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Accucraft Ragleth burner issue

Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 10:48 pm
by Bristol8572
Hello all.
Steaming up my Accucraft Ragleth last week while visiting my parents and the garden railway I noticed some things which it hasnt ever previously done.
While building up steam, mostly after initially lighting it up it produced alot of smoke and a little popping as if it was burning off oil or somthing. The gas wasn't on very high.

Once ready, upon opening the regulator the sound of the burner turned into almost a roar, calming back down when closing the regulator.
The burner went out once or twice during the initial stages while the cylinders cleared again it has never done this before.

Any suggestions? Many thanks in advance

Re: Accucraft Ragleth burner issue

Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 10:51 pm
by TonyW
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Re: Accucraft Ragleth burner issue

Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 10:59 pm
by Big Jim
Might be time for a strip down and check over.
Start by having a look in the smoke box and down the flue with a torch to see if anything seems amiss.

Gas going out can be a sign of a blocked jet.

Re: Accucraft Ragleth burner issue

Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 5:59 pm
by Lonsdaler
I've had the same issues with mine, I must be honest I've just put it down to being a characteristic of the loco.
Gas 'going out' can be eased by allowing the gas tank to reach ambient temperature before firing up.
'Smoke' tends to be surplus lubricator oil being burn't off once the smoke box becomes 'saturated'. I believe Tag Gorton cleans his locos with gunk or similar after a steam up, but I have only ever wiped down with an oily rag. Always been wary about damaging RC components if I use a solvent.
If the gas jet blocks, I find that opening the gas valve doesn't produce a corresponding increase in flame size (and roar!). It's pretty quick and easy to remove the gas jet from the burner and just blow gas. (or compressed air) the wrong way through the jet to clear it. I would not be tempted to use fine wire or similar to clear the jet, you may scratch the inner surface which can have a signifocant effect on gas flow, AIUI.
The burner is really noisy anyway, compared to Roundhouse engines. Another characteristic I have found is that as the loco runs, the gas tank warms up, and the burner will start to burn more gas, also increasing the noise, so I have to tweak down the gas valve as I run, hopefully without putting out the fire!

Re: Accucraft Ragleth burner issue

Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 11:11 pm
by IanC
Chris Bird has a video on his Summerlands website of the Ragleth and the burner. It even shows you what the flame should look like when lit properly. In the video he also suffers from a blocked jet which he demonstrates how to clear.

Ian

Re: Accucraft Ragleth burner issue

Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2018 8:46 am
by Bristol8572
Thanks guys I'll check out the burner to see what that's looking like.
I think the thing that started to concern me the most was when opening the regulator the roar the gas increases abs when closing it decreases which I've never noticed before.

Re: Accucraft Ragleth burner issue

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 8:26 am
by Tag Gorton
Take the smoke box off (screws underneath) and run without on a rolling road or on blocks. Might have a steam leak where the main steam pipe joins the manifold.Either way you will see how it is working. I am presuming the gas 'pops' back into the fire tube. Chuffed To Bits or Barley Pit loco Works can provide a replacement 'bullet burner' which works much better. The Locomotive Department in the US can provide a much finer gas regulator as well. Just unwind shaft and replace with new one.

Re: Accucraft Ragleth burner issue

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:33 am
by IanC
Tag Gorton wrote: Thu Aug 09, 2018 8:26 am Take the smoke box off (screws underneath) and run without on a rolling road or on blocks. Might have a steam leak where the main steam pipe joins the manifold.Either way you will see how it is working. I am presuming the gas 'pops' back into the fire tube. Chuffed To Bits or Barley Pit loco Works can provide a replacement 'bullet burner' which works much better. The Locomotive Department in the US can provide a much finer gas regulator as well. Just unwind shaft and replace with new one.
Are the burners from Chuffed to Bits and Barley Pit Loco Works the same Tag? I would like to replace mine in my Caradoc for something quieter and more controlable.

Thanks,

Re: Accucraft Ragleth burner issue

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:54 am
by tom_tom_go
Change the gas valve if you are looking for more control, the burner replacement is just to make it quieter (I never bothered on my Ragleth, people have the gas up far too high on these locos which is why they are noisy).

https://www.thetraindepartment.com/ttd-upgrade-valves/

Re: Accucraft Ragleth burner issue

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 3:41 pm
by IanC
Thanks Tom. I am looking to do both.

Re: Accucraft Ragleth burner issue

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:18 pm
by TonyW
I still reckon you have a superheater problem...