Hi,just bought a new 3/4" Allchin and Im having trouble with filling it?
I use the supplied syringe and when I get to about half full on the level tube the boilers full!!
Tried moving it about to see if I can settle it but then goes off the gauge!!
Any ides or are they just like that?
Thanks.
As it is new perhaps best to ask Maxitrak ?
I recently received an Allchin that was showing the same thing. Suspected part of the sight glass connection was plugged, so I removed the top plug screw from it and found nothing wrong. But, when the plug was removed, the glass showed the correct level, (SV removed during all this). Removed the bolt from the banjo fitting at the boiler, (where the pressure gauge siphon connects), and found that this hollow bolt had no hole near the head so the top of the sight glass had no communication with the boiler! Carefully drilled a hole similar in size to the one in the bolt and the gauge works now.
Hope this helps.
I have a slightly different experience of the gauge. On mine, it will "settle" if you tip the engine about. However, once up to steam the level is likely to show at or very near the top of the gauge and then steadfastly refuse to come down during the run. Only at the end, when the burner is out and you're running the pressure down will it come back to reality.
As a result, I just don't trust it and tend to run on a timed basis. After 20 minutes steaming at low throttle, out goes the burner and that's it, no matter the gauge reading. I use 180ml of cold water to start with and after the run the burner tube is still covered, so I know I'm ok.
A couple of words of caution to the OP: (1) NEVER tip the engine upside down to empty the boiler, water can run into the pressure gauge if you do - syringe it out instead [that tip was given to me, I can't claim the credit] and (2) Throw away the supplied syringe's silicone tube NOW and replace it with something much longer, or else sooner or later it'll drop into the boiler and you will spend an age recovering it. Yes, I did find out the hard way!
I recently received an Allchin that was showing the same thing. Suspected part of the sight glass connection was plugged, so I removed the top plug screw from it and found nothing wrong. But, when the plug was removed, the glass showed the correct level, (SV removed during all this). Removed the bolt from the banjo fitting at the boiler, (where the pressure gauge siphon connects), and found that this hollow bolt had no hole near the head so the top of the sight glass had no communication with the boiler! Carefully drilled a hole similar in size to the one in the bolt and the gauge works now.
Hope this helps.
Can you explain in a bit more detail please? whats SV?
Thanks
I wonder if Maxitrak/Accucraft is aware of this defect. It should be easy enough to send customers the correct bolt for the top of the gauge.
I recently received an Allchin that was showing the same thing. Suspected part of the sight glass connection was plugged, so I removed the top plug screw from it and found nothing wrong. But, when the plug was removed, the glass showed the correct level, (SV removed during all this). Removed the bolt from the banjo fitting at the boiler, (where the pressure gauge siphon connects), and found that this hollow bolt had no hole near the head so the top of the sight glass had no communication with the boiler! Carefully drilled a hole similar in size to the one in the bolt and the gauge works now.
Hope this helps.
Can you explain in a bit more detail please? whats SV?
Thanks
He's referring to the 8mm hollow bolt that attaches the banjo at the top of the boiler, where the pressure-gauge connects and close to the forward-reverse lever. Out of curiosity, I removed mine and found it wasn't blocked or missing the hole. The bolt is hollow and has a hole in the side of it to connect the top of the sight-glass to the top of the boiler. Without the hole the sight-glass is only connected at the bottom, not at both ends - which it should be to work as intended.
SV=Safety Valve.
Just had a look and the hollow bolt has a hole drilled in the side so thats ok?
Just had a look and the hollow bolt has a hole drilled in the side so thats ok?
Yes, that's how it should be so that's not your problem.
any other ideas please??
Just found the gas valve leaking as well,not too happy.....
any other ideas please??
Just found the gas valve leaking as well,not too happy.....
A leaking gas-valve isn't good news, it's rather unsafe. I would empty the tank outdoors and contact the dealer you bought it from. Do you mean the filler-valve or regulator valve?
Assuming that gets resolved, you could try filling it up as I do, use 180ml or close to that and run for 20 minutes (steaming). I'm really not sure if the unreliability of the gauge is peculiar to my engine or it's a case of "they all do that, sir" i.e. not well designed.
It's not a cheap engine so they really ought to resolve your problems!
to their credit they've sent a new valve and apologised. Cant ask more than that?