The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

davidcurtis021 · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 9:20 pm Post subject: stuart turner triple

looks like my recently aquired saito is not going to meet my requirments so will go back to ebay but i have just spotted this stuart turner.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAP...1083&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

does the vendors description of its ills ring true. if it does how difficult is it to rectify and what size boiler would an engine like that need

redryder · Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:52 pm Post subject:

What sort of boat are you looking to assemble?

I am asking because the Stuart Triple is a great display engine but not a great boat engine. Collectors love them. Many of them require anywhere from 40-65 psi just to run with no load at all. Most will not run in reverse or are extremely clunky and rough running in reverse and require even more pressure.

This is not a simple timing adjustment as the seller thinks. A friend and I have been working on one for several months trying to get it sorted out. Another collector friend sent it here only running in one direction and requiring about 50+ psi for that. My friend helping me is a ME and toolmaker and has built some amazing model engines.

If you follow the drawings and make the parts corecctly it will only run good in one direction. After several months of working on it in spare time (He made new slide valves for both ends among other things) we have now got it to run on 25 psi in one direction and 35 psi in reverse. We could improve it further but it's gets into a lot more work. For one thing, it is impossible to time to run well in both directions unless you make two separate eccentrics for the low pressure cylinder reversing linkage. There are a few better options for a model steam boat.

An ideal engine will run well on low pressure so that when you apply a lot of pressure, you will get some serious work out of it and not waste 3/4 of your steam just turning it over. The Stuart D10, the Stuart Twin Launch, and the Stuart Compound Launch are all very good for service in a boat. The Twin Launch and D10 are the choice for ease of use as they will start from any position because they are simple twins.

Gil
_________________
Steam on,
redryder

kusuchi · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 12:51 am Post subject:

What's wrong with the Saito, David? Obviously the servos would be very difficult to set up, but what size and weight of vessel are you trying to drive?

The Stuart is a very large engine and somewhat inefficient in converting boiler pressure into propulsion power. Gil has posted much more informed experience above.

There are many extremely efficient modern marine engines available, but everything hinges on what you're trying to drive, and the space you have available.

_________________
Richard

davidcurtis021 · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 5:06 am Post subject:

thanks gil and richard
you have both injected the right amount of cation. i was very tempted to start bidding for this but now i wont. it was to be for my 59 inch tugboat.
i already have three engines a stuart v10 a graham tv1a and the saito 3 cylinder.
the saito is creating problems with the fittings which i cant seem to locate the graham is complete and ready to go but looks lost in the engine room and the stuart has no reverse.

logoman · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 7:27 am Post subject:

I agree with Gil, the Stuart Triple compound would be dare i say it impossible to use in a boat, and the reversing wheel would be difficult to adapt to RC .

redryder · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 11:48 am Post subject:

David,

Look up Keith Appleton in the UK. He is an expert on this sort of thing and he custom builds boats and engines. I might add he does magnificent work.

Gil

Here is part of his website:
there is a thread here about using Stuart engines in boats.

http://www.mainsteam.co.uk/steamchat.htm

Have a good look around his website. I can easily lose an hour every time I click into these pages.

Enjoy,
Gil
_________________
Steam on,
redryder

steamboatmodel · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject:

If you could get a 3X Stuart working proper it would need to be put in a 6 foot long boat to fit it and a boiler. A D10 would be a better fit for a 59" tug if you can't get the saito 3 cylinder working. What problems are you having with the saito 3 cylinder?
Regards,
Gerald.

davidcurtis021 · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:02 pm Post subject:

steamboatmodel · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject:

Do you have any Model Engineering groups in your area?
If you do you should see if one of them could help you. What size is the thread on the fittings?
Regards,
Gerald.