Aster Lion Axle Pump Interest?
Hello, Last week, I emailed Geoff Calver about an axle pump for the Lion. He forwarded my inquiry to the builder of the axle pump as shown on the G1MRA website http://www.gaugeone.org/story_behind_the_axle_driven_wat.htm . This morning, Markus replied. Unfortunately, he is out of the kits from the last batch he made. He is, however, willing to make more if at least two more persons want one for their Lion. Please reply if you want one and I will help coordinate. Regards, Joe
Re: Aster Lion Axle Pump Interest?
Joe, Thanks for the info on the axle pumps. I ran the Lion, for some reason the wicks wouldn't burn (altho I had a lot a lot of successful runs in the last 1-1/2 years) so I had to do some work on them. After fiddling, I couldn't find anything wrong--I think I had got them wet somehow. (not with my favorite brew either!). Later, when I got the wicks a-firing properly. I did a test with the axle pump--the loco ran for 24 minutes then the alky ran out. I had to add water to the tender on the fly, the little devils use a lot of water, a lot in it's natural state! Whether the bypass valve is open or closed it does not seem to make any noticeable difference to the performance! The drain cock makes a world of difference and the engine is much easier to start, I naughtily left it open a tad--kept the speed down as I had no heavy load. I also have a crude self made drain on the valve chest but I don't use it now--it is not as effective. I must say that all this steaming was in 40 degrees F. In Diamondhead, the bloody thing will probably burn up. So I am bringing wick material and ice cubes, some of the ice cubes for the loco and some for the Tanqueray! Geoff Hello, Last week, I emailed Geoff Calver about an axle pump for the Lion. He forwarded my inquiry to the builder of the axle pump as shown on the G1MRA website http://www.gaugeone.org/story_behind_the_axle_driven_wat.htm . This morning, Markus replied. Unfortunately, he is out of the kits from the last batch he made. He is, however, willing to make more if at least two more persons want one for their Lion. Please reply if you want one and I will help coordinate. Regards, Joe
Re: Aster Lion Axle Pump Interest?
While I don't have an Aster Lion, I DO have Marcus' booklet on making and installing the axle pump. First rate ! Clear drawings. Great photos. If you can't get him to make any of the kits, his booklet would walk you through making the pump yourself. royce in SB Joe Betsko wrote: Hello, Last week, I emailed Geoff Calver about an axle pump for the Lion. He forwarded my inquiry to the builder of the axle pump as shown on the G1MRA website http://www.gaugeone.org/story_behind_the_axle_driven_wat.htm . This morning, Markus replied. Unfortunately, he is out of the kits from the last batch he made. He is, however, willing to make more if at least two more persons want one for their Lion. Please reply if you want one and I will help coordinate. Regards, Joe
Re: Aster Lion Axle Pump Interest?
Royce, You have a point. I have been sitting on a South Bend lathe for three years (no electricity in detached garage yet). I bought the intro tapes to lathe work from the ad in Live Steam magazine. At the time, I was shopping for a mill. And that's as far as I got. We plan to do the electrical work this spring. This might be the project that gets me started. Regards, Joe On Jan 3, 2005, at 8:14 PM, Royce wrote: While I don't have an Aster Lion, I DO have Marcus' booklet on making and installing the axle pump. First rate ! Clear drawings. Great photos. If you can't get him to make any of the kits, his booklet would walk you through making the pump yourself. royce in SB Joe Betsko wrote: Hello, Last week, I emailed Geoff Calver about an axle pump for the Lion. He forwarded my inquiry to the builder of the axle pump as shown on the G1MRA website http://www.gaugeone.org/story_behind_the_axle_driven_wat.htm . This morning, Markus replied. Unfortunately, he is out of the kits from the last batch he made. He is, however, willing to make more if at least two more persons want one for their Lion. Please reply if you want one and I will help coordinate. Regards, Joe
Re: Aster Lion Axle Pump Interest?
Geoff, The Lion does have its learning curve. As a consolation when adding too much water through the tender inlet, it does raise steam quickly. Hopefully, I will not need a holster for the fan on a permanent basis. Regards, Joe On Jan 3, 2005, at 7:25 PM, Geoff Spenceley wrote: Joe, Thanks for the info on the axle pumps. I ran the Lion, for some reason the wicks wouldn't burn (altho I had a lot a lot of successful runs in the last 1-1/2 years) so I had to do some work on them. After fiddling, I couldn't find anything wrong--I think I had got them wet somehow. (not with my favorite brew either!). Later, when I got the wicks a-firing properly. I did a test with the axle pump--the loco ran for 24 minutes then the alky ran out. I had to add water to the tender on the fly, the little devils use a lot of water, a lot in it's natural state! Whether the bypass valve is open or closed it does not seem to make any noticeable difference to the performance! The drain cock makes a world of difference and the engine is much easier to start, I naughtily left it open a tad--kept the speed down as I had no heavy load. I also have a crude self made drain on the valve chest but I don't use it now--it is not as effective. I must say that all this steaming was in 40 degrees F. In Diamondhead, the bloody thing will probably burn up. So I am bringing wick material and ice cubes, some of the ice cubes for the loco and some for the Tanqueray! Geoff Hello, Last week, I emailed Geoff Calver about an axle pump for the Lion. He forwarded my inquiry to the builder of the axle pump as shown on the G1MRA website http://www.gaugeone.org/story_behind_the_axle_driven_wat.htm . This morning, Markus replied. Unfortunately, he is out of the kits from the last batch he made. He is, however, willing to make more if at least two more persons want one for their Lion. Please reply if you want one and I will help coordinate. Regards, Joe
Re: Aster Lion Axle Pump Interest?
Geoff, I had the wet wick problem a long time ago and was told by the then Aster Guy that if I had been the least bit careless in putting replacement water in the tender, there is an almost perfect path for replacement water to go down to the wicks. You can solve this rather easily by putting a small bead of clear silicone on those joints just above the wicks. If you don't like the silicone, it will peal off very easily. Wish I were going to DH so could help you find your glasses, programs, instructions and all the other stuff that careless people take from you. JB - Original Message - From: Geoff Spenceley [EMAIL PROTECTED] Joe, Thanks for the info on the axle pumps. I ran the Lion, for some reason the wicks wouldn't burn (altho I had a lot a lot of successful runs in the last 1-1/2 years) so I had to do some work on them. After fiddling, I couldn't find anything wrong--I think I had got them wet somehow. (not with my favorite brew either!). Later, when I got the wicks a-firing properly. I did a test with the axle pump--the loco ran for 24 minutes then the alky ran out. I had to add water to the tender on the fly, the little devils use a lot of water, a lot in it's natural state! Whether the bypass valve is open or closed it does not seem to make any noticeable difference to the performance! The drain cock makes a world of difference and the engine is much easier to start, I naughtily left it open a tad--kept the speed down as I had no heavy load. I also have a crude self made drain on the valve chest but I don't use it now--it is not as effective.
