I bought one. clear easy instructions. includes an empty fuel fill bottle, assembly tools. bag of spare wicks, spacers, and spare screws too. after lighting it and waiting 20 seconds it started immediately when flywheel turned. Superb.
Going to use my solar mirror with it, put the focus of the mirror on the tube, and run it on solar on a demo day for kids...Hopefully the Sun is not too hot...
If you buy one of these and it doesn't work, clean the power piston and cylinder with a piece of paper towel soaked in 91% rubbing alcohol. DON"T oil the cylinders! This worked for me. Michael
I built one of these that I bought from Amazon about two weeks ago, I was very impressed with the quality of the parts but I hate the the little 2 mm tubing they use for keepers on the ends of the pins. Don't get any oil in the cylinders if you decide to lube the pivot points, if you do you will have to clean the cylinders and pistons with alcohol to get it to run again. Oil seems to increase the compression too much in the cold (smaller) cylinder. It would be much better to use a dry lube such as graphite on the cylinders themselves. I guess for the price you can't expect them to balance the flywheel, which is why it vibrates like mad and walks across the table when running at full speed.
I am a technical when it comes to this I am still amazed. I am planning to make a biogasdigester and use the gas to heat a stirling engine that drives a washingmachine motor to creat electricity. And if I can produce more I would use it to heat water and cook. But what size of stirling engine would be powerfull enough to run a washingmachine motor?
Hi. Sounds like an amazing project. Iam not sure of the size of the cylinder you would need but stirling engines used to power factory machines. I imagine someone on line has built such a machine. Best of luck.
There was a nasty accident when a child added meths from a plastic bottle thinking the flame was out. It was not leading to exploding bottle, meths all over and severe burns. Nearly extinguished the Mamod name. Try to use a metal dispenser.
Hi Fred. I've been doing several stirling engine videos lately. I have this model and for some reason I can't get it to run. It almost wants to go. Any thoughts?
Mine started OK but got slower and finally stopped. Used silicone grease on power piston and displacer shaft which helped but there's way too much play in the parts including the ball-bearings. Disappointing. How did you fill the meths tank?
Thats a shame. Ive been getting the same thing for a month now. I wonder if the quality has changed as mine runs really smooth on the bearings. The tank i fill with a 100ml syringe.
Hi - I used syringe from printer ink kit. Got my engine to run after a lot of work taking out some of the slack and applying 3-in-1 oil on piston and displacer shaft once I got it to start - it then went berserk! Thanks for your help - it's a great gadget once it spins.
Hi Fred, I have recently got this kit and it ran great for several tanks or so and then when I came back to restart it, it would not run. Any ideas on how to get it back running again?
@@CB-RADIO-UK good to know they were once practical. I can imagine a future resurgence as gas prices are so high, especially at this side of the pond, and burning scrap wood is more economically sustainable and less environmentally harmful. Personally i think they'd be a hit in colder countries where they're heating their home's with fires anyway, and a Stirling engine could charge an electric car over night?
I’ve not been able to find the updated model with the brass cylinder. I’ve got the old style graphite piston model and the poor girl just doesn’t run anymore
@@CB-RADIO-UK I did. It helped it seal up again for a fair bit but now the gap is just too large for an efficient exchange since it just leaks past the piston. I’ve ran it for many hours it’s due for a new piston just need to find one as a replacement.
@@YakultFan3 it seems to me at the moment that the problem is some, even small, friction of the power piston with the cylinder. Actually at some point, maybe, of the motion the piston touches the cylinder and there is too much power loss that the engine cannot provide. If you carefully move the piston by hand you might agree.
Hi ! it is an stirling version beta ,are smother than version alpha,and not so powerful .Alpha ,are so much powerful and much louder .Also it was a third version , gamma,but those it was " only on paper',never build.In the last years of XIX century,those engines was used in mining ,because there are so powerful,so simple ...but in tme cames a prick named J.P.Morgan,with another painted ass ,Ford ,and money,and interests ,dictate " pass in the shadow" ,of many reat tehnoloies,ca stirling,tesla with electric motor,solenoid snd gravitational motors,etc...Like an idea....how it looks for you , buyng a car brand new with 60 % cheap=er ,than now ,with all costs almoust free?You see it ,also miniatural,that stirling engine wit 16 pistons? By the way ,stirlin engine it was patented in 1806 by an.....economist - like me :))- ,not an engineer.But now,these economist,SALUTTE YOU ALL ,from Romania .\m/
Problem with Stirling Engines is the lack of torque on the smaller models. To drive anything worthwhile you need a larger sized engine which makes the model very expensive.
I bought one. clear easy instructions. includes an empty fuel fill bottle, assembly tools. bag of spare wicks, spacers, and spare screws too. after lighting it and waiting 20 seconds it started immediately when flywheel turned. Superb.
Excellent kit! Worked first time.Good instructions (surprise). Runs about 10 minutes on one charge of alcohol.
My Stirling engine kit delivered today. My wife is buying it me for xmas, but I can't have it till then.
Nice one. Its a very smooth running engine with bearings. Enjoy your build.
Going to use my solar mirror with it, put the focus of the mirror on the tube, and run it on solar on a demo day for kids...Hopefully the Sun is not too hot...
Great idea !
Seems like a great little model, i like how it doesn't have those glass bits.
I got mine in the mail yesterday. Can't wait to put it together. Thanks for the videos.
Wow that sound at 4:48 is like a perfect machine gun sound lol
If you buy one of these and it doesn't work, clean the power piston and cylinder with a piece of paper towel soaked in 91% rubbing alcohol. DON"T oil the cylinders! This worked for me. Michael
Got one in the mail today. It's awesome. Works really good.
I built one of these that I bought from Amazon about two weeks ago, I was very impressed with the quality of the parts but I hate the the little 2 mm tubing they use for keepers on the ends of the pins. Don't get any oil in the cylinders if you decide to lube the pivot points, if you do you will have to clean the cylinders and pistons with alcohol to get it to run again. Oil seems to increase the compression too much in the cold (smaller) cylinder. It would be much better to use a dry lube such as graphite on the cylinders themselves. I guess for the price you can't expect them to balance the flywheel, which is why it vibrates like mad and walks across the table when running at full speed.
I learn something new today.... How a sterling motor function.... Thanks
Lovely... I hope mine arrives in time for Christmas.. 🙏🎄
did it?
I have the exact same engine it works really good fuel oil at a really good with three in one oil
I'm loving your rather alternative cheeky videos Fred ....😉
Thanks John. :-)
@@CB-RADIO-UK it's our secret 😁
if built 10 times bigger that would be amazing
Reduce the wick height for most efficient heat transfer.
Nice one Fred. Cool little engine
I am a technical when it comes to this I am still amazed. I am planning to make a biogasdigester and use the gas to heat a stirling engine that drives a washingmachine motor to creat electricity. And if I can produce more I would use it to heat water and cook. But what size of stirling engine would be powerfull enough to run a washingmachine motor?
Hi. Sounds like an amazing project. Iam not sure of the size of the cylinder you would need but stirling engines used to power factory machines. I imagine someone on line has built such a machine. Best of luck.
I was able to get mine to run at very high RPM with enough tinkering. It doesn’t stay on the table from the vibrations
Love Building / have something similar
great video and great engine, could you just use a t light?
Yes you can!. It will burn sooty though.
There was a nasty accident when a child added meths from a plastic bottle thinking the flame was out. It was not leading to exploding bottle, meths all over and severe burns. Nearly extinguished the Mamod name. Try to use a metal dispenser.
Yes that makes sense. thanks for the tip.
No paternal supervision!!!
Love it!
I got the same in 14£
Can I use oil on the other cold piston to prevent wear and compression loss?
Yes that should work.
Hi Fred. I've been doing several stirling engine videos lately. I have this model and for some reason I can't get it to run. It almost wants to go. Any thoughts?
The piston can be tight on some engines. I would take it apart and check its loose enough to run. Check all seals and oil all moving parts.
Clean the piston and cylinder with alcohol. DO NOT oil the cylinder! Michael
I just subscribed Fred ❤️ I am an inventor myself-what about installing a large fresnel lens and using the sun's energy to run it?
Sounds a interesting project.
Great idea.
Mine started OK but got slower and finally stopped. Used silicone grease on power piston and displacer shaft which helped but there's way too much play in the parts including the ball-bearings. Disappointing. How did you fill the meths tank?
Thats a shame. Ive been getting the same thing for a month now. I wonder if the quality has changed as mine runs really smooth on the bearings. The tank i fill with a 100ml syringe.
Hi - I used syringe from printer ink kit. Got my engine to run after a lot of work taking out some of the slack and applying 3-in-1 oil on piston and displacer shaft once I got it to start - it then went berserk! Thanks for your help - it's a great gadget once it spins.
From all discussion here does anyone has measure about the torque of the engine?
Hi Fred, I have recently got this kit and it ran great for several tanks or so and then when I came back to restart it, it would not run. Any ideas on how to get it back running again?
I seems that the piston gets tight. Might be an idea to strip it and lube moving parts.
Wd40 on the pistons maby that smooth things up.
hi,mmmm,interesting ,ive also learned something new today,are there any practical uses,
Not really. The motor has very little torque compared to a steam engine. Just fun to watch in action.
I would build a large one, link it to the back of a stove, hook up an alternator to a battery and use an inverter and generate usable electricity
@@johnnyboyle4811 they were used in industry before high pressure steam engines took over. Only issue is lack of torque.
@@CB-RADIO-UK good to know they were once practical. I can imagine a future resurgence as gas prices are so high, especially at this side of the pond, and burning scrap wood is more economically sustainable and less environmentally harmful. Personally i think they'd be a hit in colder countries where they're heating their home's with fires anyway, and a Stirling engine could charge an electric car over night?
srro for being a hater but you have no idea how it works and you know it ;) i actually liked the video i have bought one myself based on your video
Glad you liked the video. Its a good model.
I’ve not been able to find the updated model with the brass cylinder. I’ve got the old style graphite piston model and the poor girl just doesn’t run anymore
Have you tried a drop of steam oil in the bore ?
@@CB-RADIO-UK I did. It helped it seal up again for a fair bit but now the gap is just too large for an efficient exchange since it just leaks past the piston. I’ve ran it for many hours it’s due for a new piston just need to find one as a replacement.
How can I get 100cc powerful stirling engine for generator
My runs and for about 30 seconds and stops what do I do and what I mean run for 30 second it’s fast then it slows down what do I do
Plenty of thick steam oil around the piston.
Would you be able to make something for it so it would perhaps be able to charge up your phone ? , Just for laff's.
I dont think this would produce enough current but i have been getting some parts for a steam powered phone charger for some time now .
@@CB-RADIO-UK I will be looking forward to it.
Thanks Fred. You just cost me £20! Lol
Just 6 left on Ebay now then :-)
👍
Qc on these is really bad, mine will never work, it is not air tight, it just runs loose
I got one of these and it's not working. Anyone know what to do? I already made sure the arms were 90° apart
I would take it apart and check all the seals are set right. Also oil every moving part apart from the hot cylinder.
Mine doesn’t run :(
Try some thin oil in the bores
@@CB-RADIO-UK thx! But what is a bore?
Same problem here. After two days running (after oiling) now it doesn't. Did u solve? Any tips?
@@GP-su3zt me? My tips is just don’t get this again and just get a more expensive but more better one.
@@YakultFan3 it seems to me at the moment that the problem is some, even small, friction of the power piston with the cylinder. Actually at some point, maybe, of the motion the piston touches the cylinder and there is too much power loss that the engine cannot provide. If you carefully move the piston by hand you might agree.
Hi ! it is an stirling version beta ,are smother than version alpha,and not so powerful .Alpha ,are so much powerful and much louder .Also it was a third version , gamma,but those it was " only on paper',never build.In the last years of XIX century,those engines was used in mining ,because there are so powerful,so simple ...but in tme cames a prick named J.P.Morgan,with another painted ass ,Ford ,and money,and interests ,dictate " pass in the shadow" ,of many reat tehnoloies,ca stirling,tesla with electric motor,solenoid snd gravitational motors,etc...Like an idea....how it looks for you , buyng a car brand new with 60 % cheap=er ,than now ,with all costs almoust free?You see it ,also miniatural,that stirling engine wit 16 pistons? By the way ,stirlin engine it was patented in 1806 by an.....economist - like me :))- ,not an engineer.But now,these economist,SALUTTE YOU ALL ,from Romania .\m/
Thanks bud
How about making a Stirling kit engine that actually does something useful? Enough with the toys already!!
Problem with Stirling Engines is the lack of torque on the smaller models. To drive anything worthwhile you need a larger sized engine which makes the model very expensive.