HOW A STEAM ENGINE GOVERNOR WORKS

[@lindsaybrown7357]

You keep coming up with interesting stuff. Who needs TV when there's so much great content like this being made by people like your good self.

[@mrpete222]

Thanks

[@Blazefork]

I haven't watched TV in 5 years, too much good stuff here to put up with trash forced upon us by the networks

[@craigwillenborg1831]

These are the best governors we have had in Illinois in years.

[@mrpete222]

You got that right? But the fat boy is what people seem to want. Ignorant people that is.

[@bcbloc02]

I thought most of Illinois former governors were in prison?

[@dannycurtis3234]

Beauty in motion ❤

[@tomnielsen3661]

My 10 year old Grandson put that stream engine together after watching your video. I did not help him at all. It took him about 1 hour and 45 minutes. He was doing so well, I even went outside for a while and when I came back in he was done. Now we just have to run it. I checked it all over and it looks like he did a great job. He remembered to not tighten things until it was all together and he told me that he was going to need some oil. I think that him being able to watch your video helped a lot. Thank you for that.

[@mrpete222]

Wow, that is amazing for a 10-year-old. I bet you are real proud of him. I think he will have fun running it.

[@adamchandler3162]

So just to let you know you are the inspiration for me getting my atlas 10inch lathe and my Bridgeport mill thank you for all the inspiration and instruction 👍

[@mrpete222]

That is awesome! 👍👍👍👍

[@causewaykayak]

Beautiful models. To think that only two generations ago larger versions of these were sawing wood, making shingles pumping water and ploughing fields. A great preservation society in Northern Ireland covers Oil engines too. Many Thanks for showing us some finer details.

[@derekcollins1972]

I enjoyed this immensely. Thanks for the clear understanding of how the governor works. Those are beautiful little engines. You should build yourself a miniature hit and miss to add to your steam collection. Thank you.

[@mrpete222]

👍👍

[@rcurry8531]

Thank you mister pete. Maybe now I can finish my 2 ball governor. From scratch. Thank you again sir.

[@mrpete222]

👍👍

[@thomasbrown9402]

Step 7 of the Unimat Challenge! Ah, this was a walk down memory lane, I remember classrooms full of these things all whirring and popping. :)

[@mrpete222]

😁

[@dougvanallen2212]

Definitely approved 👍 Mr Pete thanks for another great show

[@ellieprice363]

Fascinating. I love the way you explain and illustrate all the features of those pretty little engines. “Balls Out” “Pedal to the metal” and “Fire-walling it” are all American slang for applying maximum engine power; usually steam or internal combustion.

[@mrpete222]

👍👍👍

[@davecgriffith]

Had to come to the comments when I heard "balls out". Had no idea this was the origin. Fascinating.

[@lindsaybrown7357]

Lyle, if you have some time, look up videos on Fred Dibnah. Was a steeplejack in England who spent his life repairing then demolishing factory chimneys. He also rebuilt big steam engines. A real character.

[@mrpete222]

I have watched all of his videos over the years. An amazing man indeed.

[@dannyl2598]

Thanks Mr Pete. Great as always.

[@noneofabove5586]

Thanks for the excelant instruction.

[@steveparker8723]

Great video MrPete. The detail on these little governors is amazing. Love the Stuart engine you built.

[@mrpete222]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Thank you Lyle👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👋

[@mkidd8806]

Very neat 😊. Hope all is well.

[@paulcurtis9852]

Pretty cool stuff!👍

[@angelramos-2005]

Great video,mrpete.Thank you.

[@skateboard4zero]

Thank you for this video. I’ve been around steam traction engines my whole life and never understood to workings of governors. Ah to only have been on steam rollers….

[@hbracerx]

Thanks for the follow up video on this and showing a few different varieties.

[@mrpete222]

👍

[@EitriBrokkr]

Thanks Mr. Pete!

[@shanehollander9135]

Had that thing goin Balls to the walls

[@johnquinn3899]

Thanks for the explanation and especially the demonstration’s. I’d love to build one of these that would run on steam & do work. John

[@michaelcolfer4256]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge much appreciated

[@danbreyfogle8486]

Always a treat to see your steam engines. And although I knew what made the governor work I enjoyed the information.

[@geobrown9413]

Sixty years ago, I began working for a firm making industrial governors.......Fisher Governor Co. They are still around in Marshalltown Iowa making valves as Fisher Controls Co.

[@mrpete222]

👍

[@100yojimbo]

That was very interesting Mrpete, and very well explained 👍👍👍👍

[@Stefan_Boerjesson]

Well explained and shown how it can be achieved in reality. Being young a thing like a steam engine was too costly, totally unthinkable...... Mekano as well. However got the idea how centrifugal forces works and how they can be used. Fine video for many young viewers I suppose. Never let the child inside You dry up!

[@mrpete222]

👍👍

[@clifeddens1658]

Very informative.

[@duron700r]

I've been waiting for this one! Didn't realize there were some mfgr's that used real governors but must admit the non-functional ones are cute too. The Retrol is adjustable. Boy howdy, that's neat. No, I haven't pulled the trigger for a Retrol beam engine yet. I've said this before but when running LARGE stationary steam engine at the show, I tell people balls to the wall is not a dirty term but an expression of full speed. Glad you use it also.

[@mrpete222]

👍👍👍

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Thanks for the video keep on keeping on.

[@mattthescrapwhisperer]

Good stuff Mr Pete!

[@alecsalt3266]

Important to know that the governor will keep speed constant as the load on the engine changes (if you have a load on it), but will not keep contant speed as the steam pressure changes. With the burner at a constant heat and the engine up to speed, the governor will partially close the steam valve, but pressure in the boiler then increases so the amount of steam entering the engine doesn't change so much. So if you are wondering why the governor is not so effective, try applying a load to the engine.

[@fuzzy1dk]

on David Richards channel series "Old Steam Powered Machine Shop", I asked if having the governor belt driven wasn't a danger, and he actually showed that if the belt comes off it will run away

[@mrpete222]

Yes, that can be very dangerous on a big engine

[@enginediyshop6269]

Thank you!

[@christurley391]

Thanks for the video

[@Faithdenelzen]

First time watcher Interesting about how the govener works

[@mrpete222]

👍👍

[@ericday604]

Very cool!! I learned something today, thank you!!

[@chrisbrady-t1u]

Had one of the German ones.Got to use it maybe 7 times.The handle on the whistle was plastic and promptly melted.That was just the start.And it was an expensive toy too.

[@mrpete222]

They should have made it out of wood

[@MartinKirlow]

@mrpete222 I have just bought one of these, I am very pleased with it. Thank you for showing this one, it made me want to buy one! :) Where is part 3?

[@mrpete222]

😄😄

[@MartinKirlow]

@@mrpete222 Two days ago? I can't find it and checked it through my subscriptions. Could post it for me please?

[@nomercadies]

Morning Lyle. What the heck time is it ...

[@MichaelGibson-n9t]

I would benefit greatly if you showed the oiling and frequency of oiling the different parts of the Retrol beam and engine.

[@mrpete222]

I thought I showed that. If not, oil it at every point where there is one moving part against another moving part.

[@allensooter8429]

So that must be where the phrase "Going Balls Out" comes from, haha

[@adnacraigo6590]

Very interesting.

[@robert574]

Years ago, just after high school, I went with a friend to pick up a couple of large semi-trucks (no trailers, bob tail). He was a truck driver and I was not although I rebuilt most of my pickup trucks that also had a stick shift. When we got into the trucks, I yelled at him that my fuel gauge was close to empty and he said just to follow him. There was just one of us in each truck and I had never ever sat in one before. We were coming out of a parking lot on a busy side street and when an opening came up the sob just took off and left me on my own and disappeared down the road. I finally pulled out in first gear and even with the engine revved I was barely moving and then things got worse and I immediately started running out of fuel, but as I let off the gas, it smoothed out, hmm.... I picked up second gear and the exact same thing happened. I remember saying "I think this thing has a governor", it hadn't even dawned on me before then. You finally get to a point where you're in 5th gear and sill not going very fast and need to pull the button on the shifter and shift the axle. I never had to double clutch a transmission before that day, such a simple thing but I didn't know how, and I had to stop in the middle of the road a few times and start over again in 1st gear because I couldn't get it to sync and get it back into any, even a lower gear I just came out of. Talk about an adrenaline rush. To make things worse (if they could have been), I quickly pulled it back to first gear and gave it a little gas (which it didn't need), popped the clutch and I was in reverse where 1st gear was on my truck and nearly climbed over a station wagon behind me. The suspension is really stiff and the truck stands on its toes when you hit the brakes. I read the shifting pattern again on the plate, made it back to first and worked my way back to 5th, still barely rolling. I tried the axle split again and lost the sync and had to stop again, grabbed 1st, and shot backwards a second time, only to find the same station wagon behind me. sigh... I drove it all the way back in 5th gear, blowing smoke the whole way (with that darn station wagon still behind me that I was pretty sure I didn't hit). I finally pulled over and he pulled up along side, when I told him "the truck is having problems" and it was, it was me, he offered to follow me, but I finally convinced him I was ok and he left. What an experience that was. I recommend a test drive with someone else in the cab if you ever plan to do it, but wasn't it great to experience things as a teenager back then?

[@mrpete222]

That was an interesting and scary experience

[@robert574]

About a week ago I found a letter I had never opened from my dad from 30 years ago in some old papers. He was laughing and remembering about me telling about this exact same truck driving experience I had as a teenager. He had just read an article (it was in the envelope) about a woman in the military during the gulf war. She was an office worker, but they needed truck drivers and gave her a quick lesson and for some reason, the very next day stuck her behind the wheel of a transport. She ended up stranded on a bombed out road driving across country and after being missing, eventually showed up terrified at a base on the other end. When they asked her what happened and then why she kept going, she replied that she only had the first day of lessons and they did not teach her how to back up. True story. @@mrpete222

[@georgesheffield1580]

Also used on diesels and on other rotery machines to control speed

[@edl5074]

Thanks Governor!!! Lol good video

[@creative27feb]

Thanks 73 & 88👍❤

[@rbtgmnstcs]

You need lube into the cups when you DeWalt dry run them :)

[@lowcashranch1412]

I just learned what the term "Balls out" actually meant....

[@gkeyman565]

I think there are a lot of states that could use better governor's, maybe put their hot air to good use, have a great day

[@mrpete222]

They’re hot air will never Have any usefulness

[@shadetreemechanicracing22]

Balls out.

[@frogandspanner]

Here in Birmingham, UK, we have an 1817 beam engine as a 'sculpture' in the middle of a roundabout. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grazebrook_beam_engine It was based on a Watt design (Boulton and Watt were based in the Soho area of Birmingham), but I am always too busy coping with traffic to see whether it has a Watt governor.

[@mrpete222]

I just looked at the picture that you gave me. That is an awesome engine. Maybe someday you can get out of the car and examine it.