Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

The left cylinder on my 1965 D-32 has a problem.  The piston freed itself from the piston rod and knocked out the back cylinder plug. 

The piston appears to be pressed onto the rod, and of course the back cylinder plug is simply pressed into the cylinder.  I pressed it all back together and after fifteen minutes the piston again separated from the rod. 

Before I go and break something, does anyone have an idea for a permanent fix?  Though it's 13mm, the left piston and rod are entirely different from the right side engine's and from (it seems) everything else Wilesco makes.

Thanks for all the help this forurm's writers have given me.

- Eddie, New York

If the piston is simply a press fit on the piston rod, I'd consider a drop of Loctite on the joint, after a thorough cleaning and de-greasing of the mating parts. A dab of JB Weld epoxy would likely do the job as well.

My thoughts exactly Daniel, good quality loctite should do it , as long as its cured properly

Tight fit use 603

Looser fit use 638

Thank you for the recommendations, Gentlemen.  I thought of soldering it, but I'm not sure if I can get the rod out as it's thinner than the swivel joint on the end.  That may be pressed on too?  I'll clean it up well and try the Loctite.

Thank you!

Here is a photo of the left and right cylinders of the D-32, from AceSteamworks.com 's great site. (Left one's on the left).

Good to hear another one was saved.😊