Southworth Engines boiler feed pump

[ron]

Hi Dave
Thanks for the photos, I was going to use stainless for the pistons but if brass will do I'll use that as it's easier to machine the O-ring grooves. I've made the valves etc for the steam chest and this afternoon I made some of the finicky linkage parts, this is turning out to be a lot more time consuming a project than I expected but interesting none the less.
Ron

[engineernut]

Finished the Crosshead block after tapping the three 10BA threads, and fitted the Crosshead pin (as shown in pic).
Also completed the two Struts.
Just the Stay & Drive block to make now in stainless. ;D
As you said Ron very time consuming.

[redmog]

Swiss Molly Pump.

Dave.
I'm still enjoying your nice photographs and interesting progress.
There's a member of our club who has been enjoying the challenge
of making Southworth pumps.
I think he's made a few recently.
Here's a photo of one on his Swiss Molly.
I thought you might find it of interest.
Chris

[engineernut]

Thanks Chris.
Very nice to see one in action, so to speak.
Hope my one, when finished, works as one would expect.
At the end of the day it is machining skills.
Getting close now so keeping my fingers crossed.

[engineernut]

Made the last two s/s parts (stay & drive block), plus the steam unions. ;D
Ready for assembly now ;D but unfortunately it will probably be Friday before I will be able to get around to that.

[engineernut]

Finished pump and few pics and videos below.
Did a trial and placed gauges on air inlet and water outlet to make sure pump was producing more water pressure over air inlet pressure.
(Camera playing up a bit on one of videos as picture a bit jumpy and sound not right. Camera been repaired once maybe time now for new one)
Well pleased with results on air from compressor and the next real test will be on steam, weather and time permitting next week.

Pics 1, 2 & 3: Shots of pump from different angles.







Pic 4: Showing set up for trial on air.



Pic 5: Close up of gauges showing 85psi air going into pump and 120 psi of water coming out.



Video link 1:

Video link 2:

[redmog]

Nice One.

You've made a good job of that, and in a relatively short time too.
It must be a good sense of achievement when you see it perform so efficiently.
Did you have to 'lap' the valves in?


Chris

[ron]

Hi Dave
Excellent stuff, thanks for your help on the way along, hopefully mine should be finished in the next week or so then I can get back to the Hunslet. I'm quite surprised at how slow and steady it runs, having watched a friend's Stuart steam pump in action I expected it to be a lot more frantic.
How did you go about setting up the valve timing etc, the drawings are a bit short of any sort of info?
Cheers,
Ron

[redmog]

More Photos.

Another couple of photographs for the enthusiastic Southworth Pump fans.
This is another one that Ted finished this week.
He gets on and makes a beautiful job.
Chris

[engineernut]

Nov 21, 2009 19:39:53 GMT redmog said:

Nice One.

You've made a good job of that, and in a relatively short time too.
It must be a good sense of achievement when you see it perform so efficiently.
Did you have to 'lap' the valves in?


Chris

Hi Chris,
Yes very pleased with outcome.
I have not lapped any valves in yet.
Hoping a bit of running in will suffice. Will be running it on steam soon and that should show up any problems.
Nice to see those other couple of pics as well. Like the idea of the gland variation on steam chest.
Dave

[engineernut]

Nov 22, 2009 10:28:20 GMT ron said:

Hi Dave
Excellent stuff, thanks for your help on the way along, hopefully mine should be finished in the next week or so then I can get back to the Hunslet. I'm quite surprised at how slow and steady it runs, having watched a friend's Stuart steam pump in action I expected it to be a lot more frantic.
How did you go about setting up the valve timing etc, the drawings are a bit short of any sort of info?
Cheers,
Ron

Hi Ron,
Pump running slow as the water valve is nearly closed off so giving pressure to pump as if filling boiler. I think you can hear water trickling in reservoir on video.
For the valve timing I had the nuts at their furthest point at each end of valve rod. When you move the valve rod manually, when under air, you will see/hear when that operates the piston valve in each stroke. I just screwed the nuts up till the rod operates the piston. When nuts nearly in position the pump will run and then just a case of fine adjustment.
Dave

[ron]

That's mine finished as well now and test run on air, it doesn't half shift a lot of water [to an open end anyway!]
I'll now make a displacement lubricator and try it with my old Stuart Turner 504 boiler

This has been a very interesting [and time consuming] project, I think I might try one of his Duplex pumps next.
Ron

[engineernut]

Nice one Ron. Looks great. ;D
I am still waiting for a decent day (when free) to get outside and give mine a try on the coal fired boiler.
Unfortunately the couple of gas fired boilers I have are built into steam set ups and don't want (or is it cannot be bothered) to dismantle just for this trial.
It can't be too long before being able to get outside and try it, I hope. Hard to think when it has been wet for so long.
I enjoyed doing the Duplex pump and wouldn't mind doing another one.
Have to see if there are any kits at Sandown.
The one thing I did find on the smaller shop purchased pump I have, and also been told this applies to almost all these type of pumps, is that on steam, until it is completely run in that the shuttle valve is liable to stick. That I found was very frustrating when I first bought that small pump. Few light taps with soft mallet seemed to help a lot.
When I remembered I had one of these steam pumps, when Frank first posted this thread, I also found the casting set for a Reeves Mill Engine, Unicorn. I bought this on eBay for quite a good price a few years ago and again forgot about it.
Decided to get this machined now and made the base last week and have just started on the crankshaft.
Want to clear the decks to get back to the Allchin.
Will post when steam trial given on pump.
Dave

[engineernut]

Finally had a bit of free time when it was dry and tried the pump on steam ;D ;D , (they always seem to run differently on the real stuff).
It performed very well and I was well pleased with it.
I have posted the video but it really is time for me to get a new camera (Had it repaired under guarantee before but problem returning again).
Noise out of sequence and picture jumpy.

Edit: Just watching video via this link and it looks a lot better than the original, when viewed on my computer. Maybe time for a new computer also.

[tedholloway]

Re Southworth 6"Pump, Just written a series for ME, will be published in Feb 2010. There is a photo posted somewhere showning my modifications to the valve chest glands. Word of advice, don't show anyone in your club with a NG loco, I have to date made 3 and know that a fourth 'sudden friend' is trying to contact me!
Tedholloway

[redmog]

Dec 7, 2009 14:28:10 GMT tedholloway said:

Re Southworth 6"Pump, Just written a series for ME, will be published in Feb 2010. There is a photo posted somewhere showning my modifications to the valve chest glands. Word of advice, don't show anyone in your club with a NG loco, I have to date made 3 and know that a fourth 'sudden friend' is trying to contact me!
Tedholloway

My old friend Ted Holloway of the Bromsgrove Society was a bit of a Southworth pump 'expert' and was doing articles in the ME but sadly died before completion.
He had them working a teat, and enjoyed members interest in his achievements.
Good old Ted.

[redmog]

Nov 22, 2009 13:12:52 GMT redmog said:

More Photos.

Another couple of photographs for the enthusiastic Southworth Pump fans.
This is another one that Ted finished this week.

One of Teds pumps.