Thanks for the information! I thought there seemd to be a lot of fuel coming
out! The black hose leaks sometimes from the fittings. I will have to look into
the smaller valve.
Chris Rowles wrote:
> Gary,
>
> Welcome to the world of FrankS and its interesting lighing habbits.
>
> I have found the Propane/Butane mixture gives a better light up result as
> there is a greater gas pressure from the propoan at low ambient
> temperatures.
>
> The main problem is that the gas line from the tank to the burner is too
> large and hence there is a considerable liquid build up in the flexible
> line.
>
> I replaced the black line with clear silicone (after a rupture at the hose
> fitting) and you can see liquid in the line. This causes Frank to spit when
> the boile(and gas flue/burner) is cold and also when the water jacket in the
> tender is likewise cold.
>
> In Western Australian summer conditions (35 C or hotter), Frank needed a
> tender water bath refill after 10 minutes, to get a stable flame.
>
> A Better solution is to relocate the gas tank to the left hand bunker and to
> replace the gas control valve with a smaller diameter pipe and seat. The
> flame problems vanish.
>
> There was a article in either STiG or Garden Railways a few years back
> detailing the conversion.
>
> Chris Rowles
>
> Gary Lane wrote:
>
> > Frank S loco runs great once steam is raised and relights just fine
> > after it is hot. Initial lighting is horrid! The fire keeps going out,
> > if it gets going at all. Lighting attempts at every valve setting
> > possible have been repeatedly attempted. What does work is removing the
> > burner and applying a soft propane torch flame to it until it is hot and
> > reinserting it. It lights fine then and holds the flame. Any ideas what
> > I am missing here?
> >
> > Gary Lane
> > PS - current outside temperatures are 50-70 degrees F. Fuel is
> > iso-butane. I have GAZ available but noted that the instructions
> > indicate not to fire with propane/butane mix.
> >
> >
>
