Sight glass questions

[KandCRy]

Hi everyone,
I have plans from the Home railway journal for a small "flat front" sight glass. It's kind of like a double sided reflex glass, without the prisms. I want to make and install one on my engine but have a few questions:
Will there be any problem with installing it against the backhead? I'm thinking maybe not enough light will get in making the glass will be hard to read.
Could I make it like a reflex glass, but just use flat glass plate? Would that be hard to see?
Would up scaling the design for a large 1 1/2" scale engine work?

Matt

[KandCRy]

To clarify: I have seen this type of sight glass mounted to the side of the boiler. I am wondering wether it will work up against the backhead, like round tube glasses. I'm no expert but want to know if not be enough light will get in to see the water level clearly.

[Bill Shields]

it depends on many things...like 'how much light is available' and 'where is the light coming from'?

Without the prisms, I am really don't care for this type of sight glass.

[Trainman4602]

Matt

Is this what you are looking for?

[Bob D.]

Dave,
That is a great looking glass! What are the overall dimensions? Fittings are both vertical?
May need one for an upgrade on my 1 1/2" A5 Camel.
Bob D.

[Pontiacguy1]

You could always add some reflective tape or something like that behind it to help with visibility. Best thing is to put it a bit off of the backhead so that you can get something in behind there, and also get some light in there. Try it, and if it doesn't work out right it wouldn't be the most difficult thing in the world to either move or change it.

Nice casting there, by the way.

[PRR5406]

Yeah! I like that site glass for my A5a, too. Dimensions?

[Trainman4602]

The dimensions are:


1-1/8 wide 3-5/8 long and 1 inch deep

It has a 1/16 pipe tap (5/16-27) on both the top and bottom.

[Bill Shields]

a floating ball always makes the level easy to see, in any light....

[cbrew]

a floating ball always makes the level easy to see, in any light....

I wanted to do this, but didnt because i didnt know enough,

what type of ball do you use and how much smaller should the ball be from the ID of the tube?
Thanks

[Bill Shields]

1> any material with a specific gravity less than 1.0 (I used polypropylene).

2> I have a 3/16 (or 1/4?) ball inside the glass, which has a 3/8" ID - 5/8 OD.

Works a charm.

After a few years, the ball accumulates some crud and refuses to float, so I take it out and clean it (or actually throw it away since I had to purchase 100 balls to meet a $20 minimum from the supplier).







You just need to take care that the ball at the TOP or BOTTOM of the glass cannot block the water passages.

[cbrew]

perfect, she is due for a appointment with the doctor this year, so it will be a perfect time to add the ball.
Thanks!