Search found 706 matches

by John_S
Sat Oct 27, 2018 9:40 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Best way to pin Stephenson eccentrics
Replies: 8
Views: 3992

Re: Best way to pin Stephenson eccentrics

I learned from Fred_V a long time ago a really, really good way to do it. Once you have them set, use a drill through the eccentric to put a V dimple into the axle and then put a pointed set screw in backed up by a flat set screw. I did this on my Allen mogul and they have not moved whatsoever in 6+...
by John_S
Wed Oct 03, 2018 4:58 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Candice Bergen remembers Disney's railroad
Replies: 7
Views: 5953

Re: Candice Bergen remembers Disney's railroad

I was just at Disney World last week and on the way out of the Magic Kingdom I noticed that the lower part of the station at the park entrance is filled with photos of Walt's live steam railroad. This was at the end of a very long 14 hour day at the park and we were on our way out so I didn't get a ...
by John_S
Fri Sep 21, 2018 10:14 am
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Broken Drill Removal
Replies: 14
Views: 8076

Re: Broken Drill Removal

I've used alum to dissolve a broken tap in a brass part for a pump I was building. I put the part in a small crock pot with water and alum and left it on low for a couple days. The tap turned to mush and washed right out of the hole.

I found alum at WalMart (but not at Publix or Kroger).
by John_S
Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:24 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay
Replies: 869
Views: 436225

Re: Building the 2.5" Scale Shay

Soot n' Cinders wrote: Mon Aug 06, 2018 8:17 pm But Im not anticipating a lot of force on the stack itself since it will eventually be a Radley-Hunter.
Just be sure that when someone jumps in to "help" you move your loco to remind them not to use the stack!
by John_S
Sat Jul 07, 2018 10:44 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: How do you guys feel about the "Just get it done" attitude?
Replies: 21
Views: 10491

Re: How do you guys feel about the "Just get it done" attitude?

Remember that there are times to build a watch and times to build a locomotive and get it out on the track. My similar approach was, "I'm not sending this to the international space station" when it came to precision on some parts. Yes, there are certain very critical dimensions and toler...
by John_S
Sat Jul 07, 2018 10:37 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Piston mounting
Replies: 5
Views: 3339

Re: Piston mounting

On my mogul, the SS rod is threaded into the bronze piston and then silver soldered. You should never have to disassemble the rod from the piston after assembly.
by John_S
Fri Jun 15, 2018 9:36 pm
Forum: Build Log
Topic: Restoring a modified Allen 2-4-0 barn find
Replies: 126
Views: 172514

Re: Restoring a modified Allen 2-4-0 barn find

Pieces of .010 stainless shim did the trick. Then it was on to the valve gear. I had a massive amount of valve rod slop when running the locomotive last year, so I knew I'd need to replace a lot of stuff. I started by ordering the Allen EDM cut expansion links and die blocks. New link pins for the ...
by John_S
Sat Jun 09, 2018 7:36 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: RANT THREAD?
Replies: 95
Views: 36369

Re: RANT THREAD?

cbrew, I built the rack for the exact same reason: So I can pull the camper and have the loco, tender, and boxcar. My boxcar houses the air compressor and resevoire for my train brakes as well as the 12v battery for lights, plus tools and parts that I may need if things go Tango Uniform out on the t...
by John_S
Fri Jun 08, 2018 12:15 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: RANT THREAD?
Replies: 95
Views: 36369

Re: RANT THREAD?

6) figure out a way to quickly load or unload your equipment when visiting other tracks. This is a sure way to kill an experience when you're stuck behind someone taking his time to get on/off a railroad. If nothing else, load the equipment, secure it so you can move out of the way to finish tying ...
by John_S
Sun May 27, 2018 6:34 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Stainless steel boiler/exchanger?
Replies: 100
Views: 59720

Re: Stainless steel boiler/exchanger?

My two cents: Save your money, build your boiler from a good piece of pipe and 516-70 carbon. It will outlast any savings you'd gain by spending 5x as much on stainless.
by John_S
Wed May 16, 2018 1:47 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: Mid-South LS Spring Meet
Replies: 22
Views: 17539

Re: Mid-South LS Spring Meet

So glad to see the roof over the steaming bays! Wish I could have made it up there for the meet; perhaps in the fall this go-round.
by John_S
Sun May 13, 2018 6:53 pm
Forum: Live Steam
Topic: RANT THREAD?
Replies: 95
Views: 36369

Re: RANT THREAD?

On snagging hoses: If you are working with any kind of hose, line, or rope, it will snag when you pull it such that you'll have to climb down off the roof to unsnag it. But if you want to loop it around something, you won't be able to do it, and you'll have to climb down off the roof to loop it. Di...