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Author Topic: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine  (Read 410 times)

classixs

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Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« on: March 23, 2021, 12:25:26 pm »
Just received my little D405, which i purchased yesterday.

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It arrived very well packed, even well enough to keep the water in and on the engine inside the box.
Just gotta love it when sellers ship with a sightglass looking like this:
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Anyway, it was only in the mail for a day or so, so no damage from the moisture.

It is in a visually very nice condition, and obviously haven´t been fired much...might find out later today why :D
The only flaws i´ve found after carefully inspecting it, is some corrosion on the flywheel, a tiny spot on the front, and the same around the SV.
The wheels look weird on the picture as well, but that´s merely because the previous owner has taped them up, with some white band-aid type of tape.
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All in all i´m pretty happy with it so far, and will give it a steam up later today.
Cheers
Jan
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Nick

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #1 on: March 23, 2021, 12:28:13 pm »
You know, the D405 was one of the first engines I found in the hobby on ebay and have bid on 50+ but have never actually owned one yet... Still trying for a good deal, but might just have to pay up for one!

Doesn’t the seller know they could save on shipping price if they lose some of that water weight ::)   :D
Nick

ShadetreeMotorcycle

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2021, 12:40:35 pm »
Ahah!...I kept trying to sand that little "dot" out of the Center of logo, but now I see the close up photo of yours I can now see it's supposed to be there! I think if I make up a special sanding block I can get that center area a bit nicer.

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Stoker

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2021, 12:45:55 pm »
Lucky man you are, that your shipping was fast enough to beat rust or other water damage in transit. I have more than a couple of examples where very little water did a whole lot of damage, even just escaping out of the whistle on an otherwise closed "container" that really was ALMOST empty.
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Dampfopa

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2021, 01:18:34 pm »
Hello Jan,
A very nice machine that you received. Maybe the supplied water is a very special juice. You should analyze the water carefully before you dump it.😂😂😂

The year before last, for Christmas, I bought the same D405 for little money on Ebay. After a thorough cleaning and an upgrade with the 2-channel remote control from Wilesco, the machine runs fine. I gave the D405 to my grandson. A remote control has to be installed for the children today, otherwise the interest will quickly wane.
Cheers
Jürgen
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classixs

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2021, 02:31:15 pm »
Thanks guys!

Just fired it, which is pretty easy when Bruce has your back ;)

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As seen on the second picture, i am already "modding" away on this.
Keeping track of pressure, is way more useful than a whistle, at least in my book.

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Only mechanical issue, besides the usual annoying Wilesco-song from the gears, was that the steamline wasn´t soldered onto the valve, and the exhaust only very poorly onto the cylinder.
I did notice a big solder blob right above the steamvalve on my inspection tour, but really gave it little more attention than a shrug.
However once steam arose, i could certainly tell that it needed more than an inspection.
Soldered the pipes properly back in place, and now everything works as expected.

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A quick guess is, that this issue probably was the main reason for its listing 8)
Cheers
Jan
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ShadetreeMotorcycle

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2021, 02:52:20 pm »
All ready looks better "topless"!
  When I unboxed mine I was surprised the chimney just slips out!.... Later I discovered why...its Very helpful when filling boiler with funnel to have the chimney removed.
   I was also surprised we need to invert the engine to drain the Condensed Water exhaust from front compartment...I suppose I could draw it out with a syringe. Kind of wondering what others are doing about this?

classixs

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2021, 03:24:21 pm »
I´ve just used a syringe.

...might eventually just drill a hole at the bottom, run it on the livingroom carpet...and blame the cat, as soon as she starts yellin´ ;)
Cheers
Jan
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ShadetreeMotorcycle

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2021, 05:01:34 pm »
I´ve just used a syringe.

...might eventually just drill a hole at the bottom, run it on the livingroom carpet...and blame the cat, as soon as she starts yellin´ ;)

Maybe I can just open my smokebox door when the front end on order (like the one in photo) comes in the mail.
  On the other hand, letting her mark her territory and blaming the cat sounds like fun to! ;D

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Jim

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2021, 09:00:30 pm »
Looks in great nick Jan and I really like that ali burner!
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Jim

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St Paul Steam

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #10 on: March 23, 2021, 09:18:31 pm »
That's A good looker Jan , I can't recall ever seeing one of these with a pressure gauge , but its neat. I haven't made those burners for years , good to know its still giving you good service.😊👍
Bruce, St. Paul Indiana, USA
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classixs

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2021, 04:01:44 am »
Thanks guys  :)

Am going to keep a pressuregauge on there, it´s a great tool to have on board.
Will try to hunt down a 1" gauge instead, as the old 1 1/4" Wilesco gauge does seem a tad large on there.
But it was all i had in stock, that fitted the threads right away, so happy with it for now.
Cheers
Jan
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classixs

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2021, 02:41:49 pm »
Have a couple of Mamod TEs in the parts box, so figured i´d make the standard move for these Wilesco tractors.

Poor thing  ::)

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...and while at it, i figured that i just as well could swirl the inner spokes on the front 1/12 around too, to have 12 spokes on those as well:
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Now they just need some new paint, and some rubber on there:
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Cheers
Jan
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John Besley

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2021, 03:08:20 pm »
Get some Uskin upgrade parts ... 😁
Supplier of upgrade parts for Wilesco Traction Engines - Uskin Models
We have just launched our new web site  https://www.uskinmodels.com/

Jim

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Re: Wilesco D405 Traction Engine
« Reply #14 on: March 24, 2021, 04:41:10 pm »
Changing out those wheels made a big difference Jan.
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Cheers.
Jim

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