The Steamboating Forum

I've been steaming my 7 1/4" gauge loco now for 20 yrs, . . . . . . . . and I might have used the 0.6. Do as we do, and sell the surplice off in smaller containers to mates and associates.

It might just be worth the trouble of contacting Morris Oils at Shrewsbury, they are just about the most helpful people you can ever come across.

Hi Jon,

I use about 50-70ml 680 cylinder oil in a 12 hr day, the ratchet operated pump plunger is 1/16" diam and the reservoir about 2" x 2" by about the same deep. The engine is 3" + 5" x 3" with inboard condenser. I fill up the reservoir in the morning and check the pump is feeding oil and is not water logged. The reservoir has a water drain in the form of a screw in the bottom. 680 separates well and flows quite readily when it warms. 25Lt seems to last for ages but is not cheap.

For bearings and slideways 220 works well. I tried gravity feed but it was most unreliable and I scrapped the complete gravity feed oil box (sliver soldered brass). I made a new silver soldered brass oil box with with wick (worsted) oilers which I "tuned" to suit the duty of each bearing using warm oil. I made a rail to put the wicks in when stopped for lunch/finished steaming because they don't stop feeding. Wicks also need to be kept clean, wash them in petrol or paraffin a couple of times during the season.

FYI we use 1000 compounded on Shamrock and it is like glue in this weather, She does not condense of course, taking boiler feed directly from the Lake.

Cheers

John

And now a word from The Heretic!

I use no internal lubrication and all of my external lube is chain saw bar oil. Sticky as all get out, I can buy it everywhere and it's dirt cheap.

Granted, it's a single expansion engine running at 150 psi max and no superheat. But I do love simplicity.

I know. I hear you Den. Simple solutions for simple minds.

Mike

Ditto on the internal lubrication and I've been using Steam turbine oil-Petrocan was called Harmony for external lube and it's stored right next to my 5 gal pail of chainsaw bar oil.Now why didn't I think of that!! I looked in the smilies for a guy kicking himself but couldn't find one so I used the rolling eyes one. Mike you're so smart! Den

I agree with no lubrication for simple engines with slide valves, We had an antique 2.25 x 3.50 in Adelaide and for 18 years never used a single drop in her cylinder except to shut her down at the end of the season we would give her a liberal coat. However if you are using an engine with piston valves as opposed to D slide valve and/or superheat I would strongly suggest using some cylinder lubrication. a few shots a day should be plenty

I agree that a super heat power plant needs internal lubrication but I don't get why a piston valve has a rougher life than a slide valve. In fact, it would have lower contact pressures.

Much as I have had good service from slide valves for many a year, this current engine of mine with an inside admission piston valve is great. No serious pressure on the packing gland is worth it all by itself.

Mike

The usual thoughts are, I think Mike, that slide valves wear in, and piston valves wear out. Simply two flat surfaces rubbing together will not gain any clearance through wear.