Accucraft Edrig will not move forward

D

DannyTheElfman

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Hello,

I have recently aquired a second hand Accucraft Edrig. I'm led to believe most Accucraft loco's run much better in one direction than the other. However, in my case, it does not run forwards at all.

It runs backwards superbly. Better than I had hoped, absolutely not an issue. But with the reverser in it's forward position it seems completely dead. I can fully open the regulator and nothing happens at all. Even giving it a little push yields nothing, like there is no steam getting to the cylinders.

Someone has suggested I check the timing. From what I can tell everything seems ok. When the reverser in in it's back position the groove on the valve is just touching the back side of the valve assembly. I belive this is as per the manal. When the reverser in the forward position the valve is pulled out a of the valve casing a few millimeters.

Someone has also said it could be a hydrolock, but this could not be the case if it runs in reverse without any problems could it?

Any able to shed any light on the situation? This is my first foray into live steam and I've loved it. But having a loco able to go both directions would be the cherry on top! I have attached a few images just in case anyone is able to spot ant glaring issues.

Many thanks
Dan
 

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Are you running it manually, or are you using RC?

If RC, disconnect the servo from the reverser, and try it manually.

PhilP.
 
It could be an internal fault. Does steam escape from anywhere when reverse is selected? If so, it could be a gasket. If not, perhaps a blocked steam port.
As you suggest, timing might be an issue. There might be a guide on here, or elsewhere online, that explains how to check and adjust it. I'm fairly certain that Tag Gorton covered it in Garden Rail some time in the past, or you could (some would say should) join the 16mm Association; there is a wealth of experience there, particularly with live steam in our scale.
There are also some good repair specialists.
 
The other thing that occurs to me with timing, assuming the geove lines on the valves are maximum and minimum settings. What should they be like on the other side when one side is at each maximum, your timing info should tell you. However I believethe valves are generally quartered each side not exact opposite?
 
Is the piston shown in the first picture moving at all when you change direction? Or only a small way? Recently that jammed solid on my Accucraft Lynn, and had to be tapped care by an expert to get it free again. It's an easy thing to miss when doing you rerun lubrication
 
DannyTheElfman said:
I'm led to believe most Accucraft loco's run much better in one direction than the other.
Click to expand...

One of the many 16mm myths! Just like the one that says full-size outside-framed locos have chrome plated wheels polished to perfection every day by an obedient cleaner.

As it runs happily backwards it is very unlikely to be the valve timing causing the problem. I'd be looking at the reversing valve between the frames under the smokebox. Sounds as if it is not being positioned correctly by the lever. A compressed air supply will be needed to determine what is happening.
 
Hey everyone. I have done a little troubleshooting today and I think I've actually found the problem. The reverser was attached to the highest hole on the pivot in the middle of the loco, massively reducing the movement on the piston inside of the steam chest. It would move just far enough to be able to use reverse, but when in it was in it's forward position it never moved enough to actually leave the neutral range. I have moved the control rod down to the next lowest hole, and now it has enough range to hit the forward position.

Timing has altered a little bit, but Edrig will now happily run in both directions. Thank you all for your suggestions! And as Rhos Helyg Loco Works said, the engine runs just as well forwards as it does backwards. The only thing left is the safvetly valve, which seems to have a steady leak, but it still blows off about 50psi so not a massive problem.
IMG_0713.jpg
 
Very strange, you would have thought it would be the other way round, the higher the hole the more pivot movement. I wonder why it would have been repositioned in the first place? It's usually more beneficial for an engine to go forwards, if not forward and reverse.
 
tac foley said:
Mr Willmore - will you be attending the March 2/3 show?
Click to expand...

Whichever it is, sorry no, I won't be there. The move to P'boro killed it for me and the other "locals" that I shared travel and driving with. P'boro would be a very long day from here, so involved hotels, etc., and made the cost unjustifiable. It was taken away from me, and 13 years down the line I don't miss it and I don't need to be there - that has been proved over and over again. Llangollen is the only one I go to now, and it is really good.
 
Well, the Midland Garden Railway Show is at the Fosse..

The National Show (16mm) is now back at Stoneleigh, in April..

But we will be at all three, so come and say hello and claim a chocolate biscuit..
Can't guarantee how soft the chocolate will be at Llangollen, it might mean sticky-fingers! :D

PhilP.
 
Rhos Helyg Loco Works said:
Whichever it is, sorry no, I won't be there. The move to P'boro killed it for me and the other "locals" that I shared travel and driving with. P'boro would be a very long day from here, so involved hotels, etc., and made the cost unjustifiable. It was taken away from me, and 13 years down the line I don't miss it and I don't need to be there - that has been proved over and over again. Llangollen is the only one I go to now, and it is really good.
Click to expand...

Ah, this was at the Royal Warwickshire Showground, near Leamington Spa. I know about the Llangollen 'do', having been involved since it began.
 
I wonder if someone removed / fitted RC before selling it, but did not test it after the swap-over?

That, or if new, just banged together on a Friday afternoon..

PhilP.
 
Rhos Helyg Loco Works said:
Whichever it is, sorry no, I won't be there. The move to P'boro killed it for me and the other "locals" that I shared travel and driving with. P'boro would be a very long day from here, so involved hotels, etc., and made the cost unjustifiable. It was taken away from me, and 13 years down the line I don't miss it and I don't need to be there - that has been proved over and over again. Llangollen is the only one I go to now, and it is really good.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately that's the problem with any national show, it's never going to be local or even close to an awful lot of people, no matter where it I'd held
 
DannyTheElfman said:
Any able to shed any light on the situation?
Click to expand...
(I'm late coming to this, as I only get a digest/summary every week.) One source of this only-runs-one way can be the reversing lever. Accucraft bolts them to the cab floor with slots in the base of the lever. If the bolts allow the lever frame to move, the forward/reverse is affected.

Solution is to make sure the valve gear is in neutral, then move the lever frame so it indicates neutral.
 
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