The 1899 Locomobile Steam Car Replica, known as the Lykamobile is a full scale live steam automobile manufactured in 24 kits. This kit is available from a company called "Steam Traction World" located in Daventry, United Kingdom. Each kit is to be manufactured and sent once a month for 24 months. However for cost considerations I have chosen to have my kits batched and dispatched in larger crates to the United States (Topsail Beach, NC).

Specifications:
• Length 7ft 2.6in • Height 5ft 3in • Width 4ft 7.1in • Weight 904 lbs.• Water Tank Capacity 12 Gallons • Fuel Tank Capacity 7.3 Gallons

Construction:

CHASSIS Tubular steel fabrication, combination weld, bolted and silver solder.
STEERING “Ackerman” design tiller steering.
DIFFERENTIAL & DRIVE Spur gear differential similar to the original Locomobile, drive shaft and bearings.
WHEELS & TYRES Single tube pneumatic, treaded.
BREAKING SYSTEM Disc brake system.
ENGINE 21/4" diameter, 3" stroke modified “Hackworth” valve gear.
WATER FEED Twin mechanical pump.
BURNER Fuelled by diesel.
BOILER Multi Fire Tube, fully constructed and complete with necessary paperwork and inspected by notified body.
BODYWORK & SEATS Wooden with steel frame, seating capacity of 2 persons, with turned decorative spindles with leather style upholstery.
Gears: forward and reverse.
Assemble with hand-tools only
Step-by-step instructions
Technical service and help-line backup
Designed on ‘Solidworks’ CAD
Manufactured on modern CNC machines for build accuracy and high quality


Monday, September 21, 2020

Leather Dash

Well, while waiting for the last kit #22 .... and waiting for the last kit #22.... and waiting for the last kit #22, I had some time on my hands to think about how I wanted to mount my Model T Ford speedometer that I acquired a couple of years ago. I have already modified one of the disk brake disks with a tooth profile and figured out how to mount a right angle swivel drive. Follow these links to review: Speedometer CalculationsFront Disk Gear ProfileSpeedometer Swivel Drive Mount

Below is the mock-up of the dash. I have added two brackets mounted off of the front chassis and a 3 inch flat stock piece of metal all temporarily clamped together. I procured an early 1910 to 1920 brass era automobile ignition/headlight combination keyed switch from eBay. I re-wired the burner switch to the keyed dash switch, and also the auxiliary lighting circuit switch to the dash switch. 


Next was the positioning of the Speedometer. I had to place this a bit away from the brake pedal. Didn't want to accidentally mash my foot on the speedometer. 
The next image shows where the Steam Pressure Gauge should go. I can't mount this yet because the piping for this is coming in the last kit. Did I say we are waiting for the last kit........
I had some left over leather from making the wire frame dash and decided to cover the 3 inch flat stock piece of steel with leather. It took about two days to do, first painting the metal and then one day covering and hand stitching the leather. But I think it turned out nicely. Although this was never an option for the Locomobile - lights, ignition switch and speedometer, I tried to make the appearance somewhat period correct. After all this is a "replicar" and not an actual copy of the Locomobile. The Lykamobile is a close copy and resembles and provides many of the experiences that a car of that era possessed (along with a few modern safety features like disk brakes, electric lights and diesel fuel). But the heart of the car is a close copy of the Locomobile. Below are some final pictures showing the leather dash. Final assembly will take place after the last Kit #22 arrives.


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