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

Well I finally managed to get Otto running today. My worries about Water were probably over the top. In any case I managed to source a Regner Water Top Up system from Martins Models at the 16mm bash at Peterborough last week. The fitting of this could upset the novce as you need to bend the Long Pipe twice, drill a hole to fit to the Chassis Plate and Silver Solder a Nipple onto the pipe at the end where it fits to the Barrell. I found all of this quite manageable, but I guess many would not.

I fitted mine ontop of the Gauge Glass as this helps to wash down crud that could sit there and make Water Level much better to view.

On first run, and I have only run it the once it was very controllable. This is to be expected with Live Steam Geared Locomotives. I would put it on a par with my Angus Machines, though not in Build or Quietness of running. Verily Otto is a very noisy little beast, but that to me adds to the charm. You certainly know he is on the move.

Must to a Vid soon.

Thanks for your help and thoughts guys.

JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
Well I finally managed to get Otto running today. My worries about Water were probably over the top. In any case I managed to source a Regner Water Top Up system from Martins Models at the 16mm bash at Peterborough last week. The fitting of this could upset the novce as you need to bend the Long Pipe twice, drill a hole to fit to the Chassis Plate and Silver Solder a Nipple onto the pipe at the end where it fits to the Barrell. I found all of this quite manageable, but I guess many would not.

I fitted mine ontop of the Gauge Glass as this helps to wash down crud that could sit there and make Water Level much better to view.

On first run, and I have only run it the once it was very controllable. This is to be expected with Live Steam Geared Locomotives. I would put it on a par with my Angus Machines, though not in Build or Quietness of running. Verily Otto is a very noisy little beast, but that to me adds to the charm. You certainly know he is on the move.

Must to a Vid soon.

Thanks for your help and thoughts guys.

JonD
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Glad you got it running . You don't have to solder anything on the top up system. They supply you with a compression nut and nipple. As you tighten the nut the nipple closes and creates the seal. My Otto also had a predrilled hole for the top up system to be secured to on the bottom plate. All three of my Regners had this predrilled hole.
 
Oh, well mine did not have a Chassis hole and I tried screwing the nipple to the Barrell and it did not nip in. Hence the Silver Soldering Job. Must be some differences in the Production Runs.
JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
Oh, well mine did not have a Chassis hole and I tried screwing the nipple to the Barrell and it did not nip in. Hence the Silver Soldering Job. Must be some differences in the Production Runs.
JonD
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Lol they must have forgotten. Had to be a Friday at Regner lol....
 
Both of the Regners here at my place have the water top up fitted to the top of the water gauge. This does help blow down the gauge and help with a good reading. I also add fine piece of red wire thru the gauge glass to help with breaking surface tension of the water. I stablize the top fitting of the gauge glass set up when tightening the new fitting to it. Havent broke a gauge glass yet and I have fitted 3 of these systems. I also fit one of the Regner whistles at the same time, usualy to a spare bung on the boiler. Cheers Mike
 
Gave my Regner another run on Sunday. It managed 3 LGB Bogie Coaches and 4 Vans. Not bad I reckon for a Single Cylinder Loco.

Another problem is now rearing its head, due to the location it is near impossible to get the Drain Plug on the Oiler. Well not get it back off, but back on actually. Managed after much cussing, swearing and huffing. Looks like I will need to resort to a Hypodermic to clear out the thing after a run. I wonder who thought of that location without an Open Cab Door to get at it. The 3 pictures show the issue, the offending Screw is located just to the Right of the Otto Nameplate.

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Other than that, still love the little beauty.
JonD
 
You might not like the idea, but you could drill the side plate in the right position and fit a longer screw. If done carefully and the paint touched up on the cut edge, it would hardly show.

Another thought is do you actually need to totally remove the screw, will just slackening it well not manage? Would a flat, filed down the thread help?
 
Thanks for the heads up on this one. I still haven´t received my Otto, but I think in the short term I´d be inclined to go for the good old fashioned syringe. :-\
 
bobg said:
You might not like the idea, but you could drill the side plate in the right position and fit a longer screw. If done carefully and the paint touched up on the cut edge, it would hardly show.

Have thought about the Hole, would probably do a square largish one with a hinge if I go down that route.

Another thought is do you actually need to totally remove the screw, will just slackening it well not manage? Would a flat, filed down the thread help?

Tried to slacken it but did not drain any water at all. Just not enough gaps on the thread.
Click to expand...

Guess I will stick to the Hyper.
JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
Guess I will stick to the Hyper.
JonD
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If the screw has a tapered point to seal the outlet, take a file and flatten the thread to the tapping Dia., it will not stop it working and will allow the gunk to pass, especially if you retain a little pressure in the boiler before draining, and open the reg a touch. Sometimes these screws have a small slot machined down the thread, but a flat works just as well. I do understand the reluctance to drill the plate.
 
Thinking some mire about the varying options.
-Mods to the Drain Screw to get it to release Gunk.
Disadvantages:-
1 Gunk collects inside the Body.
2 Difficult to keep clean and may need another hole.
3 Possible need to cut open the body and resulting make good works.
-Syringe.
Advantages:-
1 Keeps inside of Locomotive relatively clean.
2 quick and Simple to do once Loco has cooled off somewhat.
Disadvantages:-
1 Use of syringe H and S issues as will possibly need a needle to get past the Pipe inside to remove Gunk.
2 Obtaining the right Type of Syringe.

Well I am going for the Syringe Option. I lucked out some time back when I bought a Printer Ink Refill System. This had two Bellows Type Syringes that had a reasonable size of Needle that would be difficult to inject yourself with. One of these I have been using for Years as a Small Oiler. The other when I find it!!!! Will be used for Gunk Removal.

At last another issue on Otto is solved. Next Job will be to RC the Regulator.
Jond
 
How much do you need to remove?

I have some 2ml syringes, and blunt needles which are part of my kit of bits for fibre-optic cable connector fitting..
PM me if one of these would be suitable, and I can put one in the post for you..
PhilP.
 
Phil,
Many thanks for the offer, but I have now found my other Ink Filler which will certainly do the job. Pic of this for info. 

Incidentally it was in a Cup in the Cupboard in the Bathroom. What on earth it was doing here is anyones guess. But on Saturday I woke up with a bad attack of Man Flue and was searching for some Lemsip or something similar. Moved the cup and there was the elusive thing that I have been looking for for weeks. A`int life funny! I had to go out to buy some Medicine and just as I was walking down to Town a Spitfire was just on with its Display for the Forces Day Gig that was on in Town. What a magnificent sight. Man Flue about fixed now.

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JonD
 
Thanks for the pics of the Otto with its roof off. Lets me prepare for when my one finally arrives. :-\
 
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