Re: Phoenix's first steam up.
What a AWESOME lay out!!! Have fun, Steve Speck. At 02:39 PM 8/31/03 -0700, you wrote: We had our steam up two weeks ago at Terry Liesegang's house here in Glendale Arizona (suburb of Phoenix). The temp outside was 105 degrees and as you can imagine, it didn't take much to warm up our engines. Given the temp and the fact we only gave everyone a week's notice, the event was allot of fun and encouraged us to do it again every month. Robert Ashby was one of the attendees at the event and had never owned a model train in his life. He had so much fun at the event he went out the following week and bought himself an Accucraft Shay and a Ruby so now we have a new person in our hobby. If you would like to see the pictures and movies of the event I posted them on my web site. www.livesteamer.com Chad Schend
BPE boiler mods?
Has anyone modified the vertical Midwest boiler as used in the Basic Project Engine? I have made some changes with mixed results and am soliciting advice to see if I am on the right track. The first change was to replace the brass chimney with a 'type L' copper tube of the same diameter. The second was to add a 'dry-pipe separator' inside the boiler and the third (which I am sure is the culprit) is the addition of a superheater. The superheater is made from 1/8 copper tubing and connects about 3/4 of the way up the chimney, the section inside has been annealed and twisted into a very loose spiral of about 3-1/2 turns in 5 inches. At the bottom of the chimney it makes a gradual 90 degree bend and projects out one of the holes in the lower shroud surrounding the fuel 'pot'. The problem I am having is in keeping the fire burning, caused I assume by the placement of the superheater in the chimney restricting the draft. The inner diameter of the chimney is just under 9/16, although I guessed that the loose spiral would allow enough draft I seem to be in error. I wouldn't think bringing the end of the 1/8 superheater pipe out one of the 7 intake holes would cause it? I even tried using the exhaust from the motor as a 'blower' to help induce the draft without any luck! I will replace the spiral superheater pipe with a simple straight pipe along with making a new exit hole to see if this fixes the problem, am I on the right track? Kindest Regards, PeteH
Re: Phoenix's first steam up.
Gary - Running trains over Terror Trestle in Eugene, Oregon http://www.angelfire.com/or/trainguy http://community.webshots.com/user/raltzenthorYour trestle has a lot of nuts and bolts! I had trouble making my trestle using staples! What a time sucking work of love. At 02:39 PM 8/31/03 -0700, you wrote: We had our steam up two weeks ago at Terry Liesegang's house here in Glendale Arizona (suburb of Phoenix). The temp outside was 105 degrees and as you can imagine, it didn't take much to warm up our engines. Given the temp and the fact we only gave everyone a week's notice, the event was allot of fun and encouraged us to do it again every month. Robert Ashby was one of the attendees at the event and had never owned a model train in his life. He had so much fun at the event he went out the following week and bought himself an Accucraft Shay and a Ruby so now we have a new person in our hobby. If you would like to see the pictures and movies of the event I posted them on my web site. www.livesteamer.com Chad Schend
Re: BPE boiler mods?
Try allowing more air to be drawn in at the burner. - Original Message - From: PeteH [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 11:40 AM Subject: BPE boiler mods? Has anyone modified the vertical Midwest boiler as used in the Basic Project Engine? I have made some changes with mixed results and am soliciting advice to see if I am on the right track. The first change was to replace the brass chimney with a 'type L' copper tube of the same diameter. The second was to add a 'dry-pipe separator' inside the boiler and the third (which I am sure is the culprit) is the addition of a superheater. The superheater is made from 1/8 copper tubing and connects about 3/4 of the way up the chimney, the section inside has been annealed and twisted into a very loose spiral of about 3-1/2 turns in 5 inches. At the bottom of the chimney it makes a gradual 90 degree bend and projects out one of the holes in the lower shroud surrounding the fuel 'pot'. The problem I am having is in keeping the fire burning, caused I assume by the placement of the superheater in the chimney restricting the draft. The inner diameter of the chimney is just under 9/16, although I guessed that the loose spiral would allow enough draft I seem to be in error. I wouldn't think bringing the end of the 1/8 superheater pipe out one of the 7 intake holes would cause it? I even tried using the exhaust from the motor as a 'blower' to help induce the draft without any luck! I will replace the spiral superheater pipe with a simple straight pipe along with making a new exit hole to see if this fixes the problem, am I on the right track? Kindest Regards, PeteH
Re: BPE boiler mods?
Well, I have replaced the superheater with a simplfied straight pipe with little change! The only way I can even keep the fire lit is to elevate the boiler about 3/32 over the top of the fuel cup to let more air in - is this normal? I thought perhaps it was the fuel as the can was only half full and sitting for a couple of months but it was no better with a fresh can of Sterno. Could the balance of air/fuel/chimney size been so delicate that adding a single 1/8 tube into the 9/16 chimney thrown the whole mess off? Bewildered, PeteH From: Norman S. Briskman [EMAIL PROTECTED] Try allowing more air to be drawn in at the burner. - Original Message - Subject: BPE boiler mods? Has anyone modified the vertical Midwest boiler as used in the Basic Project Engine? I have made some changes with mixed results and am soliciting advice to see if I am on the right track. The first change was to replace the brass chimney with a 'type L' copper tube of the same diameter. The second was to add a 'dry-pipe separator' inside the boiler and the third (which I am sure is the culprit) is the addition of a superheater. The superheater is made from 1/8 copper tubing and connects about 3/4 of the way up the chimney, the section inside has been annealed and twisted into a very loose spiral of about 3-1/2 turns in 5 inches. At the bottom of the chimney it makes a gradual 90 degree bend and projects out one of the holes in the lower shroud surrounding the fuel 'pot'. The problem I am having is in keeping the fire burning, caused I assume by the placement of the superheater in the chimney restricting the draft. The inner diameter of the chimney is just under 9/16, although I guessed that the loose spiral would allow enough draft I seem to be in error. I wouldn't think bringing the end of the 1/8 superheater pipe out one of the 7 intake holes would cause it? I even tried using the exhaust from the motor as a 'blower' to help induce the draft without any luck! I will replace the spiral superheater pipe with a simple straight pipe along with making a new exit hole to see if this fixes the problem, am I on the right track? Kindest Regards, PeteH
