Van_Rennes motor in restoration
Our oldest engine (from 1895), the Van Rennes petroleum engine, had been leaking exhaust gases along the piston for quite some time. This engine has no piston rings but a leather cuff to realize the seal of the piston in relation to the cylinder.Deze motor heeft geen zuigerveren maar een leren manchet om de afdichting van de zuiger ten opzichte van de cylinder te realiseren. By means of a grease pot on the cylinder the leather is kept supple, but it is clear that such a seal wears out faster than a piston ring. The suspicion was therefore that this cuff – which was last replaced 11 years ago – was in need of renewal.
At the end, it became increasingly difficult to start the engine.
Begin mei 2026 werd de motor dan ook gedemonteerd waarbij ook de zuiger en drijfstang moesten worden uitgenomen. Nu bleek dat de manchet inderdaad was versleten: er was een stukje afgebroken(zie foto at the right).
The piston turned out to be in good condition. The crank bearing was also in good condition but the crankshaft did show some grooves, possible damage from the past because the bearing shells looked good and the engine was always well lubricated by us.
Currently 2 new cuffs are on order and while waiting for delivery, various parts, such as the seals of the light tube housing, are being refreshed or replaced where necessary.
