American Locomotive Restoration

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   The American is down for some repairs. I'm making a new plate that goes under the drivers that holds the frame in line. The body for the fuel car is coming along. Need to build the roof and mount some more of the detail. Hopefully I can get this stuff done this week. Tom D. 

Edited by PhilC - May 26 2009 at 9:06pm

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tom d Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: Nov 15 2008 Location: lakewood,ca Status: Offline Points: 156	Post Options Post Reply Quote tom d Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May 26 2009 at 7:45pm
	The American is down for some repairs. I'm making a new plate that goes under the drivers that holds the frame in line. The body for the fuel car is coming along. Need to build the roof and mount some more of the detail. Hopefully I can get this stuff done this week. Tom D. Edited by PhilC - May 26 2009 at 9:06pm

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tom d Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: Nov 15 2008 Location: lakewood,ca Status: Offline Points: 156	Post Options Post Reply Quote tom d Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun 08 2009 at 10:34pm
	6-7-09 Got the new plate installed and it fit perfectly. I had to spend a bunch of time getting the water pump rod to fit as it had hit a lot of stuff before it broke off, but it looks like it will work well now. We still have to get the plumbing for the axle pump fixed and install a new check valve. The stock car is done with only the plumbing for the two tank setup to install. Phil, Rory,and I ran it around the club Saturday and it ran good with just a few little things that still need to be adjusted. Phil got brave and he gave us a ride the other way around the layout and she stayed on the rail all the way around? The American is back, running good and looking great. Tom D. Edited by PhilC - Jun 08 2009 at 11:07pm

PhilC Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: Nov 03 2008 Location: Torrance Status: Offline Points: 129	Post Options Post Reply Quote PhilC Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 02 2009 at 6:44pm
	Removed primary propane regulator in propane car. Propane main line now sits at approximately 100 lbs psi when tanks are full and normal temp. We are now configured for dual tanks which minimized freezing. Operated the locomotive for several hours today using approx 1 psi on the burner with light blower draft. No icing was noted on either of the tanks. To do: Left side cylinder shaft needs to be repacked. Noticed slight clicking on left side rods, may need some bushing work. Need replacement brass frame for left side number plate.
	I used to be a rocket scientist, now I am just a space cadet. ------------------------------ You only need three tools in life - WD-40, Duct Tape, and a Hammer. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

Steve C Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Mr Steam Joined: May 16 2009 Status: Offline Points: 96	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steve C Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 14 2009 at 7:17pm
	Found a propane leak at the rear of the tender last Sunday. Installed a new nipple and bell along with the supply hose. We will have to fire it up tomorrow and see how it runs. Edited by PhilC - Aug 14 2009 at 9:51pm

tom d Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: Nov 15 2008 Location: lakewood,ca Status: Offline Points: 156	Post Options Post Reply Quote tom d Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 15 2009 at 11:51am
	This leads to one more much needed project. A small building to hold the gas cans and the propane tanks so they are not stored in the containers. Maybe out by the yard switch as it will be in the clear but not too far away from the containers, or near the driveway as it would be closer to water if something caught on fire. Edited by PhilC - Aug 16 2009 at 6:35pm

PhilC Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: Nov 03 2008 Location: Torrance Status: Offline Points: 129	Post Options Post Reply Quote PhilC Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug 18 2009 at 10:23am
	A picture of the #613 American 4-4-0 Locomotive on the road.
	I used to be a rocket scientist, now I am just a space cadet. ------------------------------ You only need three tools in life - WD-40, Duct Tape, and a Hammer. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

PhilC Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: Nov 03 2008 Location: Torrance Status: Offline Points: 129	Post Options Post Reply Quote PhilC Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Sep 27 2009 at 12:18pm
	Charlie G. and I removed and replaced the shaft packing on the steam cylinders on Saturday, Sept. 26. She runs really nice now with no leakage through the shaft seal. Charlie and Rudy ran the locomotive around for an hour to seat the seals and all worked well. Phil
	I used to be a rocket scientist, now I am just a space cadet. ------------------------------ You only need three tools in life - WD-40, Duct Tape, and a Hammer. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

Steve C Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Mr Steam Joined: May 16 2009 Status: Offline Points: 96	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steve C Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct 18 2009 at 4:34pm
	Made 2 new stantions for the boiler hand rails. One was missing so I made a new pair. I will have to drill the hole completely through when we hook the light back up. But for now they look good. Edited by PhilC - Oct 18 2009 at 5:58pm

tom d Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: Nov 15 2008 Location: lakewood,ca Status: Offline Points: 156	Post Options Post Reply Quote tom d Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct 28 2009 at 8:14pm
	Ok its time to do a little "Choo Choo Charlie" bashing and put him in the fire box so to speak. Well, it seems the stock car that runs behind the loco picked the points on the cross over out at the club and the car derailed big time when Charlie was running it. Rudy said it looked like the rear truck turned sideways and got jammed in between the rails and it broke off one of the ears off the ends of the truck bolster. Before we went to run it at riverside Rudy, Phil and I thought it would be best to fix it,so Rudy pull it off and I took it back to that magical place at the end of my driveway, the DCC shop. I pulled the springs out from the truck and removed the bolster from the side frames and cleaned all the parts and checked the bearings and it all looked good. I clamped the bolster in the mill vise and with a 5/8 end mill cleaned off the ends till the one ear that was left was gone, just like Charlie had done to the other. I then drilled and tapped two 10-24 holes in each end of the bolster. I then cut some 1/8 x1/2 strapping/ CR bar stock 2.400 long to match the missing ears that Charlie and now I had taken off the bolster. I drilled two holes to match the holes I drilled in the bolster. I put some new grease on the bearings and put the truck back together. This went much easier than I thought it would as this truck has split bearings, and the few I worked on of this type before this one were not easy to put back together. Well, I put the springs in the side frames then put the new straps on the ends of the bolster using some 10-24 allen cap screws I had laying around just waiting for this Charlie fix. I Lock Tight'd them in and gave the truck ends a quick black paint job. All this was done the night before the Riverside meet and only took a few hours, but I told Charlie I worked on it till 3 AM. I brought it with me to the meet the next morning and Steve C. installed it with a new 3/16 nylock nut that I had and as you would have it, just one more thing that was waiting for a Charlie fix. Well the Charlie truck fix ran all day and well into the night with no problems so I guess we are OK. Rudy asked me to have Charlie be involved in the fixing of the truck and as you have seen I did my best to do just that. The American ran great at Riverside with a few SCLS members and friends getting a ride or trying their hand at the throttle. It was a good day, but Phil told me it seemed like the timing was out on the loco so he stopped running it. I guess we have to take a look and we will let you known...hmmm...maybe its Phil's turn in the fire box. tom d Edited by administrator - Oct 28 2009 at 10:13pm

Steve C Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Mr Steam Joined: May 16 2009 Status: Offline Points: 96	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steve C Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct 29 2009 at 10:37am
	The fix worked great, we ran all day long with no problems. We will have to teach Charlie some machine skills so we can let him handle the dirty work next time.