Accucraft Leader & Ragleth, What gas?

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steves

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I have the above Accucraft loco's and on reading another thread it prompted me to post this one.

What gas do people use on their loco's?

The Accucraft loco's I have state "Butane Only". I have looked for Butane only and find it difficult to locate, whereas 70% Butane and 30% propane seems very easy to find.

Would you be risking the tank by the increased pressure from the butane/propane mix?
Where can you get a decent quantity of butane with a screw type top for the brass filler extention?

Look forward to hearing what people use and where they get it from.

Cheers
Steve
 
My Countess has that label on the tank, but in the instructions booklet it says that mixed gas is fine, so I use mixed. It is far easier to get.

I should check your instruction book for the same info.
 
There was a brilliant thread on the dear, departed "G Scale Mad" forum that discussed the differences between butane and butane/propane mix, including the associated physics. The general conclusion was that 70/30 butane/propane mix was fine. Because of the higher freezing point of butane, some people use butane in the summer and "mixed" in the winter. When I bought my gas fired Edrig a while ago, the vendor told me that mixed gas was fine, and that's what he stocked for re-sale, as well as butane for those who wanted it.
What is NOT permissible is pure propane because the higher pressures involved would rupture the gas tank.
Steve
 
Accucraft have specifically confirmed to me that the gas tanks are tested to withstand the pressure of 'mixed' gas and they are happy with the concept of people using it.

For all those garden railfarers that appear to be calculating the exact amount of water their boiler should be filled with please be aware that a 'mixed' gas has a higher calorific value than pure Butane so a set amount of gas will boil off a set amount of water faster. For example a 'fill up and run once' loco without a gauge glass such as Ragleth is designed for one boiler of water to outlast one tank of Butane, by using a mixed gas you will be reducing the safety margin.

Pure Butane called Bernzomatic is available from your local Screwfix shop and has the correct thread on the can, is also highly recomended by Roundhouse as possibly the cleanest gas on the market.

Pure Butane called Go System is available from Cromwell tools http://www.cromwell.co.uk/GGS8751100E < Link To www.cromwell.co.uk/GGS8751100E and I know this might sound daft but it appears they will deliver through the mail ??! It has been suggested by an occasional person that the Go systems gas might allegedly leave a build up or film on your gas jet that could eventually cause a blockage. I have used it without problem.

Happy steamings,

John
 
400Parker said:
There was a brilliant thread on the dear, departed "G Scale Mad" forum that discussed the differences between butane and butane/propane mix, including the associated physics. The general conclusion was that 70/30 butane/propane mix was fine. Because of the higher freezing point of butane, some people use butane in the summer and "mixed" in the winter. When I bought my gas fired Edrig a while ago, the vendor told me that mixed gas was fine, and that's what he stocked for re-sale, as well as butane for those who wanted it.
What is NOT permissible is pure propane because the higher pressures involved would rupture the gas tank.
Steve
Click to expand...

Well that covers that one rather well indeed me thinks, exactly what I was looking to hear as I have been using mixed on both of mine since I had them.

The only issue I still have it that to get a good "start flame" on the Leader, its best to cover one of the holes on the gas pipe to restrict the gas flow. the Ragleth has a little bit of pipe round it to restrict the flow of air, but the Leader does not have this, but it really does need it.I don't suppose anyone has added this bit of pipe to their loco or experienced similar? Before anyone mentions blocked jet and PTFE tape, this has already been tried, the finger over the air inlet was given to me via the supplier and works a treat :)
 
Steve, I too have a little trouble with the intiial flame and find that the best way is just to keep it very small till there is a little warmth in the flues and it can then be adjusted to suit. It can be a pest if it's at all windy as it blows out.
 
400Parker said:
The only issue I still have it that to get a good "start flame" on the Leader, its best to cover one of the holes on the gas pipe to restrict the gas flow. the Ragleth has a little bit of pipe round it to restrict the flow of air, but the Leader does not have this, but it really does need it.I don't suppose anyone has added this bit of pipe to their loco or experienced similar?
Click to expand...
Just a quick note, when you block the hole on one side you are making the mixture richer not restricting the gas flow. I use only pure butane in my loco's only because it cheap and easier to get here in the US and it doesn't get cold enough to need to use a mixed gas. If Accucraft has said it's safe to use a mixed gas I see no reason not to if it's easier to get where you are.
The band around the air inlet is a good idea as it will allow you to optimize the flame for the mixed gas as I'm sure it will have been designed around a pure butane mix.

.............................Paul..........
 
steves said:
The only issue I still have it that to get a good "start flame" on the Leader, its best to cover one of the holes on the gas pipe to restrict the gas flow. the Ragleth has a little bit of pipe round it to restrict the flow of air, but the Leader does not have this, but it really does need it.I don't suppose anyone has added this bit of pipe to their loco or experienced similar? Before anyone mentions blocked jet and PTFE tape, this has already been tried, the finger over the air inlet was given to me via the supplier and works a treat :)
Click to expand...

Yes I have seen a short section of pipe used as a sleeve to partially closed the air inlet on a Leader to good effect, my Caledonia has also had this very easy addition put on. A bit of trial and error soon finds the optimum position and it really does help lighting up.

Happy steamings,

John
 
Sea Lion said:
steves said:
The only issue I still have it that to get a good "start flame" on the Leader, its best to cover one of the holes on the gas pipe to restrict the gas flow. the Ragleth has a little bit of pipe round it to restrict the flow of air, but the Leader does not have this, but it really does need it.I don't suppose anyone has added this bit of pipe to their loco or experienced similar? Before anyone mentions blocked jet and PTFE tape, this has already been tried, the finger over the air inlet was given to me via the supplier and works a treat :)
Click to expand...

Yes I have seen a short section of pipe used as a sleeve to partially closed the air inlet on a Leader to good effect, my Caledonia has also had this very easy addition put on. A bit of trial and error soon finds the optimum position and it really does help lighting up.

Happy steamings,

John
Click to expand...
John

Having just realised who you are after reading another thread, it was indeed you that recommended the block an air hole off and it does indeed work a treat :) Now does any one know where I can get some correct sized pipe to restrict the airflow like on the Ragleth? Or better still, does anyone sell that spare part and will it fit a Leader...John? :)
 
I was under the impression pure butane Bernzomatic had been discontinued and replaced at most retailers with GoGas ?
 
steves said:
Now does any one know where I can get some correct sized pipe to restrict the airflow like on the Ragleth? Or better still, does anyone sell that spare part and will it fit a Leader...John? :)
Click to expand...
No promises but a request has just gone in to the factory to send some of these rings over to the UK, so watch this space.

I have also requested these be fitted as standard on future builds of Leader and Caledonia. Meanwhile I wouldn't let this put anyone off getting a Leader or Caledonia, they are both stunningly good locos and fantastic value for money, meanwhile a finger over an air hole when lighting works wonders!

Happy steamings,

John
 
Sea Lion said:
steves said:
Now does any one know where I can get some correct sized pipe to restrict the airflow like on the Ragleth? Or better still, does anyone sell that spare part and will it fit a Leader...John? :)
Click to expand...
No promises but a request has just gone in to the factory to send some of these rings over to the UK, so watch this space.

I have also requested these be fitted as standard on future builds of Leader and Caledonia. Meanwhile I wouldn't let this put anyone off getting a Leader or Caledonia, they are both stunningly good locos and fantastic value for money, meanwhile a finger over an air hole when lighting works wonders!

Happy steamings,

John
Click to expand...

Totally agree with you John, its only for the light up, after that they run fine, absolutely stunning loco's and I can't stress just how pleased I am with mine. Need to get a proper layout sorted for it though as it just has temp track thrown in the garden at the moment. I have to say for the price, i am amazed with it :clap:

If you get any of those pipe bits in, please do give me a shout as it would just make things easier, if not, no worries :)
 
Sea Lion said:
Meanwhile I wouldn't let this put anyone off getting a Leader or Caledonia, they are both stunningly good locos and fantastic value for money, meanwhile a finger over an air hole when lighting works wonders!

Happy steamings,

John
Click to expand...

That's standard practise for some gas blowlamps:thumbup:
 
I wrote about my experience with the Ragleth and Edrig burners on another thread, but it might be worth repeating it here.
My Raleth has an air control ring, a relatively quiet burner and runs for 30 mins when refilled after steam is raised. My Edrig had no air control ring, a noisy burner and ran for 20 mins when refilled in the same way.
I put an air control ring on Edrig, with half the air holes covered, as on Ragleth, and immediately I could smell fumes from incomplete combustion. My conclusion was that Ragleth must have a smaller jet so that the mix was right with half the air.
When I examined the jets I found that this was the case - Edrig's jet was nearly twice the diameter of Ragleth's. I bought a jet adapter and No.5 jet from Chuffed2Bits and found that this jet is about the same size as Ragleths (measured by eyeball).
I installed the jet and put the air control ring in place. With about half the holes covered it worked a treat and ran for 30 mins with a reasonable sound.
A simple air control ring can be made like a boiler band - just a strip of brass or tin with the ends bent at right angles and drilled for a small nut and bolt. Just wrap it round and tighten the nut. But do bear in mind that the effect will depend on the jet size and beware of incompete combustion - it smells nasty and is probably dangerous if you are testing inside.
I hope this helps
Cheers
Chris
 
I gather Accucraft are getting some of the air control rings in for retro fit. They suggest you contact your dealer.
 
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