Re: Boiler washing
Unfortunately, life's priorities got in the way I did not run the engine for about two years. I left a little water in the boiler, thinking why let it go to waste when I'll be raising steam the next weekend. Well, that next weekend turned out to be this weekend. I bought a large bottle of distilled white vinegar from Costco and went through half of it before switching to distilled water to flush it out. While running on vinegar, the color of the fluid in the sight glass turned a clear green. Within an hour, all seemed normal in the sight glass. I'll be putting the engine through its paces again today to flush out whatever precipitate remains from the vinegar wash. Regards, Joe On Jan 1, 2005, at 11:00 PM, Tony wrote: Boiler washing Hm... ...in 15 years with one engine using the same boiler, wearing out two sets of O rings in the cylinders I have yet to see one smidge of scale build up? ...were the boilers in question all furred up and white inside? Change your water source! The only hint of a blockage in all my years of steaming...countless thousands of scale miles the only bockage I have had is a small seed getting in the admission steam line...that took a little figuering out but no calcite buildup! If steam is not getting through make sure your super heater is not got a burnt bit of oil in the passage...that can happen if you are not using proper steam oil. Personally I keep a small cup and tea bag in the tender for blowing down the boiler...can't waste all that good hot water...pass the cucumber sangys! Great steaming to all in 2005...Happy New Year! TonyO on Vancouver Island
Re: Boiler washing
I think you have a valid point, Tony. My Aster Schools is almost 30 years old and I have never done anything to the boiler, The boiler check valve is clean and used for every run as I pump water through it from the tender. My Aster KGV is about 13 yrs old, nothing done to that boiler-the sight glass is still clear, I have never had to clean it I do use good distilled water--sometimes I leave water in the boilers, sometimes I take it out, depends on how long before I think I might run the loco again. Geoff Boiler washing Hm... ...in 15 years with one engine using the same boiler, wearing out two sets of O rings in the cylinders I have yet to see one smidge of scale build up? ...were the boilers in question all furred up and white inside? Change your water source! The only hint of a blockage in all my years of steaming...countless thousands of scale miles the only bockage I have had is a small seed getting in the admission steam line...that took a little figuering out but no calcite buildup! If steam is not getting through make sure your super heater is not got a burnt bit of oil in the passage...that can happen if you are not using proper steam oil. Personally I keep a small cup and tea bag in the tender for blowing down the boiler...can't waste all that good hot water...pass the cucumber sangys! Great steaming to all in 2005...Happy New Year! TonyO on Vancouver Island
Boiler washing.
To All I have just read some of the suggestions and agree all will probably work well according to the substances used. Running the loco with what is basically corrosive exhaust may damage paintwork if adequate precaution is not taken. I know everybody knows this but in heat of the moment??? Some gaskets may not like some materials either. Just a thought. I'm now going back to bed to try to sleep of some of the basically inflammable, enjoyable, drinks of yesterday, - no - this morning. Oh well all the very best for the new year to all out there from Austria, and keep the needle on the pin!. Bert - Bert Edmunda [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Boiler washing
Boiler washing Hm... ...in 15 years with one engine using the same boiler, wearing out two sets of O rings in the cylinders I have yet to see one smidge of scale build up? ...were the boilers in question all furred up and white inside? Change your water source! The only hint of a blockage in all my years of steaming...countless thousands of scale miles the only bockage I have had is a small seed getting in the admission steam line...that took a little figuering out but no calcite buildup! If steam is not getting through make sure your super heater is not got a burnt bit of oil in the passage...that can happen if you are not using proper steam oil. Personally I keep a small cup and tea bag in the tender for blowing down the boiler...can't waste all that good hot water...pass the cucumber sangys! Great steaming to all in 2005...Happy New Year! TonyO on Vancouver Island
