oil is thick. Neil
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Bryan Bushranger Red | 14/06/2017 23:13:28 |
![]() 5 forum posts | Hi Neil, thank you for the welcome,
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Pero | 15/06/2017 04:02:08 |
193 forum posts | Hello Bryan Steam oil is available in Australia from Miniature Steam. I have some but haven't used it in anger as yet. They do send it by post/courier - quite successfully as I am located in Western Australia. There may be other suppliers about but this is the one I know of through buying their engine kits - superb castings by the way. Welcome aboard, Pero |
Bryan Bushranger Red | 15/06/2017 04:12:13 |
![]() 5 forum posts | Thank you Pero, |
Bryan Bushranger Red | 26/06/2017 07:40:12 |
![]() 5 forum posts | Well I finally received my "Steam Cylinder Oil" and initially I was amazed at it's visual characteristics. It's quite unique, thick and has a sticky almost spider web consistency. Of course an immediate run was required to assess the difference to what I had been using. When I started using my home made concoction in my newly made lubricator there was a marked difference in the noise my engine made along with an expected improvement of slow run capability. I even had to make a new crank bearing as the noise it was making was quite notable.
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Henry Artist | 26/06/2017 21:29:32 |
![]() 121 forum posts 46 photos | Good to hear you have your engine running happily now. You may like to read this article - **LINK** As you have no doubt realised a Displacement Lubricator is so called because steam condenses in it and as oil floats on water it displaces the oil forcing it into the steam line and thus it is carried to the engine. But that's not the only thing that is going on. Can you say "water hammer"? The pressure in the steam line (the pipe that goes from the boiler to the engine) is not constant. No sir, it is not. While the engine is running it fluctuates slightly. As a steam port opens and the piston begins moving into the cylinder the pressure momentarily drops. When the steam port closes a pressure wave travels back up the steam line (at the speed of sound for the medium through which it is travelling). Go look up "water hammer" for more information. This is why it is a good idea to locate a displacement lubricator as close to the engine as possible where the effect is greatest. |
Bryan Bushranger Red | 26/06/2017 23:19:28 |
![]() 5 forum posts | Hi Henry, I have actually read that article before.. But my reasoning for trying something I could make was because of the fact I am somewhat isolated, and even when I do go into town asking for steam oil is like asking for a long weight for a pull through. |
Brian John | 30/06/2019 02:07:45 |
1487 forum posts 582 photos | 1. How often should a displacement lubricator be cleaned ie. open the bottom plug and drop everything out then replace with fresh steam oil ? (I am running small stationary steam engines from PM Research and Bengs Modelbau.) 2. I have noticed that there is water that accumulates in the bottom of the lubricator. Should this be dropped out after each run ? Up until now I have been leaving it there with no problems. |
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