Miniature Steam Engine
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Like many other men who grew up a generation or two ago, James Johnson has fond memories of the old steam engines that used to power threshing machines. This past summer he decided to build a miniature of the behemoths of 50 years ago that really runs.
The boiler of Johnson's miniature steam engine is a section of 10-inch dia. pipe 1/4 in. thick fitted with a fire box. The piston comes from a Honda snowmobile, flywheel from an air compressor, and whistle from an old steamer. The steering wheel is off a tractor, drive wheel from a pitman mower, and drive shaft from a Model T Ford connecting rod. The worm gear is from a threshing machine, rear wheels from a horse-drawn hay rake, and front wheels from a pump jack.
The boiler builds up 30 lbs. of pressure and must meet all the safety standards of steam engineering, so Johnson must install a governor before having the rig inspected. Other refinements will include a woodbox and a water tank, and a chain drive to make the steamer self-propelled.
Most of the steamer parts have been collected over the years from junkyards and salvage yards.
For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, James Johnson, 723 Arnold Ave. N., Thief River Falls, Minn.
56701 (ph 218 681-3910).
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Miniature Steam Engine ENGINES Engines 6-6-7 Like many other men who grew up a generation or two ago, James Johnson has fond memories of the old steam engines that used to power threshing machines. This past summer he decided to build a miniature of the behemoths of 50 years ago that really runs.
The boiler of Johnson's miniature steam engine is a section of 10-inch dia. pipe ? in. thick fitted with a fire box. The piston comes from a Honda snowmobile, flywheel from an air compressor, and whistle from an old steamer. The steering wheel is off a tractor, drive wheel from a pitman mower, and drive shaft from a Model T Ford connecting rod. The worm gear is from a threshing machine, rear wheels from a horse-drawn hay rake, and front wheels from a pump jack.
The boiler builds up 30 lbs. of pressure and must meet all the safety standards of steam engineering, so Johnson must install a governor before having the rig inspected. Other refinements will include a woodbox and a water tank, and a chain drive to make the steamer self-propelled.
Most of the steamer parts have been collected over the years from junkyards and salvage yards.
For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, James Johnson, 723 Arnold Ave. N., Thief River Falls, Minn.
56701 (ph 218 681-3910).
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