Stuart Beam Engine

AlbertdeWitte · Jun 27, 2016

Hi Guys

During March I got hold of an incompleted Beam Engine from a guy who again got it from another guy. It was boxed for years. I got it cheaply with the words "its almost ready to run" Maybe one should have inspected the engine before buying it looking at photos only.

I left it in the box till I have completed the Red Wing Project

This weekend I took it out and started to examine my little bargain

Great was my surprise it has a lot of missing links, side valve, nuts, bolts etc.

The main beam and crank is out of alignment. Many parts are not made as per plan.

Well I suppose I got myself a little cat in the bag. I will have to re make a lot of parts including BA 5 & 7.

Seems to be a challenge of a different kind to rebuilt something that you dont know where the previous builder left off.

Blogwitch · Jun 27, 2016

Albert,

I always advise people not to buy previously started projects purely because of what you are experiencing.
If castings or other pre-made parts are missing, then parts can be bought direct from Stuarts in the UK.

http://www.stuartmodels.com/products/machined-spare-parts-/stuart-beam

Best of luck with your new project.

John

AlbertdeWitte · Jun 27, 2016

Thanks John

I have mailed them today

Its one of those things, I will get it running though

Gordon · Jun 27, 2016

I bought a Stuart Real kit partially finished. I got it cheap so I figured that I would not be out much if I could not complete it. I managed to get everything together and make the missing pieces and get it running. It is amazing that someone would start a project like that and screw it up as bad as the one I obtained. Some of the parts were not even close to being done right. I could have done a bare kit in half the time it took me to "finish" something mostly done.

AlbertdeWitte · Jun 27, 2016

Hi John

Thanks for the response. I will do the same. The construction booklet is also missing but I recon I will get it right

Jasonb · Jun 27, 2016

There does not look to be anything missing in the way of castings so you should be OK to make the rest with barstock. Mostly valve gear and some of the watt linkage to be done.

AlbertdeWitte · Jun 27, 2016

Thanks Jason

RonGinger · Jun 27, 2016

I built the Stuart Beam last fall. When I made the 8 links I re-drew them to have all dimensions referenced from one end, which works best with the DRO. I made an error in addition and made them all short by 3/16 inch. When I went to assemble it of course it wouldn't fit. I did a better job of the next 8, experience is always a good teacher.

I used the Stuart supplied cast iron rings and the engine is very stiff. Since I will likely never run it on steam I will someday take it apart and switch to an O ring.

It is a very nice model.

AlbertdeWitte · Jun 27, 2016

RonGinger said:
I built the Stuart Beam last fall. When I made the 8 links I re-drew them to have all dimensions referenced from one end, which works best with the DRO. I made an error in addition and made them all short by 3/16 inch. When I went to assemble it of course it wouldn't fit. I did a better job of the next 8, experience is always a good teacher.

I used the Stuart supplied cast iron rings and the engine is very stiff. Since I will likely never run it on steam I will someday take it apart and switch to an O ring.

It is a very nice model.

Thanks for the advice Ron

I will certainly bear it in mind. I noticed this one was fitted with the O ring also when I took it apart.

Charles Lamont · Jun 27, 2016

5 & 7 BA Hex bolts and nuts are available from UK model engineers' suppliers.
Also available with hexagons one size under standard for better scale appearance.

AlbertdeWitte · Jun 28, 2016

Thanks Charles, I managed to get enough 5&7BA nuts and bolts and I got hold of a 5BA tap from a local guy, so the remaining challenge is to get a 7 tap and 5&7 die nuts. I will see what to do

cwelkie · Jun 28, 2016

Looks like a great project Albert. You'll manage it; it is about the journey after all and isn't there an old saying about how a Journeyman can fix his own mistakes but a Master Craftsman is able to fix the errors of others?
Have fun with it!
Charlie

AlbertdeWitte · Jun 28, 2016

cwelkie said:
Looks like a great project Albert. You'll manage it; it is about the journey after all and isn't there an old saying about how a Journeyman can fix his own mistakes but a Master Craftsman is able to fix the errors of others?
Have fun with it!
Charlie

Thanks for the kind words Charlie!!

packrat · Jul 3, 2016

One of my first lathe and mill projects was a beam engine, the man that had the castings passed away and a friend that got the castings{he did not do any lathe work} let me work on the engine. I was lucky and got the little book on how to make the engine, it took me about two years to finish.

AlbertdeWitte · Jul 4, 2016

packrat said:
One of my first lathe and mill projects was a beam engine, the man that had the castings passed away and a friend that got the castings{he did not do any lathe work} let me work on the engine. I was lucky and got the little book on how to make the engine, it took me about two years to finish.

Hi there packrat

Thanks for the response. I am rebuilding the studs and bushes for the linkages that connects the conrod to the beam. I had to deviate from the plan a bit to accommodate under sized linkages.

After connecting it I was happy with the way it moves and is very stable.

I must make a new sidevalve and stud also. Maby also new linkages for the sidevalve. I will still decide.

Its just very cold in my little workshop at the moment so progress is also slow.

packrat · Jul 4, 2016

I could copy a page or two out of the Stuart book on how to make the engine, if it would help with the size of parts you need to make.
My work shop is at about 100 in the afternoon here, so it is too hot to work at much...

AlbertdeWitte · Jul 5, 2016

packrat said:
I could copy a page or two out of the Stuart book on how to make the engine, if it would help with the size of parts you need to make.
My work shop is at about 100 in the afternoon here, so it is too hot to work at much...

Thank you so much Packrat, I got hold of a book so I am pretty much sorted.

Please send me some of those unwanted degrees LOL. We are 28F now with a real feel of about 20F.

AlbertdeWitte · Jul 7, 2016

I finished making the nuts and studs for the linkage and is looking good

AlbertdeWitte · Jul 7, 2016

The pulley is mounted the wrong way around and the set screw is broken off. Also note the grooves in the pulley. I can correct this by cutting off one side to match the other side. But first I need to get it off. A little heat should do it. Previous builder "lock tighted" all nuts and bolts.

Herbiev · Jul 7, 2016

Good luck with that. As you say, some heat should looster things up.

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