Scary!

[DianneB]

I don't consider myself much of a machinist but there are a few things I very much want to do to my 7-1/2" LE American, like
- fix the gauge glass so it can be blown down properly
- clean up the throttle valve to try to reduce the steam leakage
- fix the latch on the firebox door so it is easier to open
- clean the crosshead pumps and valves to ensure they are working properly
- add an injector & associated piping
- reduce the 'mess' between the engine and tender - TOO MANY lines & fittings!
- add the piping for a duplex pump (to be built later).

To accomplish all this, I removed the existing water piping (to be replaced with new since each side gets an extra feed), removed the cab, and removed the plumbing from the turret so I could take it out and drill/tap for two more valves.

Kind of scary seeing my much-loved little engine looking like a scrap yard picture! But it is a start.....

[Steggy]

Kind of scary seeing my much-loved little engine looking like a scrap yard picture! But it is a start.....

Scary? Naw...that's what the full-sized loco would have looked like while in the erecting bay or when in the backshop for some TLC. A little cleaner, maybe, when new...

[Marty_Knox]

Dianne, that's not scary.
THIS is SCARY!

[Bill Shields]

nah...SCARY is when you get that kind of crap in a boiler making 250,000 # / hour of steam.....

While you are at it, if there are any brass fittings on / around the turret....look at them very carefully and seriously consider just replacing them anyway.

The turret will probably be OK, but the thin wall fittings (and even the elbows / unions / etc) are subject to ....just falling apart for lack of a better, simpler description..

ESPECIALLY the blow-down valve and all associated with it.

[DianneB]

Dianne, that's not scary.
THIS is SCARY!

You are RIGHT! That is scary. He must have been steaming on hard water for years.

Bill: Yes, I have been inspecting everything carefully as I go - so far so good.

[Bill Shields]

Dianne:

Good for you...however -> inspecting or not, would recommend replacing anything that screws directly into the boiler (before any valve) if you are not 100% sure it is bronze.

I have seen blow-down valves blow completely off a running loco -> after passing a hydro test less than 6 weeks prior.

Really puts the fear of God into you about all of this.

[Pipescs]

Hey Diane

This is good timing on your part.

I have yet to be happy with the water system on the American I purchased from Larry Kombrink's estate. It leaks and I have not been able to get it to work consistently when I need it.

I am getting ready to do the same thing on it. Having read all the inputs here, I will start at the tender pump and replace every fitting there is. It is 45 years old after all.

What injector do you plan on using?

[DianneB]

What injector do you plan on using?

I have a Double B that I was given. I WISH I tested it before I started stripping the plumbing!

[Bill Shields]

brass degrades under high temperatures...so tender is low on the list of priorities (cold), but still a good move....

Dianne:

don't worry about the injector..if it doesn't work you can stick in another one....sad but true

[Spiner]

THIS is SCARY!

The scary part is that someone could neglect their boiler this long and not even realize it. I'd be rethinking my boiler treatment plan if I found my boiler looking this bad.

[NP317]

THIS is SCARY!

The scary part is that someone could neglect their boiler this long and not even realize it. I'd be rethinking my boiler treatment plan if I found my boiler looking this bad.

No kidding!
But that boiler indicates the need to think about using ANY water treatment!
I've never seen one with the water legs totally plugged!! Yikes.
That scale probably ruined Marty's band saw blade...
~RN

[Marty_Knox]

Well, it wasn't my band saw.
But water treatment is only part of the answer - washing the boiler is the important thing.
But, let's not hijack Dianne's thread, I can take some more pictures and post them to a new thread.