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

Builds, Repairs, Show Your Machines! => Technical Tips, Builds, and Help => Topic started by: wulfrun on June 10, 2019, 08:27:46 am

Title: Re: Maxitrak 3/4" Allchin Upgrades
Post by: Jim on June 10, 2019, 06:03:59 pm
Very nice upgrades, its nice when you put your customizations into an engine. It really makes it 'yours'.

The oil cap is uber nice !
Title: Re: Maxitrak 3/4" Allchin Upgrades
Post by: jkbixby on June 10, 2019, 05:16:36 pm
Definitely an improvement and well worth following up on - thanks!
Title: Re: Maxitrak 3/4" Allchin Upgrades
Post by: jerseysteam on June 10, 2019, 10:22:48 am
Really nice!
Title: Re: Maxitrak 3/4" Allchin Upgrades
Post by: Stoker on June 10, 2019, 09:31:04 am
All first class improvements .... both visually and functionally I have no doubt!
Title: Maxitrak 3/4" Allchin Upgrades
Post by: wulfrun on June 10, 2019, 08:27:46 am
I posted about these recently in "the other" forum but I thought I'd post on here too, for the benefit of those who haven't seen them.

I've had my Allchin for a couple of years and a few details have niggled me about the engine. The regulator hand-wheel is awkward to operate, doesn't look the part and gets too hot to touch with bare fingers. The gas-regulator is just a knurled, black knob that doesn't look like it belongs in the cab and gives no clue as to position and isn't good for fine control of the burner. The lubricator cap requires a large-bladed screwdriver, not the best bit of design.

I asked member Vpro (David) to make some improved parts and these are what we came up with. The steam regulator is quick and easy to operate and with some silicone tubing over the handles, no more burnt fingers. It also looks better! The gas regulator looks like it belongs in the cab, being a sort of fake brake handle. Downside is it's easy to knock out of position if you aren't careful. The lubricator cap is, admittedly, not an aesthetic improvement but it looks no worse and it's more convenient. All of the changes are quick and easy and reversible. Please contact David directly for more details if you're interested - I'm just a satisfied customer!

As stock, the regulators look like this:
[attachimg=1]

With brass finish, the regulators look like this:
[attachimg=2]

With blacked-finish brass, they look like this:
[attachimg=3]

And finally, the lubricator cap looks like this:
[attachimg=4]