Steaming through 2019

Despite a late start  (did not get on the road until early May) due to finding the Driver's side front wheel bearing had suffered water damage and pressure of work on the famous Crofton Beam Engines   conservation and restoration project which I was leading, we still managed to put 550 miles on the Stanley. We attended several local events, the Steam Car Club of Great Britain New Forest Tour ,  the Kop Hill Climb and the Prescott Autumn Classic and even gave a lift to several steampunk ladies from local group Steamhenge - watch the video

Main winter 2018-19 maintenance task - brake shoe and band reline

Found the Driver's Side outside brake band hanger had fractured, another job added, made a new one from phosphor bronze

Final job - regrease front wheel hubs - and found water damage to the Driver's side inner bearing - a replacement job

Eventually got the car on the road in early May

Power feed pumps leaking more than usual, eventually traced to boiler feed inlet blocked with  scale, all eamed out and another check to be added to regular maintenance schedule 

Out and about at local events, Aldbourne Doggy Day

Aldbourne Doggy Day

Our first failure on the road, fractured feed heater delivery pipe - fortunately happened a coupe of miles from home, so could limp back on Stanley Stored Power

Wanborough Show in July

And won the Favourite Car  trophy! Stanley triumphs again!

Spares collection picked up a set of brake drum castings as the orginal pressed steel drums are getting very thin

The only tour we manged in 2019 a good time had by all

Next to another local steamer, the one that got away last year, a 1903 White

Our cars were pride of place outside Palace House at Beaulieu

Hill climbing again, at the start line at the Kop Hill Climb

And with Morgans at the Prescott Autumn Classic

End season and time for the boiler inspection - burner drop needed this time so bottom tube plate thinkness can be checked

Cild and hot boiler inspections done, drain down, coat brightwork with Renaissance Wax, and tuck car up for the winter

I make my cars to go not to stop.....

Ettore Bugatti is rumoured to have said...not a good idea on the open road I think!. So this winter's job is a brake reline....which revealed a broken inside brake band suspension link links the off side of the car, a loose brake shoe lining on the near side, and worn original brake drums....

Checking  template for the new inside link; they are soldered to the brake lever shaft bush, so a new one of those is needed too.

Brake drums off to send away for cleaning up

Relined brake shoe - original bronze casting, one split shoe that flexes, note Stanley part numbers. Shoes are stamped D/SIDE and P/SIDE for identification. Must have confused things when Stanleys switched to left hand drive in 1915!

Latest altho delayed news.....

More haste less speed......

The Speedo drive gear arrived and the Russ Furstnow restored speedometer has bee commissioned, works well (Russ did remind me that a speedometer of that era would only be accurate to plus or minus 5 mph)

And we had a spring clamp nut come off  on the way to the the Aldbourne Doggy Day

More Haste Less speed part 2

Took advantage of warm(er) weather over Xmas to progress installing the speedometer and do a trial setup of the drive from the LH front wheel. Waiting for a new speedometer drive gear (eventually decided not to use the worn one I had) then will do the final install.

More Haste less speed.....

After a lot of searching we have found a fully restored correct Stewart-Warner speedometer for the car. A number of the surviving sister cars retain their original speedometers, so we knew exactly what to look for.

The speedometer,  a correct Stewart Warner chain link drive cable and parts for the swivel drive unit which fits onto the left hand front wheel were sourced from US expert Russ Furstnow of Flagstone, Arizona.

Glorious Goodwood

We were flattered that our car was deemed worthy for the Cartier Style et Luxe Concours at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which this year featured  a "120 years of the Stanley Motor Carriage" section. Our Model 607 spent the event  on the Cartier Lawn in company with a 1903 Model B Stanley (class winner) 1909 Mountain Wagon, 1914 Model 606 Roadster and a 1923 Model 740B - plus a supporting cast of Rolls Royce Silver Ghosts, Fiat 500 variants, Ferarris, Aston Martins and a host of super and hyper cars - what a mix!

Watch this space.....

Bust busy busy...with Heritage Lottery Fund projects for Crofton Beam Engines so no time for Steam Cars. Next  outing will be to the Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group rally  at Oare, near Marlborough on 10 and 11 June.