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Post by spamcanman on Aug 28, 2008 18:05:37 GMT
Today I took my SpamCan out for a run and for the first time I have got a problem  the blower is not working just a slight draught nothing like it usually is (on full blower it would suck the wicks out almost) so as it has been perfect the last time out just over a week ago what could have gone wrong with it I'm thinking scale could be blocking a passage but where's the first place to look  |
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Post by alanstepney on Aug 28, 2008 20:32:46 GMT
First place to look is down the chimney to ensure that the blower is central.
If it has got bent somehow, the draught will be much reduced.
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Post by spamcanman on Aug 28, 2008 21:03:23 GMT
thanks I have just checked that and cleaned the oily residue around the blast pipes on the Spamcan by the way it has two. I have unscrewed the blower pin from the back head completely and slipped a piece of silicon tube over the valve body and fitted a syringe with water in it a quick sharp blast of water shoots the water straight out the blast nozzle so I am satisfied that nothing is blocked there. But I'm wondering if the copper pipe inside the boiler to the valve could be scaled up as it goes to the top of the boiler to pick up steam.
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ianmac
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Post by ianmac on Aug 29, 2008 2:45:31 GMT
Some scale may have developed in the pipe.
Add a teaspoon of vinegar to the boiler water and run as normal.
I regularly run vinegar in my simplex 5" gauge loco to ward off the scale issues.
Should be fine after a few boiler fills.
If it dislodges at blocks the blower unscrew the blower and blow backwards using what ever you have avaliable.
I have used a butane gas refil before!
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ianmac
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Post by ianmac on Aug 29, 2008 2:48:52 GMT
you could always unscrew the blower fitting using your electric suction fan to raise steam and then once the boiler is at full steam turn the blower valve on nice and sharp.
What ever is in there might become dislodged.
Ian
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Post by spamcanman on Aug 29, 2008 21:35:06 GMT
you could always unscrew the blower fitting using your electric suction fan to raise steam and then once the boiler is at full steam turn the blower valve on nice and sharp. What ever is in there might become dislodged. Ian well I took out the valve body expecting to find the copper pipe blocked but it was clear and clean as a whistle I also put a clear vinegar solution in the boiler to give it a descale as I have had the loco 3 years now and run it regularly. I put it back together and raised steam on the rolling road but gutted the blower was the same very very little draught. I then raised steam to 4 bar/60psi and open/closed the blower valve very quickly then 'pop' something cleared and I had full blower again ;D I have since steamed the loco twice and everything is fine now but still not sure what the problem was  |
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ianmac
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Post by ianmac on Sept 1, 2008 0:58:57 GMT
brilliant!
wonder what it was!
never mind tis gone now and you can play trains again.
Ian
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the blower is not working just a slight draught nothing like it usually is (on full blower it would suck the wicks out almost) so as it has been perfect the last time out just over a week ago what could have gone wrong with it 
