Moutaineer Help Neede

[arch1947]

G'Day Folks, A friend has a Don Young design 3.5 " Mountaineer purchased from a modeler in NZ. Having made a new boiler to suit Australian Standards everything goes well , except our understanding of how the lubrication system works. Can any one help? We kind of understand how the system works but the relationship between the the feed water pump and the cylinders is a bit of a mystery. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Arch

[mbrown]

I am not completely sure what the question is, but I think Don made some bloopers in the original design for the mechanical lubricator for Mountaineer. He designed it with two oscillating cylinders operated from a single crank via a yoke - which was a mechanical impossibility. I think drawings were modified after that was pointed out, but the original ME articles show the mistake clearly.

I don't know if this relates to your query at all. I don't think the original design had a mechanical water pump.... so I may have misunderstood.

Best wishes

Malcolm

[neil]

My £ 1/2 inch Mountaineer, for water feed has ;-
two injectors (not as drawing), the are under the cab,
plus a hand pump which is inside the bunker, the drawings have one in each side tank.
There is no mechaincal pump in the drawing, and I do not think there is room to fit one.
These feed into the two top feed clacks.

The oil feed is mechanical, I have a single pump feeding both cylinders, via a Y fitting I made, the lengths are the same post this fitting. I have also seen two pumps with seperate drives, one for each cylinder.`

Neil

[arch1947]

Thanks Guys. The lubricator is a displacement type with a large oil reservoir in the cabin. It supplied oil to the cylinders and the steam driven water feed pump. I was hoping someone has experience with this system.
Arch

[steamer5]

Hi Arch,
Who was the builder here in NZ? I don’t remember seeing a 3 1/2 Mountaineer in my travels, we have or at least had a 5” one in my club, but with some idea which club may be able to help find somebody, who either built it or knows it to give more details.

The displacement lubricator shouldn’t be to hard to sort, a couple of photos would help. I would guess that you either have 2 or 3 outlet. If it’s 2 then 1 would go to 5he cylinders, & the other to the pump, if 3 then 1 to each cylinder. There should be a sightglass for each with a valve under each, you adjust the valve to give the desired rate by checking the drops rising up. There has been several threads here on these & what liquid to use in the sightglass.

Cheers Kerrin

[suctionhose]

We're guessing at what the engine actually has... displacement or hydrostatic?
The latter would have sight glasses filled with water, salt water or better, glycerine to make the oil form a droplet, break away from itself and float upwards in the glass.
Boiler pressure is used to pressurise the tank and force the oil out via the control valve at the base of the sight glass and through pipes to the valve chest or steam pipe.
Water from condensed steam replaces the oil in the tank. Does this sound the same?

(A basic 'displacement type' is a simplification and does rely on condensed steam to float the oil out)