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 Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
...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
