Check out how Keith Rucker at VintageMachinery.org completely remade the bronze shoes for the crosshead:
   • Machining Bronze Shoes for a Steam En...  
   • Machining Bronze Shoes for a Steam En...  

This restoration is on a 1920s Orr & Sembower vertical steam engine. It was apparently found in a river in Kansas, USA before being shipped to me. This steam engine is one of the worst condition items to ever come across my workbench. I have not worked on a steam engine before, so this will be a fun learning experience.

In Part 2, I remake all the missing and broken parts as well as slowly reassemble the entire tool.
I decided to make a few sensual upgrades as well.

The missing bronze shoes on the crosshead were complicated enough to remake that I decided to call for help to @VintageMachinery and @windyhillfoundry5940.

My machining equipment and personal skill were pushed to the maximum for this restoration, but I think it all turned out well enough to function. Making a new piston and piston rings was particularly challenging but was very rewarding.

I really want to run this steam engine on actual steam instead of my air compressor, but I do not have a steam boiler. Maybe I'll restore one in the future for this use. The steam engine seemed to run just fine on 14CFM @ 90 PSI and lower.

Wrenches and screwdrivers are now for sale at www.handtoolrescue.com

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Podcast (with Jimmy DiResta and Andrew Alexander) - https://anchor.fm/fitzall