Work has begun on one of our longer term projects – and R&R of the boiler jacket for Hortense

Here the KSW crew attempts to remove the crankshaft from the ever mysterious double simple steam engine. All bolts are removed and we’re attempting to use the fork lift to gently lift the crank to break it free. With copious amounts of Aero Kroil (avoid eye contact), heat from a torch, banging with mallets and swearing it finally lifted clear.

”Pappy” made its debut at the Chico Threshing Bee & Country Faire.

It’d been two years of hard work. We learned a lot and we’ve completed a handsome restoration that we are proud of. Paul Bonderson’s “Pappy,” a 1917 J. I. Case Traction Engine was steamed-up and running in Chico, CA. We spent a good deal of time threshing, running the Baker Fan and lumbering around in tractor parades. Pappy came on like the majestic woolly mammoth, mere gasoline powered so called vintage John Deere lawnmowers cowered before it! Hyperbole aside, we were welcomed by so many at this event, we met a ton of new people and had a great time.

KSW performed at the venerable Maker Faire!

The KSW custom Baker Fan (like a treadmill for traction engines) is now complete, it’s a one of a kind Andrew O’Keefe design. It was used to load test Pappy for first time since 1917(!), in preparation for the Chico Threshing Bee & Country Faire.

We’ve acquired a rare “Double-Simple” type engine from the 1890s (photos too). A restoration plan and schedule are in the works.