..Copied this from the occ thread to save from poluting it more..
...was thinking of building a steam motorcycle some day...SmokeyJoe
Joe, a day after you mention that steam bike idea (and they do exist as I saw one yonks ago), a guy at work says to me have you ever heard of a Diesel steam locomotive engine? Now I know someone built that Diesel electric bike to mimic a Diesel Electric Loco but a Steam Diesel Locomotive? that's a new one on me http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/L ... tsonst.htm
Well maybe you could combine the diesel and steam bike projects Joe
But what a weird one, eh? Apparently it was very reliable. Heat from the diesel exhaust helped create more steam apparently. What a combination
Stuart. M1030M1, Honda NC700S, Grom!, Toyota Corolla 1.4 Turbo Diesel. Favouring MPG over MPH.
http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/kitson/kitsonst.htm wrote:
Note the small-diameter boiler set very high, above the considerable bulk of the steam-Diesel engine. Its small size led to a lack of steam, when tests began in April 1928. There were many problems; poor boiler performance was only one. The loco did its last test runs in 1933, the economic climate of the time meaning that there was no chance of selling an unconventional locomotive, and indeed very little chance of selling a conventional one.
Interesting piece of machinery nonetheless, steam locs are always fun. As a kid, I got a tour of a Dutch steel factory in a steam powered train once, it was a big adventure
'92 Enfield + Hatz 1B40: street legal, weld up stainless exhaust, check engine rpm and change final drive sprocket.
Wow! Nice find! Leave it to you Brits to come up with such a clever idea..... seems like something that should be "reinvented" in today's "green" climate. This hybrid was probably predated by many diesel-electric/battery and diesel/electric/trolley designs but just the fact that it was steam makes it cool. Now let me see, I've got an old oil cooler heat exchanger from a marine Detroit Diesel 4-71 that could be used as a boiler and fitted to the exhaust of the Hatz- and a steam engine could be fitted to the CVT jackshaft..... Maybe I will be able to get past the (other) slowpokes on the Interstates, at least for short bursts. A combination of two of my favorite things, steam and Diesel. Woo-Hoo!
Here's the real Roper Steam bike being ridden! If you search Youtube you'll also find the repro that a steam and engine enthusiast built a few years ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t93QlgBu4Is
Brilliant find guy's, never knew about this one before, being a confessed steam loco enthusiast this has to go into the diary , steam bikes and diesel steam locomotives inspirational.
Looks realy good fun, but I can see a few problems, Gordon Brown would probably tax charcoal, motorway travel could be quite expensive as they charge 50p for filling your washer bottle, and as they dont like mobile phones, I dont think they would be too keen on haveing hot ash hitting the floor. And if you had to stop to look for water if it didnt blow up the bomb squad would probably have done it for you.
Dear all,
Steam bikes are not as unusual as some may think. Some years ago Mr A W Field, who lived around the corner from my best mate, in First Avenue, Clacton on Sea, Essex, built two steam powered motorcycles, both using a Triumph frame. The bikes still exist and at least one has been restored to running order. Look them up at: http://www.steamcar.net/field.html.
There are many more on UTube and a few in the science museum at Kensington, at least one of which was coal fired!
I remember reading somewhere that a steam vessel was fueled on dried dung "don't know from which animal, cattle comes to mind", wouldn't that give the environmental police a real run for there money, dung powered steam cycle, environmentally friendly ............ loll ? Who cares
I guess the "government" would find a way to even tax that !!!!!
Here's a link to a Roper Steam Motorcycle built by one of the most prolific engine and vehicle builders who ever lived on this planet! Check out the Lindsay Book catalog link at the bottom of the page for some great reprints of books about forgotten skills written for people like us who'd rather "make it myself".
, steam bikes and diesel steam locomotives 
Come on Sam B, can you build one into a bike 
