Saito Hercules

[steveciambrone]

Some how the other thread was closed. My Satio Hercules is powered by a T2DR with a BF boiler, runs great abandoned the Original burner and use a Cheddar fire tube ceramic burner which uses butane, I get a 20-25 minute run with it now.

Here are the Pics

Thanks
Steve

[MILLERTIME]

Good looking boat, how about pictures of the engine and runing gear.

Thank's
Don M.

[Kmot]

What thread???

Hey, I recognize that green water! :D

[steveciambrone]

I will get some pics in a few days swamped with things lately.

Steve

Good looking boat, how about pictures of the engine and runing gear.

Thank's
Don M.

[Kmot]

Steve, do you still have this tug?

[SRush99]

Kmot,
I have a Hercules with Saito Steam engine. I had purchased the tug from a gentleman in 2002 and didn't try to run it until 2 weeks ago. I'm trying to get the steam engine to run for more than a minute based on the limited information I have. I'll get some pics to post tonight.
-Stuart

[steveciambrone]

Steve, do you still have this tug?

I must have missed this thread a coupled of weeks ago. Yes, I still have this tug.

Steve

[steveciambrone]

Kmot,
I have a Hercules with Saito Steam engine. I had purchased the tug from a gentleman in 2002 and didn't try to run it until 2 weeks ago. I'm trying to get the steam engine to run for more than a minute based on the limited information I have. I'll get some pics to post tonight.
-Stuart

Maybe explain a bit further the problem your having. Burner only running for a minute or runs out of steam in a minute.

Steve

[Iccccie]

Stuart,

I have the three cylinder saito engine and i guess my boiler is a little bit bigger, but not sure. Are you missing your 'Instruction booklet' ? I might be able to scan or take a good quality picture of mine and e-mail it to you if you want. Even though it's not the same motor and boiler, running procedure will be almost identical.

From my experience, of what you describe, it sounds like your boiler is lacking power. This leading to de burner not putting out enough energy (flame). Are you using the supplied saito alcohol burner? If so, i would check the burner nozzle, burner tank, and the whick inside the burner tank. My one got clogged up by tiny brass particles from production after a few runs. And what i've heard this is pretty common with saito burners.


Patrik

[Kmot]

I must have missed this thread a coupled of weeks ago. Yes, I still have this tug.

Steve
Is it possible to bring it to Hansen on a lunch break? Or is it a Saturday only sort of thing? :D

[steveciambrone]

Is it possible to bring it to Hansen on a lunch break? Or is it a Saturday only sort of thing? :D

Yeah sure, I need to go boating again. I will see what my schedule is like this week.

Steve

[Kmot]

Sweet! :D

[SRush99]

I'll try to describe the engine as best I can. The engine and boiler are made by Saito. The gentleman I bought it from said both the plans for the Herc and the Saito were in Japanese. He knew a Japanese lady who translated the Tug plans to English and I don't think the engine was ever run. He did include the steam engine oil and I made sure the two red labeled reserviors were filled with the steam engine oil. I used distilled water in the boiler. I read where you remove one of the plugs on the side of the boiler when filling as not to overfill. I used denatured alcohol for fuel and filled a brass cap with the alcohol which I lit to preheat the burner valve. When the brass cap was almost out of fuel, I opened the valve slightly and lit the burner - cool sound! I could get the temp on the boiler up to about 2kg/sq cm but once I advanced the throttle, the boiler would dump steamy water into what I think is an exhaust reservior. From there the water would flood into the exhaust stack and the boiler would die. There is another steam oil reservior which connects to the exhaust reservior and the pressure valve. I have no idea what this does.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've seen videos of steam powered boats and they are absolutely incredible.

Thanks guys!

[steveciambrone]

From the pictures almost everything is in order.
1. The saito steam or throttle valve is also used to actuate a whistle if installed. When the throttle is in the fully open position it also opens the port to the whistle, the key it to only open the throttle for the engine so it can run at full speed and not far enough to open the whistle port.

2. Excess condensate is normal on start up and can put out the burner, without a separator tank. The separator tank might have to be repositioned so the vent is on top and the exhaust from the engine is on the bottom.

3. The forward oil tank is a smoker tank, which when filled with oil will then seep oil into the smoke box. This may be part of the problem if the valve is open on startup, it should be closed for starting and them can be slightly opened after the engine is running smoothly and then adjust the valve for the amount of smoke you desire. I would leave it closed until you get he bugs out of starting and running it.

4. Lowering the water level in the boiler will also reduce the amount of condensate on startup just fill the boiler until you get water coming out the front hole in the boiler. Surface tension of the water can allow it to be overfilled to a certain extent.

5. One thing I noticed in the pictures was the fuel tank safety valve did not have any hose on it. This needs to be vented outside of the boat so when the fuel tank vents you do not get alcohol vapor inside the boat which it will then catch the boat on fire. Been there, done that.

Hope this helps.
Steve

[Kmot]

Steve really knows his steam stuff! :D

[SRush99]

Steve,
Thanks for the tips. I think I'll mount the engine on a piece of plywood outside the tug for some "practice runs" until I get the bugs worked out and feel more comfortable with it's operation.

I'm going to move the seperator tank around and see if that helps. There was a lot of water moving from the seperator into the exhaust stack when I was trying to get it running. That may be the culprit.

One more think. There is a whistle in the upper portion of the smoke stack. I don't think it is connected to a pressure line. Where does it get it's pressure from?

You've been a great help. Thank you very much!

-Stuart

[steveciambrone]

For the whistle connect it to the silicone tubing which is connected to the other side of the throttle valve. This port is opened when the throttle valve is in full throw position. This is where you want to limit your own movement of the throttle stick when operating. in operation it is not hard, just when you want full speed increase the throttle and if you hear the whistle back off the throttle until it stops.

Steve

[Iccccie]

Steve,
Thanks for the tips. I think I'll mount the engine on a piece of plywood outside the tug for some "practice runs" until I get the bugs worked out and feel more comfortable with it's operation.

I'm going to move the seperator tank around and see if that helps. There was a lot of water moving from the seperator into the exhaust stack when I was trying to get it running. That may be the culprit.

One more think. There is a whistle in the upper portion of the smoke stack. I don't think it is connected to a pressure line. Where does it get it's pressure from?

You've been a great help. Thank you very much!

-Stuart


Stuart,

PM your email address and i will send you a copy of the instruction for the boiler and engine in english.

[steveciambrone]

Here is a set of instructions I developed and have posted before:

Saito Live Steam Starting Instructions

1. Fill the boiler approximately ¾ full with distilled or filtered rain water.
2. The plug at the front top of the boiler can be used as an overflow indicator, fill boiler until it runs out.
3. Drain the water from the displacement lubricator and refill with genuine steam oil.
4. Ensure the burner valve is closed.
5. Fill the fuel tank with Methyl or denatured alcohol.
6. Lubricate the engine with 30w or similar oil.
7. Ensure the throttle valve is closed.
8. Fill the metal bottle cap with fuel and place under the burner, this is used to preheat the burner and warm the fuel tank to provide pressure for the fuel.
9. Just before the bottle cap runs out of fuel , open the burner valve and the burner should light, it will be a little rough for a few minutes until the burner gets fully heated.
10. Adjust the fuel valve to get a good flame, if you can’t see the flame then adjust so it can be heard but not a loud roar.
11. Keep an eye on the steam plant and a head of steam should be raised in 4-10 minutes depending on the boiler and burner.
12. I would wait until 10-20 PSI is indicated on the pressure gauge if equipped. If no pressure gauge is present you might start to hear or see steam escaping from around the engine.
13. Crack open the throttle valve, most two cylinder double acting engines will self start; condensate will come out of the engine exhaust.
14. With some engines it is better to set the engine in forward then reverse to clear the condensate.
15. Do not try to strongly force the engine to turn if it is locked up with condensate, given slight pressure it will clear the condensate and eventually start. Unless the engine is faulty if it is getting steam pressure it will run.
16. Run the engine conservatively at first checking to make sure you do not run the boiler dry before the fuel is exhausted.
17. Keep the RPM low since most model steam engines are intended to run at 1000 RPM or less. This will require running a coarser pitched or larger diameter propeller than an electric motor.
18. There are other details if things are not working ask a question to the group and it will probably be answered.
19. Have fun Steaming

Thanks
Steve

[SRush99]

Hi Steve,

Thanks,
I used your procedure when I first started my steam engine. It helped tremendously.

Iccccie, I'm PMing you my email address - Thanks!

[Iccccie]

Hi Stuart,

PM and email sent!

Patrik

[SRush99]

Got it! Thanks!

-Stuart