Boiler woes

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:06 pm

I decided to do some work on Britomart this evening, and i looked in the cab, and this was revealed to me:

With the backplate off

and the evidence of leaking from the sight glass

I'm quite worried about it, as it looks a lot like rust to me, but as far as i knew, mamod boilers didn't have anything put in them that could rust?

I'm also guessing that this is a new boiler job?

made-in-england · Post by **made-in-england** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:08 pm

Looks to red to be rust to me but could be...

did you use hermadite to seal anything up?

Will

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:54 pm

I agree its not rust but looks like something has melted around the sight glass. You can get new sight glasses so its not a full boiler replace.

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:17 pm

made-in-england:45509 wrote:Looks to red to be rust to me but could be...

did you use hermadite to seal anything up?

Will

Nope the stuff's never been anywhere near the loco!

Sir Clothem Cap:45514 wrote:I agree its not rust but looks like something has melted around the sight glass. You can get new sight glasses so its not a full boiler replace.

It weird cause when i last steamed her she leaked from the bottom of the boiler and i assumed it might have been the old steam pipe leaking still but i think it may be that, but i didn't notice anything though, and it has also formed within a week and a half as well

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:26 pm

Well it looks like i'm going to have to get a new boiler anyway! cause i've found out that there's a BIG lump of metal now rattling around in the boiler itself, which is way to big to get out without cutting it up! It came from the bottom near the sight glass and came off by prodding it with a screw driver

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:26 pm

Thats probably the solder round the steam pipe. What have you been firing it with?

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:32 pm

It isn't from the steam pipe at all, it's went from the bottom of the sight glass to near the steam pipe, but had nothing to do with it, and meths

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:34 pm

can you see if its a shaped bit like a threaded nut or just a random lump

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:38 pm

Sir Clothem Cap:45527 wrote:can you see if its a shaped bit like a threaded nut or just a random lump

It ain't anything like a threaded nut at all! it's a lump thats just over an inch long and half an inch wide and nearly a cm deepish

DLRdan · Post by **DLRdan** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:41 pm

The lump could be the reflector that some of these locos are fitted with its suposed to help see where the water is. As for the leak I would put a new O ring in, wipe the red stuff off and pump water in till it comes out the safety valve , this shows if youve got leaks any where. I cant think of anything that could cause the red water but i doubt its anything to worry about.

plewsy2105 · Post by **plewsy2105** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:44 pm

id say the red stuff looks like boiler sludge.... how often do you clean your boiler out....also am i correct in saying you use treated water in the boiler instead of tap water ect...

as for the metal object inside the boiler well im clueless but id say that's defiantly worrying

plewsy2105

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:45 pm

DLRdan:45531 wrote:The lump could be the reflector that some of these locos are fitted with its suposed to help see where the water is. As for the leak I would put a new O ring in, wipe the red stuff off and pump water in till it comes out the safety valve , this shows if youve got leaks any where. I cant think of anything that could cause the red water but i doubt its anything to worry about.

Nah it ain't that, it literally is just one big lump of metal, and the seal isn't leaking cause that was replaced not that long ago, i'll try to steam her again when i have more meths with my other mamod's sight glass, but for the moment it looks like i'm gonna have to get a new boiler.

I'm guessing that it's previous history of the loco arriving to me with a leak straight from the factory doesn't help and also she has been run dry twice now......

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:05 am

I have not heard of that much stray metal in a boiler so I'm not understanding where its come from. Maybe a new boiler from dreamsteam is the quick cure but I'd be interested in what that lump is.

It may be removable through the steam dome nut with some care and tweezers

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:10 am

If i can when I'm back in wales I'll try and get a best picture of it as i can, but no way can i get it out the boiler through the current holes (sight glass etc) it is quite big! I think i will have to get a new boiler cause i don't think that it'll last that long now (it has had quite a battering in it's life!)

Narrow Minded · Post by **Narrow Minded** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 12:12 pm

Are you going for the up-rated boiler or just a standard replacement?

Hancockshire · Post by **Hancockshire** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 12:23 pm

Narrow Minded wrote:Are you going for the up-rated boiler or just a standard replacement?

I'd suggest standard as it's much more wallet friendly

Sir haydn · Post by **Sir haydn** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 12:55 pm

1. you sight glass is leaking. its not the seal its the perspex. its got hot melted compressed ag the sides and now there isnt enough pressure on the seal to make it steam tight.

2. the brown stuff is boiler sludge. its brown with steam oil thats been sucked back into the boiler in the cooling process.

3. I would suggest the metal lump is boiler scale that built up on the boiler back head. with the heating and cooling process its probebly like a lump of limestone!

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 1:14 pm

So presuming Sir Hayden is right.
Your mission should you choose to accept it is to break up the lump so that it can be removed (long nosed pliers will help) the biggest hole is the steam dome nut. wash out the boiler with hot soapy water to remove the sludge and small bits of limestone, Replace boiler sight glass and seal with a new one, Test the loco and enjoy it again.

Take Photos at each stage and post for us all to look at. It may help others that it happens to.

and most important Never let a steam Loco run dry!! but you know that.

Dr. Bond of the DVLR · Post by **Dr. Bond of the DVLR** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 4:19 pm

best way to get rid of limestone is with an acid... vinegar would do the trick.

pauly · Post by **pauly** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 4:39 pm

it is quite impressive what our little locos accumulate in there boilers isnt it

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