Garden Railway Forum

After last week's successful run with a loco with a PPS inline lubricator and Dream Steam gasflow cylinders, I took the same loco to Tywyn again for more running in. What a week a difference makes! - as this week the loco was somewhat arthritic, compared to last week when it ran round Llechfan like a hare.

Making plenty of steam and bubbling at just under 60psi, blowing off on the SV, but always stopping after a few yards or so. It got worse as she ran more.

I checked the lubrication and that the steampipes weren't blocked, and that nothing was lifting. By the end of the running session, she was moving moreso but still halting every so often...

So, I took it home and cleaned out the rods and jesus clips incase my thick steam oil had combined with foilage. Some had, so after a degrease and a hot water clean of the rod ends and 'jesus clips', I reassembled my loco.

I did a test run tonight...

The loco was stil somewhat shy to move. The steam was there, building up like a massive plume but the wheels weren't turning. Pistons lubricated, check. Lubricator, check.

Gradually the wheels turned and I got some good spurts but then he'd come to a stop again. With a poke mind, and each time it'd turn for a bit....then stop again with 40psi on the clock and a good glass full of water.


And then the indignity happened....

The left hand cylinder's head, where the piston goes through from inside to the outside and so push the wheel fell out!!!

Photos can be provided if needed - but any ideas or if it can be repaired effectivly, or time for a new unit?

:sick:

I have yet to contact DS, but bearing in mind I bought it a year ago near exactly [buty never steamed them til 2 weeks ago!!!!!] and having all of less than 5 hrs steam time....I'm not impressed. I have photos and copy of receipt from last year mind

One of mine did exactly the same. I've been told that heat resistant glue will work , can't recall the code number.

I had the same problem, Paul said he'd never had the problem before, but as 3 of us on the forum alone have had the problem.... must be a bad batch!

Bad batch? I suspect it may be a result of the winding down of the 'old business' - when DS was going into liquidation and the Plymouth operation was closing.

I rushed to buy my set for the Long Termer back then and purchased - between then [Oct 10] and Sept 11, aside from two 'trial builds', the cylinders in question were kept in secure storage, untouched, unfiddled with, unsteamed until late Sept [incorporated into bouild] and 16th Oct 2011 [steamed forst time ever].

I'd rather not use glue, I'd rather a professional [DS?] repaired or replaced the unit :/

I am in the process of emailing DS and await from there.

dougrail:60384 wrote:Bad batch? I suspect it may be a result of the winding down of the 'old business' - when DS was going into liquidation and the Plymouth operation was closing.

I rushed to buy my set for the Long Termer back then and purchased - between then [Oct 10] and Sept 11, aside from two 'trial builds', the cylinders in question were kept in secure storage, untouched, unfiddled with, unsteamed until late Sept [incorporated into bouild] and 16th Oct 2011 [steamed forst time ever].

I'd rather not use glue, I'd rather a professional [DS?] repaired or replaced the unit :/

I am in the process of emailing DS and await from there.

Dude that sucks hard! If I had the correct set of wheels Id happily give you them because after all the effort put into this project you deserve it!

Hold on, hold on chaps.

Its not the WHEELS that have fallen off their axles [I apologise, my wording may not have been clear]

The wheels are rock solid and I intend to preserve them - they're unique.

It's the cylinder. The cap's fallen out. Pictures soon.

Photos for perusal...



and

Sounds like a clean, de-grease and Loctite 601 job

Loctite 601?

Exact same problem I had, except mine were 2 months old not a year!

When did your break happen, ASDR?

When running up and down. A 1 yd section of straight, blowing off at 50, quiet happily, but I lost the achual piston and was left with just a piston rod and the end cap!

I've never had this problem with mine *touches wood!* and mine have had a LOT of running in now. One thing that comes to mind, is that I have the DS uprated boiler which only goes to 40psi, is the extra pressure from the other boiler too much for them?

Shouldn't do! They do the kit containing those bits in a pack, so should work well together

Ah but DLR is asking about MINE...

95% of people upgrade their Mamods using DS's all in one pack.

The remaining resident loon [ie me] used:-

Briggs detailed steel rods

DS steel wheels and gasflo cylinders,

PPS reverser, boiler, SV, pressure gauge, steampipe and inline lubricator.

PS advertise their boilers to go upto 60psi.

Surely not?

anythingsdr:60394 wrote:When running up and down. A 1 yd section of straight, blowing off at 50, quiet happily, but I lost the achual piston and was left with just a piston rod and the end cap!

Aye but when? Oct, Nov, Dec last year or wha'?

Narrow Minded:60389 wrote:... Loctite 601 job

Loctite 603 copes with oily surfaces better, dries quicker and is stronger.

Just how many Loctites are there, and is such a solution an idea for a high-pressure steam(60psi) /water/oil environment?

TonyW:60399 wrote:

Narrow Minded:60389 wrote:... Loctite 601 job

Loctite 603 copes with oily surfaces better, dries quicker and is stronger.

Absolutely correct Tony 603 is all of the above, but as long as the mating surfaces are degreased before applying the Loctite ( I use a can of engine de-greaser spray ) 601 is strong enough but still allows the cylinder to be "split" should the need arise for dismantling ever arise.

I'm wondering if the 60psi sv setting is maybe too high?

This is what I am wondering. However on my PPS pressure gauge, she was at 50psi max during this evening's trials.