Next I installed the mechanical lubricator, lines, and drive rod.
I am using a lubricator from American Model Engineering Supply:
http://www.americanmodeleng.com/id15.html
now owned/operated by Godshalls Machine.:
www.godshallscustommachining.com
The description presently on line appears to be of their older design(?). Or not...
Mine has a clutch drive, two pump outlets, and no sight window.
Of course, I had accidentally lost the oil prime in the pumps from several years of knocking it around my shop. After careful partial disassembly and re-priming, it delivers as advertised now.
I connected the pump arm to the top of the valve links, so the motion is constant regardless of valve gear setting. As adjusted now, the pump delivers 1 drop of valve oil to each cylinder, every 7-8 revolutions of the drivers. Experience will tell if that is OK. Adjustment of oil delivery is very simple to do "on-the-road."
The connecting rod is 1/8" diameter, with ends turned and treaded for 4-40. Because the rod has two mild bends in it, and does the work by pulling and not pushing, this rod has all the strength required and won't collapse or bend accidentally.
I installed commercial linkages from R/C airplane control surfaces, using steel DuBro links. Makes things so much simpler.
The tubing to the steam input lines is again 1/8" copper tubing, with commercial connections as supplied on the pump. I fabricated check valves at the inputs to the locomotive steam lines. With the checks internal to the pumps, there are two checks to prevent back blow into the lubricator. I think this is very much required, as one check can fail, stopping lubrication to the cylinders, with the resulting damage to the main steam valves and pistons. Such a tiny valve, and SO important. Last month I quickly identified exactly this failure to a new live steamer, working on his newly-purchased, used Allen 4-4-0. He's back on track, literally...
Let me know what other systems you'd like to see photos of.
Education on demand, online!
~RN