Assistance needed to get my Ben Peake
No. 2 steam engine running. I broke the inlet pipe off. I attempted to reattach the pipe using
Loctite 404. That seems to have messed up the valve inlet. I used acetone to try to clear out any hardened Loctite. I think the engine is possibly out of time. In the photos the inlet has just opened. What is the correct timing? What is a good way to reattach the small pipe? Please help. I would like to get this engine running. Thanks.
The inlet should just start to open as the piston just hits Bottom Dead Center (BDC) so that steam admission begins when the piston is just ready to start ascending the cylinder.
Solder is the preferred method to attach the inlet pipe to the steam admission valve body, but now that you have used a "glue" those surfaces will have to be super well cleaned before solder will take. Of course, with soldering, you can mess up and plug the inlet as well, so proper care and technique are needed!