Cheap Live Steam Car that needs a Rubber Band to Work from EngineDIY Shop!

[@marksecret9973]

I will offer EngineDIY due credit for sending Lawrie the genuine article. They could so easily have tweaked it to work much better than it does and we would have been none the wiser.

[@Taggart00]

they probably did by adding the rubber band

[@parmesanzero7678]

Yeah lots of companies do this. They often spend extra time on the models they send to reviewers.

[@AnthonyDeRobertis]

The rubber band should function as a secondary pressure relief, so at least there is something good about it. (Feels sort of similar to the one on pressure cookers, where the gasket will deform and release the pressure if the other regulators fail).

[@hughbrown9398]

I suspect it wouldn't be too hard to improve this. My own first move would be to get some fine wet and dry and something flat (personal preference is for the glass out of a dead scanner) and lap the mating faces of the cylinder and the port plate (which looks fairly easy to remove) a bit flatter. Then I'd hunt up a softer, and maybe longer, retaining spring. That should sort the engine itself. Next move would be a spot of loctite, or even cheapo super glue on every thread apart from maybe the ones holding the boiler together. That should see it at least perform as designed. There's probably not much to be done about the tiny boiler and burner without major surgery. It's certainly never going to perform well out of doors given that even good potboilers are very sensitive to weather. Replumbing to carry the steam feed through the fire might help a bit. I was thinking that heating the exhaust steam probably wasn't hurting anything, but then it occurred to me that really efficient steam plants have condensers on their exhaust. As this is doing the opposite, it might be undesirable so may be worth ditching. On the plus side, I'm quite impressed that the engine ran at all at the low speed shown when you had the cylinder done up tight. Most single -acting oscillators need more speed than that to carry them through the dead half of their cycle.

[@enginediyshop6269]

Thanks for the Review video, we'll keep trying to do better!

[@bassett_green]

You guys are pretty cool in my book tbh

[@dalecherne5377]

So many things I want to say, but I'm biting my tongue...

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

I think there's a conflict of interest here. I think they intentionally make these steam toys as jank and dangerous as possible specifically to frighten you. Or they didn't like the last review, and they're trying to eliminate you Mafia-style in a small boiler explosion-related "accident" by sending you another one.

[@Mekaniskidiot]

I sometimes see there products on TikTok on there account, and i always think that "thats not how its gonna be when it arrives"

[@lady_draguliana784]

among manufacturers, there is a perception that 'old timey' things don't need to be precisely measured. there is also a push to monetize off-cuts of good material, so variant measurements save on printing, since, if using off-cuts and industrial scrap, measurements can't be guaranteed. is that happening here? IDK, you tell me...

[@janhanchenmichelsen2627]

I bought an old Mamod with a lot of tiny workshop tools many years ago, to have some fun with my youngest, gadget loving son. We had to solder the leaking boiler and refit some pipework, find proper connecting bands online and make a new tablet--holder for the burner (cut a beer-box to fit). But then it fired up and ran for 3-4 minutes, really fast and really strong. 50-60 years old. Payed around NOK 250 (around 20 quid), then another NOK 100 for the bands. It is just fascinating that the Chinese can’t be bothered to build even such a simple machine to a decent standard. And $199.99 is not cheap in my book.

[@lmm]

The old stuff is really good - glad you got it going! It's cheap for a new engine, they're quite expensive

[@IndianaNorthWestern]

I would personally get one if the boiler was made out of cast iron, in hopes that it has a catastrophic failure and puts me out of my misery from the pure disappointment of it.

[@Challenger3985Productions]

Wilesco makes top-notch traction engines and also wilesco puts precision engineering into their model steam engines

[@lmm]

They're really good engines

[@bentullett6068]

In price terms how much is this model against a Mamod steam car model? I would probably buy the Mamod steam car over this as I know they are built well.

[@trainswithnickyt]

I wonder now, whether a softer spring could fix one issue easily/cheaply, as for the boiler capacity, that's an issue as already, the fire struggles to heat it if it's not inside.... Despite all that, I want to like it and I'd be really interested in seeing if anyone modifies one to make it better somehow

[@adelestevens]

If you want a cheap working steam vehicle, might I suggest trying out a maxitrak sentinel DG6. They're radio conttolled , quite fun, run across tarmc much better, and run for much longer than that little kettle on wheels.

[@TheHatMusic]

I've been eying up those Sentinels for a while now. They look really tidy, and it wouldn't take a lot of effort to super detail one. It's still somewhat of a price jump from these cheap and (sort of) cheerful steam toys, but the jump in quality is really notable.

[@Mekaniskidiot]

I mean if you want a some-what cheap steam engine, buy a Wilesco d2, 3,4 or 5

[@catfish552]

I wasn't too surprised by the rubber band as I'd seen that on a steam model before, but that one was *slightly* smaller... cylinder about the size of the steam pipes on this 😅

[@MrPeterhe]

This wants me to have a rummage in the attic for my old Mamod steam car.

[@guidor.4161]

I thought it looked good at first sight, pity it isn't up to par. In addition to the issues you listed, why didn't they make the chassis sit level? Can't be that hard?

[@carolinecleaveley-q1r]

Hi Lawrie hope you feeling better. Good luck for 2024.

[@adrianchetwynd1334]

By saying circular motion they mean circular path. A circular path means that the model returns to where it set off from.

[@markmiddleton1772]

i think in uk as in Europe sight glasses and solid fuel became law in the late 70s early eighties for new build engines

[@lmm]

I thought the story was Mamod had to change their design due to the American law. Was fairly sure that was the case here too

[@EngineVids]

Theres a german company called somthing like lutz heiscler that uses a rubber band on the cylinder and has a glass boiler. Im sure this steam car is illegal in europe (UK) as on a mamod/wilseco group people said theres a law that means all steam models need a sight glass, Mamod had to add one due to the change in the 70s.

[@JSmith19858]

Not true. Below 3 bar litres it's optional, check the boiler test codes. If boilers below 3 bar litres need a sight glass then Nespresso machines are illegal

[@EngineVids]

@@JSmith19858 why did mamod have to change to using a sight glass then? Thats what everyone says🤔.

[@JSmith19858]

@@EngineVids read the boiler regs. I'm not getting into a pointless strawman argument with you

[@EngineVids]

@@JSmith19858 weird how your not explaining it, in the small steam engine groups im in everyone says engines to be sold in europe has to have a sight glass for safety in the 70s, wilesco didnt have a sight glass till the european regulations in the 70s changed. Im not arguing its you that seems to be agitated🤔😞

[@JSmith19858]

@@EngineVids dudebro, broski, my man, you're wrong. I build model boilers. I know the regulations. There are commercial model boilers available, under 3 bar litres, that don't have sight glasses or pressure gauges, because they're optional equipment. Read the boiler regs or show me the regulation where it states there must be a sight glass. Untill you can show me, like I can with the boiler regs, you're using anecdotes to try and prove your point, and as such you're talking through your hat

[@ravenhhca]

Oh good, another kit we can can re-engineer.

[@matthewholzinger1042]

Remove the cylinder and its mating plate. Then I would use a couple grades of aluminum oxide paper to hone the surfaces. Of course holding the paper to a nice flat surface. I do this with heat sinks for electronics with excellent results.

[@lmm]

Yes, I think that could work

[@eliotreader8220]

@@lmm I think your efforts to make the engine work properly did her the world of good. I was expecting to see the band melt. I like how you compared her to a mamod engine.

[@gleggett3817]

think one could probably estimate a "safe" amount of fuel. Add 40ml of water and calculate energy to turn 30ml of that to steam. Ignore heating water to 100C as energy

[@NiallWardrop]

I don't understand why spring + rubber band works but tighter spring on its own doesn't as they are doing the same thing. There must be a point in the spring adjustment which is equivalent to looser spring + rubber band.

[@lmm]

There probably is, but the spring is too stiff, and the bolt not long enough For it to seal, it has to be tight on the end of the thread. Anything less and it leaks.

[@stuartross282]

Lovely door stop you have

[@TylerBenney]

Better of just buying a mamod.

[@dalecherne5377]

Instead of "Steam Model Car", I think the company could have used much better names such as: 1. The Bootleg 2. P.O.S 9000 3. Reliant Lemon 4. Ford 5. SHIIITY 500 6. Faux-ward (instead of "forward")

[@joedingo7022]

maybe a rubber band on the steering to keep it turning the same direction ;-)

[@Mr_wally]

Now anyone curious what will happen if it runs out of water

[@Hazcumber]

It will explode

[@sablatnic8030]

It will probably burn the gasket between the two boiler halves.

[@detroitredneckdetroitredne6674]

Steam goes through the exhaust chimney to create a better draft.

[@lmm]

There is no draft, it's not a fire tube boiler

[@ronaldlake5592]

Thank you for this video and saving me $200 U.S Dollars. They maybe legal to own here in the U.S. because I think there is a size limit, and I will will check but, it might have to do with State, county and city codes. Not that it would stop me.

[@teescottageguyproductions]

Well I’ve seen worse…. Seen better. It always amazes me the different concepts that have come from the model steam engine

[@ct6502-c7w]

What a shame...it looked beautiful.

[@TracksideProd758]

The 14 dislikes are from EngineDIY Shop employees.

[@trainboy52w3st3rn]

Could you remove the entire boiler and burner and fit a mamod one,m

[@DoYouLikeMyNameDude]

15:30 Water expands in volume 1600 times when it becomes steam. Lets assume the cylinder is the correct size, the thing preventing it from working is steam supply. Solution: bigger burner, and improve the piston sealing issues. Proper mechanical solution: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piston_valve_%28steam_engine%29

[@lmm]

Well yes. That boiler cannot produce the amount of steam needed to run the car. You need to bigger burner to burn hot for a short amount of time

[@gammr3227]

12:01 this model still sucks but roundhouse locos dont have a boiler sight and they are probably the best live steam 16mm locos you can get

[@NuffMan_]

theres nothing worse than crappy machining.. sometimes its even amazing how they manage to do egg-shaped parts on lathe

[@biggooddad]

I think what your looking for is the R/C Steam Car

[@lmm]

The Mamod one is pretty decent, as are their traction engines. Equally are Wilesco's engines Not rc, but much more controllable

[@michaelhayes1678]

In mid-western USA, we have said for decades that if a Volkswagen had difficulties to wind up the rubber band. Interesting to see an engine really need one like that does. Too bad it doesn't work as well as it looks on the tabletop.

[@eliotreader8220]

I think mamod steam cars are better designed than Lorrie's steam carriage

[@lmm]

They are far better. They also look like a car

[@CaptainDonut0]

Swich out the other one for this boiler.

[@pollyjackson-dzacchaeus1342]

8:23 james the red engine knows otherwise

[@lmm]

What?

[@pollyjackson-dzacchaeus1342]

@@lmm thomas and friends therres a story where the break pipe leakes rthey use newspapers and shoelaces(similar to rubber bands my braint hought) to fix it

[@lmm]

@@pollyjackson-dzacchaeus1342 That's about tieing a failed Vac pipe with shoelaces, not holding an engine together with an elasticated band.

[@Arkay315]

I don't know if I should be concerned, but that thing kinda looks like a pressure cooker bomb.

[@andrewreynolds4949]

It does have a safety valve, and it is rather small

[@slome815]

@@andrewreynolds4949 Not to mention it's a oscillating engine, even if the safety valve fails, they tend to act like their own safety valve, with the steam pushing away the cylinder, at least if the spring isn't too stiff.

[@recumbrider643]

I have two Wilesco steam tractors and I don’t think they are that much better. Yes the boiler is bigger but the cylinder is weak and you cannot use them outside if there is just the slightest amount of wind. And yes they are 1 wheel drive only as well. But you can get either a remote or mechanical remote steering for them. But as for the steam engine power I am not impressed.

[@lmm]

Oh really? I've run my wilesco outside before - did you start with boiled water?

[@joedingo7022]

I've purchased sketchy chinesium (plastic and tin) steam engine kits for $30USD that worked better than this, so I find this pretty appalling. That one even has enough power to run a lightbulb and a generator, albeit poorly.

[@thetrainman2013]

At lest it isn’t a bomb in your house like the last one

[@IonNight]

Sometimes when you buy a chinesium produkt, you get chinesium quality

[@reiner459]

For this money you can just buy a used Wilesco Steam Roller

[@johnsovcom]

Another great made in China advert.. makes you want to rush out and buy a BYD car

[@MisterOcclusion]

Kind of a 90% job, isn't it.

[@lmm]

Good idea, bad implication

[@cbmsysmobile]

More rubbish from the usual suspects. Lack of proper instructions or safety information is going to result in injuries. Not keen on you promoting this company. (even a bad review is promotion)

[@markwright3161]

On the one hand, yes, bad publicity is still publicity, but on the other hand this video can be shown in place of the safety information they fail to give. For as long as these things are being sold, there are going to be people who stumble across them and think it's a good idea to buy. If everyone who these companies reach out to just test the product and say no to making a video on it because of how poorly they are put together, those people who have bought them are left with only what the conpany gives with it, which as you rightly say, isn't enough.