An homemade steam donkey

Where users can chronicle their builds. Start one thread and continue to add on to it.

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Harold_V
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by Harold_V »

Thanks for posting. I've enjoyed watching your progress.

H
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FrayJo
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by FrayJo »

Thank you for sharing the process. I've loved following your growth as well. I don't want to seem intrusive. Just take note.
One of the easiest ways of prototyping is 3d printing. You can find lots of free sources for downloading. If you have free time you can easily learn how to model easy things yourself. The FreeCad program can be useful for beginners.
MoodyLumberCo
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by MoodyLumberCo »

Hi folks,

while having some tough times, I recently got myself back to the donkey project. Not much, but one step further... Hopefuly I'll stick to it during the next weeks as times and moods allow.

Image

Image

Gerd
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Greg_Lewis
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by Greg_Lewis »

Looks terrific!
Greg Lewis, Prop.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
MoodyLumberCo
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by MoodyLumberCo »

Hi folks,

short update, maine engine is complete and tested with air.
Next steam up will happen when the whole donkey is finished.

https://youtube.com/shorts/TEKJRKA-Hww

https://youtube.com/shorts/DD7QeAOwCE0

Gerd
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NP317
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by NP317 »

Impressive!
RussN
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Short Line Tom
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by Short Line Tom »

Two days ago I had the chance to see Gerd's steam donkey in real life.
It looks perfect and runs like a clockwork!
I'm looking forward to see it in steam ;-)

Cheers
Tom
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Dick_Morris
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by Dick_Morris »

Very nice! I'm not a donkey expert, but it looks exactly like I would expect one to look.
MoodyLumberCo
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by MoodyLumberCo »

Thanks for the feedback :-)

My steam donkey is a freelanced hybrid, combining the Dolbeer design for boiler and engine with typical two drum arrangement of a wide fase donkey.
Such two drum donkey usualy had two cylinder engines, which were mounted left and right to the boiler along the frame, just as represented by the Harris-Donkey.

Never the less, my steam donkey conbines parts and designs used by Orr & Sembower, so it can be described as plausible engine, maybe created from existing components, of build on sepcial order.

Anyhow, I can't wait to learn how to operate such an engine in logging duties. Reading books about the topic is onw thing, but trying yourself on crotch-line-loading or highlead yarding systems will become very interesting.

I look forward to get some timbers tomorrow, to start with the sled.

Gerd
MoodyLumberCo
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by MoodyLumberCo »

Hi folks,

did some carpenters work the last week.

Image

Image

Image

Gerd
MoodyLumberCo
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by MoodyLumberCo »

Proof of concept. Engine is running on air.

High Lead Yarding
https://youtube.com/shorts/Hzg47xVkXAs?feature=share


Moving the Donkey
https://youtube.com/shorts/VTyMTtZkhyA?feature=share


Gerd
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Dick_Morris
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Re: An homemade steam donkey

Post by Dick_Morris »

Cool!

The next level of difficulty is to move the donkey under its own power across a river while suspended by a cable strung over a river.
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