It's a Steep Learning Curve
"Honestly Dear, I promise that one day you will not have to stay by the phone when I am out on the car." Which is what happens now due to the initial experiences with my Lyka.
I am still learning her "heartbeat" - the noises she makes when running smoothly, the clicks when the pumps are filling the boiler, and the clanks when something is out of alignment and pieces are mashing together.
We have now been on the local roads for about a month. A total of 10 miles. About that many "trips". I have been chased by a couple of dogs, and given a few rides around the block. I live in a part of Denver that is medium density residential, 4-5 houses to a block, lots of trees, houses are on lots that vary from 50-150 feet wide. The neighborhood is about 10 x 20 blocks without crossing any major (stop light) streets. Lots of dog walkers, some joggers, a local tennis club, and a couple of small groups of stores with local fruits and veges, sushi, burgers, Pilates, and pizza.
So not a lot of police officers during the day to ask me "what the heck is that?"
Getting "Her" Dressed
In my mind she has a name. When I am sure it is the right one, I will have my buddy the pin-striper come by and make it real. So for now - it is just pronouns - She, Her, My Baby, Damn Bitch.
After her initial run, I finished "dressing" her by putting the side panels and jewelry back on.
"What Kind of Car Is That?"
While I have been driving around, the majority of viewer responses have been a "thumbs up". If I stop to talk, the next thing in the conversation is: "What kind of a car is that?" - My answer is: "An honest attempt at a reproduction of a Locomobile". My choice of models is based upon the Tiller Steering. Makes it a Model 1 or early Model 2 (based upon the book-"History of the Locomobile).
I then go on to explain that she has some things that the original did not. Like brakes. And related electronic control equipment. This usually expands the conversation into the history of the Stanley Brothers early activities with Walker and Barber. If by that time I have not caused everyone's eyes to glaze over, we might get into technical and engineering details.
I realize that there are some "so-called" purists out there that will take umbrage with my calling her a Locomobile Model 1 (Restored:re-engineered:reproduced).
To them I say - Screw You - It's my car - I put every nut and bolt in her myself. Where is your car?
Stream-of-consciousness on Steaming Her So Far
I have been driving her since July 1. The routine is stabilizing, but I still have worries about Loose Nuts. Since the engine was built 3 years ago and run on air a number of times, I had hoped that the overall installation would be stable. HA HA Running the engine on air will get to about 70% of the way. The remaining 30% requires steam, and that presents all the other issues, like "Driving Under Power/Load" or otherwise known as - "I hit a bump and now something rattles".
My biggest problem has been fallout from the lack of thread-locker. I cover the issue in previous episode but to review:
I thread-locked the bolts on the crank housing. I still found that the center crank bolt was working loose.
This allowed the crank webs to loosen and I fear that the keys and slots on the webs and shaft have been damaged. This is what it looked and sounded like "under power".
So I started looking into what could be done to run safely during this "season" while knowing full well that the engine would be coming out later this fall. I partially disassembled the linkages to try to get access to the center bolt. No such luck. The connecting rod covers the bolt, and removing the rod will require either removing the small end of the rod from the crosshead, or pulling the piston off in order to drop the crosshead to the point where the big end can be removed from the crank web pin.
Reversing Gear and Valve Timing Linkage Removed
Everything off but still no access to the bolt, I can get about 2 turns.
So I put everything back together, Torqued the hell out of the center bolt after dripping some Green LockTite in the seam. (Green is the wicking variety). Then I added new "Witness Marks" and will drive her some more.
TWO HOURS LATER -
I steamed her, and drove her for about 2 miles. Up and Down some gentle hills. I am still learning the "heartbeat" of the engine. If you have been following along this journey, you know I have created some automatic controls to handle the water level in the boiler. I have the ability to control the burner "enable", also the ability to have the feed-water bypass either be automatic or manual.
I set the feedwater bypass to manual so I could use the hand control to add water to the boiler when I see the need in the reflex glass. I need to get used to the way the level in the glass bounces around when going up and down hills. I am thinking I might want a longer "wait" time on the sensor to accommodate the fluctuations.
I am still having some "knocks" - and I painted the spot I suspected as the cause. There is a head of a countersunk screw impacting the side of one of the linkages on the reversing gear/valve timing setup.
The head is scraping the backside of the linkage. I had tried to grind away some of the metal "en-situ" but I think I am going to have to remove the link and grind a groove in order to stop the interference.
So I guess have have some projects to work on this week when Miles, my grandson, comes out to visit.
I am going to end this episode now, and start a new one covering the next set of tweaks.