The Steamboating Forum

Hey folks,

I've been restoring this Marsh simplex water pump.

a) I've made a new shaft because a previous owner banged on it and made it untrue.
b) I've made all new gaskets
c) General Cleanup
d) Paintjob

Garlock Blue Guard 3200 is the gasket material I've been using:
http://www.garlock.com/en/products/blue-gard-style-3200

The steam side is working via compressed air - the shaft is moving. Unfortunately I can't seem to get it to pump water. At best I've gotten a gurgle or a pathetic dribble.

There are some suspicions that the cylinder may not be original - leather cups were more common. I have had some ideas and after playing around on compressed air I thought I would ask.

The only remaining serious possibility I see is the moving parts of the internal checks need to lapped and/or replaced.

Any ideas?

1) First Side of Pump - note water inlet has

2) Second Side of Pump

3) Top of waterside of Pump

4) Checks - Notice some wear on tops where "cross" pattern is

5) Waterside cylinder with piston inside it

6) Waterside "Upper Decks" - Accumulator, Gaskets, Checks, Check casting

7) Waterside Cylinder lining - Note it is Full length solid, this is somewhat confusing when looking at old cutaway drawings

8) Pistons and Shaft - Large side is steam cylinder with metal compression rings. Waterside brass/bronze - 2 parts

9) Water piston and water cylinder caps/ends.


-cyberbadger

What is the packing on the water piston? Looks like there may be large clearance between the water piston and the water cylinder. If that is the case here, then the machine would notpump anything.

Nice machine!

Nice pump, looks perfect for a small steamer.

I think what you have there is a low pressure pump (for high volume circulation) that was converted to high pressure by reducing the water pumps cylinder diameter.

Is that a check valve on the intake? There may be too much leakage on the retrofitted piston to open it.

Use some scoth brite and clean the valves up as they look they would not move freely, one of those can stick open and the pump isn't going to pump anything.

I think that is one of Murphy's laws "Pumps don't"

-Ron

What a nice pump! Very compact too.

Any chance to get a photo of the steam chest (unbolted)?

fredrosse wrote:What is the packing on the water piston?

Right now nothing. It's not a large clearance, it doesn't wiggle around in the cylinder.
However I have been informed today I really need to put some packing in there, leather cups or a series of leather washers were recommended.

DetroiTug wrote:I think what you have there is a low pressure pump (for high volume circulation) that was converted to high pressure by reducing the water pumps cylinder diameter.

No, the waterside is original diameter. It's casting all the way to the brass cylinder liner which isn't very thick at all.

DetroiTug wrote:Is that a check valve on the intake? There may be too much leakage on the retrofitted piston to open it.

I could try a swing instead of a spring check, but it needs a check on the inlet - and 3/4" NPT is the water inlet size so that's the size check I put on it.

DetroiTug wrote:Use some scoth brite and clean the valves up as they look they would not move freely, one of those can stick open and the pump isn't going to pump anything.

They actually move pretty freely - the pictures don't do it much justice. The casting parts get wet and make everything rusty looking. They are brass moving part on brass stationary part that is inset in the casting.

Akitene wrote:Any chance to get a photo of the steam chest (unbolted)?

Maybe. The shuttle valve with starting pins hasn't fully come apart and it works so I don't know how much you'd see...

These is a cutaway - The water piston is not what I have on mine. I think it is a very slightly different model - but it gives the general idea...


-cyberbadger

"No, the waterside is original diameter. It's casting all the way to the brass cylinder liner which isn't very thick at all."

Oh, it looked like it had a cast iron sleeve pushed in it. And the pump cylinder ends look very large for that size bore. Hope you get it figured out.

-Ron

DetroiTug wrote:Oh, it looked like it had a cast iron sleeve pushed in it

Ron,

I looked at the pictured again - the light created a shadow that made it look that way.

The steam cylinder may look big comparitively, but you certainly want it bigger then the water cylinder - otherwise you are going to have a rough time(if it works at all) overcoming boiler pressure to put the water into the boiler.

-CB

Thanks! The shuttle valve arrangement is quite unique and very interesting.

Edit: I forgot I responded already. Busy day and getting old

Cut some gaskets from leather using a punch and a leather cutting compass and scissors. I'll try it in a few days. It's a snug fit now, especially when the leather is wet.

Going to try it soon, but my air compressor at home doesn't really have the capacity.







-CB