Jim Tangeman's Engines

Garden Tractor, V-2 Frostline, Boat Engine, Steam Engine Collection, High Efficient Steam Engine

 

 

Garden Tractor

YouTube Video from the 2012 September Chicago-land SACA Steam Meet

 

 

This is the best running ever steam vehicle and thus it is a danger to the driver as it goes far faster than the chassis is designed to handle.  The engine is based on castings purchased from LocoGear out of Lake Worth, Florida.  These are castings for a Shay Locomotive live steamer and have the advantage of being piston valved.  Jim purchased only two cylinders and made the connecting rods and crankshaft for the engine himself. 

  Jim Tangeman's Steam PoweredGarden Tractor
Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor
The boiler is of Worthington design (pages from a Worthington sales brochure) and wood fired.  Much effort was made to produce dry steam with many welds made and it works.  There is a very clever pressure controlled draft dampener in the front of the vehicle.  Everything that Jim makes works and works well and is a joy to drive. 
   
 

Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taken September of 2012

   
     
Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor

The Worthington style boiler was made from many of these pre-welded up sections.  Note that the larger diameter vertical tubes are 2 ½ times the diameter of the angled heat exchange tubes.  This makes a solid water wall all the way up and puts the heat exchanger natural circulation tubes just far enough apart for good combustion gases flow and close enough together for excellent heat exchange.  Also note the large down comers at the ends of the boiler.

Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor   Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor

(Note: Click on a picture to see a larger view and then use your browser to enlarge it further.)

     
Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor   Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor
     
This vehicle has a two speed gear box and a dog clutch to use when shifting gears.  Therefore it will go slow through the woods or speed up to 40 mph, which is way too fast for the narrow tread, quick steering, and no suspension, of this vehicle on the road.  The boiler has very large down comers and after the experiences I have had I suggest that there is much to copy from this well done machine.  In fact there is much to copy from anything Jim Tangeman makes.  He is too modest to tell you that himself.
   
Back to Top
Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor   Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor
     
Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor   Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor
     
Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor   Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor
     
Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor   Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor

Steam Meet in January 2005 during the time trials.

   
Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor   Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor   Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor

Steam Meet in January 2005 during the time trials.

     
Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor   Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor

Steam Meet in January 2005 during the time trials.

     
Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor   Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor

Steam Meet in August 2007 during the time trials.

     
Jim Tangeman Steam PoweredGarden Tractor    
 

Back to Top

     

Tangeman's Collection
     
     
Jim Tangeman and some of his steam things being donated to the Kimmel Steam Museum.  Loading up.   Jim Tangeman's Steam Engine Collection
     
Jim Tangeman's Steam Engine Collection   Tangeman’s steam things; left foreground, small launch engine with carbon piston, duplex steam pump from castings, Sirius engine converted to bump valves uniflow, V-2 made with Frostline castings.  Background is a wood fired boiler with a piston La Mont circulating pump and water level steam separator.
   
V-2 Frostline engine double acting uniflow with intake poppet valves beautifully made by Jim Tangeman.   Jim Tangeman's Steam Engine Collection
   
Jim Tangeman's Steam Engine Collection  

Tangeman 1” bore 1” stroke boat engine
with carbon piston.

     
Carbon “D” valve.   Jim Tangeman's Steam Engine Collection Carbon D Valve
     
Jim Tangeman's Steam Engine Collection   After much use the carbon pistons, 3/8” thick each broke into four pieces.
 
Back to Top
     

High Efficient Steam Engine
     
     

Jim Tangeman, Oroville, California. Under construction December 2013.

 

  Jim Tangeman with his 4 cylinder high efficient Steam Engine
     
Jim Tangeman's 4 cylinder high efficient Steam Engine   Jim is making a 4 cylinder high efficient steam engine.
     
This will have one of those triangular connecting rods so there is never a top dead center anything.   Jim Tangeman's 4 cylinder high efficient Steam Engine
     
Jim Tangeman's 4 cylinder high efficient Steam Engine  
The engine is designed for minimal clearance volume.  The exhaust poppet valve is vertical from the top.  The intake poppet valve is vertical from the bottom and beside the cylinder.   Steam passages shown.
     
Jim in his shop.  He does excellent machine work as well as very good steam engine design.  Everything he makes runs.  In steam circles this is a very big compliment.   Jim Tangeman's 4 cylinder high efficient Steam Engine
   
Back to Top