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Post by sncf141r on Feb 4, 2019 20:26:54 GMT
Hi Lisa;
I made a large boilered Tich back in the '80s, and it's my favourite locomotive. It's been run in 3 countries on 2 continents. (it has flown a couple of times as cabin baggage)
Random thoughts:
I just did not bother threading the pump stay, the pump is held with a lock nut.
I wish I had made a smaller ram on my pump. It really is too large on a continuous track. I have a "2-in" bottom fitting; water comes from tanks + a line from a tank on my riding car. Overflow goes to the locomotive tanks. Water is always overflowing out of them.
My lubricator drive; it's a bicycle spoke, bent slightly to go from the pump ram underneath then up to the lubricator.
There was an article on oil firing a Tich in Model Engineer way back about 20 years ago - I've never tried it, but it sounds interesting.
Coal firing - I use Welsh steam coal, and a little teaspoon for firing. An active blast, lots of coal (deep fire) and the little critter just sings. I've had 2 people (probably close to 500 lbs) on a level but long track (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) and myself around the Waushakum Live Steamers track (google it, 2 bridges, long grades, etc) in Mass. USA. The fire does need a good cleaning, so when I run it, it's not for long, but it's a thrill when I do!
Our local club went all ground-level, pull the paying public gung-ho for a number of years, so our elevated track got out of kilter, and Tich had trouble with grades (frost heave lifting some posts but not others, short but steep gradients!) The track is being rebuilt, so cross fingers, my little Tich will be running later this year again.
John.
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mbrown
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,720
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Post by mbrown on Feb 4, 2019 21:51:48 GMT
One more reason to be grateful to LBSC for the Tich design is that it was intended for people who had various 2.5"g bits and bobs lying around but wanted to follow the post-war trend toward 3.5"g locos. So because most Tich components are actually fairly standard 2.5"g items, the popularity of Tich enabled a lot of people to go on building in 2.5"g in the years before the National 2.5"g Association came along to supply castings again after most of the trade had given up on the smaller designs.
Malcolm
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Lisa
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Post by Lisa on Feb 7, 2019 11:57:36 GMT
The rivetting is slow going, as while the weather's been decent lately, I tend to only get a few done before dad gets anxious over the noise from me hammering away; I do have one bufferbeam complete now though. Meanwhile I've been progressing with redrawing everything in CAD, and converting to metric as I go. The latest parts are the motion brackets, like my pump stretcher they'll be a tabbed silver soldered fabrication. Have worked them out to be just three different shaped parts, assembled for left and right hand.
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timb
Statesman
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Post by timb on Feb 7, 2019 18:15:20 GMT
Great idea fabricating the motion brackets - saves a lot of fettling castings let alone the cost! Just a thought though, it might be worth while fitting the expansion link trunnion bushes before you solder the lot up. When using the castings, the inner bracket is bolted on allowing it to be removed to press the bushes in with the vice. If you solder up all your tabbed bits you are in danger of bending the bracket whilst fitting the bushes. They should withstand the heat if pressed in well, drill undersize then open out and ream when cleaned up. This would also allow you to use a dowell to make sure everything is in line whilst soldering.
Just a thought.
Coming along nicely!
Tim
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mbrown
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,720
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Post by mbrown on Feb 7, 2019 21:43:30 GMT
I am not sure how you will assemble the expansion link between the two trunnions if they are both brazed onto the motion bracket - or do you have a cunning plan for removable pivots on the expansion link?
Malcolm
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Lisa
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Post by Lisa on Feb 8, 2019 6:49:01 GMT
I am not sure how you will assemble the expansion link between the two trunnions if they are both brazed onto the motion bracket - or do you have a cunning plan for removable pivots on the expansion link? Haha, oops. Yes, removable pivots was my plan all along, good idea.
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timb
Statesman
Posts: 512
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Post by timb on Feb 8, 2019 7:29:16 GMT
I am not sure how you will assemble the expansion link between the two trunnions if they are both brazed onto the motion bracket Yes, I was wondering when some one was going to spot that .....Well done Pike!
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uuu
Elder Statesman
your message here...
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Post by uuu on Feb 8, 2019 8:56:44 GMT
You could put a split in the brackets, with bolt-on caps?
Wilf
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Post by Cro on Feb 8, 2019 9:23:43 GMT
If you split the bracket and then add bushes that had bolts around a PCD that would cover the split and give you a nice bearing surface?
Adam
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Lisa
Statesman
Posts: 806
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Post by Lisa on Feb 8, 2019 9:32:47 GMT
Would be getting down to something like a 1mm bolt to do that, certainly possible though.
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timb
Statesman
Posts: 512
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Post by timb on Feb 8, 2019 14:10:34 GMT
Maybe more sensible to use an angled bracket bolted on for the inner bearing as per LBSC original design - still no castings required. Whilst you are at it Lisa you will need an extension to the motion bracket to pick up the guide bar. This extends below the level of the motion bracket and needs to take a 7ba countersunk screw if you are to follow the 'words and music'. Of course a small spacer can be used but the point is this needs to be secured after the cylinders are bolted up and needs an area capable of taking a thread.
Tim
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