Those little wobblers make nice small engines. After building a couple that
ran great on air but locked up on steam I found one secret is to make sure
there is no dead space above or below the piston. If there is the engine will
run fine on the air compressor, but when steamed condensate will be trapped
between the head and piston and lock up the works.
On my engines now I drill the port part way down the cylinder (have to so
there is a sealing area beyond the port) then mill or cut a small groove in
the
cylinder from the port to the head for condensate to escape. (or make the
heads with a spigot to fill the space from the end of the cylinder to the
port.)
Most directions I have seen call for making a jig to spot the ports, but
what I do is to use the engine as its own jig. Take the finished cylinder and
drill the port on the center line and drill all the way through to the other
side of the cylinder. Assemble the engine without the ports in the stand then
turn the crank to the extreme throw of the cylinder and spot the port
drillings through the cylinder. Then solder in a stopper on the outside hole
that is
left. If the engine is double acting I drill the upper end then put a thin
wire through the ports to hold the cylinder in position and spot the lower
ports that way.
One thing about the wobblers they don't seem to wear out, just wear in and
run better with age and use in our small sizes.
A lot of experimenting left to do on boilers, burners and size of cylinders
before I build my final design.
Anyone with plans for O gauge engines give me a guide to where they are
available.
John Meacham
in the deserts of California.
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