Royce: There are several things that can cause you to not have enough power
out of your boiler to drive the feed pump. One, are you sure that the boiler
check valve is opening? If it is jammed or defective the pump is trying to
pump against a closed system and will stall the engine. Sometimes an axle pump
can get "air bound", but that usually just stops water from entering the
boiler as you compress an air bubble that expands again as the pump ram
retreats.
Of course that would not stall the engine, just not putting feed water to the
boiler.
Increasing the bore of the power cylinder would be a losing proposition if
your steam generation is near its limit now. That would just require more steam
which means more fire.
Next are you sure the line from the pump to the boiler is working properly,
not clogged and any check valves lifting and sealing properly? Is there a
by-pass on the pump that allows you to pump water back into the reservoir, if
so
an adjustable valve on that line would let you adjust how much work the pump
must do, with that by pass open all the pump has to do is move water from and
right back to the supply (tank or tender) Then you can use that valve to
relieve some of the work required, just allow enough flow to the boiler to
keep
up with the losses. That is what my 3-1/2 inch gauge loco uses and I try to
set the by-pass valve to just keep up with the drop in the gauge glass. So
some water is pumped back to the tender and some into the boiler which reduces
the work on the pump. I don't know if an injector is available in your small
size system, but the Brits make wide use of injectors to feed the boiler (I
have never been able to make one that works on my size, but many have done it
OK.
No matter how you enlarge the bore or stroke it won't help any if the fire
can not generate enough steam to power your complete system.
Therefore eliminating any mechanical problems (Stuck check valve,
restriction in the pump discharge line etc.) I think your only solution would
be more
heat since we are working with a heat engine. Check this by putting the
locomotive on blocks and see if without driving the wheels you can generate
enough
steam to feed the boiler. Or raise the pressure in the boiler by safety valve
adjustments this would give more heat to the boiler water and heat is power.
Good luck and let us know what you find.
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