Progress since April
Well, it seems like high time I provided an update, as the last one was in April!
At some level it feels like not much has been achieved, but that’s because a lot of the work has been “bitty”, finishing up jobs and tidying up items that had been hanging around for a while – and then there was the distraction of needing to design/build a new garden shed (the last one literally blew down – the joys of living 900ft up in the Pennines!).
So here is a list of the items I can recall completing….
- Finishing the inner Boiler casing – next job is to “lag” the inside with ceramic board insulation
- Making a manifold for the feed clacks – basically milling and turning off about 80% of a steel block.
- Remaking the battery pack for the VHF transceiver – no replacements available.
- Testing the antique Sailor VHF radio – (using the aforementioned transceiver)
- Rebuilding and modifying the lubricator pump and plumbing to fix leaks – (correction; most leaks!)
- Making a sump/oil tray for the engine – expensively made from spare 3mm brass sheet!!!
- Repainting the condenser – maximum Nitromors, but looks better.
- Finishing steam re-heater – making unions, and lagging in “broken bone” plaster bandage.
- Plumbing in the condenser steam and cooling water circuits – lots of cursing, custom unions and silver soldering.
- Fixing the pump/alternator assembly to sump – decided the floating design was no good.
- Craning the engine and boiler around ready for testing.
- Spent a fine day on Grayling on Windermere – we all need a break sometimes!
Next Steps
- I think the engine is now effectively ready to install into the boat, but we are going to bench test the whole shbang before we do this.
- Strip the boiler casing and fit the insulation.
- Mount inner and outer funnel onto boiler.
- Screw cut the M20 and M16 stays for the boiler (thanks John for loan of larger lathe).
- Make water gauge – modified castings arrived (thanks to Ian Cross for the pattern making).
- Assemble and pressure test the boiler!!!!!!
I have assembled a slideshow of photos to record some of the above items, rather than post them all individually – enjoy!
HI Malcolm
.Your blog is a great help as I am building similar engine .I am anxious to obtain same John King boiler plans. I have contacted U.K.SBA but no real joy. Hope you can advise.
Thanks Peter
Hi Peter, sorry your are having trouble. I have emailed you directly today, and if this arrives please let me know and I will provide details on obtaining plans from John and any other information I can assist with.