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

[Firebird]

Hi Zephyrin

I think (hope) you are right. The one thing I didn't check was whether or not the valve was sitting down fully on the port face. The buckle is a good fit in the valve so might be out of alignment just enough to hold the valve off.

Another strip down today 

Cheers

Rich

[Firebird]

Hi

Stripped one side down again and found a few problems.

The liquid gasket I use, which is very good, has seeped into the valve chamber



And also under the slide valve



After a clean up which didn't take long I applied engineers blue to a bit of steel plate, held the valve chest onto it and slid the valve back and forth. Its getting a good contact so no problem there



Holding the valve chest sideways the valve doe's fall away from the port face. I found a topic about a ROBROY loco that suffered the same problem. The guy sorted it by fitting 2 small springs so I have done the same. I have drill 2 holes in the under face of the driving nut and fitted 2 small stainless steel springs. Quite light springs but enough to hold the valve against the port face







A couple of videos

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR_6RuaxXxk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR_6RuaxXxk</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeM0n_BBGL4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeM0n_BBGL4</a>

A paper gasket instead of the liquid gasket



One side done. I have fitted new bolts this time the socket heads were getting loose



Cheers

Rich

[Admiral_dk]

Looks like you are on the right track - looking forward to a happy dance, video etc. 

[Johnmcc69]

That's a neat "trick" using springs like that. I hope it solves the problem.

 It is a beautiful loco you have built!

 
 John

[michaelr]

Good work on the slide valves, hope you are rewarded with a successful steam up.

michaelR

[Firebird]

Hi

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py4JW0NBdzk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py4JW0NBdzk</a>

 

Cheers

Rich

[michaelr]

Really pleased for you, all your work and perseverance has paid off and the engine sounds good.

Michaelr

[Roger B]

Still following along      I thought IC engines had problems 

[Kim]

Just beautiful, Rich!   
Congratulations! 
Kim

[cnr6400]

 

Great news Rich! she's a runner! Well done with the spring implementation. Do keep an eye on oil supply especially in first running.

[Jo]

 

Watch your oil spouts, fingers and thumbs in the motion - it takes no prisoners   

Jo

[Firebird]

Hi

Thanks Michaelr, Roger, Kim, Cnr6400, and Jo 

Well I'm very happy to see it running 

Some valuable lessons learned also which will help on the next loco build.

Next on the agenda is to make and fit a hydrostatic lubricator in place of the mechanical one. I have to do this before I can steam it up again and hopefully run on steam. Incidentally I had an email from our club yesterday which says it will be unlikely to open again this year  The club is situated in a park where there are restrictions in place so the rules have to be followed. But that means there is no rush now. I know it will raise steam and I know it will run on air. Before it runs on steam I need the lubrication system up and running.

Hopefully I have got the timing right and won't need to be reset, I don't fancy the idea of removing the valve chest covers again to see the slide valves 

There are some workshop maintenance and tooling jobs to do anyway. I think my old Myford needs resetting for one, its turning a slight taper over long pieces.

Cheers

Rich

[Admiral_dk]

Great news and a happy builder - well done Rich 

[Firebird]

Hi

Thanks Admiral 

I have made a start on the hydrostatic lubricator. The tank will fit where the the mechanical lubricator used to be. I bit of 1 1/2'' copper tube just fits through the hole.

First up was to make something that will hold the copper tube







Because the tank is subject to full boiler pressure it will be tested as if it it is part of the boiler. I have used 16 gauge copper tube, 1/8'' thick copper for the end plates and a 3/16'' stay. A bit of over kill but its what I had to hand. The bushes are all phosphor bronze.





I have just silver soldered the lower end plate in, that's in the pickle right now

Cheers

Rich

[Firebird]

Hi

I have finished all the silver soldering on the hydrostatic lub tank. There are 2 bushes in the top, one for the oil outlet and one for the filler. One bush in the bottom for the steam inlet and one bush on the side at the bottom for the drain valve. One slight difference to the drawing, I have used 1/4'' bronze for the stay not 3/16''. With all the bushes plugged I have done a hydraulic test to twice working pressure, 160 psi.







Cheers

Rich