Re: Speaking of water pumps . . .

[Alison and Jim Gregg.]

Hi Royce
Pumping into the bottom of the water Gauge is probably a bad idea - nearly 
impossible to get a valid stable water level indication that way, and 
pumping cold water into a hot gauge glass might help cracking.  It is hard 
enough to get a sensible water gauge reading without pumping into it.

Jim Gregg.
At 07:32 PM 10/18/04 -0700, you wrote:
Hi Steve.
Steve Shyvers wrote:
Hi Royce,
 This being California, and me never having
fit a pump into a steam loco, I guess I'm qualified to answer.
Of course, that makes you qualified.
 Water is supposed to mostly incompressible so an inch should be okay.
That's what I was thinking.
Yes, put a check valve where the water enters the boiler. Otherwise 
you'll have full boiler pressure on your pump check valve
Duuuhhh !   I would have realized that sooner or later, Steve. Obviously, 
it's easier to ask all you smart people than to think it through 
myself.  I prefer to do my thinking with the benefit of those smarter than 
myself.

 it is better to inject the water into the front
part of the boiler, where it will have the least effect on steam generation
I have an "extra" bushing at the top of the boiler near the throttle. 
Taking energy out of the steam at this point would seem a bad idea.   So I 
am also considering pumping it into the bottom of the water glass gauge.

1/8" copper should be fine.
I always figured that the axle pump primed by gravity. In other words the 
pump was below the tender water tank level.
If the id of the piping was larger, I would agree.  But meniscus forces 
might overpower gravity in such a small diameter pipe.
Steve
As always, thanks for your input.
royce in SB