Stuart No. 1

[Frank57]

Hi, I have a set of castings for a Stuart Turner No. 1 engine and I intend to build this when I retire. I am also wondering what use to put the engine to and wondered if this engine would be big enough and powerful enough for a Steamlaunch?

If so, could anybody please advise as to size of boat I could expect such an engine to power and any limitations etc I might expect.

Any/all advice would be most appreciated.

Many thanks

Frank Lennon

[Mike Cole]

Hi Frank
there have been a couple of Stuart No 1engined boats around. One belonged to a fellow ME club member. It was call Spljin. details are stillon the SBA register.
If you think small and light.
Mike

[fredrosse]

Livingston Morris built this 12 foot steamer with a fiberglass “Wineglass Wherry” hull, Stuart No1 engine, and a wood fired watertube boiler. This boat can easily keep up with all the other steam launches in our group. Judging form the performance of this boat I would think up to 14-16 ft, with light weight construction and a good hull form, 1-2 people boat maximum would be OK for the No. 1 engine.

[Frank57]

Thanks guys, you have both been most helpful and given me food for thought!

Frank

[Lopez Mike]

Although the #1 is smaller and thus a bit less powerful than the #5A, it has a better cross head design.

Having built several #5s and one #1 for generator duty, I would strongly recommend modifying these engines for better lubrication and life. The cranks and cross heads wear rapidly under hard use.

The most successful change I've done was to substitute a built up crank for the one piece casting supplied and change over all three crank bearings to Torrington needle bearings lubricated with grease fittings. Far superior to cups and what not and a lot less mung flipping on everything.

Also, the supplied reverse gear bits will tend to wear and come loose. I have beefed them up with gratifying results. Same geometry, just more wear area and less likely to come apart.

Great little engines.

Mike

[Frank57]

Thanks Mike

That's sound advice, which I will bear in mind when I build the engine!

Frank

[VANYA]

Mike,

I have just purchased a Stuart #1 from the UK and ask if it is possible to post some photos of the ST # 1 upgraded engine.

Do you have it in a boat or as a stationary example working?

What boiler to you steam it with?? I am totally at sea with what boiler to have built.

Hayden

[Lopez Mike]

Alas, I have no pictures. The things that matter don't show much anyway.

The crankshaft is the easy one. I make mine up from individual bits. Separate shafts and crank disks that are cut away to form counter weights. I use drill rod for the shafts and leadloy (C12L14) for the disks. All pressed together. As large in diameter as you can arrange.

If the engine is going to really get run hard (as in generator duty) replacing as many plain bearings with needle bearings as possible is worth while. They can be greased once a day and left alone. Even the rod big end can be a needle bearing.

The rod small end lives a dog's life. Hardening the pin is a good idea. The #5A cross head will eventually develop some clearance and start knocking a bit. I've seen them chromed and ground to size.

The #1 cross head is easier to correct for wear being flat stock. Just build it with some shims that can be removed with time and wear.

The difference in power between the #1 and the #5A is fairly significant. I'd chose the 5A if it were me.

Mike