Nick, Doc, Zee, and Dennis, again and again, thanks!
Marv, that's a good point. I've used so much DOM, I forget to mention the details I'm familiar with.
It's also telescoping in many of the available sizes. There is a wide range of wall
thicknesses for each OD, and most have an available wall that will fit nice and close to a corresponding
OD of the next size down.
For instance, 2" OD comes in wall thicknesses that will take DOM in smaller sizes, like 1", 1¼", 1½", 1¾"
and so on, (and in-between increments, too). It's quite strong, too. Has a fairly high yield strength
compared to many other common steels.
Okay, I know some people want to see it run.
Just using the valve on the propane bottle to get this flame adjusted as you see here. Simply
haven't got around to making a regulator for it, yet. I took the burner head off the propane torch
and use a piece of hose coupled to a reducer to bring it down to the size of the blue silicon tubing
that is attached to the small burner. Then crack the valve on the propane torch to let a little
fuel flow, and open up the valve on the small burner. I just watched it a few minutes, slightly
adjusting the propane torch valve until I got the size flame I wanted on the burner.
That will work for now, but I do need to make a regulator so I can use the small burner without
all that messing about to get the flame right.
After setting the engine over the little burner, I let it set for about 30 seconds and give the wheels
a sharp turn.
Fhttt, Fhttt, Fhttt, for a few seconds. Let it set another 30 seconds or so and gave it another quick turn.
There it goes.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlfmhmaVuNQ[/ame]
And another one after I finally remembered to set the stupid white balance on my ancient camera!
Hope it's a little better.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK8ZgGl3Y3s[/ame]
You can hear it start to slow down a bit toward the end of the vid. Trying to run the camera and
keep a firm grip on the engine, I was moving the engine around a little, which was moving it around
on the flame of the burner. It wants that flame right up the center, and when it's not, the speed
varies.
It ran on for another two minutes after I stopped the video. I timed it. Then the fins on the power
cylinder started getting too hot to maintain a good temperature difference between the top and bottom
of the engine and it slowly lost rpm until it stopped. I think I'll be building a small fan for it
and run it off the long crankshaft end using a pulley I still need to make.
Seems awfully loud. Part of that is because it's not bolted down. I still have to make the feet, and
other pretty things for it. Part of the noise may be coming from one of the bearings,too. Not quite snug
enough in it's bore, and I need to Loctite it in. I'm hoping for something quieter, but never having
seen this exact engine run before, I'm not sure what to expect.
Note: On a third run today, I put it on a mouse pad. What a difference! Much quieter, and I feel
better about it.
I'm thinking of painting the burner/base black. With brass feet and brass burner door, along with some gold
striping accents, it should look decent. Then, red for the centers of the flywheels, and polished up
rims to set it off. And some kind of base with rubber feet!
Thanks for checking it out.
Dean
