jma1009
Elder Statesman
Posts: 5,901
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Post by jma1009 on Mar 14, 2016 20:54:10 GMT
thanks pete for drawing this to the attention of forum members.
this is what Ron posted on another forum the other day and today...
"Well had another disappointment today our club boiler inspectors suggested i take my boiler and have pressure tested now i have it back.
so i fitted blanking plugs gasket and took it to them they took pressure up to 120 and found 3 more leaks beginning to wonder if i will ever get my loco finished.
now leaking from boiler joint on the Barrel also from the front by fire box tubes and from top dome weld on bush.
I just think i am very unlucky fingers crossed next time might be ok.
and to think we do this for pleasure !!!!"
and more damning...
"Hi took it back to GB this morning we connected an air line and found the two leaks using bottle soapy water spraying onto the joints.
The dome weld was leaking also joint at bottom of the barrel was leaking and one of the firebox tubes was also leaking.
Got to go back end of week he is going to pressure test it when i am their but i will have to make new gaskets for the dome first before he can test it again.
Fingers crossed i am lucky next time as now the good weather is here so desperate to finally get it in steam.
Will let you know if i am lucky or not next time
all the best Ron"
i really dont see how any of the numerous problems apart from perhaps opening out the original dome bush fixings to 2BA can be in anyway be the fault of anyone other than GB.
so one fire tube leaking and joint at bottom of barrel leaking. plus replacement dome bush newly silver soldered also leaking - after handing to Ron a 2 x WP test certificate, then failing the standard club test.
(actually, it would appear that after GB silver soldered in the new dome bush a new test wasnt carried out, in contravention of the boiler regs!)
cheers, julian
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gwr7800
Part of the e-furniture
Member of Portsmouth mes
Posts: 384
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Post by gwr7800 on Mar 14, 2016 21:37:39 GMT
I sincerely hope Ron gets he's boiler repaired or replaced, surely when you buy such an item it should be fit for purpose? The reputation of the boiler maker and the company is at risk here, would be nice for all parties to get satisfaction and to restore the confidence in the said company. Wouldn't it be nice just for good faith for GB to repair the boiler whoever is at fault? Hope it's sorted soon Ron cheers Chris
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Post by Cro on Mar 14, 2016 22:22:02 GMT
One question you have to ask from reading Ron's posts in various places is how did it get tested at GB.
It is stated on one of the (can't remember if its ME forum or facebook) that he is to make a new gasket on his return Saturday for the test to happen - my question is how did GB test it in the first place if they don't have a blanking plate for the dome PLUS how did they ever test it if Ron drilled the holes in the dome flange himself the first time round?!?!
Poor chap!
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Post by mutley on Mar 14, 2016 22:34:21 GMT
Good point Adam and I asked the same question on the ME forum. There is only one boiler maker , that I know of, who drills the dome bush so how do the rest do it?
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Post by Cro on Mar 14, 2016 22:38:09 GMT
Makes you wonder doesn't it! I'd want to see that boiler at pressure for quite a while if it were mine. If it's still got issues I'd be holding my hand out for my money back plus all the wasted petrol money
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2016 23:29:42 GMT
Usual practice among boiler makers is to soft solder a plate over the dome bush for the hydraulic test, then melt it off afterwards.
Ron (no not that one)
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jma1009
Elder Statesman
Posts: 5,901
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Post by jma1009 on Mar 14, 2016 23:44:43 GMT
after the last structural alterations were carried out (sleeve fitted to barrel end to make up shortness) and new dome bush silver soldered on after removing original, no new test carried out and returned to Ron on basis original test was valid.
it beggers belief!
this is just supposition on my part, but the barrel joint leak on the bottom of the barrel, and ordinary firebox tube leak must be unrelated to the above. ive witnessed the late Reg Chambers add bushes for additional fittings on completed boilers with oxy acetylene with expert skill. makes my humble efforts at boiler making very insignificant when you see what the experts can do!
cheers, julian
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Post by Jim on Mar 15, 2016 0:38:24 GMT
Would there be any chance of posting a link to Ron's site? I'm in no position to add anything to the already excellent advice given, I'd just like to see the boiler being discussed so the comments and suggestions become a bit more meaningful. It all sounds as if the whole saga has been a disaster for the poor man and enough to put anyone off the hobby for life which would be a great tragedy.
Jim
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jma1009
Elder Statesman
Posts: 5,901
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Post by jma1009 on Mar 15, 2016 1:04:11 GMT
Hi Jim,
Pete will have to post the facebook link... I cant be bothered with facebook. I have enough of a job keeping up with emails!
Cheers, Julian
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Post by Jim on Mar 15, 2016 2:41:49 GMT
I can understand that Julian. Face Book is only for finding out what the grandchildren are up to and if there's any risk of them popping in unannounced Jim
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dem132
Seasoned Member
Posts: 122
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Post by dem132 on Mar 15, 2016 10:06:36 GMT
I've following this thread with interest, as I have also have GB boiler. Built in 2006, with GB test certificate, but I haven't be able to finish off the fittings for it before taking it to my club for testing, maybe I should get around to testing it very soon then. I bought this boiler off a chap last year, I just hope I don't get any issues with it.
Where does Ron stand legally with this though? As, he's paid for a professional built boiler, and they have provided a test certificate, if then fails shortly afterwards, then surely the boiler isn't fit for purpose and test certificate was provided falsely? (I'm not an expert, just my opinion). As Ron has drilled the bushes etc, the boiler builder can easy say it's Ron fault. I can understand both view points, the boiler maker can wash their hands of it, but Ron has paid for it to repair, but it's failed again. Maybe I'm talking about the white elephant in the room?
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Post by ettingtonliam on Mar 15, 2016 11:35:43 GMT
This is a tricky thread to follow. Neither party (Ron and GB) are saying anything directly, its all third hand information. Problem is, as I see it, Ron didn't test the boiler when he first got it (Indeed why should he, he'd just paid good money to an apparently reputable supplier to provide a tested and certified boiler). The first test was after he'd drilled the dome ring, when the dome ring leak showed up, possibly because Ron's own work had caused the leak. Did either of the other 2 leaks now mentioned show up at that test, or have they only now shown up after GB's remedial work. I'm not sure I understand why resoldering the dome bush and adding a sleeve at the front of the barrel should cause these leaks. I know Ron goes on Facebook, which, like Julian, I don't, but are GB saying anything in their defence publicly, or are they keeping a respectful and probably sensible silence, even though this thread can't be doing their reputation within the small loco fraternity any good at all. I think, in Ron's shoes, when it was first delivered, too short and the firebox too wide, I'd simply have demanded a replacement or my money back at that stage. Hindsight they say, is a wonderful thing.
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jasonb
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,209
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Post by jasonb on Mar 15, 2016 13:24:48 GMT
I'm also going to retract my comment about Ron's work to the dome.
I raised the question on ME "Did he (GB) say how it passed his supposed previous test but then failed your inspectors test" Ron has PM'd me GBs comment which shows that the boiler was NOT tested after the repairs/alterations and also makes me seriously doubt if it was properly tested in the first place.
>
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Post by ejparrott on Mar 16, 2016 10:02:17 GMT
Since no-one's listening, the point is irrelevant .......
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Post by Cro on Mar 16, 2016 11:59:07 GMT
Not sure I can see the link between a badly made boiler with no test cert or a suspect cert to one that may have needed adjusting after being made and like Paul says what was the situation regarding the change of boiler, replacing old for new is never a simple swap.
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abby
Statesman
Posts: 927
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Post by abby on Mar 16, 2016 12:56:36 GMT
The certain fact is that the only people posting here are third party with no involvement , pity they haven't got some model engineering to keep them from getting so bored. Seems like this forum has now been taken over by a bunch of old women with nothing better to do than slag people off, some of you might even be getting near to unjustified defamation. I for one will remove myself from the forum membership.
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Post by runner42 on Mar 16, 2016 22:31:34 GMT
Is this freedom of speech or bordering on being defamatory to GB? The moderators of this forum have in the past cautioned on making comments on EBay listings, doesn't this fall into that category? The late Alan Stepney would I am sure provided advice. Has anyone assumed Alan's role?
Brian
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jma1009
Elder Statesman
Posts: 5,901
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Post by jma1009 on Mar 16, 2016 23:24:12 GMT
Fact - the club boiler inspector found 3 leaks on silver soldered joints and would not pass the boiler.
Fact - despite GB having the chassis and smokebox the boiler was too short and wouldnt fit between the frames originally.
Paul1979 please state who you think are "self proclaimed experts, who are no such thing".
cheers, Julian
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jma1009
Elder Statesman
Posts: 5,901
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Post by jma1009 on Mar 16, 2016 23:29:22 GMT
Edit
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2016 8:49:13 GMT
Sorry Abby and Paul but the information given has come directly from the owner on both the ME forum and FB and if there is a problem with a commercial boiler dealer then it's good for all that such things come out into the open, something is most certainly wrong here. Abby I do not see any defamation or old women, actually I see comments on both sides some stating that GB has done some good work. As for Paul's last post, well that's so far off base that I won't even bother trying to answer, I think most here can judge the content for themselves. Now I'm sure that GB must be aware of what's going on and yet there has been no interaction from them, either here which to be honest I wouldn't expect, FB a slightly more possible venue or the ME forum which considering their trade I'd have expected them to be fully aware of Ron's thread, it would be nice to hear their side of the story.
Pete
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