Garden Railway Forum

Will a Roundhouse gas filler adaptor fit a Regner gas filler valve / tank on a Regner Konrad ,or are they a different diameter ? I do not have the loco at hand to try .

I have been reliably informed that Regner gas filler adapters are different to the Ronson Roundhouse variant . New Ronson type gas filler valve on order .

Chris - I’ve just remembered that I was warned when I bought the Ronson valve for my Konrad that it took up less space inside the gas tank, and therefore there was a higher risk that the water would run out before the gas. I don’t think I’ve ever been an efficient enough driver to actually experience this (and I have a top up valve now anyway) but it’s worth looking out for just in case!

Yes, the stock Regner gas fill stem is a different diameter.

Thanks for the replies .
I noticed on these Regner locos that there is a screw type regulator on the steam oil reservoir . The instructions state that it should be screwed in ,then turned out one and a half turns
, a little bit like the old school mixture screw on a carburettor .
Why is there a variable flow screw on the lubricator ? The compression would be higher due to more steam oil, water mix entering the cylinder perhaps, or Is it adjustable to make more of a smoke effect out of the chimney ?

Preseli Chris wrote: Fri Jun 27, 2025 4:12 pm Thanks for the replies .
I noticed on these Regner locos that there is a screw type regulator on the steam oil reservoir . The instructions state that it should be screwed in ,then turned out one and a half turns
, a little bit like the old school mixture screw on a carburettor .
Why is there a variable flow screw on the lubricator ? The compression would be higher due to more steam oil, water mix entering the cylinder perhaps, or Is it adjustable to make more of a smoke effect out of the chimney ?

I've always thought it is just to allow you to regulate the oil flow so that it wasn't dripping all over the track, or alternatively running too dry. That's how I use it on my Henry (Regner, not vacuum) and Vincent.

Would a slight leak of water escaping from the sight glass union affect the water level reading? The loco in the image is my second attempt at owning a Konrad. The first one ,an ebay purchase was a shelf queen in good cosmetic condition but the gas valve and or the burner were blocked so that one went back as I couldn't fire it up .Bit of a pity as it sported a cab front with brass spectacles. At least this one fires up and runs . But I am not hp about the leak If I have to return this one, I will bite the bullet and purchase a new Vincent.

I can't say I find the sight glass on my Konrad terribly accurate. When I got it I just used to fill it up, fill the gas tank and then run it. (Even after I swapped the gas filler it still had water in when the gas ran out.) I have now added a water top up, so I just stop it every couple of laps and give it a few squirts, if I can see water in the sight glass I'm vaguely reassured but I wouldn't rely on it.

I Have a roundhouse loco with water top up facilities with a sight glass which is accurate . Why would Regner fit a sight glass if not for the purpose of checking the boiler level . Although rudimentary these locos are of quality construction and of course German . I have just checked the loco again by filling the boiler via the water top up . there is no pressure in the system as the burner isn't lit yet it is already leaking see image .

it appears to be leaking from below the union . maybe who ever fitted the water top up valve caused the damage . It also has been filled with hard water as there are bits of lime scale floating about .
Notice nice shiny new gas filler valve that I fitted that will be coming back off if I have to return the loco

Preseli Chris wrote: Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:27 pm it appears to be leaking from below the union . maybe who ever fitted the water top up valve caused the damage . It also has been filled with hard water as there are bits of lime scale floating about .

The top fitting seems to be a banjo fitting and it looks like the bottom washer is missing. Which is why the joint is weeping.

Looking at the photo it appears there might be two washers at the top, in which case the banjo fitting has been assemble incorrectly at some time in the past. I prefer to use fibre washers on boiler fittings, but it looks like Regner may use copper washers.

Copper washers work OK, but require more force when tightening up to be leak proof and it's very easy to break the glass.

Regner use brass boilers and the instructions suggest running them with a mixture of tapwater and distilled water. The theory is that the tapwater forms a thin scale layer that acts as a barrier to minimize dezincification.

Graeme

Preseli Chris wrote: Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:20 pm I Have a roundhouse loco with water top up facilities with a sight glass which is accurate . Why would Regner fit a sight glass if not for the purpose of checking the boiler level .

I'm sure that's what they are intended for, but I'm sceptical of the readings on either of my Regners. I'm just not sure the design of these is ever going to give you as accurate a reading as your Roundhouse. (Ironically, neither of my Roundhouse locos have a sight glass at all, and therefore I don't miss this!) I've not come across problems like the leak though, that seems like a flaw in this particular loco.

GTB wrote: Thu Jul 10, 2025 3:04 am Looking at the photo it appears there might be two washers at the top, in which case the banjo fitting has been assemble incorrectly at some time in the past. I prefer to use fibre washers on boiler fittings, but it looks like Regner may use copper washers.

Good spot. I think you are right.

Regner use brass boilers and the instructions suggest running them with a mixture of tapwater and distilled water. The theory is that the tapwater forms a thin scale layer that acts as a barrier to minimize dezincification.

Oh, that's interesting, I hadn't spotted that! I've been using distilled (mind your my tap water is soft anyway).

Best water in the UK being it flows from the Dragons home of Wales. .Even though I catch rain water and filter it for my steamers .the hard water deposits will still fur up the smaller copper pipe work .

Being a brass boiler, drain it at the end of a run..
(You probably know this, but I was not sure.. I 'accidently' bought a Beck 'Anna').

Other than perhaps leaving a watermark, is the leak enough to worry about? - Might it not seal itself, as the loco warms up and develops a little bit of scale?

But if a washer is missing, probably worth sorting that.

Phil.P

Phil.P wrote: Thu Jul 10, 2025 10:57 am Being a brass boiler, drain it at the end of a run..
(You probably know this, but I was not sure.. I 'accidently' bought a Beck 'Anna').

Other than perhaps leaving a watermark, is the leak enough to worry about? - Might it not seal itself, as the loco warms up and develops a little bit of scale?

But if a washer is missing, probably worth sorting that.

Phil.P

Hi Phil
I always drain out my boilers after use, the leak is more apparent when under steam, so as GTB spotted the copper washers are together as to one being on top and one below the union along with the lime scale in the boiler ,sight glass and copperwork . I came up with a solution .
I returned the loco to the shop this morning . I will save up some pennies and buy a new loco with a clean slate .

Thanks to all members input on this thread.