Days Flour Mill

**Steamwhisperer** · 24th April 2013, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by simonl

Hi Phil,

Watching steam driven machinery can be as mesmerising as staring into a camp fire!

So, have you re-built the wiers pump yet? If you are going to have it up and running for the next fire up of the boiler, I assume it does not look like it did in the photo?

How long did/would it take to rebuild it to operational status?

Cheers,

Simon

Hi Simon,
The pump has been sitting in the same spot I left it all those years ago, untouched and still dirty, but undercover. I am heading off to northeast Victoria on Thursday to bring it back home and start the full restoration, with pics of course. Hell, maybe even a movie

.
How long it will take is kinda' like how long is a piece of string. Until I strip it down and do a survey I wont know how worn out it is. I vaguely remember there was a major component missing but not irreplaceable.
It's going to be a great little project.

Originally Posted by neksmerj

Dear Phil.

Is restoration of the steam engine on the cards? If yes, will the steam engine be transported to "the hill" or will restoration be undertaken on site?

More info on progress would be appreciated, including the next fire up of the boiler so we can all be there.

Ken

Hi Ken,
we haven't heard anything yet but the people who have a lot of sway in these decisions were fairly impressed on the day. Whether they are still impressed is anybody's guess

.
What makes this engine so important is that it is a rare example of an E.T. Bellhouse engine in it's original position. Purchased brand new for the flour mill and never been moved to another location, an even bigger rarity these days. It would be considered sacrilegious to move it to another location so all the restoration work will be done on site. I am lucky that I kept my works trailer from my business. There is $32,000 worth of engineering tools in it so 90% of the work will be easily done onsite. The rest I will probably take home or to the 'Hill' for machining purposes etc.
Should Parks decide to do another Steaming day I can assure you I will be posting a notice here immediately. I hate to say it and I don't know why I thought it but I didn't think many people would be interested. How fantastic it was to find out I was wrong

Originally Posted by Ueee

Dear strip teaser with handle bars!

Gives a whole new meaning to the words pole dancing....add the words steamy, hot, fiery and dirty to that and it sounds like a good thing (strictly talking about above the belt here of course

)

Hi Ewan,
thanks for that. I now have a vision that is really disturbing and I can't get rid of.

**A Duke** · 24th April 2013, 12:09 AM

Just don't tease the engine too much when you strip it.
Regards

**simonl** · 24th April 2013, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

I hate to say it and I don't know why I thought it but I didn't think many people would be interested. How fantastic it was to find out I was wrong

Give yourself an uppercut and don't let it happen again Phil, I think it fair to say that many of us are interested in such projects. Your passion for steamy things is infectious to say the least!

Simon

**Steamwhisperer** · 24th April 2013, 01:56 PM

Lol Simon, now I have a vision of me giving myself an uppercut. Much better than the last vision. When I think about it, a lot of stuff on here is making new components or making old machines new again. I just happen to have a passion for heritage steam. Damn I love my life.

Phil

**Steamwhisperer** · 25th April 2013, 10:35 PM

Just to put this thread to bed, I went and picked up the weirs pump I intend restoring to feed water to the boiler until the pump driven by the engine is put back into operation.

Phil

After rolling it out from under the bench where I put it about 20 years ago
DSC_0872.JPG DSC_0874.JPG

Out in the sunshine. Poor thing hasn't seen that for a while
DSC_0879.jpg

This thing is damn heavy! Gotta be pushing 150 kg
Really struggled pulling it up the ramp onto the ute
DSC_0883.jpg

Then I realised she was taking pics of the struggle so made it look like I did it easy.
DSC_0884.jpg

All tied down and ready to roll
DSC_0885.jpg

Home at last. 500 km round trip, and a lot easier to unload.
DSC_0893.jpg

And in it's new position awaiting restoration ( I couldn't help myself so have started already

)
DSC_0894.jpg

**fubar** · 26th April 2013, 09:17 AM

well you've caught me
start a new thread or keep this one going I'm watching with interest

**PDW** · 26th April 2013, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

Home at last. 500 km round trip, and a lot easier to unload.
DSC_0893.jpg

Hope you keep in mind that trusses, generally are rated in Fat Carpenter units and only designed to carry a load of 1 Fat Carpenter, which, I'm told, equates to 120 kg.....

Which is why my shed trusses are hardwood and designed to a 2 Fat Carpenter load rating so I can do this sort of thing....

PDW

**chambezio** · 26th April 2013, 11:11 AM

PDW
That "One fat Carpenter" measurement is a good one!
This fat carpenter cannot go onto a shed roof that has top hat steel battens! They sag terribly, so I have had to be the "ground man" handing up the next sheet and cheek to the lighter members of the team.
Lately I have experience with man holes in ceilings that were definitely NOT made for One Fat Carpenter

**Steamwhisperer** · 26th April 2013, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by fubar

well you've caught me
start a new thread or keep this one going I'm watching with interest

No worries Fubar, as at the time of writing I have taken 121 pics of the strip down including a couple of nasty surprises.
So far there is only one missing part which is an easy item to make from scratch. It may be a bit hard to work out the dimensions but I think we have a pump the same size at work I can measure up.

Originally Posted by PDW

Hope you keep in mind that trusses, generally are rated in Fat Carpenter units and only designed to carry a load of 1 Fat Carpenter, which, I'm told, equates to 120 kg.....

Which is why my shed trusses are hardwood and designed to a 2 Fat Carpenter load rating so I can do this sort of thing....

PDW

Hi Pete,
normally I would support the truss with a nagging missus and a couple of annoying kids

but decided I would take my chances. Careful selection of sling placement and constant monitoring of deflection in said truss (damn thing only move 2 mm (less than an 1/8") plus I double checked with one fat engineer swinging off it

and she was gently lowered to the ground incident free.
I know you said you ''don't listen to anything said on this forum" but I thought I would answer anyway

Phil

**Cueball** · 26th April 2013, 10:27 PM

Hi Phil,

Thanks for this thread. As usual, it informs and entertains - a great combination. It is great to see thoughtful restoration and I too will be hoping that the word comes down from on high to proceed with the restoration. I look forward to seeing your progress on the feed pump.

Many years ago, when around twelve or thirteen, I was offered a working steam engine off a friends farm here in WA. It used to power the pump that lifted water from a river to irrigate the pastures of a dairy farm. Unfortunately, my parents just couldn't come to allowing me to have a working steam engine with an 8 foot (2.4m) flywheel/drive pulley in the back yard - something about the fact of it weighing around two and a half tonnes came into the discussion. Such losses are hard to bear in life!!

Again thanks and encouragement.

Quentin

**Steamwhisperer** · 27th April 2013, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by Cueball

Hi Phil,

Thanks for this thread. As usual, it informs and entertains - a great combination. It is great to see thoughtful restoration and I too will be hoping that the word comes down from on high to proceed with the restoration. I look forward to seeing your progress on the feed pump.

Many years ago, when around twelve or thirteen, I was offered a working steam engine off a friends farm here in WA. It used to power the pump that lifted water from a river to irrigate the pastures of a dairy farm. Unfortunately, my parents just couldn't come to allowing me to have a working steam engine with an 8 foot (2.4m) flywheel/drive pulley in the back yard - something about the fact of it weighing around two and a half tonnes came into the discussion. Such losses are hard to bear in life!!

Again thanks and encouragement.

Quentin

Hi Quentin,
I wouldn't stress too much about the engine. Most of our heritage got thrown all over Europe during the second world war.

Phil
ps Feed pump progress has begun

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