Search found 1439 matches

by Carrdo
Sun Nov 12, 2023 1:11 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

An overview of where we are now going on this project. The original locomotive, as purchased, came with a strange but interesting Yarrow type marine boiler as shown in the first three photos. It wasn't badly constructed overall (but many of its construction aspects were suspect as well as being uniq...
by Carrdo
Sat Nov 11, 2023 6:47 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

The chassis is now running on air and it runs beautifully. As they say in the UK, I am really chuffed. In the end I did not have to do anything with the valve gear or to set the valves - it had already been done by the previous builder(s) and they did a great job on this. The reason why I was having...
by Carrdo
Tue Oct 17, 2023 5:43 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

What a difference an afternoon makes. First, the second cylinder cover was reinstalled without a hitch and this time everything aligned. I used Bill's holding method when drilling the second brass sheet cover and it worked perfectly although I had to employ an extra long centre drill and pilot drill...
by Carrdo
Sat Oct 14, 2023 5:50 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

bushav, No, I haven't even set the slide valves yet according to Richard's instructions. I want to complete all of the additional work on the cylinders first. Please note that setting the slide valves is one part of setting the entire valve gear mechanism. Martin Lewis in his construction instructio...
by Carrdo
Sat Oct 14, 2023 5:17 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

Trying to end all of this mess I found some other minor issues which needed additional work but I won't go into that except to say they are now fixed. The last operation is to locate and drill the sheet brass cylinder cover cutouts for the new inspection plugs. Needless to say there had been a lot o...
by Carrdo
Thu Oct 12, 2023 12:57 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

Russ, The problem with the commercial transfer screw sets (which I would like to have some additional different sizes - I have a few) is McMaster won't ship to Canada and Victor Machinery who also carries them, has suspended international shipments also for some reason. The offshore ones I won't buy...
by Carrdo
Thu Oct 12, 2023 10:45 am
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

Hi Bill,

Yes, I hope that I have harped on that enough by now (for any or all fasteners subject to a moisture/water/steam environment and repeated heating and cooling).
by Carrdo
Thu Oct 12, 2023 10:17 am
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

On with trying to have everything re-assembled again. The first job was to cut some fibrefrax pieces to re-insulate the one side of the cylinder where the original insulating material had been removed. This was the easy part as fibrefrax is very easy to cut with scissors, punch circular cutouts, for...
by Carrdo
Tue Sep 19, 2023 5:37 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

The making of the four new steam chest inspection port plugs. The 3/16" square ends of the new plugs were milled from some suitably sized bronze scrap first and then the milled end was set in a 3/16" square collet for the machining of the 1/4-40 ME threaded ends. To fit the collet, the squ...
by Carrdo
Mon Sep 11, 2023 11:23 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

Yes, thank you for the very good advice.

If I do replace it, it will be with some 1/8" thick fiberfrax which I have.
by Carrdo
Mon Sep 11, 2023 8:13 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

I made a fool of myself as I never checked it out before. The slide valve cylinders do have inspection ports. They were hidden under the cylinder cladding which I have never removed until now. They were in the exact position where Richard said they should be and were shown in that position also on t...
by Carrdo
Thu Sep 07, 2023 5:31 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender
Replies: 287
Views: 164165

Re: Constructing the Martin Lewis Little Engines Northern Tender

Well guys since you have just given me another work program to do, can you have a look at the attached sketch and tell me if it is correct or make any other additional comments before I start disconnecting the valve gear and removing the cylinders from the frame. PS: I wasn't smart enough to come up...