A Steamy Spit Roast

A steam powered spit roast made for a party - Amazingly it worked.

And it worked by... heating water in a pressure cooker over the fire; this created the steam to pedal the bike. On each half revolution the pedals kicked the valve to redirect the steam to the other cylinder, the bike turned an old gear box and the pig was connected to the drive shaft (well, scaffold pole).

The bike wheel on the front is the fly wheel, and the water was kept at the right level via a simple balance; the cooker was on a long arm which lifted when it lost water (making it lighter) which tripped a switch to a central heating valve to let more water in.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• spit
• roast
• pig
• hog
• spitroast
• steamengine
• steam
• engine
• power
• contraption
• Heath
• Robinson
• bicycle
• pedal
• barbeque
• bbq
• party

[jrockisthebest]

thats impresive, how long did it take you to buil the spit?

[heathrobinson]

Probably all in all, a month's worth of evenings and weekends.

[jonnotantan]

not only is that the most stupid, ludicrously inefficient and vastly over eccentric way I have ever witnessed to roast a pig, it is the best. I take my hat off to you, sir!

[Killiberals]

That was sexy.

[Mike1535]

good job on the spit

[TomStraub]

Damn...someone already made the spit roast joke.

[shahrid1987]

that is fuckin amazing lyk!! plus the roas looks good

[johnnybagofdonets]

Well Done... Love the counter weight as engineering masterpiece. Best wishes to all. Roasting a pig with family and friend..Priceless.

[Stanleyguy101]

This is one of the most ingenious use of steam I've ever seen

[WorldStove]

no home should be without one :) how long did she run on the one fill of the pressure cooker?

[ilbarbecubo]

wonderfoul........Ciao

[joshibiz]

Fantastic.

[sounduser]

Well done!!

[Gopaw]

You're a man after my own heart. Thirty years ago I built The Happiness Machine, a bicycle powered ice cream freezer. It still operates. May your steam-powered spit bring as much happiness.