Technical
Tips: Mike Thurgood has been researching the
derusting procedure using Molasses, which is used with varying success by
restorers all around the world. The fact that ours wasn't as successful
as that used in Australia for instance, led him to make these observations:
Colleagues in the CVE&MS have sometimes complained
that their molasses won’t work. It would require some research work to determine
why, but possibly different sources of the molasses contain different iron
chelat
ing agents, some of which don’t incorporate
an acid grouping. Thus molasses can unjustly get a bad word for not doing
what others claim it does do! The chemistry is very complex, and is not easily
understood by people with little or no knowledge of the subject.
ing agents, some of which don’t incorporate
an acid grouping. Thus molasses can unjustly get a bad word for not doing
what others claim it does do! The chemistry is very complex, and is not easily
understood by people with little or no knowledge of the subject. When I de-rust with molasses I add a small quantity of
citric acid, say about a teaspoon per litre, just to help the acidity. Once
the rust has been dissolved, the dilute citric acid will only very slowly
dissolve the bare iron, quite insignificantly, in fact. What should be avoided
are strong mineral acids such as hydrochloric or sulphuric, which will most
definitely continue to eat away at the bare iron surface until there's no
more acid left. After years of use or in storage, the rusting in water hoppers,
for example, could considerably reduce wall thicknesses, and therefore strong
mineral acids are definitely not recommended as an additive to a chelating
agent.
It needs to be understood that a chelating
agent will not necessarily work purely on its own. For example, if rust
is required to be 
removed there needs to be an acid present to dissolve it first in order
to release [Fe2+] ions. When iron rust is dissolved by an acid
the oxygen combines with the hydrogen ions from the acid to form water,
and the iron goes into solution as ferrous [Fe2+] ions. A chelating
agent per se cannot do this oxide conversion. Providing the added acid isn’t
too strong, eg in the case of most organic acids, the dissolution will effectively
stop once the bare iron surface has been reached. However, a cyclic hydroxamic
acid chelating agent has two groupings in its molecule, one acting as an
acid, the other as the chelate, so it is actually able to provide both acidic
and chelating functions. Chelation literally means
"clawing’, referring to the property of certain organic compounds to be
able to combine chemically with specific metal ions by binding them in an
organic "claw" or "molecular cavity", the term used to describe a specific
arrangement of the atoms in the chelating agent which form enclosed cavities
into which a metal ion will just fit. The acid part of the organic chelating
hydroxamic acid dissolves the iron in the rust, the atoms of which are trapped
in the chelating "cavities", and the strongly bound bivalent ferrous [Fe2+]
ions which are initially formed are prevented from escaping from the chelate
and becoming hydrolysed and then oxidised to form its insoluble trivalent
[Fe3+] hydrated oxide, which forms the typical reddish brown
iron rust precipitate. Thus the chelated [Fe2+] ions are able
to remain in solution.
removed there needs to be an acid present to dissolve it first in order
to release [Fe2+] ions. When iron rust is dissolved by an acid
the oxygen combines with the hydrogen ions from the acid to form water,
and the iron goes into solution as ferrous [Fe2+] ions. A chelating
agent per se cannot do this oxide conversion. Providing the added acid isn’t
too strong, eg in the case of most organic acids, the dissolution will effectively
stop once the bare iron surface has been reached. However, a cyclic hydroxamic
acid chelating agent has two groupings in its molecule, one acting as an
acid, the other as the chelate, so it is actually able to provide both acidic
and chelating functions. Chelation literally means
"clawing’, referring to the property of certain organic compounds to be
able to combine chemically with specific metal ions by binding them in an
organic "claw" or "molecular cavity", the term used to describe a specific
arrangement of the atoms in the chelating agent which form enclosed cavities
into which a metal ion will just fit. The acid part of the organic chelating
hydroxamic acid dissolves the iron in the rust, the atoms of which are trapped
in the chelating "cavities", and the strongly bound bivalent ferrous [Fe2+]
ions which are initially formed are prevented from escaping from the chelate
and becoming hydrolysed and then oxidised to form its insoluble trivalent
[Fe3+] hydrated oxide, which forms the typical reddish brown
iron rust precipitate. Thus the chelated [Fe2+] ions are able
to remain in solution. Because chelating
cavities vary in size depending on the chelating agent, as do metal ions,
and also because they may be uni, bi, tri or even quadri-valent, for these
reasons chelating agents tend to be highly specific for specific metal ions.
No doubt there is a chelating agent that would attract [Fe3+] ions.
South African News: Two interesting news items in the last
issue were noticed by David Edgington in the UK. Both to
do with one of his favourite subjects, Lister Engines. One was Hendrik
Massyn's Lister D with the dipstick, which was on the Vintage and
Steam Show at Nottingham Road. Hendrik got Freek Du Plessis
to take some splendid digital photos of the engine from all angles and these
were sent to David and 'the other David' (Harris)
for their comment. The dipstick fits in a hole drilled into a semi-circular
indentation cast into the side of the crank-case, which looks for all the
world as if it's made for that purpose. The verdict fron 'the Davids' was:
this dip-stick is not a Lister job. Late crankcases have that crescent
shape cast in already, somebody has made good use of it. David Harris says
Lister would have made a better job of sealing the hole, also he says the
stick doesn't fall exactly in the sump area, more in the gear 
area which defeats the object somewhat. But I will certainly use it in my
book--- (For details of the book, see below.)
Emile Cronjé, who runs the now famous Brakfontein Harvest
Day expressed an interest in restoring a pump set found on the farm Molteno
Brothers, near here. He and Derick Kleynhans arrived on
a Saturday and we removed it, piece by piece from the pump room. (See Right) The engine is a Continental Red Seal
6-cylinder side-valve, similar to those which he finds in some of the Combine
Harvesters he's noted for restoring, although this time he's keen on restoring
the pump set as it is. The pump is self-priming, with a 12" suction
and delivery, made by the Construction Machinery Company of Waterloo, Iowa.
What is especially interesting is that on the identification plate, in the
oil specs, it is stamped with the US Navy emblem (a U, then an anchor then
an S), which leads some of us to suspect that it might have been a US Navy
salvage pump, dating perhaps from the Second World War. Comments on this
subject would be welcome! It is said that the founders of the farm, Harry
& Ted Molteno installed this pump and its all-welded 12" delivery
pipe simply to exercise their water rights on the dam it drew from.
The engine is certainly hardly used!
Timour Hall Show: Held in the grounds of this historic homestead
in Plumstead is a Classic Car and Bike show, and we were asked now for the
second time to come and make a noise and provide some variety to the exhibits.
We had a good turn-out of members, both as exhibitors and spectators. Instead
of mentioning all the exhibitors and their toys, it would be better to mention
what was on show for the first time. Arthur Wilding had
just finished an immaculate restoration of his Fuller & Johnson open
crank, (See Right) which ran with a characteristic
clatter! Steven Sokolic and the Baileys had an interesting
display of a Wolseley-in-restoration, various pieces already restored, painted
up, and a board with the parts list drawings, so that the spectators (mostly
car and bike enthusiasts anyway!) could see the lengths that are gone to
in our restorations. Philip & Ryan Gray-Taylor had
a Sachs-powered genset, still in fresh paint, with which they were making
boiling hot cups of coffee with an immersion heater. Denis Usher
brought along a Hathaway float-mounted pump-set, belonging to Calvin
Hutton, which we discovered is powered by an unmarked
vertical-crank JAP 2-stroke. This little engine requires only the slide
for its Amal carburettor to be a runner. The slide measures 0.52" diameter,
anybody got one out there? Mike Thurgood had his Heinrici
Beta Hot A
ir engine on show for the first time. He hadn't fitted it with a water circulation
pump yet so he had to run water down from various vessels under gravity. Philip
had brought along a Briggs and Stratton WMB washing machine motor, which
we used to drive the Philadelphia Egg Grader, the first time that the machine
has been driven by an appropriately-sized engine.
cooled off in the swimming pool, and we were treated to a radio controlled
model helicopter display too..
Voting Day is a public holiday
up speed! It was a great feeling watching it running again after standing
for 40 years! We then used the engine itself to drive the compressor and
soon we were able to start up with a loss of only 10 PSI on the gauge. A
full report of the day's events is to appear in Stationary Engine Magazine
in the near future.
USA News: Curt Andree wrote in to tell us that they have a
Winter Warm-up like ours, but where ours is normally held in the pouring
rain, theirs had other problems: 
n who started it all, David Edgington. It seems he isn't
only into engines and Alfas, but Geraniums and Pelargoniums as well! Reading
our copies, Philip Gray-Taylor and I had the same thought:
Some years ago, on an engine hunt in Thesslersdal, just outside Caledon,
Western Cape, Philip collected not only an engine or two, but also a slip
of what the elderly
Clemens Reynolds (See
Right) who lives there calls Laventel Malva (Lavender Geranium). The farm is called De Meul,
and was established in 1842. The mill building which housed an undershot
waterwheel and mill is still there . Philip's wife Beverley
has been propagating this plant which has the most exquisitely scented leaves,
and gave us two plants. Philip & I both hit on the idea that
David should have some 'Cape Vintage Geranium' ! As luck would have it,
two cousins of mine who live near David visited here, and took a small slip
home. David was waiting with his green fingers (and rooting powder!)
and had it planted before their plane had cooled down! The latest report
from England: Well after days of being in intensive care, the geranium
is growing. We had some worries initially after the leaves yellowed but all
is well now.
Australian News: Our roving reporter Ronnie Crowther
attended the 'Plough and be Counted' at Cootamundra over the Easter weekend,
and says he had a wonderful time! Apart from meeting up with the Hogsville
Ystermanne, there representing South Africa with three rare tractors
which were shipped across for the occasion, (See right) he
met up again after a long time with another of our members, Brian
Arton who now lives in Griffith NSW nearby. They both farmed
near Stellenbosch many years ago. Wilf Mole kindly
organised Ronnie a VIP ticket which allowed him to roam more freely
with his video camera. We're looking forward to the results! The official
results came through like this: On Easter Sunday,
11th April 2004, 1897 tractors ploughed their way into the history
books by breaking the World Record for the maximum number of tractors ploughing
in 
Knight has sent an Owners' Manual and Gywnfor Williams
(See Right) the Stationary Engine Magazine
Helpline specialist has written in with help including how to date
the engine. He also sent images of the decals Peter will need, and I suggested Peter
contact Martie van der Westhuisen in Pretoria, who specialises
in small runs of interesting stickers and decals like this. Gwynfor read
this and has asked Martie to make some for him as well! Ron
Wiley in South Australia put us on to Derek Jones,
who, he says: started work as a student apprentice and became the
head of R & D at Dorman. Derek is also a member of the Institute of
Diesel and Gas Turbine Engineers, so I feel he is a very useful contact
if you require any information about diesel engines or Dorman petrol engines.
He has been helping
me with information about a Dorman engine used by Aveling Barford in their
Calf Dozer. A friend is restoring one of these interesting little machines.
At the Timour Hall show, we met Bill & Edith Hoskin
again, last met at Sandstone Estates Heritage Show last year. At
that time they were still living in Sasolburg, but now they're living
down here in Durbanville. They were at Sandstone with Bill's replica Stanley
Steamer, built himself over many years. Also at the Timour Hall show we
met Richard Gates, Peter Roelofse, and
Tony Sandell. Tony has an amazing collection of the smaller
motorcycles, often overlooked by others. Dickon Daggitt
was also there, with a Bugatti, but he has a Thornycroft marine engine in
need of TLC, and is always looking for Coventry Climax engines from fire
pumps which he uses in racing cars! He adds: A few weeks ago when in
Jo'burg for the historic Motor Races, I came across a Bugatti 6 cylinder
diesel engine. This was never used in a car. Would one of your members know
any more about it? Ben Smit & his neighbour in
Boksburg wrote in saying they've got a selection of Listers, Petters,
Deutz and Villiers engines. Johan & Nicholas Stofberg
are mentioned above. Neville Kehl introduced himself to
founder member Darryl Bailey at the recent Annual
Show of the Cape Town Society of Model & Experimental Engineeers.
Wanted: Info on Diabolo separators is requested by John
Menasce. Please contact John on