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[DBS88]

I recently purchased the new Rocking Whale V2 double acting 6cc steam engine with Stephensons reversing link mechanism. Spoiler Alert, this is tale does have a happy ending. The engine arrived well packaged. I bought the engine because I liked the look of the castings, including the stainless steel flywheel. The quality of the machining is really good, overall first impressions, a great engine, so I oiled it and got it ready to run. The first test run was on air, using my airbrush compressor at about 10 psi, here is a link to video of the test run.
https://youtube.com/shorts/4T-T_6IyX9c

[DBS88]

As I said, this is a tale with a happy ending and the first test run did reveal some issues. Before I get into the issues I do not mind when there is a problem, for me it is how people respond to the problem that is important. In this case, the supplier was excellent, his communication has been quick and positive, he ask for information, he provided video instruction on what to do, he confirmed with me the parts needed and then posted the required parts out straight away. The supplier contacted the factory on several occasions and worked with them to provide the information, their response to the issues has been first class, so on that basis, I recommend and support this this supplier and the Rocking Whale Engines.


Here are the answers to a couple of questions that have been ask, which were, How much does the R-W V2 weigh and how big is it? To answer the question about size I photographed The Rocking Whale V2 next to Saito T2Dr for comparison.

[derekwarner]

Unique Brand Name Dave  , but absolutely superb styling ......and design specificationed steam engines  ......


Were you dealing with a land-based UK Supplier, or the Asian based Distributor?


As you say, appropriate communication and response are the critical and important points


Derek

[DBS88]

T0 answer the questions there are a number of outlets selling these Rocking Whale Engines at a range of prices. The dealer I purchased from, via EBay is based in China, not the UK, he has dealt promptly and efficiently with issues and his communication has been both clear and helpful, his prices are also better than some of the other options, here is a link to his EBay page - I believe you can buy with confidence from this supplier.https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/crysta3655 - https://shorturl.at/A0r7O


Rocking Whale also make an inline twin cylinder version and a V4 Version of this engine. The prices I can see here in the UK, for the Rocking Whale Engines, from the seller I bought from are:
V Twin £340.21 plus £45 SpeedPak postage.
Twin Cylinder £393.27 plus £45 SpeedPak postage
V4 £770.21 plus £45 SpeedPak postage
Please be aware that when importing these and any other purchases there may be additional import charges that you would be responsible for, its a gamble, sometimes you get lucky and no charges are added.

[DBS88]

Fo info here are the dimensions for each of the engines available from Rocking Whale - I choose the V twin because its different from the majority of engines that I have, I like the fact its a slide valve engine with Stephensons reversing mechanism.
In the next post I will confirm and go over the issues that the first run revealed.

[1967Brutus]

I like the fact that they come with a pulley for an auxiliary drive, which makes it a LOT more flexible w.r.t. lay-out of the final installation, easier to install those auxiliaries.

I am not too fond of the cosmetics (I prefer machined over cast, but that is strictly a visual thing, strictly personal, and completely unrelated to quality or functionality).
The crank being ballraced is a great thing, as are the stainless steel liners and the piston rings as standard outfitting.

[DBS88]

Thank you for your contributions and feedback it is appreciated.


3 Identified Issues - During the first test run, the engine ran really well, however, 3 issues were revealed.
The first was that there was a leak from the exhaust flange, bubbles of steam oil could be seen at the base of the exhaust flange. The second issue was bubbles of steam oil escaping past one of the valve chest cover bolts,
The third issue was with the fly wheel, with the engine placed on a flat surface, the flywheel would touch the surface and was prevented from rotating freely, hence the reason in the first video of the engine running, that the engine is not on the table.


1) Leaking Exhaust Flange - https://youtube.com/shorts/aLf9MHqoWzM?feature=share
2) Leaking Valve Chest Cover - https://youtube.com/shorts/bnUgOC28fH4?feature=share
3) Fly Wheel Issue - https://youtube.com/shorts/P997etKnrNM?feature=share

[1967Brutus]

Thank you for your contributions and feedback it is appreciated.


3 Identified Issues - During the first test run, the engine ran really well, however, 3 issues were revealed.
The first was that there was a leak from the exhaust flange, bubbles of steam oil could be seen at the base of the exhaust flange. The second issue was bubbles of steam oil escaping past one of the valve chest cover bolts,
The third issue was with the fly wheel, with the engine placed on a flat surface, the flywheel would touch the surface and was prevented from rotating freely, hence the reason in the first video of the engine running, that the engine is not on the table.


1) Leaking Exhaust Flange - https://youtube.com/shorts/aLf9MHqoWzM?feature=share
2) Leaking Valve Chest Cover - https://youtube.com/shorts/bnUgOC28fH4?feature=share
3) Fly Wheel Issue - https://youtube.com/shorts/P997etKnrNM?feature=share

I would say, the two leaks are a bit sloppy but easily fixed, it would at least not bother me one bit. Lots of engines out there that leak a whole lot more.


The flywheel however, even if an easy fix in practical use (a sheet of wood or metal under the engine base would cure it, as well as a flywheel pit would) it simply is a downright silly design-oopsie, almost as if suggesting the designer actually never ran the engine in real life... Still an easy fix.


But while watching that flywheel vid, I noticed there is a LOT of mechanical feedback from Stephenson gear to reversing lever. I would suggest to use a mechanically sturdy servo to operate the reversing mechanism, and a friction damper in the hinge point of the lever in order to dampen servo-hammering.
I remember that my Microcosm M29 had a lot of clearance in the linkage between reversing lever and reversing mechanism. and that clearance caused a very rough running engine because even if the lever was not moving, the Stephenson movement was all over the place.
So I'd say that point requires a bit of attention.

[DBS88]

At face value the issues were not show stopper and like you, I was not too concerned about the leaks and assumed tightening the bolts or disassembly, clean and reassemble would fix the issues.
Re the Flywheel, that was an easy fix, I spun the fly wheel in a drill chuck and used some 400 grade wet and dry paper to remove a couple of thousands of an inch, and now the fly wheel no longer makes contact.
For the exhaust flange, when the bolts were tightened and the engine running, it made no difference, it still leaked. I disassembled the exhaust flange and found that when the pipe was manufactured, the flange was not fully formed and flat, so even with a gasket, it would not seal.
For the valve chest cover, my attempt to tighten the bolt revealed that the bolt just spun round in the hole, there was no thread for the bolt.
I contacted the seller in China, they responded the same day asking to see videos of the issues, which I sent them. The next day they offered to send replacement parts and sent a video showing how to dismantle the engine. I went ahead and disassembled the engine to confirm the parts needed, as I did so, I also found another stripped or missing thread, this time it was one of the bolts holding the cylinder head on. Here are the photos, note the stainless steel insert cylinder liner, and the quality of the machining.

[1967Brutus]

Oh my... those stripped threads and non-flat sealing surfaces, they are indeed more serious than I would have expected.
Pretty good they offered replacement parts, but still... stripped threads are a nono...

[DBS88]

Two of the issues were with one cylinder casting, on closer inspection (see previous posts photo) it looks like blow holes or impurities were present in the cylinder casting, note the staining and pin prick size holes, this I believe caused the drilling and tapping of two holes in the casting to fail.


The supplier has been excellent, his communication has been quick and positive, he ask for information, then he has worked closely with the factory and got video instructions made clearly demonstrating the sequence for disassembly. The supplier then checked with me the parts needed to carry out the repair, he then posted the required parts out straight away.


The replacement parts arrived quickly and safely. It took me less than an hour to lubricate and install the new parts. I learned a lot from the process about this engine. As you can see from the photos the quality of the machining on the new replacement casting is excellent, compare the photo of this cylinder block with the photo of the previous cylinder block (no pin holes or discolouration)so I have no concerns with the supplier or the Rocking Whale engine.

[DBS88]

With the repairs to the engine completed the engine was test run from my airbrush compressor at 10psi, here is a link to a video of the first test run of the repaired engine.
https://youtube.com/shorts/-Gyplrd3GlA?si=ZjC-mmmFWJEK9Lv_

[DBS88]

Running on steam is the real test, so here is a link to my first steam test of this Rocking Whale V Twin. While I had the boiler in steam I took the chance to run the engine a couple of times, it runs well on steam and the power seems fine.
https://youtu.be/DSx42cyMHL8?si=XzLT3PTqLuPyKjMG

[rhavrane]

Bonjour David,

I fully agree with you, the final test is on steam and your machine passed it easily     

Did you notice a (little) difference of rotation speed between the two operating directions, as I always do  ?

It now deserves a hull for example 

[Martin (Admin)]

Brass casting, with aluminium liner.... is that usual these days?

[1967Brutus]

Brass casting, with aluminium liner.... is that usual these days?

To my knowledge, it's a stainless steel liner, and (also) to my knowledge no, that is NOT usual, but IMHO it is EXTREMELY desirable if you want hard wearing long lasting engines.

[1967Brutus]

Bonjour David,

I fully agree with you, the final test is on steam and your machine passed it easily     

Did you notice a (little) difference of rotation speed between the two operating directions, as I always do  ?

It now deserves a hull for example 

I can only agree a 1000%.

[DBS88]

Martin, it is unusual for the cylinder to be lined, in this case it is very positive, it is lined with stainless steel (not aluminium) which will provide for a much longer running life than brass. Having worked on this and several other manufacturers engines, I would say the Rocking Whale has been machined to a high standard, it has been assembled with gaskets that are not going to tear, and the engine is easy to disassemble and reassemble should the need arise - that can't be said for some other engines.Here is a link to a video of the second test run on steam, this time the boilers burners are turned off so you can hear the engine running more clearly. It really does rev freely and does have good power, it should get even better after a bit more running.

https://youtube.com/shorts/CJNME1RgoIU?si=KjIYKYoCcxxC5dMl

I believe this is a lot of engine for the money, one day I would like to buy the V4 version.

[KNO3]

David, thanks for posting about the engine and its problems. It is a nicely made item and runs well after you have repaired it.
Now I would like to see it in a boat

[1967Brutus]

Now I would like to see it in a boat

+1!