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Post by Garry Coles on Sept 20, 2024 12:08:33 GMT
Hi,
I’m at the stage where I want to make some fittings for the cylinder drain cocks, and was wondering
if anybody has any views on automatic cylinder drain cocks, as opposed to lever/steam operated.
Garry
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,990
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Post by JonL on Sept 20, 2024 13:03:01 GMT
I think the subject has been covered a few times. Broadly there are a some who like them, some who don't. I fitted them to my first 3.5" locomotive out of convenience, and they worked pretty well as long as you remembered to clean them now and again (even just a little squirt of brake cleaner in the orifice was usually enough). I found if they did fail they failed safe; i.e. always let the water out but only sealed 95% of the time.
My Britannia has lever cocks and its a bit more worrying with piston valves, especially as I let quite a lot of novices drive it, but at least when they seal they seal properly.
Would I use automatic again? Most certainly, but only if I couldn't fit lever operated drain cocks for reasons of convenience etc. I like them and use them, but prefer the real thing.
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Post by Garry Coles on Sept 20, 2024 14:07:04 GMT
Thanks for that reply JonL. I'll have to see if I can fettle the linkage rods back to the cab. I forgot to mention that these will be fitted to my current long term project. That is my BR STD Class 4, 2-6-4 Tank Loco (80000) Doug Hewson. I,m not going down the line of steam operated ones. Garry
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,990
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Post by JonL on Sept 20, 2024 16:06:49 GMT
One quick point to clarify, relief valves are almost like safety valves for the cylinder that open when an overpressure is present (such as trapped water), sometimes modelled, but not often. They tend to be fitted to the centre of the end cap. What you are referring to are Drain Cocks. I'm not telling you to patronise, just to reduce confusion.
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kipford
Statesman
Building a Don Young 5" Gauge Aspinall Class 27
Posts: 575
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Post by kipford on Sept 23, 2024 14:52:26 GMT
My Super Simplex has them and they work fine. Never had an issue with them. Try if you dont like them then fit something else. Dave
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Post by John Baguley on Sept 23, 2024 15:28:04 GMT
We tend to use them a lot on 2½" gauge locos as space is often limited to fit ordinary lever type and the associated linkages. They always seem to work fine but as Jon says, they can sometimes clog up with steam oil.
John
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