I have a new project, Restoring a old Steam Engine Governor.

[B Nettesheim]

Our tractors have a 2” & 2-1/2” inch governors and they are 22/75 horse ratings

 

[redrockranger]

Check out the Old Thrasher Reunion. Mt Pleasant, Iowa. It's huge and a market place for that item ?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Can someone explain what I’m ever looking at and how it works?

Think of this hooked to a fuel supply or throttle shaft like on a lawnmower

 

[Riesel]

Would have made a hell of a lamp

 

[gdbleb]

Every June there is a steam engine show at Portersville PA. My dad used to take me to it, and after I went to college in the 80's he spent a few years volunteering to run and display an old steam engine and thrasher. I have a picture of him on it, somewhere. Fascinating machines.

(The way things are headed, we may be back there using them again someday....Thnks Joe!)

If I get to the show this year I will take photos of the old engines.

I'll add Thresherman's Reunion in Kinzers, PA in August. Its amazing.
https://roughandtumble.org/viewreference/40/eventschedules/

Their boiler could probably drive that governor along with all their stationary engines.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I got it all apart, the only piece I have to make is the top shaft, which is bent. It fits in a taper in the Governor body and locked with a set screw.

 

[gdbleb]

That a rusty old Rivett 50x in the background?

 

[KMart]

I got it all apart, the only piece I have to make is the top shaft, which is bent. It fits in a taper in the Governor body and locked with a set screw.
View attachment 1323810View attachment 1323811

Isn't straightening steel shafts one of your specialties?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Isn't straightening steel shafts one of your specialties?

I know making them from scratch is

 

[snert]

I have to say I love this forum! Where else can you talk guns and esoteric steam engine part restoration in the same breath, with people who are doing it, RIGHT??!! Love the photos guys.

 

[FNSafari]

Gene Parsons in his younger days was the drummer for the Byrds...in the days of Sweetheart of The Rodeo. A super talented multi-instrumentalist. He invented and made the B Bender made famous by Clarence White one of the most talented guitarists ever. Interesting what he is doing with steam and steam accessories.

 

[jdh47]

It's a wonderful piece of history that's fading fast.

 

[B Nettesheim]

I was in Port Arthur at a Shipyard Monday and Tuesday, and before I left, I paid a visit to the office to say high to the owners.

When I walked into their lobby, I saw this standing in the corner. I asked them where they got the old Steam Engine Governor, and the owner said he found it at a county fair, and was planning on making a lamp from it.

I told him it looked almost complete, and would be worth restoring.

he asked me if I wanted it. I asked him how much, he said I could have it.

It was painted with red primer, I stripped it all off so I can take pictures, then disassemble it, repair any bent or broke parts, and bring it back to life. As best I been able to ascertain, it was probably manufactured in the early 1900’s.

I can’t really give a good reason why, I just think it is a neat piece of equipment from a past time.

I guess you can say I will be going “balls out” with this project.View attachment 1323593View attachment 1323594View attachment 1323595

Good find!!

 

[Tommie]

Gene Parsons in his younger days was the drummer for the Byrds...in the days of Sweetheart of The Rodeo. A super talented multi-instrumentalist. He invented and made the B Bender made famous by Clarence White one of the most talented guitarists ever. Interesting what he is doing with steam and steam accessories.

My barber is an accomplished guitar player. A few years back he showed me a photo of him holding that very guitar. His face was beaming. I believe he had a backstage pass at a Marty Stuart concert.

 

[FNSafari]

My barber is an accomplished guitar player. A few years back he showed me a photo of him holding that very guitar. His face was beaming. I believe he had a backstage pass at a Marty Stuart concert.

Yes Marty Stuart bought it from Clarence White’s widow after he was killed by a drunk driver while loading gear after a show. Clarence was lead guitar for the Byrds and a good friend of Parsons. ,there are some great vids of them on iTunes along with an interview with Marty on how he came by Clarence’s guitar.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I got a new shaft machined to replace the bent one today. It has a taper that fits into the cast iron body, is hollow, with two bronze bushings on each end to support the long actuator rod that goes through it. I machined it from 416R Stainless. (Any guesses where I got that?)

I also machined a new Stainless Steel pulley shaft.

The only thing left is to machine a small lock collar for the top shaft. I also need to get Stainless bolts to replace all of the old rusted ones.

I might still decide to make a new pressure adjustment worm gear. The old one looks pretty rough. It is all one piece, probably a casting.

I still have to make new leaf springs to mount the balls. I haven’t painted the balls because I am trying to decide what color.

Here are some pictures of the progress.

 

[Bc'z]

I love that shade of red!!

 

[55fairlane]

Friend of mine believes the v shive (pully) should be a flat belt pully with sides on the pully......

 

[jackieschmidt]

Friend of mine believes the v shive (pully) should be a flat belt pully with sides on the pully......

I agree. Every picture I see of these old steam governors do have a flat belt pulley.

this is the pulley that was on it. I might look at some pictures and machine a flat belt pulley That would be in more keeping with what it originally had.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I finished it last earning and this morning.

I reamed out all of the linkage holes and made new pins from nickel bronze.

I am searching the various web sites in search of a small flat belt pulley. If I can’t fine one, I will make one, probably out of brass.

it’s going to look good sitting in the entrance hall to my house,