Running old engines after years of being on a shelf

I plan to get some old engines of my late dads running after years of being unused. I want to do it properly and don’t want to risk any damage. Can people recommend anything I need to do before running them again for the first time in about 10 years, e.g. do they need any oil or anything? If so what type? I remember reading somewhere wd40 shouldn’t be used on model engines. I’m learning from the very beginning so apologies if this question is obvious.

More details of the engines would help so we can advise correctly.

Steam, hot air, petrol, electric ? Also photos.

Assuming they are the Stuart engines you mentioned in the other thread then a wipe over to remove dust and fluff then a light weight say 32 or less oil on the moving parts such as crankshaft bearings, big end, eccentric, piston and eccetric rods plus a drop or two into the valve chest from the steam inlet. Turn the engines gently by hand to see if they are free and to wok the oil in then if they rotate OK connect your air. Add a drop of oil into the inlet every so often and be prepared for a black oily mess to come out the exhaust,

I would try to get them going without resorting to taking anything apart as you may give yourself more problems trying to get them back together and timed correctly.

Don't be tempted to use steam oil as it is a bit too sticky at room temperature.

Thanks, yes it is the Stuart engines and some others I don’t know the make of. They are all steam. Is it any particular type of oil, or do I just search for ‘32 oil’?

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That will find it, likely to come up as hydraulic oil

Here's some engines for those interested. The one on the right is a hot air engine, so i can run this straight away, the others i will need to get some kind of compressor. I'm hoping an AS06 airbrush compressor would be enough.

My favourite piece is this power plant model, the central engine is hooked up to a dynamo that powers the lights.

some bigger engine, not sure what sort of air pressure i could need to get them running, and advice about getting them running well and preventing damage would be gratefully received.

Last one looks like a "Sanderson" beam engine and the next to last a Clarkson "Steeple" engine.

If well made and free turning none of the engines will need much in the way of pressure, volume is generally whats needed. The steam plant will need more pressure as the engine will be under load driving the dynamo as well as needing more volume as the engine will need to be run at a reasonably fast speed to generate.

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I think the item at the back counts the rotations of the wheel that drives the generator. The lid of the box lifts up to show the current rotation count. (See pic) The elastic chords that connect the wheel to the generator have perished with age. You used to be able to turn the key at the front of the mounting base manually to rotate the engines flywheel. Does anyone know where I could get replacements?

Edited By Ceteri on 29/01/2019 22:04:21

Replace the drive cords with O-ring cord which can be bought by the metre.

Cut to length, scarf joint and stick with super glue. Works very well to drive models.

Dennis