Author Topic: Wilesco D32 restoration project (Read 1133 times)

St Paul Steam · « **on:** May 02, 2021, 07:50:40 pm »

Hi folks
I received this Wilesco D32 many months ago & have been working on it almost since that time. these are a crazy time consuming plants to work on & I wouldn't suggest tackling one if you value your time at all, but here goes...

as received...

someone had cut a good portion of the corner out for this pressure regulator (ouch)

The disassembly begins

this was cut out from under the boiler

patching the corner back in

Base before

base after

underneath

fresh from the nickel platers

Reassembly begins

One for the "tried that ,didnt work file" thought I could paint the base purple & then overshoot it with Gray...nah , didnt work.

technical video

Finally finished

Jim · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2021, 08:16:35 pm »

Bruce, wow you did a sterling job on that D32 mate! I really enjoyed perusing your photos.

They are just an incredibly frustrating engine to work on, a true test of a mans patience.

When I've had mine apart once to fix multiple cracks in the boiler and once to convert it to gas fired I wondered
about the poor bugger at Wilesco that was in charge of warranties when they were still making these.....I hope he was on
good wages!

You did great with he colour matching and pinstriping and fixing that gaping hole and the new nickel plating is pretty slick!

Stoker · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2021, 08:25:37 pm »

What a wonderful "Save" of a hacked up example of the biggest Wilesco.

I'll bet you didn't describe nor show 1/10th of the effort this restoration cost you.

St Paul Steam · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2021, 09:06:28 pm »

Quote from: Jim on May 02, 2021, 08:16:35 pm

Bruce, wow you did a sterling job on that D32 mate! I really enjoyed perusing your photos.

They are just an incredibly frustrating engine to work on, a true test of a mans patience.

When I've had mine apart once to fix multiple cracks in the boiler and once to convert it to gas fired I wondered
about the poor bugger at Wilesco that was in charge of warranties when they were still making these.....I hope he was on
good wages!

You did great with he colour matching and pinstriping and fixing that gaping hole and the new nickel plating is pretty slick!

Thanks Jim , I am SOooo glad to be done with this (it kicked my butt) and nearly ended up on the "to do" shelf a few times , you warned me about taking this on. I'll never do another one (famous last words) thanks for the support.

St Paul Steam · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2021, 09:18:48 pm »

Quote from: Stoker on May 02, 2021, 08:25:37 pm

What a wonderful "Save" of a hacked up example of the biggest Wilesco.

I'll bet you didn't describe nor show 1/10th of the effort this restoration cost you.

Thanks Daniel , your intuitive wisdom is always so spot on...lol , yes there's a lot of work I didnt bore people with , it took me 4 hrs to fill that corner piece in to my satisfaction , or the several hours chucking up each individual rail support and polishing each 3 times apiece ...ect. I was grateful the boiler heaters tested out ok , otherwise she would have been relegated to a life in pieces in a box. This was by far the hardest project for me to stay focused on. Glad to be free to do something else now.

ShadetreeMotorcycle · « **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2021, 09:39:35 pm »

I noticed Bruce had not been super active on the forum since the table show...I was beginning to fear you where taking a break from steam, I see now I had it all wrong!
Super Fantastic job as always! I admire not only your Craftmanship, but also your ability to take a difficult task All the way to the Finish line, nary a single corner cut and actual improvements over factory....I can actually "Hear" your D32 runs Much More smoothly, some D32's sound like rattle-traps to my ears.
Might have to Hotrod a dirt simple D4 (or something) just to vent some excess steam "so to speak" after a build of this magnitude lol!

St Paul Steam · « **Reply #6 on:** May 02, 2021, 10:32:54 pm »

Quote from: ShadetreeMotorcycle on May 02, 2021, 09:39:35 pm

I noticed Bruce had not been super active on the forum since the table show...I was beginning to fear you where taking a break from steam, I see now I had it all wrong!
Super Fantastic job as always! I admire not only your Craftmanship, but also your ability to take a difficult task All the way to the Finish line, nary a single corner cut and actual improvements over factory....I can actually "Hear" your D32 runs Much More smoothly, some D32's sound like rattle-traps to my ears.
Might have to Hotrod a dirt simple D4 (or something) just to vent some excess steam "so to speak" after a build of this magnitude lol!

I kind of got it in my mind to build a steam accessory or two Ben , thanks for the kind words.

Dampfopa · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2021, 11:22:47 am »

You have done a wonderful job. It always thrills me to see older, partially damaged machines running in new splendor.

Thank you for showing the Wilesco D 32.

classixs · « **Reply #8 on:** May 03, 2021, 12:08:09 pm »

You did a fine job there Bruce, it looks and runs great.
Well done !!!

St Paul Steam · « **Reply #9 on:** May 04, 2021, 07:31:26 am »

Quote from: Dampfopa on May 03, 2021, 11:22:47 am

You have done a wonderful job. It always thrills me to see older, partially damaged machines running in new splendor.

Thank you for showing the Wilesco D 32.

Thank you Sir, one of my favorite passions is to bring neglected/derelict items back to "as good as new" condition, it gives me great satisfaction.

St Paul Steam · « **Reply #10 on:** May 04, 2021, 07:32:26 am »

Quote from: classixs on May 03, 2021, 12:08:09 pm

You did a fine job there Bruce, it looks and runs great.
Well done !!!

Thanks Jan 😊👍

Hero · « **Reply #11 on:** May 04, 2021, 07:55:21 am »

Nice work.

Your patience and skill are noteworthy.

AirSpyder · « **Reply #12 on:** May 08, 2021, 07:26:33 am »

Great job Bruce, Impressed that you got it back together without loosing your patience, there are so many levels of nuts and bolts, wiring and plumbing.
And a great job on the pin stripe.
A big thumbs up to you on a fantasic job

St Paul Steam · « **Reply #13 on:** May 08, 2021, 11:35:55 pm »

Quote from: AirSpyder on May 08, 2021, 07:26:33 am

Great job Bruce, Impressed that you got it back together without loosing your patience, there are so many levels of nuts and bolts, wiring and plumbing.
And a great job on the pin stripe.
A big thumbs up to you on a fantasic job

Thanks Bill , I had a polybag for each specific set of nut\bolts and labeled as such otherwise it'll be mayhem. The pinstriping came out just OK, it was my 1st attempt. I had to force myself to persevere with this restoration every weekend & found just about any excuse NOT to work on it (not like me at all) a Jensen #50 is child's play compared to working on a Wilesco D32 😉

Raphael · « **Reply #14 on:** July 22, 2021, 08:58:22 am »

Bonjour Bruce,
Thanks to this video : I could recognize you if I could meet you and your great collection

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

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Author Topic: Wilesco D32 restoration project (Read 1133 times)

St Paul Steam

Wilesco D32 restoration project

Jim

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

Stoker

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

St Paul Steam

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

St Paul Steam

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

ShadetreeMotorcycle

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

St Paul Steam

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

Dampfopa

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classixs

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

St Paul Steam

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

St Paul Steam

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

Hero

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

AirSpyder

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

St Paul Steam

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project

Raphael

Re: Wilesco D32 restoration project