March 2000. The finished & sandblasted Sawyer Massey boiler. Fully welded,stress relieved,Hydro static tested & National Board certified for 175psi from Olivers Boilers.
Inside shop, cleaned and painted with high heat paint.
First thing to go back on is the engine. It fits on almost exactly as removed. The stress relieving didn't move any brackets.
Crank shaft is in,old babbit is removed now and crank is lined up in preparation to pour new bearings.See crank disc is sitting on roller made to support & allow adjustment up and down and forward and back.Crank center must be on center line of piston & rod.
A view on flywheel side. Crank sitting on roller & adjustable in position. Once located exactly. Bearings will be poured.
A picture of new bearings. Shims for cap adjustment are made. Blue colur on bearings is high spot blueing. Bearings will be scrapped in to improve surface contact with crank. (scrap off high spots)
All the gearing is installed, crank is in, starting to put piping on.
My helpers, right: Andrew Stirk, middle: Iain Stirk, left: my self David Stirk
Were getting close, wheels are on, all the valve gear is on and set, piping and tanks are next
July 1st 2000, Canada Day, were ready to steam up for the first time, picture left: Don Partrick, my self David Stirk, Son Andrew, daughter: Margaret,
Son Iain Stirk and Ted Cordingley to right. Couldn't have done it with out there help.
Andrew is the happeist person of all to have the first test run. We'll put the jacket and tanks on after we have run the engine a few times.
3rd week of July 2000, its DONE! 3 years from start of planing to finished. Just over 1200 hours in our shop, not counting Bob Olivers time in his boiler shop.
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