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| Nick |
Meths Fired Jensen 75Here is the completed restoration (restoration pics will follow):
Here is the ebay auction for the engine (purchased June 1, 2008 for $78 and $10 shipping): http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI....otoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting Ebay auction pictures: 
These are the pictures I took before starting the restoration: 
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| Nick |
Wood base section of restoration:
Thank you Roger for your help with restoring this wood base. 
Everything removed: 
Underside: 
Thinly coated edge: 
Left side sanded and coat of stain going on the right: 
After one coat of stain: 
Polyurethane coat roughened up with steel wool & ready for the next coat: 
After polyurethane was applied: 
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| Nick |
Firebox ready to have paint removed (a few things I use for this):
Old paint removed; bare metal firebox: 
And yes, restoring engines is a dirty job. 
Woodstove paint on the firebox: 
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| Nick |
I used a solid brass door kick-plate to protect the wood base from fire/heat. The original owner had used a sheet of tin.
I did this at home and all my tools are at a shop, so I had to use a hacksaw Then filed the edges: 
Brass piece cut out: 
I used the firebox mounting holes to attatch it to the base: 
The brass had a protective film: 
Firebox attatched to the base: 
A shot inside the firebox: 
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| Nick |
Pictures I took while assembling the engine.
All the pieces ready to be polished/cleaned: 
I had to re-attatch the boiler using rivets from Jensen: 
This would be much easier with three hands: 
I use a screwdriver to open the rivet and a punch to flatten it: 
Rivet on the outside of the firebox: 
Starting to take shape: 
Name plate re-installed: 
Another thing I changed was I used Jensen's set-screw for the flywheel instead of the original screw, which is also pictured: 
I had it all put together and realized I had lost a small brass spacer. 
But, after searching for nearly a half an hour, I found it in the carpet! 
And finally, here are the completed restoration pics. I will get some better pics taken outside, but these will have to do for now.
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| mogogear |
I am confused- but it was a pre-existing condition Keep going how you are headed...
As a true Southerner... " Don't worry 'bout where's 'de mule, jus' load the wagon" 
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| Nick |
Sorry to confuse those of you who were online while I was working on this thread, but it is now finished. You guys can have a look through the previous posts to see the restoration. |
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| Les |
A very nice restoration indeed, well done. | ||||
| Wallace |
That's a fantastic job Nick.
Well done 
What a beautiful transformation. How did you manage to find a new sightglass for it. You got the engine for a good price
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| steamyman |
fabulous! 
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| Sandman |
What a fantastic job.
Well done. |
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| Minor1PJG |
SUPERB - Excellent work.
Will you run this one ?? |
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| MTA |
Where are my sunglasses? 
You have done a superb restoration on that 75 Nick
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| Cranko |
Hi Nick , is that the original burner ? | ||||
| Nick |
Jensen still sells them. |
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| Nick |
I will run the engine, but the burner will probaby remain unfired. |
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| Nick |
It is the original burner after a little cleaning up. I won it on an ebay auction a few months back.
I just need to pick up a cork for it and it will be complete. |
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| Cranko |
Right , Ive seen a couple with a completely different looking burner , perhaps they were not original | ||||
| Nick |
You may have seen John Chapman's engine. (He uses a Bowman burner in his) Here are some measurements for the burner: http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/about10733.html And this is what it looked like when I bought it: 
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| rangerssteamtoys |
I thought the saying was "Don't worry 'bout de bananas, jus' load the boat" I hear it almost every day 
That jensen 75 looks great, the only meths fired jensen. |
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| IndianaRog |
Nick, as a restorer myself I am very impressed with your work...that turned out to be a really nice piece done just as I would have myself.
In the immortal words of Darth Vader..."the Force is strong with this one". excellent! Rog |
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| Nick |
Thank you all for the compliments!
I was hoping to run it today, but it's raining out. 
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| johnreid |
Run it indoors.
I decided not to repaint mine, but the temptation is always going to be there. Maybe after I have used it more and the paint gets more damage. I think I gave mine too much flame. |
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| Nick |
Every time I try running one indoors on denatured alcohol, the stuff burns my eyes to the point where they are hard to open. It might be that I am running them in my basement and there isn't enough air flow. 
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| johnreid |
Do it in the bathroom with the exhaust fan running. | ||||
| rangerssteamtoys |
You are not getting a complete burn of the alcohol, therefore there is alcohol fumes burning your eyes.
That, or your just not used to the smell and stuff
I just diagnose the problem, not sure how to fix it
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| Nick |
Does the 70 have this small brass spacer? I almost called Jensen to see if I could order one, but I did find it.
You can see it sitting on the base and you can see where it fits against the engine frame.
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| johnreid |
My 70 does not, but my 75 like yours has one. | ||||
| Nick |
Is there supposed to be a washer between the flywheel and engine frame? Mine never had one. |
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| Griffin |
Very nice indeed Nick, you have worked wonders on that engine. | ||||
| IndianaRog |
Nick, I think often times these engines have been disassembled one or more times in their lives...washers get lost, washers get added. I picked up a stash of brass washers of various thicknesses, ID's and OD's (Lowes)...when I'm nursing an engine back to life I figure if there is space for such a washer and it can be added discretely, I do it to reduce friction of moving parts against frames. Jensen sometimes used short sections of brass tubing to make spacers to keep a flywheel centered where it needs to be. I don't think there was ever an absolute configuration of washers and spacers compounded by multiple owners messing with them!! |
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| Nick |
I wonder where all those washers and spacers end up.
The piece that I wish would have been included is the the sight glass assembly. That added another $30 to this engine. (Does Jensen still make these or are they selling off ones made a long time ago?)
I also replaced some screws, rivets, boiler straps, etc. In all, this engine cost me $78 plus $10 shipping, $41 in parts totaling $129. I also used a little bit of stain, polyurethane, and some paint but I won't count that as it looks like I barely touched the cans. It also took me about a week to finish. After adding the cost of sandpaper/steel wool, paint, etc. I would say it cost about $135. I also receiced the original burner from an ebay auction, so the burner adds about another $10 to $15. In all, I think this engine cost me about $150. It wasn't the cheapest, but I am very pleased with the results and I can't wait to steam it.
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| IndianaRog |
Nick, just like your experience...those missing washers and spacers end up in the carpet or other far flung corners never to be seen by man again!!! As for the sightglass assemblies Jensen sells...I don't know if they are selling off NOS or make them regularly, have to ask Dorita next time you or I call them. I have two sets saved away for an engine that might need them and the day they are no longer available. $30 isn't cheap, but they are machined, nickel plated brass and if you were to have ONE set custom machined, it would probably cost several times that...then it would have to go to a nickel plater. Buy a spare or two!!! |
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| johnreid |
So many of the old ones have lost the plating and are now dull brass | ||||
| Nick |
That's how most of mine are. |
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| Atticman |
Nick you have worked wonders on that one,
May have lost the thread to this but why is the plate an electric powered plate? The base is amazing, what a transformation.
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| Nick |
Thanks!
Some of my dry-fuel fired Jensens have the same name-plate and what I have been told is that it was just using up old parts.
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| Nick |
I'll try to get some decent outdoor pictures of the engine today and I may even fire it.
I am headed up to the hardware store to pick up a cork for the burner. (I am not going to use the original burner........yet.) |
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| Nick |
I was too busy yesterday to take the pictures, so here they are today.
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| IndianaRog |
Nick, she looks nicer than the day she was made...I have found a kindred spirit of Jensen restoration!!! | ||||
| tmuir |
Well thats scrubbed up nicely, well done. | ||||
| Les |
Nice.
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| Nick |
Thanks!
I have now fired it 4 times to cure the paint. I started with my smallest burner and have worked my way up to an MM2 vap burner. I have never tried this paint, but it is made for woodstoves and they claim it will work up to 1200° F. When I made it to the 2nd attempt, the firebox let off a lot of smoke and smell,  but so far it has held up fine. I would have baked it, but I called the company and they told me not to bake it (They've never had anyone use it on a steam engine before ).
I heat the water to a boil using the MM2 burner and then I switch over to an MM1 vap burner to keep it running. (The MM2 burner is almost too much heat for the engine and runs at a very high speed). With the MM1 burner I can keep the engine ticking over by adjusting the regulator and I don't have to worry about too much pressure/wasted steam in the boiler. |
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| bigal |
Very nice job Nick 
A compliment from Rog attests to that
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| Wallace |
Top job
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| rangerssteamtoys |
Great work
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| Nick |
I have fired the engine about 5 times now and the paint is holding up great.
It's even exposed to a lot of flame :
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| rangerssteamtoys |
Now thats a fire
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| Nick |
Now do you see why I take the wooden handles off?
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| rangerssteamtoys |
Maybe Make the one for the whistle out of metal Just DO NOT try to use it while under steam without gloves.
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| Nick |
Roger's idea of slipping a piece of pipe over it sounds good.
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| johnreid |
I need to paint mine with heat proof paint. The Stove Black is an idea that I had not thought of. but I believe the VHT is now offering a Gloss Black so I might hold off for that, in the mean time I will just have a scorched firebox on my Meths fired 75 It is a good runner, just like a 70 | ||||
| Nick |
My woodstove paint even has a shine to it, it's not dull like barbecue paint.
I can't find any VHT GLOSS black near me, and with the woodstove paint, you don't even have to bake the paint.
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| steamyman |
I looked on Jensen site for those, but only seems the newer 75 is only available. 
closest that comes to it- http://www.jensensteamengines.com/hobby/h70.htm |
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| Nick |
Watch ebay, here's mine: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI....otoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting |
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| johnreid |
Clinton, that model was only produced for a very short time. From what I understand Mr Jensen worried about the open flame and dangers to children so they stopped making it. I bet the quantity produced was in the hundreds or less. One does see the occasionally on Ebay, and recently there seemed to be a few all at or near the same time. | ||||
| steamyman |
good on Mr Jensen for "thinking outside the square" |
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| toxx |
... thanks, Nick! This was such a pleasure to watch!
Bello e incredibile! |