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| How do I fit a rope piston ring to a beam engine condenser? |
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| Fergus OMore:
Hi Andy! Sisal- no, not really. Didn't the old boys use flax or hemp and stick it all down with shellac rosin and beeswax. You could cheat a bit- using hot glue gun. Not Shipshape and Bristol Fashion- but who ,apart from an old grumpy, is watching? Cheers |
| AndyB:
Hi Fergus, Errr...I don't think I mentioned that the piston is about 2 feet across... :( Andy |
| DMIOM:
Hi Andy, another thought - not so much on 'how' but on 'what' to fit ... You mentioned you're replacing a natural fibre rope with a man-made one. That man-made rope will, to a greater or lesser degree act like, say, Scotchbrite. As well as possible abrasive aspects, a man-made composition may not have the same fluid retention characteristics as a natural material, so may start each run drier as well. Are you certain that the material you've planning to use is compatible and won't result in accelerated wear in the bore? Dave |
| AndyB:
Hi all, Dave: You are right about using the correct material. The boss got the correct stuff, but the bloke who can fit this, and has done in the past is no longer well enough to repeat it or give instruction. Fergus: the rope that came out was hemp I believe. It had been in there for 30 years but had rotted away. We collect rainwater for using in the boilers and condensers and the acid or alkali rain caused by the recent volcanos may have done that. We certainly had a lot of grey mud in the bottom of the boiler when we cleaned it out, and I am sure that it is volcanic dust. I doubt that it was shellaced as this would not give a seal; greased may be. Andy |
| AndyB:
This is the engine... http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1992633 And again, with pictures of the dismantling http://oldenginehouse.users.btopenworld.com/hop1.htm The condenser is at the bottom of the rod that hangs between the pivot and the cylinder con rod, and goes beneath the floor (that you can't see :lol:) Andy |
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