STAR Hit & Miss Engine

The 'Star' hit & miss engine is nearing completion, all that's left to do is to make the correct flywheel keys and a wooden base. I have run the engine and although it does run, it doesn't do so to my satisfation. The main problem is that the number of miss cycles is inconsistent, and while I have witnessed this with full size hit & miss engines at steam rallies, it is disappointing that it occurs on a new build. The other problem is that the number of miss cycles is is lower than expected, although this may improve with time as it beds in. If any of the other builders of these engines could offer me any advice on how the running may be improved I would be most grateful. Oh, and before anyone points out that flywheel rims should be painted and not polished, I know, I KNOW! It's just that I like a bit of bling as much as the next man.

hi brian, cant help with your problem but you have made a superb job of that engine.

What a fantastic looking engine! Do you have a video of it running?

Dom

Splendid job

There was some discussion about this on another forum. The key points for good hit and miss operation were low friction and the quality of the firing stroke, a good hit is required. You may need to experiment with the mixture and timing to find an optimum. If you can apply a load to the engine to keep it below the governor speed adjustment may be easier.

A superb looking engine Brian.

Frank

Thank you gentlemen for your kind comments.

Dominic. I only made a short video on my phone to show the eneven running to a friend. As soon as it is running well I will make a proper video of it and show it here.

Roger. Thank you for your suggestions, I will give them a try.

B

I display stationary engines at steam rally's, I dont own a hit and miss engine but have like you watched many and as you say the miss's can be random. I would like to suggest your problem is more down to the fact that your engine is new and the mechanisms need to bed in and are likely to be sticking, have you tried running it without the governor working so that it fires every stroke or give it a decent load to make it run continuously.

Martin P

Stunning build. Love the shiny flywheels.

Steve.

Martin. Thanks for your suggestion. I have tried running it without the governor connected but it raced away and, because it was mounted on a rather wobbly garden table began to shake violently, so I had to give up on that idea. In the past I have run in model steam engines by connecting them to the lathe, but this engine is too large for that. I shall have to think of a way of applying a constant load other than me standing with something pressed on a flywheel. My local steam rally is in Prestwood in Bucks and all being well, I hope to run the engine there next year.