Lubricator

[Jason]

Hi

I know there is a Lubricators thread under ModelWorks Britannia, but my question is not about the Brit Lubricator, but the ModelWorks Black 5. The pipes for the left and right hand lubrication that run from the lubricator which is mounted on the right hand running board are both the same length even though the one on the right hand side has a lot shorter distance to run, so I will have to put a loop in it or shorten it, and that is my question, do the two pipes have to be the same length or am I okay to have the right one shorter than the left one?

Thanks for any advice

Jason

[gwrfan]

Hi Jason,

If these are just the oil supply pipes from the lubricator to the cylinders, the length will not make any difference. You should be able to do as you say, either cut one shorter, or make a loop in it, whichever is the most convenient. I am not familiar with this model, but I can't see any problem with shortening the pipe.

Geoff.

[Jason]

Cheers Geoff,

I thought it would not matter, but just thought i would check before shortening one!

Jason

[baggo]

Hi Jason,

Is the lubricator a simple single pump version where the outlet is split into two to feed the cylinders or is it a dual pump where each pump feeds one cylinder?

If it is a single pump version it has always been stressed by various writers in Model Engineer etc that both of the feed pipes must be identical in diameter, length etc to ensure that both pipes have the same resistance to the oil flow and hence both cylinders get the same amount of oil. If one pipe is shorter, that cylinder will get more oil than the other one. Having said that, I am sure I read recently that someone had deliberately made the pipes of unequal length and found that it made no difference!

If it's a dual pump it definitely won't make any difference if the pipes are different lengths,

John

[Jason]

Hi John

My lubricator does have a dual pump, and that is why logic said to me that the tube length from the lubricator to the cylinder should not have to be the same on both sides, but I could not understand why ModelWorks had supplied equal length tubes for both sides. I thought I would ask on here from the wealth of knowledge before shorting one just in case my logic was incorrect.

Thanks

Jason

[baggo]

Hi Jason,

They probably make them both the same to avoid having to keep two different lengths in stock

John