What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Quite a few old engines had cartridge starts and some really big ones had a paraffin/petrol donkey engine to start them. The whitbred brewery had a WWI submarine engine, as motive power originally then used as a generator, which had a truck engine as a starter. Once it was ‘wound up’ the submarine engine would burst Ito life and shake the building.
It remained in the brewery till the early eighties

Later the farm next door bought a crawler tractor. I remember it started with a donkey engine - Starting it was similar to this:



It didn't need the Easy Start though, must have had better compression! I remember it always emitted vast clouds of white smoke before it fired up

I later heard, after I'd left home and gone down to London to the "college of knowledge", that a new hand taken on at the farm had managed to turn it over on himself by trying to plough uphill - always a big no no. Tragically I believe the chap was quite badly injured. Now a days tractors all seem to have robust roll cages to prevent this happening.

 

[porta]

@Cheest
Allis Chalmers also I presume?

 

[Cheest]

@Cheest
Allis Chalmers also I presume?

Yup, along with Massey-Harris, Massey-Ferguson, Holt, Oliver, Ford, Waterloo Boy, and some others that have slipped my mind. A couple of those Fords have a 239 flat head V8 fitted and one has a SBC.

 

[bugsymike]

Some years ago at a Steam Rally I watched a Tractor Pulling event with one using a turbine engine from a helicopter, it used a Hillman Imp engine as a starter, quite an impressive sound under full load and without the need to "stand to windward" of the diesel versions

 

[StevenRB45]

Been getting to know the new heating...

During the recent cold bit (was less than 9 degrees in the morning so basically autumn temps). Had it set to come on and warm the house up to room temperature.

When I first did this the effect coming from the very best 90s technology heating system was incredible if not massively helpful. It warmed the house 2 degrees in about 20 minutes and touching a radiator was like touching a recently boiled metal kettle. You could literally feel the heat radiating off them from the other side of the room. It was uncomfortable to be near them. Other issue now we have a boiler upstairs is that it was a little noisy, not massively but boiler doing some heavy lifting type noises going on nearby.

Decided to do a bit of reading, it's a condensing boiler as they all must be these days. Manufacturer recommends 55-60 degrees for best efficiency, above 55 degrees return water temperature it won't operate as a condenser and will be less efficient.

Installer has set it to 75, max is 80, we've got less than half the number of radiators it's rated for and it's not minus 20 out side. The chances of the water dropping 20 degrees in the loop before returning to the boiler are nil. Ergo it's not set to work as a condenser.

Set it 60...it now takes about an hour to increase by 1.5 degrees but it doesn't sound like it's working anywhere near as hard and should actually be operating as a condenser. This also gives the option to kick it up to 65 in winter and still likely have it run as a condenser.

We could probably have left it at 75 and still saved money as the old system was scrap,
I'd be surprised if it was more than 50% efficient even out of condensing mode this should be around 75-80% but it was be nice to achieve near the claimed 93% and pretty much half the gas bill.

"Why didn't you get a heat pump?" I hear you cry...mainly practical and financial reasons and replacing gas with gas that's nearly twice as efficient (it probably is given how cack the old one was) is a very large step in the correct direction. Hopefully heat pumps will be less contentious and cheaper by the time the 10 year warranty has gone on this but if not there's the opportunity to fit another before boilers are banned if we are still in this house. If we are not still in this house...there's a good chance a heat pump will reduce the value compared to a new boiler that will increase it.

 

[StevenRB45]

The exhaust had a real "crack" to it, maybe needed a new silencer? but the sound of it pulling hard up the hill was wonderful!

I've just realised where this was taken...look at the red tractor in the back ground...

Then look at the red tractor 2 along..

Edit not the same one head light position is different but I've definitely seen the tractor in the video "live" as it were.

They do have this show about 4 times a year..

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I've just realised where this was taken...look at the red tractor in the back ground...

Then look at the red tractor 2 along..

Edit not the same one head light position is different but I've definitely seen the tractor in the video "live" as it were.
View attachment 427999

They do have this show about 4 times a year..

Now that raised my pulse rate a wee bit. Not the "Fergie" - red Massey Ferguson second in, next to that beautiful 4wd blue job - but the next one, the red one with the cab. That's a David Brown and we had one at one of the "prisons" (boarding schools) I was incarcerated in when a teenager. I've never been a team sports player and in the end I found my place by becoming involved with the grounds maintenance personnel during the afternoon games periods. Eventually I was allowed to mow the pitches with the David Brown and a 3 gang cylinder drag mower. Far more interesting and exciting than playing rugby or cricket! Even more interesting was that it had a Petrol/TVO engine. Started on petrol and switched over to TVO after the engine was hot - you soon learned not to switch it off without turning it back to petrol during the drive back to the sheds!

 

[StevenRB45]

Got to say place is worth a visit if you like that sort of thing I tend to turn up whenever I get some time, the weather is ok and I've got nowt to do so the impact is somewhat lost.

But when they've got these beasts out it doesn't feel very health and safety with the chain steering and about 50 turns lock to lock.

 

[Cheest]

Back in my mid-spent youth, I worked the antique tractor exhibit at the county fair. We ran a Case steam tractor belted to a Red River thresher. One of the older guys would set a pot full of sweet corn over the fire box to boil on Saturday. When we’d take our noon break and have fresh corn on the cob. Probably replete with sweat and lubricating oil but it was good.

We are supposed to hit the steam show tomorrow. I’ll pile Mrs.Cheest and the grandsons into the DeSoto and enter that in the car show. The DeSoto will get us all in for a single admission.

 

[porta]

We have a very skewed love affair with all things old and ‘made in Britain’…yes the stuff of invention, Industrial Revolution and craftsmanship. Craftsmanship meant everything was bespoke, the two industrial museums I worked at had jigs for all sorts of cogs, pulleys, frameworks and castings.
Along came standardised production lines and we lost our edge….David Brown stuff lasted well into its successive buyouts, and stuff like MF innovated…I do like old stuff but it’s a history lesson

 

[StevenRB45]

Well, I'd say that's where this sort of thing comes into it's own.

Your normal glass case/velvet rope museum where they are all polished up as a display object it's a lot easier to romanticise it.

This place on the other hand... although obviously they aren't working for a living they have them working and you get some interesting insights.

For example this looks lovely they spent a huge amount of money restoring it and converted it to wheelchair access at the rear as well.

But second weekend it was on I spoke to the driver and he very much dislikes it "like driving a bag of hammers" to quote.

To be fair he's got an easier job than some, the blokes driving the 1800s cabless steam engine must be a special breed, cooked by the boiler in hot weather and soaked through with water and oil in bad weather.

 

[porta]

Both the industrial museums I worked in were working mills, one a woolen mill, with steam, steam engines, engineering etc, the other a waterwheel putty mill, very much a spit n polish job. With an Albion paraffin petrol engine

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Got to say place is worth a visit if you like that sort of thing I tend to turn up whenever I get some time, the weather is ok and I've got nowt to do so the impact is somewhat lost.

But when they've got these beasts out it doesn't feel very health and safety with the chain steering and about 50 turns lock to lock. View attachment 428006

A few miles from where I live is Bressingham Steam Museum, there is actually a Channel 5 series about it on Friday nights. During the summer these things going up and down the A1066 is quite a common site on there way to and from various steam fairs and events around the area.

I don’t know what the smell is, maybe a combination of burnt coal, oil and water all mixed together, but I do love the smell these old engines give off, there is nothing quite like it.

We also, at Christmas time used to have a traditional carousel powered by a showman’s engine in Norwich city centre.

 

[StevenRB45]

I don’t know what the smell is, maybe a combination of burnt coal, oil and water all mixed together, but I do love the smell these old engines give off, there is nothing quite like it.

Oily steam, the best smell.

Only topped if you go in December and you get the combination of that, woodburning stoves, and the sweet shop (they make sweets on site using old tech) in the same street.

Obviously all these items are fitted with particulate filters..

 

[Cheest]

Here are a few pics from the steam show today.

A Babcock. I know nothing about it.

The one behind it is an Illinois 22hp. The only one left.

An Allis Chalmers.

My Dad had a WC that he affectionally called a 'Black Hearted Bastard'. They didn't get on well.

Just a couple spewing smoke.

John Deere E 1 1/2hp engine.

At one time, I had 3 of these.

 

[porta]

I see Stellantis is getting into trouble in the US again, this time it’s renaging on its promise for health and welfare for staff

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Here are a few pics from the steam show today.

A Babcock. I know nothing about it.

The one behind it is an Illinois 22hp. The only one left.

An Allis Chalmers.

My Dad had a WC that he affectionally called a 'Black Hearted Bastard'. They didn't get on well.

Just a couple spewing smoke.

John Deere E 1 1/2hp engine.

At one time, I had 3 of these.

I absolutely love the sound of those old "hit 'n miss" engines ticking over. Sitting on the grass with a picnic and them in the background is "Magic"

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Here are a few pics from the steam show today.

A Babcock. I know nothing about it.

The one behind it is an Illinois 22hp. The only one left.

Babcock is a big name here. They've a big facility just over "the water" (Firth of Forth) in Fife. Probably the same company from away back then?

Who we are

About Babcock Babcock is an international defence company operating in our focus countries of the UK, Australasia, Canada, France and South Africa, with exports to additional markets with potential to become focus counties. We meet our customers’ key requirements of affordability, availability...

www.babcockinternational.com

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Probably the same company from away back then?

Quite likely, the company started out with the goal of making safer steam boilers

Babcock & Wilcox - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[The Panda Nut]

Been getting to know the new heating...

During the recent cold bit (was less than 9 degrees in the morning so basically autumn temps). Had it set to come on and warm the house up to room temperature.

When I first did this the effect coming from the very best 90s technology heating system was incredible if not massively helpful. It warmed the house 2 degrees in about 20 minutes and touching a radiator was like touching a recently boiled metal kettle. You could literally feel the heat radiating off them from the other side of the room. It was uncomfortable to be near them. Other issue now we have a boiler upstairs is that it was a little noisy, not massively but boiler doing some heavy lifting type noises going on nearby.

Decided to do a bit of reading, it's a condensing boiler as they all must be these days. Manufacturer recommends 55-60 degrees for best efficiency, above 55 degrees return water temperature it won't operate as a condenser and will be less efficient.

Installer has set it to 75, max is 80, we've got less than half the number of radiators it's rated for and it's not minus 20 out side. The chances of the water dropping 20 degrees in the loop before returning to the boiler are nil. Ergo it's not set to work as a condenser.

Set it 60...it now takes about an hour to increase by 1.5 degrees but it doesn't sound like it's working anywhere near as hard and should actually be operating as a condenser. This also gives the option to kick it up to 65 in winter and still likely have it run as a condenser.

We could probably have left it at 75 and still saved money as the old system was scrap,
I'd be surprised if it was more than 50% efficient even out of condensing mode this should be around 75-80% but it was be nice to achieve near the claimed 93% and pretty much half the gas bill.

"Why didn't you get a heat pump?" I hear you cry...mainly practical and financial reasons and replacing gas with gas that's nearly twice as efficient (it probably is given how cack the old one was) is a very large step in the correct direction. Hopefully heat pumps will be less contentious and cheaper by the time the 10 year warranty has gone on this but if not there's the opportunity to fit another before boilers are banned if we are still in this house. If we are not still in this house...there's a good chance a heat pump will reduce the value compared to a new boiler that will increase it.

As long as its warm enough to kill Legionella in the water system your good. Sounds like you need to spend some time balancing the radiators and working things out. You need a cold day though! Im pleased you have got a good result from your spending, it makes it worthwhile. If you have no leaks you are doing well. Its worth running it up to full heat now so you can be sure its all good for the winter. Im waiting for my boiler service man who should be round in the next couple of weeks. Its just not quite worth buying the emiossions equipment ofr ten minutes use a year so hes got a job for life. Its a shame really as the bulk of the service os just celaning out and vacuuming the insides out.