Trouble with a Lady Anne after fitting a chuffer

Discussion of Live Steam locomotives should be located here
Post Reply
5H17
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2016 11:22 pm

Trouble with a Lady Anne after fitting a chuffer

Post by 5H17 » Sun Dec 18, 2016 3:58 pm

I'm still on my live steam learning curve, but I ordered a Summerlands Chuffer for my Lady Anne which I fitted this afternoon. After fitting it though, the loco was really hard to light and kept blowing back and going out.

Is it possible that I've disturbed something whilst fitting the chuffer? As instructed I only removed the smokebox and nothing else. The only thing I can think off is that in order to cut the exhaust pipes accurately I stood it on its end (bunker down).

User avatar
tom_tom_go
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4824
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Dec 18, 2016 4:54 pm

If you turned it upside down dirt might have blocked the gas jet. The Roundhouse site will tell you how to remove and clear this (don't poke anything in the hole of the jet, use air or carb cleaner).

Are you able to light the loco easily if you try a match or gas lighter underneath the smokebox?

5H17
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2016 11:22 pm

Post by 5H17 » Sun Dec 18, 2016 5:02 pm

tom_tom_go:121650 wrote:Are you able to light the loco easily if you try a match or gas lighter underneath the smokebox?
Someone else just said the same thing on one of the FB groups, so i'll try it. It's always been a doddle to light from the chimney, but then it's never had a huge chuffer taking up most of the chimney diameter before so that makes sense.

I did get a little wisp of what appeared to be oil smoke too, so I'm thinking some stray steam oil has run somewhere it shouldn't have whilst it was standing on end.

User avatar
tom_tom_go
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4824
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Post by tom_tom_go » Sun Dec 18, 2016 5:10 pm

The chuffer you ordered, is it a standard one or does it have the FX control as well?

If so, you might need an air control ring:

http://www.summerlands-chuffer.co.uk/ro ... 4585452337

I did not need one for my Silver Lady, however, it has a different smokebox to the Lady Anne.

5H17
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2016 11:22 pm

Post by 5H17 » Sun Dec 18, 2016 5:11 pm

It's just a standard one without FX.

User avatar
Keith S
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1624
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:44 pm
Location: Canada

Post by Keith S » Wed Dec 21, 2016 4:42 am

You'll find it's a bit different to light with the chuffer. It ought to light well by putting a match under the smokebox. When I light mine from the chimney, I get a flame in the chimney and have to gently blow on it to get it to "pop" back into the flue.

I consider it to be highly unlikely you disrupted anything. They are very basic machines, There's nothing in there that could really be damaged or shifted.

You will get steam oil in the smokebox that will occasionally burn off while the engine is running. The exhaust is quite oily, and the oil condenses in the smokebox before the steam does. Especially with a chuffer.

I was annoyed by the chuffer at first but now I really like it. I even like the odd puff of oil smoke. Steam locomotives are generally smelly things. It's part of the charm.

cheshire
Cleaner
Cleaner
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:45 pm

lighting

Post by cheshire » Thu Dec 22, 2016 8:20 am

My Silver Lady wont light from the top of the chimney at all since I installed the chuffer. However it lights fine from underneath.

User avatar
IanC
Trainee Driver
Trainee Driver
Posts: 798
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2016 9:15 am
Location: Nr. Warrington, Cheshire

Post by IanC » Thu Dec 22, 2016 10:56 pm

I don't really think it has made much appreciable difference to lighting mine. It lights from over the chimney, or from under the smokebox.

Ian

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests