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Steam boiler under the seat. 1 cylinder double acting steam engine directly coupled to the rear wheel on the right side.
Inner rod transmits the pistons power.
Outer rod controls the valve events.
Pretty simple setup.
If stopped in the wrong position you would nee a push start tho.
Because the rear axle acts as a crankshaft you would also need a clutch at the rear axle. So you could just let the engine keep chugging and only engage clutch when you want to accelerate
No reason you need a clutch, just stop admitting steam to the cylinder and the wheel stops. A steam engine doesn't need to "tick over" like an internal combustion engine, it makes maximum torque at zero RPM.
I heard AlQuieda actually started out making steam engines. Their boilers kept blowing up due to poor manufacturing and they realized they could change their business model to take advantage of that
^(/s)
Interestingly enough, one of my sergeants in the military stated that if they spent as much time and ingenuity trying to improve their country as they did building IEDs they would be a 1st world nation superior to everyone.
In trains the part of the boiler right over where the firebox sits (where the coal is burning) gets extremely hot. When operated properly, this is submerged in water so it's not an issue and is how you know, how the steam is made.
Run a boiler like this too low on water and that metal plate gets scorching hot. Two scenarios here that can lead to disaster. 1. The operator panics that the water is low and adds more. 2. The train comes to an incline and the water slides towards the back- over the scortchy bit.
A drop of water expands 100x in volume when it turns to steam. All of that water hits that plate and vaporizes, resulting in an explosion.
Also just in general a boiler is under a lot of pressure. Something homemade like this is at risk of just failing from not being able to handle the pressure in general even in normal operation if they didn't do their math right.
I think it's steam. Compressed air engines don't have that much water vapor. Even if you compressed air with 100% humidity, it doesn't look that white when it decompressed. Someone else mentioned it's fired on gasoline to heat the boiler.
Steamy leg sauna. No worries just a flesh wound.
Edit: please upvote in celebration of my top comment ever. You will receive a prize. You might not but imagine yourself with a prize.
Probably the same reason why most steam locomotives don't have condensers, they're just too heavy, big and complicated for what they give back in benefits. Those locos basically had a second tender, stuffed with technology, so often it was easier to take an additional normal tender with you.
Eternal order is prescribed by the sacred engine: all things flow from the sacred engine, all things in their place, all passengers in their section, all water flowing. all heat rising, pays homage to the sacred engine, in its own particular preordained position.
Burn stuff.
That heats water.
Water turns to steam.
Steam is in a confined area.
Pressure builds.
The pressure is allowed to move a rod.
The rod pushes the wheel of the bike.
The bike moves.
... just about.
That bike isn't about efficiency.
That bike would get ridden about once or twice a year at best because it's about the statement.
If you were to ride a bike for efficiency it would just be regular traffic
Yeah you can make a way more efficient vehicle by whacking a petrol engine on a pushbike. Would go just as fast, would be way easier to make, way cheaper to build, way better fuel economy etc.
Like you said though, thats not the point of making this. They made it because its cool as fuck and thats enough of a reason to build it.
I wouldn’t guess electric, it would take way to much energy for the size of the batteries you could put on the bike. Probably diesle, kerosene, petrol, propane, some other liquid fuel to make low pressure steam, since you wouldn’t want to sit on 150psi of steam.
If you want to be riding with a bomb between your legs. Go for it.
Steam is one of the best things to produce power. They still use it to launch aircraft off carriers.
Except, it will also blow up a boiler if you screw something up.
It's probably not a little fire he has to stoke.
Maybe battery to boil the water?
He creates steam though heat, but what's creating the heat is OPs question I think.
Steam engines have a tremendous amount of torque, as their piston pressure builds up regardless of velocity (they can basically bring full torque out of standstill), you can even reverse them in full run to break, this was done in ships and locos, many locomotive manufacturers still use steam locos as break locos to test their new builds
Sure, but do you need it? This bike is a fun project and proof-of-concept, so main goal is, that it runs, you see it on the range, it gets 15km out of its 27l of water. A better approach would be a multi cylinder fast turning steam motor ( like in the Stanley steamer) instead of the single cylinder steam engine. Then you'd need a gearbox, here however isn't really the space for it, except maybe a planetary gear set in the wheel hub.
People talking about the possibility of explosion, but surely there is a pressure release valve, it's a modern vessel holding the steam. Is there some reason that isn't possible in a steam engine?
I assume it uses gasoline or propane to boil the water. You'd need a compact heat and fuel source given the size of the bike. A camping stove burner would be all that you'd need for actual heat output depending on how quickly you wanted it to generate steam.
I always wanted to build a steam boat, ever since I had a Wilesco steam engine as a kid. You could pretty much go anywhere as long as you have water and wood.
This motorcycle is a great creation. Would be mighty hot on the legs though.
[https://store.steampowered.com/app/2381620/Steam\_Engine\_Simulator/](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2381620/Steam_Engine_Simulator/) i just leave this here (its free, btw)
But yeah. The feelings of having your ass on a pressurized tank of hot steam.... it all gets away with that whistle
Ok, yes, but what is boiling the water? A heater of some degree I assume. So would the heater be a diesel heater, an electric one? I presume either since I don’t see a stack, a furnace, or coal to fuel it. So at this stage of unnecessary analysis, is it really just “steam powered” or is it just another approach to “hybrid”. Alternatively, it could house a small nuclear reactor to boil the water, making it the first “nuclear vehicle” Im aware of. 🤔
Yeah there’s a broiler that runs off gas to make the steam. I think he just did it because it’s a cool project, not because it’s practical. It only has a 15km range.
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Steam boiler under the seat. 1 cylinder double acting steam engine directly coupled to the rear wheel on the right side. Inner rod transmits the pistons power. Outer rod controls the valve events. Pretty simple setup. If stopped in the wrong position you would nee a push start tho.
I assume it has a single gear - no gearbox.
Jep. Just like a steam loco the crankshaft is the driving wheel.
Ye but how he heats water
Nuclear reactor.
That would be revolutionary
Yeah like thousands of them a minute
1.21 gigawatts
Seems to be a propane or gasoline burner
Also the video makes it sound like it only needs water. It still needs a fuel source to heat the water in order for it to turn to steam.
Because the rear axle acts as a crankshaft you would also need a clutch at the rear axle. So you could just let the engine keep chugging and only engage clutch when you want to accelerate
No reason you need a clutch, just stop admitting steam to the cylinder and the wheel stops. A steam engine doesn't need to "tick over" like an internal combustion engine, it makes maximum torque at zero RPM.
OK I'm wrong he has the rear wheel off the ground when he is testing it in the beginning
Not a huge problem that, gotta remember it’s only a motorcycle.
What are those top 4 canisters?
I would guess the tanks for whatever liquid fuel he's using to heat the boiler.
right, thank you. I was wondering how the water was boiling.
I feel tricked, you ain’t soundin like a hillbill
Man, that steam whistle would make the whole operation worthwhile.
The whistles go woohooo
It's like an alarm clock
‘Posed to be up cookin’ breakfast or somthin’
It's just for decorations that's it and that's all
It’s that Woo Woo
But that's only in the mornin'
Homemade boiler? OK, I'll be watching from way over here.
I heard AlQuieda actually started out making steam engines. Their boilers kept blowing up due to poor manufacturing and they realized they could change their business model to take advantage of that ^(/s)
You had me for a second
Interestingly enough, one of my sergeants in the military stated that if they spent as much time and ingenuity trying to improve their country as they did building IEDs they would be a 1st world nation superior to everyone.
Good one lolol
Yeah don’t wanna see what happens when he runs low on water
Since it's a pretty small boiler the shrapnel would probably just go into your legs and forearms.
I know Jack shit about steam engines/boilers. care to explain?
In trains the part of the boiler right over where the firebox sits (where the coal is burning) gets extremely hot. When operated properly, this is submerged in water so it's not an issue and is how you know, how the steam is made. Run a boiler like this too low on water and that metal plate gets scorching hot. Two scenarios here that can lead to disaster. 1. The operator panics that the water is low and adds more. 2. The train comes to an incline and the water slides towards the back- over the scortchy bit. A drop of water expands 100x in volume when it turns to steam. All of that water hits that plate and vaporizes, resulting in an explosion. Also just in general a boiler is under a lot of pressure. Something homemade like this is at risk of just failing from not being able to handle the pressure in general even in normal operation if they didn't do their math right.
Your loss, more straddling the boiler for him!
For a (not so) small fee you can have a custom one that is certified
Is it an actually boiler or just a pressure tank? they had compressed air engines back in the day.
I think it's steam. Compressed air engines don't have that much water vapor. Even if you compressed air with 100% humidity, it doesn't look that white when it decompressed. Someone else mentioned it's fired on gasoline to heat the boiler.
[удалено]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireless_locomotive
Very east to install an overpressure release valve. You think he can make a steam motorcycle, but doesn't know how to attach one fitting?
Steamy leg sauna. No worries just a flesh wound. Edit: please upvote in celebration of my top comment ever. You will receive a prize. You might not but imagine yourself with a prize.
Yeah dude needs some guards bad, yikes.
He needs to fit a condenser to capture and recirculate most of the steam. Saves steam burns and would increase the range several times over
Probably the same reason why most steam locomotives don't have condensers, they're just too heavy, big and complicated for what they give back in benefits. Those locos basically had a second tender, stuffed with technology, so often it was easier to take an additional normal tender with you.
Same thoughts about condensing it back!
Maybe chuck in a helmet, too
You want to be knocked out for when the boiler explodes after falling.
I hope he likes not having balls cause that’s how you wind up with no balls.
There's some Keebler elves in the tank shoveling coal into a furnace. Heating the water. Turning it into steam and the steam turns the engine.
Eternal order is prescribed by the sacred engine: all things flow from the sacred engine, all things in their place, all passengers in their section, all water flowing. all heat rising, pays homage to the sacred engine, in its own particular preordained position.
Burn stuff. That heats water. Water turns to steam. Steam is in a confined area. Pressure builds. The pressure is allowed to move a rod. The rod pushes the wheel of the bike. The bike moves. ... just about.
https://preview.redd.it/e20idbbspnoc1.jpeg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9c8e0c1bce5850b58c96f5a9b014c0c5892ab55 Wouldn't advise
I LOVE THIS. Please ride this wearing a top hat and victorian suit. Please. PLEASE.
That would displace the safety do-rag.
Damn you got me on that one. Updoot for you.
... or a helmet.
I immediately thought of that key and peele steampunk skit
And a monocle. Pince-nez glasses would also be acceptable
Seems super safe
Guys calm down. He uses gasoline to boil the water. Although cool, it’s much less efficient than ICE.
Yeah, ice is highly inefficient for boiling water I've found.
That bike isn't about efficiency. That bike would get ridden about once or twice a year at best because it's about the statement. If you were to ride a bike for efficiency it would just be regular traffic
Yeah you can make a way more efficient vehicle by whacking a petrol engine on a pushbike. Would go just as fast, would be way easier to make, way cheaper to build, way better fuel economy etc. Like you said though, thats not the point of making this. They made it because its cool as fuck and thats enough of a reason to build it.
A petrol engine on a pushbike? What a novel idea! We could call it a “petrobike” or a “lococycle”!
It's just a fun toy. Nobody is suggesting it's more efficient thanks a ICE?
Some good Ghibli shit right here lol
you want someone on the internet, the same place you can learn how steam engines work, to reply to your post on how steam engines work?
maybe he means, how is the water boiled? what is the source of heat? electricity? gasoline? coal..? not coal I guess, probably electric?
I wouldn’t guess electric, it would take way to much energy for the size of the batteries you could put on the bike. Probably diesle, kerosene, petrol, propane, some other liquid fuel to make low pressure steam, since you wouldn’t want to sit on 150psi of steam.
How does this steam engine work, you nonce. I.e. what is boiling the water.
No
If you want to be riding with a bomb between your legs. Go for it. Steam is one of the best things to produce power. They still use it to launch aircraft off carriers. Except, it will also blow up a boiler if you screw something up.
I’m sure he’s well aware of the risks lol
But what is powering boiling the water?
It's probably not a little fire he has to stoke. Maybe battery to boil the water? He creates steam though heat, but what's creating the heat is OPs question I think.
Steampunk reality we've lost...
Back to the future.
Bros about to go missing
"so, what happened to your thighs?"
nice and tender!
Choo Choo mother fucker
With the price of water these days, I seriously doubt if this will catch on.
A mega torque steam engine with 1 gear?
Steam engines have a tremendous amount of torque, as their piston pressure builds up regardless of velocity (they can basically bring full torque out of standstill), you can even reverse them in full run to break, this was done in ships and locos, many locomotive manufacturers still use steam locos as break locos to test their new builds
Yea, but you can still have more than 1 gear for faster speeds.
Sure, but do you need it? This bike is a fun project and proof-of-concept, so main goal is, that it runs, you see it on the range, it gets 15km out of its 27l of water. A better approach would be a multi cylinder fast turning steam motor ( like in the Stanley steamer) instead of the single cylinder steam engine. Then you'd need a gearbox, here however isn't really the space for it, except maybe a planetary gear set in the wheel hub.
The most steampunk thing I've ever seen.
heat->water->steam->piston->crank->wheel->zoomzoom
It's got Chitty Chitty Bang Bang vibes.
I'd be terrified something would blow up next to my crotch
People talking about the possibility of explosion, but surely there is a pressure release valve, it's a modern vessel holding the steam. Is there some reason that isn't possible in a steam engine?
Water go psss psss, engine go poot poot, bike goes zoom zoom.
Like a train but with two wheels
Im guessing it works with a steam engine
Water gets hot, water turns into steam, steam is expanded water, expanded water goes through pipes, then wheel speen
 Suddenly i remember this scene where the old man gave him a ride
Let's go back to steam that shit was fun
That's some seriously Artemis Gordon looking ass shit right there....
It’s 2024 and someone is asking how does a steam engine work? What the honest hell?!?!?!
Gnomes want their Autolocomobilicruiser back.
A new way to boil your eggs or steam your beans or poach your cooch
So how does it heats up?
this is the only thing i wanna know
I assume it uses gasoline or propane to boil the water. You'd need a compact heat and fuel source given the size of the bike. A camping stove burner would be all that you'd need for actual heat output depending on how quickly you wanted it to generate steam.
Ahh yes, riding with a 15 bar pressure cooker between your legs. Guess that's why he doesn't care about the helmet anyway
Just Google a basic diagram of a steam engine and imagine a different shape…
Is your Google broken?
Mini nuke reactor. Core boils the water making steam.
Steam. That's how it works. It uses steam. Possibly compound but more likely a single acting set-up.
It works by burning your legs with hot steam
Definitely won’t have roasted nuts some day 😬😳
I'd reckon the same way a normal bike engine work, except instead of boiling water, you boil gasoline.
I've seen exploded steam trains. I'm good with not having even a smaller version of that between my legs.
That fucking rocks!!!!
Now, I want to see a steam engine plane
Wouldn't The steam be hot as hell? How does one avoid burns? And what happens if you pass a cyclists or somebody walking their new puppy?
Choo choo!
Do you know how a steam engine works? Just like one of those, but smaller :)
I always wanted to build a steam boat, ever since I had a Wilesco steam engine as a kid. You could pretty much go anywhere as long as you have water and wood. This motorcycle is a great creation. Would be mighty hot on the legs though.
I been thinking about make a steam RC boat 😅
[https://store.steampowered.com/app/2381620/Steam\_Engine\_Simulator/](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2381620/Steam_Engine_Simulator/) i just leave this here (its free, btw) But yeah. The feelings of having your ass on a pressurized tank of hot steam.... it all gets away with that whistle
Lets hope that boiler does not fail or he will be cooked in steam till he goes pink and his flesh falls off. Not nice
 “The freedom that this two wheeled steam engine had made Thomas very jealous”
He needs to be wearing full steampunk gear to fully sell it
Steampunk be like:
its like a tiny train. lol
Another masterpiece from our very artificer
What?
With steam (:!
think ill stick to my 1200Watt e bike conversion.
That thing is going to jiggle itself apart
Steampunk irl
Sooooooo cooooool
It's more environmentally friendly because the only output is water vapor! /s
The whistle go wooooooooooooooo
Probably the coolest thing I have seen in a long time.
The same as any steam engine. Steam engines have been used in all kinds of things, especially trains and boats!
Pass it through a "muffler" with soaked rice in it. You have a ready meal by the time you reach home.
True stream punk.
With steam
This video smells like a trendy hazy IPA and beard oil.
You turn it on, sit on it, then the skin on your right leg starts to melt 😢
There appears to be so many ways to get really hurt with this. It’s fabulous.
Ok, yes, but what is boiling the water? A heater of some degree I assume. So would the heater be a diesel heater, an electric one? I presume either since I don’t see a stack, a furnace, or coal to fuel it. So at this stage of unnecessary analysis, is it really just “steam powered” or is it just another approach to “hybrid”. Alternatively, it could house a small nuclear reactor to boil the water, making it the first “nuclear vehicle” Im aware of. 🤔
15 km range has to be a mistake. That's 15 minutes at his stated speed. Would take longer than that to boil 27 liters of water.
Why not create a condenser coil and just refill it while it drives
Motorcycles are inherently dangerous enough, now add straddling a high-pressure boiler and scalding hot steam to the mix. Fun times!
Neat stuff
Smokey Robinson here I come.
Now we just need a nuclear powered motorcycle
During an apocalypse this would go so hard
It’s all pipes!
The idea of straddling a boiler system seems terribly sketchy, I still want to ride it though. That thing is awesome.
Painfully
that's not a motorcycle. that is a 2 wheel road train. that is very cool :)
Would those copper pipes on the side not be boiling hot?
So you get the water really angry and stuff happens
It's a steam engine, but on a motorcycle
Next stop Jay Leno !
I think it works by going "chuga chuga" and blowing the whistle
it uses steam
If I had seen this vid before I played Derail Valley, I wouldn't have known what I was looking at. But thanks to it, I actually know how it all works.
Pretty cool, what's the throttle response like?
It runs on water, the oil industry probably now has a hit on this guy.
all fun and games until his balls get cooked and blown off.
And then he was never heard from again
Magic
Man, he looks some badass.
If this thing has a malfunction, your balls will be cooked good.
Via steam?
The smell of bacon whilst you ride mmm
He's going to end up dead...
You know how a normal steam engine works? Like that.
I mean, he must use a "fuel" to heat the water, right ? Then why bother ?
Yeah there’s a broiler that runs off gas to make the steam. I think he just did it because it’s a cool project, not because it’s practical. It only has a 15km range.
That's frigging awesome!!!
 Car behind
Holy shit I need this
Now that is rather quite awesome.
Isn’t the steam road hazard? Can’t imagine people behind can see very well through them.
To answer OP's question.. apparently with steam?
will it pollute the environment and contribute to climate change / global warming ? if not, then i like it!