(Don’t miss this one; who says that kids aren’t interested in cars steam engines? This one is extremely crude in many respects, but it’s completely home made and it works. Undoubtedly the thrill of rediscovering the joys of steam engines (from scratch) is more exciting than a modern car to this builder. I can see why. PN)
This video is from Sovetsky District, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug — Yugra, Russia.
The power cylinder (2.5 liters of displacement) and piston are borrowed from an old diesel engine; the smaller piston, which works as the control slide valve for the hot steam, is from a Minsk motorcycle. There is no transmission or clutch, power is delivered directly to the rear wheel by the connecting rod. Front suspension combines two Ural motorcycle forks and a Lada steering rack, rear suspension is lacking. The wood-fired boiler is of fire-tube type, with wall thickness of 4 mm and displacement of 35 liters. Working pressure is currently set at 4 bars, but can be safely increased to at least 10 bars or even more. It takes 15 to 20 minutes to fire it up to working pressure. Top speed “is only limited by your sense of self-preservation”, according to the builder.
Pretty neat! Still a few people creating unique home built machines in Russia, Sort of like the the earlier mid 20th Century US backyard inventor days.
Me thinks Nader would have a heart attack if he was anywhere near this machine.
Very cool! My ex girlfriend used to clean houses on the side for extra money to spend on me, and one of her customers was a retired guy who had a full and complete machine shop in his garage, including a real Bridgeport mill. He made miniature steam engines as a hobby. His entire house was tastefully decorated with them, and they all were fully functional. My only regret was not taking pictures of them when I was there.
This was the most bada$$ed video I saw this week! The Russian people sure have guts! (The Nazis learned this the hard way!) In our modern Nerf world, this would “freak” everyone out! ( ‘Ooo there’s a fire and pressure and smoke and stuff….. Mommy!!) Not only is the trike cool, but the steam boat is awesome too!
I should point out that it is illegal to fire up and/or operate a steam boiler without a specific state license, at least in Oregon. Son Ed’s GF’s grandfather built from scratch a steam-powered vehicle to use in parades and such, and he had to end up using compressed air to run it for that reason. Of course, boiler explosions are nasty affairs.
I’m actually surprised he could run it on compressed air, since some place require a permit for any “pressure vessel”! I used to use an air compressor that my grandfather built with a former Jeep mounted WABCO compressor and a home made (literally welded steel ends on a pipe!) tank! That any of us are still alive, was the old vision, ingenuity – …and dumb luck of our forebears!
The American Cradle-to-Grave Nanny State ™ at work…
Take it to Bonneville, make a top speed run and be preserved in the record books forever!!
That’s a great idea! Just a few minor mods and it’s a go! 139.843mph easy as cake.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1209015/Success-British-steam-supercar-smashes-100-year-old-land-speed-record.html
Khanty Mansiysk being waaaaaay out in Siberia, with a substantial oil industry, I imagine that a young person there could have a lot of time and wide open space to experiment, and access to the technical know how necessary for this project. Still, it requires impressive initiative and guts to actually build something like this vehicle, that could literally burn you. Molodyets!
This young man should have a very bright future ahead of him. Amazing!
Yes; steam engines are the hot new growth industry. 🙂
Not yet. But someone is trying:http://cyclonepower.com/
Imagine trying that in the U.S. a.k.a. “The Land Of The Free”. :/
How does he stop it?
What’s interesting is that his single cylinder is only single-acting. Most steam engines are double-acting, with steam working on both sides of the piston. But that would have required a proper steam cylinder and piston. And his valve gear is very improvised, but it works, which is the main thing.
Yikes! I knew I shouldn’t have had that third vodka martini.
Marvellous! I love the look of simple joy it has given its builder.
It’s understandable, but in that way a shame, that in many (most?) places the amount of certification, insurance and red tape he’d face would kill this from the word go.
Horosho! This does look like something the local tinkerer would have built in his backyard back in the Teddy Roosevelt days.
Needs to work on his welding skills, I see a lot of boogers on there! Plus, I’d hate to be the first one to pressure test the boiler!
This thing is so elemental that it is cool. Steam vehicle technology of a hundred years ago was so far ahead of this vehicle that it’s funny. I wouldn’t have wanted to stand anywhere within 50 yards of it in its first three runs, but it would be cool to take just one ride. Bravo to brave homebuilders everywhere.
“Red Necks” last words “Watch this….”, also the words of great experimenters! I approve of this!