Boiler woes

Sir haydn · Post by **Sir haydn** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 4:46 pm

its not really a stone more of a lime crystal. similar to a stalegtite or stalegmite. its the left over water impureties

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 6:58 pm

I can tell you new it definatly ISN'T a stone or crystal at all, it's metal as it bent slightly when i tried to get it out with some long nosed plyers. and yeah i think i had misplaced the sight glass, so i'll also get a new one if i get some stuff from dream steam cause it's 21 years old and just ever so slightly cracked.....

The replacement is a bit of a tricky one, as i have a choice, put Britomart on the back bench and use the money i have to buy new rolling stock, OR i buy a new standard boiler and gas flow cylinders with the money

I've got myself into a right dilemma here!

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:06 pm

before you make any decision is there anyone you know locally that could take a look at it, I think some at the joys of life could be quite helpful.

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:29 pm

Sir Clothem Cap:45599 wrote:before you make any decision is there anyone you know locally that could take a look at it, I think some at the joys of life could be quite helpful.

I know that the shop i got it from could take a look, but they haven't been open for some time now cause of the snow etc but if i can remove it then i'll have a better look at it

Sir haydn · Post by **Sir haydn** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 9:14 pm

I really cant see how a lump of metal 1inch x 0.5 inch x 1cm got in there

I have two scrap mamod boilers here and having a measure with that lump in it would seriouly effect operating. did mamod ever fit a lead weight into the boiler to help with traction, you certainly wouldnt bend a cm thick piece of metal with pliers

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:03 pm

Sir haydn:45607 wrote:I really cant see how a lump of metal 1inch x 0.5 inch x 1cm got in there I have two scrap mamod boilers here and having a measure with that lump in it would seriouly effect operating. did mamod ever fit a lead weight into the boiler to help with traction, you certainly wouldnt bend a cm thick piece of metal with pliers

I don't have a clue either! but it's come from the bottom somehow, and i didn't bend it in the middle, at the edge where it's much thinner

DVT Dweller · Post by **DVT Dweller** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:15 pm

DolwyddelanLightRail:45533 wrote: 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......

Two thoughts that came to me, is the red stuff part rust from the flat steel plate that comes through the brass sight gauge? the one the burner goes under? When the rubber seal went on Miffy the water sat in the same place as yours and started to rust the plate.

The lump in the boiler, with it having run dry twice, is it solder?

As for cleaning the boiler Roundhouse have said that kettle descaler is ok if not used too strong.

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 8:54 pm

DVT Dweller:45613 wrote:
DolwyddelanLightRail:45533 wrote: 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......
Two thoughts that came to me, is the red stuff part rust from the flat steel plate that comes through the brass sight gauge? the one the burner goes under? When the rubber seal went on Miffy the water sat in the same place as yours and started to rust the plate.

The lump in the boiler, with it having run dry twice, is it solder?

As for cleaning the boiler Roundhouse have said that kettle descaler is ok if not used too strong.

I think for the rust but you may be right there, but i'm slightly confused (if it is) why it has gone up to the sight glass like it has in the picture

and it possibly could be solder but i'm just not sure i'll try to get a better look and possible a picture if i can get a decent one when i'm back

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:23 pm

Any progress yet?

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:29 pm

Not back in Wales yet, i'm heading back that way tomorrow but of course with it being new years eve i'm out again in the evening!

So it may be new year if i can start any progress as of yet!

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:05 pm

Right tonight i managed to get some picture and while trying to get it into a better position to get a picture, a smaller piece fell off it, and came out the sight glass hole! I'm not able to get a picture of the other peice as it's now wedged at the front of the boiler!

anyways, here's the smaller piece:

The piece of metal

The suspect i now imagine of the rust at the beginning of all this!

just to get the scale of it (it also shows up the really bad paint job!)

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:38 am

That bit is the reflector with scale build up on it. before you replace the sight glass use some vinegar to wash out the boiler to descale it. and for a bit of fun put the reflector in some vinegar and watch it disolve.

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 5:04 pm

I assume your on about the thing on the left then?

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:35 pm

err yes like wow how did that happen?

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:48 pm

Sir Clothem Cap:46074 wrote:err yes like wow how did that happen?

the reflector your seeing is the original, the lump has broken off the bigger bit which is now stuck at the front on the boiler which originally came from the bottom, i recon it may be a big piece of solder thats somehow got into the boiler during construction

Hancockshire · Post by **Hancockshire** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:49 pm

Sir Clothem Cap:46074 wrote:err yes like wow how did that happen?

I could ask the same question. In fact I am, how did it happen?

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:56 pm

DolwyddelanLightRail:46077 wrote:
Sir Clothem Cap:46074 wrote:err yes like wow how did that happen?
the reflector your seeing is the original, the lump has broken off the bigger bit which is now stuck at the front on the boiler which originally came from the bottom, i recon it may be a big piece of solder thats somehow got into the boiler during construction

I'm a bit worried if that's solder because of the size. If it is a accidental bit the no problem but if its there because it has melted from the boiler then the joints will have been weakened. To be on the safe side replace the sight glass then take the engine for a hydraulic test at your nearest 16mm association meeting.

Hang on I can see that that bit you have got out has locating tabs on each end I recon its the silver bit used to wrap around the brass reflector Holder. in which case the only concern is the lump you say is still inside. Is this lump loose at all?

Hancockshire · Post by **Hancockshire** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 10:06 pm

DolwyddelanLightRail:46077 wrote:the reflector your seeing is the original, the lump has broken off the bigger bit which is now stuck at the front on the boiler which originally came from the bottom, i recon it may be a big piece of solder thats somehow got into the boiler during construction

Ah, I see

DolwyddelanLightRail · Post by **DolwyddelanLightRail** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 10:18 pm

Sir Clothem Cap:46079 wrote:

Hang on I can see that that bit you have got out has locating tabs on each end I recon its the silver bit used to wrap around the brass reflector Holder. in which case the only concern is the lump you say is still inside. Is this lump loose at all?

I'm not entirely sure what your on about there but i'm going to get a new boiler anyway cause it does worry me slightly and yes the other lump was loose, but it's now wedged in at the front of the boiler

Sir Clothem Cap · Post by **Sir Clothem Cap** » Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:47 am

Fair enough, a new boiler will be safer but fun to install.

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