Grizzly H8102 Horizontal Stirling Engine Machined Kit

by Grizzly

Product Description

The Stirling Engine was invented in 1816 and operates on hot air that alternately expands and contracts to drive two pistons connected to a flywheel. The air is heated by an alcohol burner and the greater the temperature differential, the faster the speed. This walking beam Stirling Engine Kit includes all machined parts and is ready to assemble. It even includes the display base. The finished kit measures 9-1/2"L x 4"W x 6-1/2"H and the base measures 12-1/4"L x 6-3/8"W. You will need to drill a small 30° hole between two cylinders for proper operation.

Product Details

• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• ASIN: B000M66WU4
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,545 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Requires specific skilled metal drilling work for assembly, February 14, 2009

By 

Jonathan Butler "zenblaster" (Mount Pleasant, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Grizzly H8102 Horizontal Stirling Engine Machined Kit (Misc.)

The kit I received was extremely well packaged and arranged. All the parts seemed to be made very well. There is a step in the assembly instructions which requires 2 parts to be pressed together, then a specific size hole drilled thru them at a specific angle to reach a center cavity. If you were looking for simple assembly, this required step blows that out of the water. Most everything is done for you to have a great looking result, but this metal drilling requirement may kill the project for many. Hole must be drilled for functioning result. I deducted 2 stars for this, which should have been predrilled in the 2 parts to eliminate that step.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Little Stirling That Could, January 5, 2010

By 

Christopher David (Bakersfield, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grizzly H8102 Horizontal Stirling Engine Machined Kit (Misc.)

Length:: 2:20 Mins

This is the walking beam Stirling material and plans kit. The kit is very complete although a bit on weak side for instructions. It's not very complicated though, so not many instructions are needed. The plans have metric dimensions which was fine until I noticed they called out a few close tolerance holes. I ended up buying some drill rod to convert a few parts to English size so that I didn't have buy any metric reamers or taps. I single pointed all the threading on the lathe.

One thing I forgot to mention in the video is that I changed how the heating cylinder is bolted onto the frame in conjunction with the pressed on cooling fin. This makes it easier to disassemble if needed.

The plans could definitely be improved by putting the part number on each drawing. You'll see what I mean.

All in all I had a blast making this engine love to watch it run. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the machining kit.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Could not get it running, December 25, 2009

By 

Hessam Mohajeri (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Grizzly H8102 Horizontal Stirling Engine Machined Kit (Misc.)

This is not a simple kit and require proper equipment to get it done. As one reviewer already mentioned the step for drilling the hole is not trivial. Overall it is properly packaged kit but the instruction is light. I for one could not get the kit running. That is probably my fault but I am not a machinist and don't have all the proper tools. That is why I bought the kit or otherwise I would have built it.