Tiny Power Rope Engine

[steamin]

My father started a Tiny Power Rope engine many years ago. For whatever reason he lost interest in the project before he really got a good start. So he gave it to me. I had been working off and on the project myself for many years. I just did not like the rope tensioning device that was laid out in the original drawings. So I finally sat down with a sharp pencil and a brand new pad of paper and started to sketch out ideas until I came up with what you see in the pictures. I wanted to finish this model before I got back on the LaFrance project. The video has a lot of background noise. Sorry about that.

 

[stevehuckss396]

couldn't watch the film but the pitchers are fantastic. Great job sir.

 

[steamin]

Let’s see if this works

 

[JohnBDownunder]

The short answer is nope same result as SteveH above.
I like the still though.
John B

 

[Thommo]

The video worked fine for me. What a beautiful little donk. I’m very jealous

 

[LorenOtto]

Let’s see if this works
View attachment 128685

Beautiful engine and this video came through great, thanks for sharing.

 

[phred]

great little engine, video worked fine for me using GOM video player.
Windows Media player doesn't recognize the encoding.

 

[gbritnell]

Excellent build! The finish is great!

 

[Lloyd-ss]

Very pretty, and it actually works!
I am curious about the cross head slides. Are they oil filled bronze, or do I see oilers there?

Re: the compressor noise. Long time ago in a different shop I had a medium sized compressor. Every time my wife came in to say hello or to check that I was still alive, it seemed like the compressor kicked on and would startle the crap out of her. She swore I had some kind of secret remote to make it do that.

 

[Lloyd-ss]

I had trouble with the video playback but assumed it was me or my computer, because it usually is.

Here's what worked for me with windows 10:
Right click on the .MOV icon. Then click "save link as:", and save the file it offers. I could then play the movie from my download folder.

 

[steamin]

Very pretty, and it actually works!
I am curious about the cross head slides. Are they oil filled bronze, or do I see oilers there?

Re: the compressor noise. Long time ago in a different shop I had a medium sized compressor. Every time my wife came in to say hello or to check that I was still alive, it seemed like the compressor kicked on and would startle the crap out of her. She swore I had some kind of secret remote to make it do that.

The cross head bodies are bronze with oilers. I mounted them on aluminum pedestals to get my desired height. It is hard to tell because of the gloss black paint.
I love you story about your air compressor.

 

[Charles Lamont]

I tried what Lloyd-ss said but that did not work either. Apparently the video is in HEVC format which is becoming more popular but you may not have the codec for it. I didn't. Microsoft charges a dollar for it, but the VLC viewer can be downloaded for free.

What did you use to record it? Iphone?

Like the engine.

 

[L98fiero]

I tried what Lloyd-ss said but that did not work either. Apparently the video is in HEVC format which is becoming more popular but you may not have the codec for it. I didn't. Microsoft charges a dollar for it, but the VLC viewer can be downloaded for free.

There's a free download of DivX player that works well. or has for me anyway. Free DivX Video Software - Play, convert and cast video. Play DivX files.

I like the engine, too!

 

[steamin]

I tried what Lloyd-ss said but that did not work either. Apparently the video is in HEVC format which is becoming more popular but you may not have the codec for it. I didn't. Microsoft charges a dollar for it, but the VLC viewer can be downloaded for free.

What did you use to record it? Iphone?

Like the engine.

Yes, I used my I-phone 8 for the recording. So sorry that some of you are having trouble viewing the video. I will certainly look into correcting the situation.

 

[Lloyd-ss]

The cross head bodies are bronze with oilers. I mounted them on aluminum pedestals to get my desired height. It is hard to tell because of the gloss black paint.
I love you story about your air compressor.

Hi Larry,
Thanks for that info about the cross heads. The cylinders look pretty huge and can put out quite a bit of power, yes????
Do you have any idea how that set-up would work without the oilers, if instead, a drop of oil was occasionally applied to the slide surfaces? I am not trying to cheat the devil, ha ha, just curious.
Thanks,
Lloyd

 

[steamin]

Actually I believe there should only be one oiler per side and mounted on the centerline of the slide travel. Red to make new ones one dayThis way the slide lets a drop of oil to drip each time the slide crosses the oiler hole. Are you confused yet, I know I am and I am trying to explain what is happening. I realized this after I made the rails and need to make new ones some day.

 

[Noitoen]

Funny to see, what I presume is the cable splice jump around from row to row as it moves along the pulleys

 

[steamin]

Yes, that which looks like a splice is a good old fashion square knot. The “rope” is some heavy twine. At first I thought I was being very smart by using rubber “O” ring material. But it had to much drag with it. So, the twine won out.

 

[Lloyd-ss]

I hadn't noticed that until Helder pointed it out. I slowed the video down to 1/4 speed and still couldn't see the knot, but could see the blurred string. And Larry, at 1/4 speed audio, it sounds like your rope engine is making some crazy techno-pop synthesizer dance music (especially as it revs up), and like you have been partaking in some weird substances at the dance venue. That is quite some machine. Do you DJ at parties?

 

[steamin]

No, I do not do any DJing. I bet the sound is very weird.