Dismantling old Roundhouse Billy Loco

M

My45G

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I am trying to remove the smokebox from an old Roundhouse Billy. The newer versions are no problem, but this is an early version. I have removed the boiler and smokebox combined from the rest of the loco, including the burner, superheater tube etc., but the smokebox won't budge. There is a dimple on the top of the smokebox, does this somehow help to fix it to the bolier tube? should I just use more brute force?
 
Hmmmm! Can't answer that one, but does it really need to come off? Some boilers have smoke-boxes as part and parcel (not neccessarily Billy)
 
Can't you mask it for painting? Usually Chuffers are an easy fit without dismantling anyway.

Sorry, I may be being a bit thick, but I've worked on many dozen steam locos but not a Billy.

Pictures and thousands of words etc.
 
My guess is the paint on the smoke box/boiler have bonded like glue from the heat. Doing this bonding is a common way to fit a brass/copper cap on a chimney, fresh paint combined with a tight friction fit + heat = nicely bonded together parts. Might try tapping it with a small hammer from below where it wont hurt anything you can see. Or try soaking in very hot water in an old pot on the stove and then try to seperate while using oven mits or gloves. Mike
 
Give roundhouse a quick call? very helpful people..................
 
artfull dodger said:
My guess is the paint on the smoke box/boiler have bonded like glue from the heat. Doing this bonding is a common way to fit a brass/copper cap on a chimney, fresh paint combined with a tight friction fit + heat = nicely bonded together parts. Might try tapping it with a small hammer from below where it wont hurt anything you can see. Or try soaking in very hot water in an old pot on the stove and then try to seperate while using oven mits or gloves. Mike
Click to expand...

Might I suggest a block of wood as an interface between the hammer and the part?
 
I use a small tack hammer to tap from below on the bottom of the smoke box. I think a good soak in a pot of boiling water would loosen the the fit and soften the paint a bit to allow the two parts to seperate. Always use the minimum of force possible. Mike
 
I am pleased to report said smokebox is now free of the boiler. Helpful people at Roundhouse suggested a bar down through the flue tube to press on to the rear of the smokebox door and after a few taps with a small hammer, the parts separated. Thanks for all the replies. subject closed.
 
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