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Non Steam Discussions
Re: Steam Compression - 3 months ago
During reverse braking, the steam engine's hot air is vented to the exhaust by occasionally letting up on the reverse pedal. No hook-up is used here because you are steadily holding down on the reverse pedal for reverse braking. Reverse braking works best for speeds under 25 MPH. Over 25 mph, it becomes rough on the engine because of the higher engine speeds decreases the efficiency of the slidby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Steam Compression - 3 months ago
Reverse braking in a steam car is really just the compressing of atmospheric air by the steam engine. Heat is generated in the process, but compressing the air is not really very effective in raising boiler temperatures. As stated above, the boiler pressure can be raised from being flat zero PSI to about 250 pounds, which won't get you very far down the road on compressed air. Ole Vickery addedby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Steam Compression - 3 months ago
Water to steam, add energy. Steam to water, release of energy. Returning spent steam water back into steam again, replace the spent energy. Simple as that. We use reverse braking with our Stanley steamers. With that, atmospheric air is being compressed for braking with heat resulting. Unless the engine is occasionally burped at the steam chest, and lubricated with a bump of the throttle, damby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
1918 Stanley 7 passenger touring for sale $22,500 - 5 months ago
Looks like a quality 1918 Stanley Steam car 7 passenger touring is for sale in Maryland for only $22,500 or best offer. eBay listing is "buy it now or best offer". It is a bargain at this price. Find it at: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1918-Stanley-Steamer-736-Touring-Stanley-Motor-Car-Company/254603703983?hash=item3b479036af:g:jf8AAOSwVbZexpv2by SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Ashton Valve Company - 5 months ago
Rick, I have been reading your postings and I see that you have collected a lot of Ashton information and also you are enthusiastic about it. If you haven't already decided to do so, start arranging your information into a book presentation (topics and chapters) and when you are satisfied that you have enough information gathered, publish it. If you don't, all of your years of collecting thisby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Ashton Valve Company - 5 months ago
Rolly, Nice work on the gauge. Commendable. You are totally correct on the gauge glass replacement process. Years ago a step by step process was wrote up on how to roll in gauge glass into their bezels. I forget who wrote it up. I rolled my bronze gauge glass bezels in with a brass rod. Doesn't take much force to do it. A hard rubber wheel could have worked in the rolling. I had my gaby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: 2020 STEAM EVENTS - 7 months ago
Rick, The July 26 - 29th tour is sponsored by the Horseless Carriage Club of America. To share their fun, our SACA NW region steam cars have joined their tour. To attend their four day tour, it costs $185 a passenger. They do not break the tour down into just single days of attendance. I do not have an itinerary of their daily activities. If it is true to form, they will have a driver's meetby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Dick Smith "Build Your Own Steam Buggy" - 7 months ago
Rick, The positive claims that the Dick Smith Steam Buggy made were so abundant, that I just had to share the information, mono tube or not... With historical vehicles, I try to keep those vehicles correct to their era. With modern steam,what ever works best is fair game.by SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Dick Smith "Build Your Own Steam Buggy" - 7 months ago
Found this on Facebook about the "Build Your Own Steam Buggy", by Dick Smith. 40 MPH, uses Bicycle tires. 400 pounds weight, Steam is up in a minute from cold. Water tube boiler. etc. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Di4jCCV0zdoSBQYGz_w0LxYJMyFlz8sa8Kw-gPX15n0/edit?fbclid=IwAR1CnqrcD2TZ2fmMG1AvKZOCUjWJA7XlhtTjCGQ2kG6Rlkio14U3WlL3WX4by SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: 2020 STEAM EVENTS - 8 months ago
SACA NW chapter is having their their steam tour this year in Olympia, Washington July 26th to 29th, 2020. Our steam cars are joining the Portland regional group of HCCA for their annual pre 1932 tour. Contact Pat Farrell at 1rpfarrell@frontier.com for more information.by SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Boiler alternatives for a Stanley - 11 months ago
The Stanley condensing car with a 20 HP Stanley boiler and Stanley burner can easily maintain 45 MPH all day long and get good water mileage too. Something like 60 to 80 miles out of a 22 gallon water tank. Dave Nergaardhas got up to 150 miles out of his 22 gallon water tank with his condensing Stanley. To get more water mileage, reduce your speed to 35 MPH or less and then put a fan on your cby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Steam Powered Tank - 11 months ago
The Stanley Steam Motor Company built a couple of steam powered tanks for the WWI effort. By the time that they were field tested and accepted, the war was over. They never see action. There are plenty of photos and articles about the Stanley tanks available.by SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Boiler alternatives for a Stanley - 11 months ago
The water tube boilers do not have the steam reserve that a fire tube Stanley type has. I had a Baker water tube boiler in my 1922 Stanley and when I would pull away from a stop sign with 400 PSI showing on the gauge, the boiler pressure would drop like a rock and I would be entering the fast moving traffic without any more than 100 PSI. More like a death wish. With a fire tube boiler, enteringby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Ashton Valve Company - 11 months ago
The "much later" condensing Stanleys used the Ashcroft gauges. See attachment. Original gauges for the model of steam car one is working on are quite plentiful so there isn't any reason not to use them except for their higher prices than a brand X gauge. eBay is a good place to look for Stanley gauges. I bought a 1,000 Stanley Ashton steam gauge off of eBay last week for $349. It waby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
1918 Stanley on eBay - 1 year ago
1918 Stanley touring for sale on eBay. Looks like an affordable entry level price tag. See at: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1918-Stanley-Motor-Carriage-Steam-Car-Touring-736-Stanley-Steamer/264494539515?hash=item3d951a62fb:g:buoAAOSwUqVdn38sby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Looking for gauge repair service - 1 year ago
Rolly, That's a mighty fine gauge. Good job. SSsssteamerby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Looking for gauge repair service - 1 year ago
I have soldered up bourdon tubes in the past and the gauges no longer leaked, but the soldering threw the gauges out of calibration so bad that I could not calibrate them. That is where a parts gauge donates its vital organs to my cause.by SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Ashton Valve Company - 1 year ago
I have had to rebuild my gauges as needed. The Ashton silver plated gauge face a chore to refinish, but the gauge innards are easily restored if you have other gauges with the correct parts to use. Never use any metal polish other than a silver polish to clean a gauge face. Brasso and many other metal cleaners will completely remove the silver plating from a salvageable silver plated gauge faceby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Ashton Valve Company - 1 year ago
Over the last 35 years, we have had up to five running Stanleys at one time. We are down to just three Stanleys now. To keep them up to snuff, we still have a back stock of more than a few Ashton gauges and about another 50 assorted antique gauges with silver faces. No, I am not interested in taking photos of them as they are not for sale, and anyone looking at the firewall area of a Stanley canby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Ashton Valve Company - 1 year ago
Most all of our older Stanley Steam cars and White steam cars used the Ashton Valve Co. gauges. The really later condensing Stanleys used the Ashcroft Manufacturing Co. gauges. The book "The Antique American Steam Gauge" by Barry Lee David copyrighted in 2003, does a good job in covering the evolution of the Ashton Valve Co steam gauges. It is in the larger 8 1/2" by 11" fby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Has any body got information on setting up the back axle diff and clearances. - 1 year ago
Due to Stanley Museum Quarterly articles being copyrighted, I will not be posting their copyrighted material on the forum.by SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Has any body got information on setting up the back axle diff and clearances. - 1 year ago
Found the rear axle article. Turns out there were two articles. Found them in the Stanley Museum quarterly Volume XVIII number 1 March 1999, pages 10 and 11. Also in Volume XXIII, Number 4 Fall 2004 pages 20 and 21. Some one should have the Stanley Museum quarterlies in your area. If not, I will try to get to get them copied for you. I am really busy playing catch up and fighting my stomach cby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Has any body got information on setting up the back axle diff and clearances. - 1 year ago
Basil, I am sure that I do have a copy of that particular Stanley museum Newsletter. If someone can tell us which issue it was in, my search would be a lot easier. Presently I am starting a 4 day HCCA tour with our model 85 Stanley. Time to find the article will be scarce until this tour ends on Wednesday night.by SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Has any body got information on setting up the back axle diff and clearances. - 1 year ago
Years ago there was an article in the Stanley Museum Newsletter on setting up the rear axle of a model 70. It was written by Art Hart and also by a couple of other contributors. I followed their directions in setting up the rear axle of our model 85 I was fabricating, and I ended up with the spacing between the axle ends not being correct (not enough planetary gear clearance). Other than that,by SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Coburn Benson - 1 year ago
Rolly, I bought three type 8 Stanley piston cylinders (Wide frame) and they were machined for the 1 inch frame rods. I bought pistons, slide valves, steam chest covers etc. etc. all in 30 hp. Because of Coburn's poor health, it took over a year for him to finally get them shipped out to our Northwest. When Coburn would call me each week, we discussed each other's health. I sure do miss Coburnby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Balancing an old steam engine - 1 year ago
Rick, Our 1911 Stanley model 85 7 passenger, 30 HP is old technology that they already had by 1911 and about 50 years of research in it to make it the most advanced form of transportation of its time. By updating in the proper areas, like engine balancing, modern metals, better brake lining, safety glass, better tires, so on and so on, we presently have one of the most advance forms of steam tranby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Balancing an old steam engine - 1 year ago
Peter, The counterweights that I added to our 30 HP Stanley engine were almost the same size as the counterweights that the engine throws already had on it. I do not know their exact weight. The were crafted by REMPCO in Cadillac, Michigan by Gilbert "Red" Hall. Phone number 1-800-736-0108 If one has a 30 HP Stanley and he is not using these counterweights as of yet, then they haveby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Coburn Benson - 1 year ago
Coburn was a true gentleman. I miss my weekly telephone calls with Coburn. Coburn and I were both early day motorcycle racers and steam car owners living on opposite sides of the country. We both were interested in speed, so we both were definitely into 30 hp Stanleys too. Coburn was always a great help in handling my steam needs that came from the New England area. I purchased many of Coburnby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Balancing an old steam engine - 1 year ago
I added additional counterweights to our 30 HP Stanley engines' crankshafts. Before the added weights, the Stanley engines started bouncing at about 47 M.P.H. Just minutes ago, I just blew down our 1911 Stanley model 85 7 passenger 30 HP touring after a 25 mile demonstration ride. I was giving some of my classmates (class of 1963) a thrilling ride at 70 MPH and there wasn't a bit of bounce anywby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff
Re: Doble Boiler - 1 year ago
Combustion should be complete before the heat goes through the water tubes. Combustion happening while going through the water tubes will result in sooting up the water tubes, thus insulating the water tubes from the heat. The same applies to the fire tube boilers. On our Stanleys, the flame is adjusted at the burner so that it has a proper blue color with a very small tip of yellow on the topby SSsssteamer - SteamStuff