Hi Tony, The only reason I can think why Aster did it was to avoid a screw cap on the the top of the boiler resulting in complaints from rivet counters. The KGV lubricator works very well and remember, it is 13 years old, excellent design. Cosmetically the A3 design is great but I bet you the way the oil line feeds the engine, the inside cylinder done gits the oil first and that is where most of it stays. . Heck as long as the outside cylinders get a tad of oil, no problem.
Incidentally, condensation does reach the A3 lubricator but I can't determine if it is from the steam inlet valve for priming the line or from the engine. Next run I will fill the line with oil by filling the boiler with compressed air and then run the loco on steam without using the steam admission valve. Then I can determine what condensation reachs the lubricator from the engine WHEW! Thanks for your input, Steam on, Geoff. Hi Geoff, > Agree on lubricator. I did not have a problem with it being at the front >as per KGV and U1, and passage to cylinders was very short. > Wonder if Aster got carried away with the form and fit of the A3 >lubricator, and let the long steam pipes of function take care of itself?. > Only time and usage will tell. Meanwhile will drain from the top!. > Have a great day, > Regards. > Tony D. >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Geoff Spenceley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "Multiple recipients of sslivesteam" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Monday, October 11, 2004 1:05 PM >Subject: Re: New steamer > > >> Hi Tony, >> The Lubricator on the A3--I 'm not fond of it and I am not aware it has a >> drain and if it did it would be impossible to reach. Anyway on all my >> locos I find it easier to draw the water out with a needle syringe--it's >> much quicker for me. I don't pull out the oil just the water and mixed >gunk >> . BTW, none of the Asters I have owned or currently own have lubricator >> drains. I do wish that the A3 had the lubricator in the smoke box a la >> the KGV because on the A3 the steam feed valve to start the flow of >oil >> from the lubricator to the engine has to be used-- and it's a long tube >> running the length of the boiler before in feeds the engine which means it >> a long hike for the condensation to go back up the tube and displace the >> oil. This was done for good reason by Aster however, as it avoids the >> lubricator being too obvious and any screw heads spoiling fidelity to the >> prototype.
