Accucraft Leader - Wheels won't go round

[ZingyOrange]

Yes I did put steam oil in the displacement lubricator, so hopefully that shouldn't be the issue. Though thinking about it, I may have made an error when first steaming up, I had the lubricator cap open when I started pumping water into the boiler, and it seemed to cause the oil sitting in the lubricator to bubble up.
I don't know whether that might've resulted in excess water being blown into the cylinders.
(The instructions do suggest leaving the lubricator cap off while filling up, but I don't know if that's only when filling with the syringe rather than a pump through the topup-valve).

I'll see how it runs tomorrow, I might try refitting the original exhaust if I still have problems, see if that makes a difference.

I thought you probably did but its something that I've almost forgotten before. From the video it looks to be running well at a very realistic speed and once run in will be even better

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Sounds indeed like I managed to get cold water in the cylinders when filling up. It took me a while to get the hang of the RC so may well have left the regulator open by accident.
I did make sure not to fill the loco up to more than 3/4 of the gauge glass.

Is there a best way of draining the water out, or should I just let it clear itself out as it runs?
(If only the loco had working drain cocks! )

 

[bobg]

Yes, piston valves and no drain-cocks is a real pain. To get the water level down to the correct level it is easiest to suck it out with a syringe, add a short peice of tubing if neccesary. Fish-tank air tubing is about right.

 

[New Haven Neil 2]

Is there a best way of draining the water out, or should I just let it clear itself out as it runs?
(If only the loco had working drain cocks! )

No - just keep trying her back and forwards until it clears - when it does, she will zoom off so be careful and ready to close the regulator! Of course the cold weather makes it harder to warm through as well, I noticed my Cale took quite a few rocks back and forth (I'm talking over 10) on Monday before she warmed through enough to move off. The Fowler (slide valves) warmed through much easier. I didn't though, it was freezing!!!!

 

[Chris Bird]

The Summerlands Chuffer may make clearing the cylinders take slightly longer but should also stop hot oily water from squirting all over the place

Good to hear you got it going OK Daniel. And Dave is right that the Summerlands Chuffer will stop the squirting oil - but it should take no longer to clear as there is no constriction in the Chuffer at all. What does happen is that there is initially a build up of condensate in the Chuffer's resonator which takes a few seconds to clear. This stifles the chuff until it 'clears its throat'.

I either use the blow down valve until it blows steam, or take out 30mls as Neil suggests. The advantage of the latter method is that it gets up to pressure quicker.

Good luck with the next steaming - it does get easier!
Cheers
Chris

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Thanks Chris,

The Chuffer certainly does the job when she gets going, I didn't realise quite how loud she'd be in my small garden.

My neighbours will know when I'm steaming up, that's for sure!

(Hmm... wonder if there's room on there for a DJB whistle, just to really make its presence known! )

 

[Sea Lion]

I'm glad you got going Daniel, looks like a simple case of water in the cylinders. Thanks to everyone for their advice and encouragement, your video says it all - result.

For the sake of anyone reading this thread in the future please note on new locos the valve setting out of the factory is nothing less than 'spot on' these days, it really is exceptionally good and should be the very last thing to consider tinkering with if anyone thinks they have a problem - probably best to have a chat with your supplier before going down that road on a new loco. Of course for a second hand loco it may well be appropriate as you don't always know what your are getting.

In addition to the above locos that have R/C fitted in the UK are also re-tested, and thus the valve settings have had to pass a second pair of eyes/ears. In the case of Leaders and Caledonias with R/C fitted by TrackShack this testing is in steam on track with a train.

With new Accucraft locos it is normal to expect some tightness that can require up to 10 hours running in before you have the finished result. The machining of the motion is extremely accurate, you wouldn't want a slack engine out of the box, after all you can't run a slack engine in to make it tighten itself up!

I'm sure once run in you will have a stunningly good little loco Daniel. I'd prescirbe a fairly heavy train on the back with the regulator well open whilst keeping the train at slow speed to get the best sound (next door will love me!).

Happy steamings,

John

 

[PaulRhB]

I should imagine they tested it after fitting the rc?

In addition to the above locos that have R/C fitted in the UK are also re-tested, . . . . with R/C fitted by TrackShack this testing is in steam on track with a train.

Thought that would be the case with your attention to detail
Lovely loco and one that would make another ideal electric powered prototype, I know it's unlikely. It's such a good looking loco that I did seriously consider converting my Excelsior to track power when I abandoned live steam but then sold it to fund other models.

 

[Ferrysteam]

Don't forget to use a long pipe when withdrawing water from the boiler,sometimes they come off and get stuck in the boiler.

 

[DoctorM]

Don't forget to use a long pipe when withdrawing water from the boiler,
sometimes they come off and get stuck in the boiler.

Is that the voice of experience?

 

[Ferrysteam]

I use the blowdown but there are a lot that don't.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Well the horrible weather put paid to proper testing today, but I did manage to get her steaming up on blocks. Video

The wheels did need a bit of manual assistance to start with, but once she got going, she was running quite nicely, so hopefully I've managed to clear the system.
I did manage to take her out onto the track briefly, but didn't get far due to a bad track join and running out of gas.

 

[bobg]

I use the blowdown but there are a lot that don't.

:holdon: Some locos arn't fitted.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

The Leader only has a lubricator drain rather than a separate blowdown.

A syringe with a long tube did the job nicely though.

 

[Ferrysteam]

The Leader only has a lubricator drain rather than a separate blowdown.


That's why it's fitted with a site glass.