Steam Launch Engine Tests.

This is the very pretty engine belonging to Mike Bell, which powers his beautiful steam launch 'Michelle'. It is a copy of a design dating back to circa 1895 by the LIFU (Liquid Fuel engineering Co.) but actually built in 2017. It is a compound (where the steam is used twice in successive cylinders). The cylinders are 2.5" and 5" diameter and have a common 4" stroke. When delivered the engine had a few teething troubles, most of which were fixed before the first part of this video. Although the engine ran well there was a very pronounced and annoying knocking noise, which after much head scratching we thought was caused by excessive end float on the big end bearings. Two new big ends were made and the boat was launched in Bristol Harbour with high expectations - result : the noise was still there! Finally, a new LP piston was made with just .005" clearance instead of the original 0.022" and at last, it was quiet - large G&Ts all round!