Hi Jim,
Thanks for feedback. I raised
the question about draining boilers or not ,
as I have never heard a definative answer one way or the other ,
as yet. And the question of some "stainless" byepass balls
corroding, could appear to be a related issue.
Personnally,
I have noticed an occasional problem when the byepass ball on my
U1 has stuck closed after leaving the boiler stored "dry", but
then freed off when engine was really warmed up. But i do not
see the same problem when
engine is stored with a boiler full of water.
I have dismantled the byepass valve several times, and the ball
has always been rustfree. (I now keep water
in my boilers all the time, as you do).
My King George kit the the byepass ball was an orange
coloured hard plastic, but I replaced
it with a stainless ball for my own "piece of mind".
In my background of manufacturing engineering I also
have used
several different types of stainless steel and found 303/304 to
be the least prone to corrosion.
I have
also worked with individual engineers whose finger print,s
could rust stainless in less than 24 hours!. These guys
rapidly gained the nickname of ''Rustyfingers". You soon learnt to
never loan these guys any measuring equipment!.
(I am not suggesting we have some "rusty live
steamers", in our group.)
Crusty maybe?.
Regards,
Tony D.
5:29 AM 1/29/01 -0800, Jim Curry wrote:
>Tony:
>
>During my running season, May thru November, I have never drained the water
>out of any locomotive boiler. Engines that are stored at my office on
>shelves stay full year-round. Engines that are stored in my unheated shop
>are drained for the winter. I haven't noticed any complications due to
>either storage condition and that includes Aster, Argyle and Roundhouse
>engines that have check valves. As has been mentioned in previous
>discussions, stainless comes in various grades. 316 or 316L stainless is
>specified for marine submersion service so if someone finds their
>check-balls are corroding that would be a material to consider changing to.
>Most unlabeled stainless sold at hardware stores, etc. is a 304 grade. I
>have seen 304 exhibit brown rust type of oxidation in fresh and salt water
>use so if you find yourself needing to change balls I'd give consideration
>to 316. My Aster Grasshopper came with a kind of soft check-ball (rubber?)
>which was never reliable. Some kind soul gave me a stainless ball and all
>is well.
>
>Jim
>
>
