CONWAY 0-4-0 3 1/2" GAUGE LOCO

[crueby]

Excellent!
 

[Firebird]

Hi

Thanks Chris 

It's been a challenge to say the least.

It seems lots of loco owners have trouble with regulators, maybe it's one of those things that doesn't scale down very well.

The use of ball valves is becoming very popular.

I have 4 more locos waiting in the wings (Note to self, stay off ebay  ) so if this works ok I will use it on the others. Perhaps a larger dome bush in the boiler for one thing.

Cheers

Rich

[Admiral_dk]

The dome now fits 

Great to see you succeed in the end    and it is one of those you will remember for quite some time 

OK - back to the 

[crueby]

The engines I have done used a needle type valve, some screw it in/out others it slides in/out with a lever for the throttle function. Does the regulator in the Conway design do the same function? Not sure why it is more complex if so?     Not a criticism at all, I just have not seen many designs and am still learning the different ways this is done.
 

[Kim]

Congrats Rich!  Great solution! 
Glad to see you got it all sorted, and it all fits now
Kim

[cnr6400]

Great news Rich! well done. 

[Steamer5]

More than one way to skin the cat!

Well done Rich.


Cheers Kerrin

[mike mott]

Your perseverance finally resolved the issue well done Rich!

Mike

[Firebird]

Hi

Thanks Admiral, Kim, cnr6400, Kerrin and Mike 

Chris, here's plan for the regulator



It relies on the disc being a perfect seal on the body, initially being held by the small spring and then by steam pressure.

When I was trying to do the hydraulic test I could not get it to seal. I tried lapping, increasing the spring pressure all to no avail.

Don't quote me on this ( I'm sure someone will let us know) but I would imagine that in full size the disc would be 9" or 10" in diameter and have plenty of surface area to seal.It could be it's one of those things that doesn't scale down very well.

The screw down type of regulator seems to be much preferred by model loco builders. To fit one these requires a large enough wet head bush on the front tube plate through which the regulator can be fitted. Unfortunately Conway has a smallish bush, not big enough to get a screw down type through.

Which brings us onto the ball valve which is now being favoured by many builders. Available in stainless steel for a £5 on ebay ready built.

So we will see if it works

Cheers

Rich

[Admiral_dk]

Looking at the drawing, it is obvious that it's located there for clean steam and its pressure on the valve ...!
But with the valve you used, there's no point in putting the valve up there and "muddle" the operation of it with the links etc. - its only important that the intake pipe you put into it ends up in dry steam up in the dome ...!

Best wishes

Per

[Firebird]

Hi Per

Yes thats right it collects dry steam at the top of the dome. I did look at mounting the ball valve horizontaly in the boiler but making the linkage would be difficult. Doing it this way keeps most of the existing backhead bush and shaft etc.

Cheers

Rich

[Firebird]

Hi

Started to re-build the boiler. I have given the lagging a quick coat of spray paint to tidy up a few scratches





Cheers

Rich

[Kim]

That looks really great, Rich! 
Kim

[Firebird]

Hi

Thanks Kim 

It might be a while before I can get back on it.

Who said when your retired you will have plenty of time 

This week the grand kids are off school for the half term break

Oh well your Dads not doing anything said SWMBO 

Cheers

Rich

[mike mott]

This week the grand kids are off school for the half term break

Oh well your Dads not doing anything said SWMBO

Ah yes but in a few years they won't want to spend any time with you so it is a precious little interlude in our lives. they grow up so fast. Today I am off to watch my 7 year old grandson in his second hockey game. I missed his first unfortunately where he scored a hatrick.

Good to see the boiler with the dome closed, chickened out and have chosen to use a needle valve on my little loco, with the collection pipe open at the top of the dome.

Mike