Help - have a Regner Otto WHERE DO I PUT THE WATER?

dunnyrail

dunnyrail

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I got this 3 or 4 weeks ago and only today tried to get her up and running. The instructions only relate to Konrad, Willi, Vincent, Calloner and Fanny. The closest is Fanny but there is no part like that shown on Otto. Do I assume that I need to use a Spray Type Bottle to put Water in under Preasure after I have taken off the Safety Valve?

Help
JonD
P.S. I have been into Live Steam since around 1973, had many Puffers pass through my hands. But none has had me stumped like this little beauty.
 
dunnyrail said:
I got this 3 or 4 weeks ago and only today tried to get her up and running. The instructions only relate to Konrad, Willi, Vincent, Calloner and Fanny. The closest is Fanny but there is no part like that shown on Otto. Do I assume that I need to use a Spray Type Bottle to put Water in under Preasure after I have taken off the Safety Valve?

Help
JonD
P.S. I have been into Live Steam since around 1973, had many Puffers pass through my hands. But none has had me stumped like this little beauty.
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I haven´t been able to play with an Otto yet, but if it´s like other Regners, then there will be a one-way filler valve to allow for topping up during running. I tend to find that the Easyline run out of water before they run out of gas, so topping up is important with the spray type bottle with a thin tube which then exactly fits the valve. It´s a chore to have to fill the boiler this way, but if there´s no removable item on the boiler then that´s the way the late Mr Regner intended it.
 
Its on the top side of the boiler. Its that L shaped piece and also serves as the saftey valve like the other easyline models. If memory serves me unscrew the saftey valve off. The problem I found when filling is you need a tight fitting hose to fit in. If it fits in loose the water spits back out and you waste a lot of water trying to fill it because the water has a hard time making it around the L fitting. There is a pre drilled hole for the top off to scre into. I installed the topoff system. Much easier to fill. Fill the water till it goes to the top nut on the sight glass. You will get a few filles with one full gas tank. They should have put a filler on top of the boiler so you can fill it all the way and then remove the 20 or so mm of water.

Double check the gears on the Otto. I forget what one off hand but if you have one that was missing a set screw nut that keeps the gear from slideing back and forth. Ill have to double check what one. I think Regner forgot to add it to hold the gear on the first batch because mine was sent a few weeks later. I had to instal it. Take a picture of your gears and ill tell you if you have it on or not.
 
Thanks for the info guys, I find it hard to work out in my tiny mind how a Safety Valve that Skrews off can still be steam secure to blow in Water when it is out. Clever these Germans.

With regards to the loose Gear, I have checked all the Gears and all the Screws are present and correct so no problems there then.

Shawn you also mentioned the Topoff System, is this something that Regner Supply via a UK agent or is it from a third party supplier?

In my Box of Live Steam Goodies I found a by Ronson Replacement Valve made by Chuffed to Bits. I had bought this for my Regner Berta Steam Tram but not yet got round to fitting it. Regner Locomotives are notoriously difficult to Gas up and the Ronson sorts the problem. Looks like I will need to buy another for Berta.

JonD
 
JonD - I'm not into Live Steam myself so I'm just passing this on as I heard it.....

A friend of mine (another forum member but I'm not sure how active he is on here right now) bought a Regner from Glendale a little while back, and Brian at the shop specifically warned NOT to use a Ronson type filler valve on the gas tank - something about a risk of liquid gas getting to the burner (from an overfilled tank??)..... I have no way of knowing how correct or otherwise that advice was, but Brian was quite vehement about it.
Anyway, I just wanted to pass the comment along, you might just want to check into it before you do anything?

Jon.
 
When I bought my Lumber Jack there was no means of topping up the water while in steam apart from letting the engine cool and filling via the safety valve,however I found out that an optional filler valve kit could be purchased from Martins Models to which I duly purchased.I presume the same kit should fit your engine.I hope this helps.
 
Zerogee said:
JonD - I'm not into Live Steam myself so I'm just passing this on as I heard it.....

A friend of mine (another forum member but I'm not sure how active he is on here right now) bought a Regner from Glendale a little while back, and Brian at the shop specifically warned NOT to use a Ronson type filler valve on the gas tank - something about a risk of liquid gas getting to the burner (from an overfilled tank??)..... I have no way of knowing how correct or otherwise that advice was, but Brian was quite vehement about it.
Anyway, I just wanted to pass the comment along, you might just want to check into it before you do anything?

Jon.
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Didn´t Regner send a screw on gas valve to go on the canister? I know that they sometimes are temperamental - but I find it easier simply to swop the top on the gas bottle than change all the valves on the locos.
 
JonD the Top off system is made by Regner. Any Regner dealer should have it. Its a nice system. I would replace the gas filler with a Ronson. Very easy to instal. ZeroG that is true about the liquid gas getting into the burner but thats common whenever you fill a tank up all the way. The solution is to fill the gas tank up then let some gas out before lighting. You can hear when the liquid turns to gas. The Regner style filler valve I find very difficult to guage when the tank is full plus every other live steam uses the bronson. When its full gas spits back out.
 
KandNWLR said:
Didn´t Regner send a screw on gas valve to go on the canister? I know that they sometimes are temperamental - but I find it easier simply to swop the top on the gas bottle than change all the valves on the locos.
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All the Regners I ever got never came with the screw on gas valve for the canister, its an extra you have to order. I know Accuraft and Roundhouse all use the Ronson. I find it easier to just switch to the Ronson. Its so much easier to fill with it and its one less canister valve I have to worry about.
 
It was my understanding that Regner in the past didn't like the idea of topping up and there gas filler works better than a Ronson when cold but doesn't work well when warm.
 
My Regner experience is with a Lumber Jack and like the others above I've changed the gas filler to a Ronson type (I think mine was from Strikalite) and found it much simpler than Regners, and as others also noted means it's the same as my other steamies. Open the gas valve to ensure any liquid gas vents before lighting and bob's your uncle. I've also fitted one of Regners Top Up system (what my USA friend Shawn calls a Top Off system) It works a treat and my maintaining a ½ to ¾ water level on the glass I can quickly refill the gas when it's run out and get a second steaming thus keeing my Lumber Jack (aka Manawanui) in steam for well over an hour. The oiler lasts this look before needing refilling.

I (and I still regard myself as a relative live steam novice) would never remove the safety on any loco to refill the boiler until the boiler has cooled. I think Shawn's post above was meaning how you fill it when cold, not meaning unscrewing the safety to refill while in steam?
 
John is correct never open the saftey or any valve when the boiler is under pressure. The only time you do that is when intially filling the boiler. Once hot use the top up system or some sort of Goodale valve.
The problem is if you dont top off the gas tank you never know how full the tank really is. Thats the problem with the Regner system. I feel just letting some of the gas out does the trick.
 
So to summaries and thanks for all your comments.

I have fitted the Ronson Gas Valve as I use one on my other Regner. It works so much better than the Regner System, in spite of Brians advice.

I need to get a Water Top Up System as there is no other option with Otto as the Gas WILL last longer than the Water. Yes I know that is what the Gauge Glass is for, but these are Techy at best.

Again many thanks for all, your advice, she will be a Shelf Queen for a while longer while I hunt out my Water Fillers. Heaven knows where they have got to since the move. Also means that I cannot use my Peter Angus Steam Tram either.

JonD
 
My four Regner engines have the top up system port at the top of the gauge glass, so when the water is pumped in it goes through the gauge glass. This has the effect of blowing down the gauge breaking the surface tension of the water giving an accurate reading of the water level. It works very well. There were naysayers stating disastrous results but that has not happened.
Thanks
Steve
 
Steve, that does sound like a Capital Plan. However I do also worry that hand pressure on the top of the Glass could be a bit risky. Depends I guess how well the Water Bottle interface works.

I have found my Bottles now including the Jacksons Miniature that I got from Glendale sometime last year. None have any effect of enabling water to be put into the as yet unmodified Otto. I fear she is a Shelf Queen. But will get some kind of Regner device from a dealer in UK. I just wish that I could find a Regner Site that showed their bits. All I get from this

http://www.regner-dampftechnik.de

Is advertising and bits about how a boiler looks. Not the thing that I need a list, with pictures of available bits.
JonD
 
steveciambrone said:
My four Regner engines have the top up system port at the top of the gauge glass, so when the water is pumped in it goes through the gauge glass. This has the effect of blowing down the gauge breaking the surface tension of the water giving an accurate reading of the water level. It works very well. There were naysayers stating disastrous results but that has not happened.
Thanks
Steve
Click to expand...

Same experience with Regners as above. However still waiting for my "Otto" to find out .... :-\
 
steveciambrone said:
My four Regner engines have the top up system port at the top of the gauge glass, so when the water is pumped in it goes through the gauge glass. This has the effect of blowing down the gauge breaking the surface tension of the water giving an accurate reading of the water level. It works very well. There were naysayers stating disastrous results but that has not happened.
Thanks
Steve
Click to expand...
Where did you get these from Steve ?
 
For what its worth if anyone is still looking for the Regner top off system, I have them in stock typically unless they are backordered. Currently do have stock.

Scroll down to the bottom

http://www.thetraindepartment.com/regner/water-pumps/

As to the Otto not having a filler its something I need to talk to Regner about as I originally spoke with them for the retaining collar for the slip gear as I am the sole US agent. I also have ben supplying many customers in Australia as there is no current dealer anymore.
 
kovacjr said:
For what its worth if anyone is still looking for the Regner top off system, I have them in stock typically unless they are backordered. Currently do have stock.

Scroll down to the bottom

http://www.thetraindepartment.com/regner/water-pumps/

As to the Otto not having a filler its something I need to talk to Regner about as I originally spoke with them for the retaining collar for the slip gear as I am the sole US agent. I also have ben supplying many customers in Australia as there is no current dealer anymore.
Click to expand...

So is it the 20230 or the 20235 with the "Quick Disconnect upgrade'" that I need for my Otto?
JonD
 
JonD all you need is the 20235 (Re feed valve for locomotives M5 thread) You don't have to attach it to the sight glass fitting on top. There is an extra fitting on the boiler next to sight glass. That's where I attached the top up system line. Also double check for that retaining collar for the slip gear as Jason mentioned. (That's the one I mentioned earlier but forgot what gear it was.
 
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