Posted by Vince on June 15, 2000 at 20:24:09:
In Reply to: boiler help posted by Ian MacGregor on June 15, 2000 at 18:39:44:
Get an electric motor with reduction gears to turn the engine. Trying to use steam will mean a complete steam system and more importantly, jurisdictional approval and insurance. I doubt the engine would meet code as a presure vessel and an operational steam system, even one this small, would surely be a pain to operate. Electric motor, flick a switch and you're on and off.
Good luck with your work, its good to see equipment from our heritage being preserved instead of scrapped.
: I live in Calgary in Canada. I am in the process of installing a large engine I purchased from an old textile mill in England here.
: I have no experience in running or sizing boilers and I am wondering what the simplest system I could purchase to use to turn the engine over. I don't plan to connect it to anything but it would be nice to have it run.
: I have natural gas available and it or electricity would be my preferred fuel.
: The engine was built in about 1880, it is quite large, weighing about 60 tons with a 15 foot diameter flywheel.
: I would appreciate any comments anyone has on the simplest way to get the engine to turn over with some small amount of power.
: Thanks Ian