Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines
Builds, Repairs, Show Your Machines! => Live Steam Locomotives => Topic started by: jerseysteam on March 17, 2019, 10:28:58 am
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What you are calling a blow down valve (which would normally be on the bottom of a boiler) is actually the water level check valve - a common feature on the generic Accucraft UK locos.
I have a Mark I Ragleth & like you I adopted the Roundhouse method of removing water from a full boiler - my Ragleth was rather fussy & needed just over 50 mls removed. To increase the length of a run I bring the loco up to working pressure, clear the cylinders of condensate, then turn off the gas & refill the gas tank. Accucraft locos suffer from a poor gas tank design (filler valve is above the gas outlet) thus can be prone to liquid gas being carried over initially - seems to affect the side tank mounted gas tanks like the Mark 1 Ragleth more than the cab mounted gas tanks like your Mark II). Having refilled the gas you now run the risk of boiling the boiler dry so I use a goodall valve & pump in more water about halfway during the run. You do not need a water sight glass to tell you how much to pump in - normally the pressure will have reduced quite a bit when you have put in enough, if you put in too much it will be pumped out the safety valve - been there, got the T shirt!
I fitted replacement Train Department regulator valves for both the gas & steam, and fitted radio control on the reverser only (one of the changes with the Mark II was making more space in the side tanks for 2 channel radio control). It does take a bit of getting used to by setting the steam regulator open just enough for the layout you are running on.
Chris Cairns
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It's also possible that I just happened to have everything dialed-in during the first run with the chuffer. Today's run was typical at 27 min.
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Kitty received a Summerlands chuffer today. Following a 3 minute installation, it sounds really great and had a longer run time - 35min, up from 29 max previously. 8)
Well done! Didn't know that a chuffer could make that much of a difference.
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Kitty received a Summerlands chuffer today. Following a 3 minute installation, it sounds really great and had a longer run time - 35min, up from 29 max previously. 8)
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It's just an overflow valve, I blow the boiler down at the end of a run though the displacement lubricator, it clears all the old oil out and cleans it...Allan.
That makes better sense to me. Thanks!
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My only minor gripe about the Ragleth is that a set of operating instruction weren't included. I downloaded a set from Accucraft, which states that the boiler should be filled to the top and the blow down valve opened a turn while steaming up, allowing liquid water to flow down and out of the valve as the steam headspace (not sure if that's the correct term) builds, pressure rises and off it goes. I tried this method this a.m. and it works fine, although run time was about 5 min less than when I filled the boiler, removed 30ml of water and fired it up, ignoring the blow down valve.
So...
Does the valve serve any real purpose other than to relieve steam pressure at the end of a run?
Thanks,
It's just an overflow valve, I blow the boiler down at the end of a run though the displacement lubricator, it clears all the old oil out and cleans it...Allan.
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My only minor gripe about the Ragleth is that a set of operating instruction weren't included. I downloaded a set from Accucraft, which states that the boiler should be filled to the top and the blow down valve opened a turn while steaming up, allowing liquid water to flow down and out of the valve as the steam headspace (not sure if that's the correct term) builds, pressure rises and off it goes. I tried this method this a.m. and it works fine, although run time was about 5 min less than when I filled the boiler, removed 30ml of water and fired it up, ignoring the blow down valve.
So...
Does the valve serve any real purpose other than to relieve steam pressure at the end of a run?
Thanks,
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Lovely loco Dave . Congrat's. I like the way Accucraft pack their locos, bomb proof.... :)
Allan.
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Nice-looking little loco!
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Thanks! 28 minutes for each of two runs so far. I'm not sure if that's typical, but this is the first Accucraft steamer I've had where the gas actually runs out before the water.
... and away it goes ...
NICE!!!
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... and away it goes ...
NICE!!!
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See below for action shots.
She fires/steams right up with no issues, has a nice 'chuff' and is very quiet otherwise. Also runs nicely at scale speeds. I changed out the chopper couplings (not my cup of tea) for buffer converters (https://slrmodels.co.uk/shop/rolling-stock-parts/accucraft-buffer-converters/). I'm not planning any additions/mods other than a nameplate and perhaps TTD gas/regulator valves after a good break/wear-in period.
;D
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There's nothing like unpacking a new loco.... :)
Allan.
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I just unsealed the formidable Accucraft packaging. No scratches or blemishes that I can find. I'll run through the prep tonight, but...
It looks like rain until nightfall, so first run will likely be tomorrow. I normally don't mind running in the rain, but I'd rather have dry conditions when fiddling with an unfamiliar loco.
R/C is not in Kitty's future. I have a very small layout and it's easy to follow or wait until she comes around again to make adjustments.
Video isn't the immediate future as I'm in the process of removing Google (including YouTube) from my life. I'm exploring alternatives for video hosting.
Stay tuned...
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SWEEEEET! Can't wait to see her running
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Do you have any intention to R/C this Steamin' Beauty?
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Looking forward to seeing a video - should be a nice engine for you. Like the name too!
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Waiting with bated breath....
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Kitty (???) arrives and should have her first run today. Pics will follow. :)
Video too? ;)
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Kitty (???) arrives and should have her first run today. Pics will follow. :)
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Thanks, Bob and Allan.
I'm thinking about a few names and will decide after spending some time with it. My other steam locos are named for fondly remembered past pet cats, so Kitty is the only option left if I continue with that theme. I'm not sure that's a good fit.
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I ordered my green Ragleth today and should have it by next weekend. ;D
Congrat's Dave, you're lucky, we can't get the generic Accucraft over here at the moment. You'll really enjoy her. Are you going to give her a name? :)
Allan...
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I ordered my green Ragleth today and should have it by next weekend. ;D
I'm sure that you will find it a thing of beauty and a joy forever.
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I ordered my green Ragleth today and should have it by next weekend. ;D
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They sure do look nice, Allan...!!!
Thanks Gil. :).....Allan.
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Thanks Allan!
Hi Dave. No need to take off the body to clean the jet. Just undo the nut holding the pipe on the burner and the holder should just pull out. Undo the jet from the holder and blow through the front of the jet with the gas can. That should clear it. Don't poke anything in the hole to clear it...Allan.
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They sure do look nice, Allan...!!!
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Allan you have some lovely locomotives.
Thanks Kevin..... :) Allan.
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Hi again Allan,
Is it necessary to remove any body work to remove the burner in order to clean/replace the gas jet?
Thanks,
Hi Dave. No need to take off the body to clean the jet. Just undo the nut holding the pipe on the burner and the holder should just pull out. Undo the jet from the holder and blow through the front of the jet with the gas can. That should clear it. Don't poke anything in the hole to clear it...Allan.
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Hi again Allan,
Is it necessary to remove any body work to remove the burner in order to clean/replace the gas jet?
Thanks,
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Allan you have some lovely locomotives.
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Thanks Allan. Yours look great and run very well (found your YouTube videos!).
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[attachimg=1]
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[attachimg=2]Hi Dave,
They're very good engines, easy to work on and easy to operate. I've got two of the later type with the full tanks....
Allan.
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Anyone have one manufactured recently? Please tell me all about it - the good, the bad and the ugly.
Thanks,