Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

No didn't go in that direction. There is going to be some real money spent at that sale. You need real deep pockets. There is so much stuff you might find a bargain after the big boys have got what they want. I love the big old goodens. Getting a boiler probably just a pipe dream. Before I did I'd want to go to one of the steam schools they hold up north. Running it on air is ok. You get to see everything work but not near as good as powered by steam.

Hey guys me and my brother were checking out the steam and gas engines at the fair and saw this "Hot Air " engine never seen one before.

Wayne , my idea , just thinking in a loud voice . Get a boiler looking tank , split open & insert a compressed ait tank inside & plumb to motor to look like steam . Just a cheap thought .
But that small motor really is cool !

It's not the look its the sound and seeing that steam blow around that I like. They run a saw mill with a steam traction engine. I love to go out there and listen to it. When the wood hits the blade and that engine really starts working, I love the sound. I love Hot Air engines. I tried to buy one last year, then the guy changed his mind. That is the only engine I might buy if one came along. They had several at Portland.

The guy that owns the Hot Air engine was telling me and my brother that there isn't a lot up here in the Northeast cause most of them froze and busted if they weren't drained.

I've always heard that in the North was where they were most used. In the basements to pump water for the house. Not many basements in the south. I never knew houses had basements until I went to Dayton Ohio in 1968.

I was given this clam shell fly ball governor years ago and just remembered I had it i think it's off a steam engine. Does anyone know I'm cleaning it up for better pics.

Isn't that odd & interesting !
And we thought reguralors for windmills were complicated .

It could very well be. I know the shaft sticking out the side would of had a pulley on it for the belt and the rod sticking up would have laid on the belt to keep tension on it and would have had a pulley on it. I looked at several while at the show. Not many gas engines had fly ball governors as they were to expensive to built. A lot of gas engine governors were driven by a gear on the side shaft not a belt. That piece you have your hand on was probably hooked to the rod going into the steam chest to control the amount of steam going in. Many of the oil field engines have fly ball governors driven by belt, but some where steam engines when drilling the well. Then when they had something to burn they converted them to gas or oil. They are called half breeds.

Thanks for that info Wayne. I thought there might have been a little pulley on to that shaft I'd love to find one. If you ever see one for sale please let me know Wayne I'd appreciate it. The shaft is 3/4 inch. Thank you.