>Royce, No fear, so just send me the $100 now!!
Yes, axle pumps can cavitate (and usually do at times). I always make sure my pumps are primed just before opening the regulator ( throttle). Just steamed my 3-1/2" Britannia and have the problem stated below by Bob. I hadn't steamed it for a year so I know a ball is stuck. I have been able to do a fix previously by blowing air through the pump- both inlet and outlet. Hopefully it will work again! It's a bit of a bear to disassemble and it is a double axle pump- two pistons and barrels. Catboat I both enjoy our coal firing of the 3-1/2" gauge but my old hand quavers too much to coal on the run, it goes everywhere except in the fire box!-- so I have to stop for a few mins which also gives me an opportunity to refill my martini glass! Geoff. > >In a message dated 6/30/2006 7:59:26 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, >[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > >I was thinking of offering a $100 reward to anyone who >can get my axle pump to work at the NSS. But I have ONE more thing to >try before filling the pump body with epoxy. > > > >Small pumps are notorious for developing an air bubble in the barrel. If one >occurs the piston just keeps compressing the air and allowing it to expand >so no water flows. LBSC the old man of live steam in the old days always >advocated an "anti air lock" pin on the end of his pistons that >entered a counter >bored chamber between the inlet and discharge checks. The only time the axle >pump on my 3-1/2 inch gauge locomotive has failed is when the locomotive sat >unused for several years and deposits of mineral stopped the balls from >moving. In case you are not familiar with the name "LBSC" he was >one of the "grand >old men" of live steaming, but at slightly larger scales. He most well known >achievement was a man hauling locomotive in 2-1/2 inch gauge. I drive my >3-1/2 inch gauge American type 4-4-0 in my back yard, No radio >control needed as >I ride behind on a flat car with a seat. Coal fired so I can get the full >experience, clikty clack over the rail joints, cinders in the eye >and remember >to shovel in a scoop of coal on the run. >-------------- next part -------------- >An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >URL: >http://postfix.45mm.com/pipermail/sslivesteam/attachments/20060630/5a315eac/attachment.html >_______________________________________________ >SSLiveSteam mailing list >Send messages: [email protected] >Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam >Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html _______________________________________________ SSLiveSteam mailing list Send messages: [email protected] Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html
