Help dating stuart s50 engine

[Russell ButlerParticipant @russellbutler84995]

Hi all,
i have read in other posts that there is a lot of knowledge on here. i was hoping i may tap into some of that knowledge to help date a stuart s50 engine that was given to me by my grandad who had it as a boy. the steam chest and cylinder are all cast as one unit. also at the other end of the fly wheel shaft(not sure what this part is called) it has a circular part where i have seen on a lot of engines it is only part of a circle. hope that makes sence! i was just wondering if any one would have an idea about its age or how i could possibly find out.
thanks in advance for any possible help.
russ

[Russell ButlerParticipant @russellbutler84995]

A question from a newbee to model engineering

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The "Crank Web" is made from a circular piece of metal and in most cases is then cut to tapered shape to act as a counterbalance. It may just be that the builder decided to go for a "disc crank" rather than follow the plans to the letter. Maybe the drawings were altered at some time in the past as I've not seen the integral steam chest casting.

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[Engine BuilderParticipant @enginebuilder]

When I saw the title of this thread i thought you were asking how to take out a Stuart engine for a meal or to the cinema!

Edited By Engine Builder on 25/07/2018 08:59:20

Edited By Engine Builder on 25/07/2018 08:59:44

[CHRIS WOODS 1Participant @chriswoods1]

I have recently refurbished three S50 engines obtained in a very poor condition. Two are awaiting assembly. All had the cylinder and steam chest cast as one piece and the circular crank disc. The crank discs had to be cut off to remove the shaft as this cannot be pulled out due to the construction of the bedplate casting. It became clear that using new cranks of the shaped design allowed removal of the crank and axle assembly.

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[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I won't suggest we introduce 'Model Engineer Dating'. Given forum member's ability to disagree about anything and everything, the chance of finding two model engineers who are compatible is vanishingly small…

Neil

[Rob Murgatroyd 1Participant @robmurgatroyd1]

Tubal Cain published an excellent series of articles in ME about building a Stuart S50 starting in August 1992 under the title 'Sally'. One of his notes is that the original S50 was only available pre-built from Stuart and introduced as castings later. He writes that factory equipment allowed the crank to be fixed to the disc with a left-hand thread (so it would not unfasten during running), the plans for the build specified a right-hand thread and peening for practical reasons, but necessitated a sawn disc to allow assembly.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The Sally series is on the website, just change the last number of tehURL to get the next pdf.

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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[Russell ButlerParticipant @russellbutler84995]

Wow thanks every one for your replies. Even the daft ones! the fly wheel has six spokes so I guess this rules it out from being an early one. Would a reasonable guess be between 1920 and 1950 then? Will take a couple pics in morning. Again thanks for the information every one.

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember19781]

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