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Dave B · Newest Newby

Hi All, nice to be here!

I have been lurking here for a while now, it’s about time I joined up and put my .02 worth in…

Growing up (3… oh yeah… 4 decades ago), my Grandpa gave me a Wilesco oscillating single cylinder solid fuel steam engine – my Mom hated the fuel tabs, my brothers and I built and ran Meccano models, burned our fingers, nearly set the kitchen on fire (more than once…) and I learned quite a bit about how stuff works. What ever happened to that engine? Who knows?

A few months ago I was talking to an old friend, and mentioned the little steam engine. I said that I had been looking on eBay and was quite surprised at the price of them. He said “I have one in the basement, if you want it you can take it”. Well, I couldn’t say no, could I?

He remembered it being solid fuel heated, but when we dug it out from the pile, it had a cord attached. Plus the tank was brassy, not chrome like I remembered. Plus the flywheel and piston were on top of the tank, not on a base plate… what in the world WAS this thing?

Well, according to the plate it was a Weedon 702.

When I got the engine home, the crank pin (on the main axle) was not firmly attached, and I was sure that it would not last a minute if I tried to fire it up.

The pin was set in solder and I assumed (you KNOW what happens when you ass/u/me...) that the solder was holding the pin on some kind of base plate (connecting the pin to the main axle, both soldered in place).

Well, a quick touch up with the soldering iron, and... the whole thing disintegrated. Hmmmm. No base plate, just solder. Who in the world could be that crafty with solder?

What to do? My solution was to build a base, drill for the pin and axle, solder the pin in place, then solder the whole works on to the axle. It turns out that my soldering skills are woefully lacking compared to the artisan who built the rig before me... 2 hours later, no success.

Next? One of my favourite "quick fixes" - 5 minute epoxy. Mix up a small batch, set the pin in place, then set the base on to the axle, another small batch of "magic", and VIOLA! - it all spins like new.

In the meantime, I had oiled the (very nearly seized) piston and axle and visually checked every joint and seam in the boiler, the safety valve, whistle, and piston. Checked the cord and element for continuity and resistance. All seemed OK.

I crossed my fingers, put 1/2 cup of water and plugged it in.

Snap, Crackle, Pop. A bit of smoke when dust and old stuff burned off the element.

I had left the whistle open, so as not to build up any pressure - and it started to "pipe up".

I closed the whistle, and the piston extended the piston rod to full extent.

A touch of the flywheel, and away it went! And then it stopped. The crank pin was as loose as when I stared. The epoxy had failed me. Crap.

My next favourite not-quite-so-quick fix is JB Weld.

Repeat all the above steps, but with JB Weld, and 24 hours later, I stared it up, and it runs like the day it came out of the box. (about 77 years ago from the internet research that I have done - built ca. 1930!)

Now I’m hooked.

I’ve since bought a Fleischmann 124 (and got a little vertical engine as a bonus when I opened the box!), which needed quite a bit of TLC - I had to take the end off the boiler, re-solder the whistle treads, remove the crankshaft from the little vertical (what was THAT doing in there???) and re-solder the works back together. Made new gaskets, a fuel tray, and fashioned a new smokestack. Filled it up, fired it up, and it runs like a top!

I am now anxiously awaiting another eBay purchase - a Mamod SE2-a (where IS that post woman anyways???)

My wife is convinced I’m off my rocker, and she may be right, but I have reminded her that it COULD be worse – my latest craze could be Lamborghini’s, or younger women, or both…

Anyhow, you guys have put up with my rambling and I appreciate it – I’ll keep it shorter next time.

Cheers

James

Hiya Dave!!

I know a bloke called Dave Barratt, he's a farmer, one of the best blokes out

A weeden for free?

I don't know alot about Weedens, but that sounds like a good deal to me!!

Welcome to the forums, hope ya enjoy it here

James

IndianaRog

Welcome Dave,

I liked your 4 decades in one post intro...you started like many of us and learned bunches fixing up your engines. Sounds like you resurrected the Weeden in good form. I myself love that JB Weld stuff...it is like epoxy on steriods!!!

Visit often and post pics/video if you can Dave...we all love to see each other's collections.

cheers,
Roger

Stilldrillin

Welcome to the forum, Dave!
Like the rest of us on here, the steam bug`s bitten you. You`re a hopeless case now.

ENJOY!!

Steve_S

Welcome to the forum Dave! It sounds like you've done a great job on the Weeden. I gather that they're not the most robust engines ever made, so well done in fixing it! It also sounds like you've caught the steam bug like the rest of us on here... and there's no cure, so make the most of it!

SillyBilly

G'day Davo!

Mamodman123

Welcome to the forum Dave!

Good to have you aboard!

Dave B

Manxman

Welcome Dave from the Isle of Man. I'm looking forward to pics of your engines.

toxx

Welcome, Dave! Good to have you with us! I enjoyed reading your description of your Weedon adventure!
Again, welcome aboard und viele liebe Grüße aus Österreich
Says Tom
Cheers, mate!

johnreid

Welcome aboard, this stuff is addictive, but fun too!

Kritika

Welcome to the forum Dave, boy o boy are you hooked good and proper! Can't wait to see your picks.

Roly Williams · Re: Newest Newby

wyvern

a warm welcome to the forum , hope you have a good time here.

I've used an epoxy called super steel made by loctite to hold my connecting rod and piston more rigidly together on my homemade steam engine. I thought well if its repaired a crack in the sump in my mums car for 3 years it can probably cope with a small steam engine! Its a pretty impressive epoxy.

Dave B · Re: Newest Newby

rangerssteamtoys

Hi and welcome to the forums. hope you have a good time here.

JB weld is good stuff, been keeping my dads A/C on his car from leaking for the past 7 years so its good.

My first engine was a weeden, yes the parts are lead because I have managed to melt a crank myself. Steam is a good hobby yet a bit expensive (but arn't all good hobbies that way anyways?)

flywheel61

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the forums from OZ, I hope you enjoy your time here as it's a fun place be and lots of info to gain as you've already found out.

Cheers

Chris

Drexelius

Hi Dave - new myself and just wanted to add my welcome to the forums as so many gracefully did for me in the past few days. Seems like a great bunch of guys here!

Bob Drex

Griffin

Welcome to the forum Dave, look forward to seeing your engines.

Mister Occlusion

G'day. I'm just a couple provinces to your right. I've never seen a working Weeden. If you've got a viddy cam it'd be an interesting sight.

Never bought one myself, just because they seem so frail.. I've gotten more into Jensens lately, partly because they're built like tanks

Anyway, Welcome and whatnot.

tmuir

Hi Dave and welcome.
I like the look of some of the Weedens but don't own them as I've heard lots of horror stories of flywheels shattering, steam domes melting etc.
Gad you have managed to save that Weeden.
I think I know the Weeden parts shop you mention as I put a link up here to an online shop that sold Weeden parts a while back.

Look forward to seeing some pictures.

Tony

Cranko

Big welcome from New zealand Dave , i am sure you will enjoy your stay

Wallace

Hi Dave, and welcome to the forums

Hope you enjoy it here.

P.S. Great to read your story

bessytractor

welcome to the forum!!!

Minor1PJG

Welcome, welcome, welcome.

All I can say is watch your wallet with this lot.

I was quite happy with my modest Mamod collection until I met with this group.

Now I have Wilesco and Jensen engines and quite a few more Mamods than I started with.

Everyone needs to let off a little steam every now and then, don't they!!

JensenSteamMan

WELCOME! Great to have another convert to steam!

This is a hobby your wife doesnt need to really be concerned about.
Well, except maybe for some concern for your wallet

Although they are still much cheaper than Lambo's!

If you havent already, check out www.JensenSteamEngines.com
Just schedule enough time to look at it before you start! It'll take a hour or two

Cheers,
Casey

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