Accucraft gas valve issue
Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 2:41 am
Accucraft have just issued a Service Bulletin regarding the need to wait after filling their gas tanks to allow any surplus gas to dissipate. I believe that there may be more to this issue than the SB indicates. I have just bought a Decauville (as has a colleague) and a Mannin and all 3 locos burst into flame when firing up commences.
The problem seems to be that the gas tank valve has been tapered and tapered roughly. This means that when a brass filler atachment is fitted then the seal is not quite complete allowing an inordinate amount of gas to be vented sideways.The rigid and precise brass gun barrel of the brass filler does not sit evenly on the taper. A look at the gas tank valve with a magnifying glass reveals the problem.
The solution is simple. Argyle Loco makes a filler atachment out of TEFLON and this fits flexibly over the taper and forms a perfect seal. Not a drop of liquid escapes until there occurs a brief venting which indicates that the tank is full.
I have fired up my locomotives repeatedly with the Teflon filler and there has never been any further problems. Both locomotives can be filled without wasting a drop of liquid gas.
Thanks to Gordon Watson of Argyle Loco Works.
The problem seems to be that the gas tank valve has been tapered and tapered roughly. This means that when a brass filler atachment is fitted then the seal is not quite complete allowing an inordinate amount of gas to be vented sideways.The rigid and precise brass gun barrel of the brass filler does not sit evenly on the taper. A look at the gas tank valve with a magnifying glass reveals the problem.
The solution is simple. Argyle Loco makes a filler atachment out of TEFLON and this fits flexibly over the taper and forms a perfect seal. Not a drop of liquid escapes until there occurs a brief venting which indicates that the tank is full.
I have fired up my locomotives repeatedly with the Teflon filler and there has never been any further problems. Both locomotives can be filled without wasting a drop of liquid gas.
Thanks to Gordon Watson of Argyle Loco Works.