Maintenance Update (piston, gland, blower, injector)

Wednesday 27th

Bruce & Gil arrived first.  It seems that there was a minor issue with the brakes: the diesel shunter had struggled to move 2807 because the piston inside the vacuum cylinder was reluctant to drop down (under its own weight).  The crew had to clamber underneath and help the piston to fall!  So, Bruce & Gil began by adjusting the brakes.  The gland where the piston rod passes through the bottom of the vacuum cylinder was adjusted such that the piston would fall.

Whilst playing with the brakes, it was clear that the new brake blocks had worn in, and Gil took up the slack in the brake linkages using the King Dick spanner on the bottle screws.

The two of them later compared the height of the running board on each side of the loco.  The main reason for this, apparently, was that when Gil weighed the loco, it was heavier under the left side wheels.  Bruce pointed out that the front cross-beam with which we had so much trouble earlier in the year, does now look level.  Anyway, there was no more than 1/8" difference between left & right, or front and back.  The right side is the lower.  Logically, right-side being low implies that the centre of gravity of the boiler shifts to the right, which suggests the right side should be the heavier.  Hmmm.  The back, by the cab, appears to be about 1/8" lower than the front, too.  Of course, with a 110 year-old frame, what are the chances that it is still straight anyway?  And, this assumes that the track over the pit is absolutely level.

When John G arrived, he could see that Gil & Bruce were in control of the loco issues, so he valiantly began painting rail chairs in the production line.  He applied Deproma primer/undercoat to four and a top coat to five more.

I arrived at lunchtime, and apart from doing some tidying up sanded and stained eleven brushes ready for boot scrapers.

2807 is currently rostered for Thursday and Sunday.  Then she is to have her boiler wash-out, returning to service for a Fire & Drive on Friday 12 June.  Chris B [Loco Dept] offered to light today's warming fire if I light the one for him on 11 June!

Two known issues that we hope to tackle before return to service are steam passing by the blower and the right-hand injector steam valve.  Both probably need their seats recutting.

Saturday 30th

2807 is to be in service on Sunday, so there was little that we could do on her.  After Sunday, she is due for a wash-out.

John T and I turned up and worked on boot scraper production.  We knocked off early, leaving four black bottoms facing upwards plus about six further completed boot scrapers on the shelf.

Roger