The Steamboating Forum

87gn@tahoe wrote:Monel might have been a bit less expensive in the '70's/ early '80's when John originally designed the engine. He was/is also a professional machinist, so exotic materials may have been more accessible to him at more reasonable prices.

I think that could well be the case. Certainly here in the UK the more exotic the material the less there is about nowadays, unless of course you have an "in" or are prepared to be held to ransom.

I used monel on my York. I don't remember it being too hard to machine. Certainly not as hard as the 17/4PH SS specified for the valve rods. I assume the advantage is corrosion resistance. These engines spend most of their lives looking good but not actually working. SS & mild steel can pit badly in the gland when sitting for a while. Then next time you run you rip the packing to shreds. Hard chrome would solve that problem but then so does monel.

Cheers

Paul

My dad and I visited John York yesterday and got a new toy... I asked John about the monel and he said, "It doesn't gall like stainless, and the chrome on chromed rods is only so-thick."

So there ya have it.

Now to show off new toy ;

John York himself (best side):



My father strapping, or strapping father:



Ready to roll:



Indoctrinating my nephew:

87gn@tahoe wrote:My dad and I visited John York yesterday and got a new toy... I asked John about the monel and he said, "It doesn't gall like stainless, and the chrome on chromed rods is only so-thick."

So there ya have it.

I guess you do.

What really astounds me is I thought I'd look up some sources and actually found there is one here in town. Can't get steel cast locally, but we do have a monel supplier. Unbelievable!