governor

What should a guy have to pay for a steam governor?

Well, there are a lot of variables that will affect how much you'll have to pay. Size (smaller popular sized ones are often more expensive than HUGE ones), manufacturer, age, and condition are just a start. The region where you live will affect the average price somewhat, and whether the seller is a private individual, or antique or parts dealer as well. It has also become a fact in this hobby that the collector fellow (who wants it just to make a lamp or dustcatcher out of) tends to be willing/able to pay quite a bit more than the fellow who actually has an engine and use for it. Thats why prices on places like ebay seem....well, inflated.

If you have the ability or resources to rebuild a worn one, then you can possibly save quite a bit, but if you have to pay a machinist, the costs can easily go sky high. Buying an incomplete one in hopes that you can eventually rebuild it is a crap shoot.

Allen, Thanks for your response.I'm looking at one about 18" high,inch and quarter steel balls for 150.00 Is that too much? Anyone?

It all depends on what you think you are willing to pay to own it. What you are asking is "what do others think you should have to pay for it". The problem is that the others will not have to shell out the bucks for it, you will, so it again falls back to what you are willing to pay for it. It will usually always cost you more than you would like to have to pay for it. If it doesn't, you got yourself a bargan, maybe that is. Just remember, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.